Preparing your Ascend FCU accounts for estate transfer involves two key steps: designating beneficiaries on each account and, where appropriate, retitling accounts into a trust. Because Ascend FCU is a membership-based institution, trust retitling must maintain the membership eligibility requirement. Accounts with Payable on Death designations or trust ownership bypass probate entirely.

Ascend FCU offers 19 accounts, each with its own transfer rules. The sections below cover how to set up beneficiaries, fund a trust, and which products support each approach.

High-Yield CheckingRewards CheckingFree CheckingRegular SavingsMoney Market AccountChristmas ClubHealth Savings Account (HSA)Share CertificateYouth SavingsYouth Checking

1Visit any of the 27 Ascend branch locations with government-issued photo ID

2Request a POD (Payable on Death) beneficiary designation form

3Provide beneficiary details: full name, date of birth, Social Security number, and relationship

4Designate primary and contingent beneficiaries

5Specify percentage allocation if naming multiple beneficiaries

6Sign and submit the completed form

Required Documents

Trust name, date established, and tax ID (EIN or SSN)

Special Requirements

POD designations available for deposit accounts (checking, savings, certificates, money market)
Online beneficiary designation is not available; must use branch, phone, or mail
Investment account beneficiaries managed separately through LPL Financial
IRA beneficiary changes: call 800-342-3086 and ask for an IRA/Certificate Support Representative
Review recommended after marriage, divorce, birth, or death of a beneficiary