How to name beneficiaries and fund a trust at Arvest
Beneficiaries are managed in branch. Trust paperwork is taken in branch or by phone
Preparing your Arvest accounts for estate transfer involves two primary strategies: designating beneficiaries on individual accounts and, where supported, retitling accounts into a revocable living trust. Both approaches bypass probate, but they work differently depending on the account type.
Across 13 product types, Arvest accounts vary in how they transfer at death. The sections below walk through Payable on Death (POD) designations, trust funding options, and which products support each method.
Beneficiary form at Arvest
POD/Beneficiary Designation, completed on Arvest account documentation (for payable-on-death accounts) and IRA beneficiary designation paperwork (for IRAs).
- Full name, address and date of birth of each individual being added
- For IRAs, complete the separate IRA beneficiary designation paperwork
Required Documents
- Government-issued photo ID (at the branch)
- Full name of each person being added (to add a POD beneficiary)
- Address of each person being added (to add a POD beneficiary)
- Date of birth of each person being added (to add a POD beneficiary)
- Name of the individual being removed (to remove a POD beneficiary)
- Valid government-issued photo ID for all trustees
- Complete trust agreement or Certificate of Trust
- Trust tax identification number (EIN) if applicable
Required Documents
- Trust agreement or Certificate of Trust. Arvest takes the full trust agreement or a Certificate of Trust
- Government-issued photo ID (for each trustee)
- Trust tax identification number (EIN) (if applicable)
- Account retitling authorization form. Provided by the bank
- Full name, address and date of birth of each individual being added
- For IRAs, complete the separate IRA beneficiary designation paperwork
Required Documents
- Government-issued photo ID (at the branch)
- Full name of each person being added (to add a POD beneficiary)
- Address of each person being added (to add a POD beneficiary)
- Date of birth of each person being added (to add a POD beneficiary)
- Name of the individual being removed (to remove a POD beneficiary)
What Arvest says about beneficiaries and trusts
Each section is Arvest's own statement, with the document it comes from numbered under Sources.
Which accounts take a beneficiary2
Who can be named1
- A trust, IRAs
A trust can be named as an IRA beneficiary.2
How many beneficiaries, and how shares are split
- Payable-on-death account
More than one POD beneficiary may be named on any one account, and Arvest encourages it.1
What a designation takes to be effective
- All accounts
Any account owner may make the change, but must provide identification at the time of the request.1
Beneficiary forms Arvest issues2
What Arvest's agreement says about beneficiaries2
- Joint accounts
The POD takes effect only on the death of all account owners and joint owners, which is why Arvest encourages joint owners to also name a POD.1
- A designation and a will
Arvest states: "we can't accept a will as proof of your beneficiaries and can't release funds without a Small Estate Claim Affidavit or Letters of Testamentary or Administration."1
Which accounts a trust can hold1
- IRA
An IRA cannot be retitled to a trust.2
Trust account forms Arvest issues1
- Account retitling authorization form
Completed by the trustees, with a banker or trust officer. Sent by the institution on request.2
What Arvest says about trust accounts1
- Fees
Select Checking's $15 monthly fee is waived with $100,000 in Arvest Wealth Management investments, insurance or qualifying managed trusts.2
Accounts handled elsewhere1
- Arvest Wealth Management
Managed trust accounts and trust and investment accounts2
Phone: 1-888-916-2121
Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-6:00 PM CT; Saturday 9:00 AM-1:00 PM CT
Mailing address: P.O. Box 1515, Lowell, AR 72745
Not in Arvest's published guidance4
- An online way to name a beneficiary
- A beneficiary form to download
- Beneficiary designation by phone or mail
- Mail-in trust account application
Sources
Data sourced from Arvest primary sources (24 pages reviewed). How we research.
Download these Arvest instructions
A printable PDF with the steps, required documents, and contact details, verified against Arvest primary sources. Bring it to the branch or keep it beside the phone.
Arvest estate support
Trust & Estate (Arvest Wealth Management)
Phone
Online Access Support
Full-Service Trading Desk
Arvest Insurance
Hours
Mailing address
Website
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