How to name beneficiaries and fund a trust at BECU
Beneficiaries are managed online, in branch or by mail. Trust paperwork is taken in branch or by mail
There are two ways to keep your BECU accounts out of probate: adding Payable on Death designations and retitling accounts into a trust. Because BECU is a membership-based institution, trust retitling must maintain the membership eligibility requirement. Both methods ensure your accounts transfer directly to the people you choose, without court involvement.
Across 20 product types, BECU 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 BECU
Designate Beneficiaries (Form 6851), Designate Beneficiaries form (DocuSign) and IRA beneficiary designation form (for IRAs).
Open the form →- Primary account holder full name, date of birth, Social Security number, mother's maiden name, and address
- Full name, date of birth, and Social Security number for each joint account holder, plus each joint holder's email address (DocuSign routes the signature request to them)
- Full name, date of birth, and Social Security number for every beneficiary you want on the account — including the ones already on file that you want to keep
- Primary account holder completes and electronically signs the form
- Each joint account holder then receives an email with a link to sign; the form is not submitted until they all do
- Completed and signed Designate Beneficiaries form
- Government-issued photo ID
- List every beneficiary you want on the account, including any current beneficiary you want to keep — the form wipes and replaces the existing designations
- All primary and joint account holders must sign
Required Documents
- Beneficiary's full name, date of birth and Social Security number (for each beneficiary, including current ones to keep)
- Organization's name and TIN (for a trust or charity named as beneficiary). No date of birth or SSN is needed for an organization
- Primary account holder's full name, date of birth, SSN, mother's maiden name and address (on the DocuSign form)
- Each joint account holder's full name, date of birth, SSN and email address (on the DocuSign form). DocuSign routes the signature request to each joint holder by email
- Completed and signed Designate Beneficiaries form (at a BECU location)
- Government-issued photo ID (at a BECU location)
- Trust document or completed BECU Certification of Trust (Form 6001)
- Government-issued ID for all trustees
- Trust tax identification number (TIN/EIN)
- Social Security numbers for all acting trustees
- Request to Open Revocable or Irrevocable Trust Accounts (BECU form 1548)
- BECU Certification of Trust (Form 6001) if not providing full trust document
- Copies of trust document or Certification of Trust
- Copies of government-issued ID for all trustees
Required Documents
- Full trust agreement or BECU Certification of Trust (Form 6001). BECU takes either the full trust agreement, revocable or irrevocable, or its Certification of Trust. By mail, send copies
- Government-issued ID (for all trustees). By mail, send copies
- Trust tax identification number (TIN/EIN)
- Social Security numbers (for all acting trustees)
- Request to Open Revocable or Irrevocable Trust Accounts (BECU form 1548), completed
- Primary account holder full name, date of birth, Social Security number, mother's maiden name, and address
- Full name, date of birth, and Social Security number for each joint account holder, plus each joint holder's email address (DocuSign routes the signature request to them)
- Full name, date of birth, and Social Security number for every beneficiary you want on the account — including the ones already on file that you want to keep
- Primary account holder completes and electronically signs the form
- Each joint account holder then receives an email with a link to sign; the form is not submitted until they all do
- Completed and signed Designate Beneficiaries form
- Government-issued photo ID
- List every beneficiary you want on the account, including any current beneficiary you want to keep — the form wipes and replaces the existing designations
- All primary and joint account holders must sign
Required Documents
- Beneficiary's full name, date of birth and Social Security number (for each beneficiary, including current ones to keep)
- Organization's name and TIN (for a trust or charity named as beneficiary). No date of birth or SSN is needed for an organization
- Primary account holder's full name, date of birth, SSN, mother's maiden name and address (on the DocuSign form)
- Each joint account holder's full name, date of birth, SSN and email address (on the DocuSign form). DocuSign routes the signature request to each joint holder by email
- Completed and signed Designate Beneficiaries form (at a BECU location)
- Government-issued photo ID (at a BECU location)
- Trust document or completed BECU Certification of Trust (Form 6001)
- Government-issued ID for all trustees
- Trust tax identification number (TIN/EIN)
- Social Security numbers for all acting trustees
- Request to Open Revocable or Irrevocable Trust Accounts (BECU form 1548)
- BECU Certification of Trust (Form 6001) if not providing full trust document
- Copies of trust document or Certification of Trust
- Copies of government-issued ID for all trustees
Required Documents
- Full trust agreement or BECU Certification of Trust (Form 6001). BECU takes either the full trust agreement, revocable or irrevocable, or its Certification of Trust. By mail, send copies
- Government-issued ID (for all trustees). By mail, send copies
- Trust tax identification number (TIN/EIN)
- Social Security numbers (for all acting trustees)
- Request to Open Revocable or Irrevocable Trust Accounts (BECU form 1548), completed
- Primary account holder full name, date of birth, Social Security number, mother's maiden name, and address
- Full name, date of birth, and Social Security number for each joint account holder, plus each joint holder's email address (DocuSign routes the signature request to them)
- Full name, date of birth, and Social Security number for every beneficiary you want on the account — including the ones already on file that you want to keep
- Primary account holder completes and electronically signs the form
- Each joint account holder then receives an email with a link to sign; the form is not submitted until they all do
- Completed and signed Designate Beneficiaries form
- Government-issued photo ID
- List every beneficiary you want on the account, including any current beneficiary you want to keep — the form wipes and replaces the existing designations
- All primary and joint account holders must sign
Required Documents
- Beneficiary's full name, date of birth and Social Security number (for each beneficiary, including current ones to keep)
- Organization's name and TIN (for a trust or charity named as beneficiary). No date of birth or SSN is needed for an organization
- Primary account holder's full name, date of birth, SSN, mother's maiden name and address (on the DocuSign form)
- Each joint account holder's full name, date of birth, SSN and email address (on the DocuSign form). DocuSign routes the signature request to each joint holder by email
- Completed and signed Designate Beneficiaries form (at a BECU location)
- Government-issued photo ID (at a BECU location)
What BECU says about beneficiaries and trusts
Each section is BECU's own statement, with the document it comes from numbered under Sources.
Which accounts take a beneficiary3
- Payable-on-death account
Checking, savings, CD and money market accounts can have a beneficiary designation, on personal accounts only.1
- Business account
Business and club accounts cannot have beneficiary designations.1
- IRA
IRAs use a separate IRA beneficiary designation process. BECU will not take an IRA designation on form 6851; the IRA form is requested by phone.1
How many beneficiaries, and how shares are split
- All accounts
Percentages cannot be designated. BECU states that "Each beneficiary on an account will receive the same percentage."1
A form takes at most seven beneficiaries. To name more, complete multiple printed copies and return them by mail or in person; the DocuSign form does not extend past seven.2
What a designation takes to be effective
Beneficiary forms BECU issues3
- Designate Beneficiaries (Form 6851)
Completed by all primary and joint account holders, who each sign. Available to download.2
Return to
Mailing address: Attn: Account Servicing, BECU MS 1094-2, P.O. Box 97050, Seattle, WA 98124-9750
- Designate Beneficiaries form (DocuSign)
Completed online.1
- IRA beneficiary designation form
For IRAs. Sent by the institution on request.1
What BECU's agreement says about beneficiaries1
- Changing or revoking a designation
Submitting a new form removes all previous designations unless they are relisted on it.2
Which accounts a trust can hold3
- Trust account
BECU accepts both revocable and irrevocable trust accounts. Eligible account types are Member Share Savings, Savings, Checking, Money Market and CDs.4
Trust accounts do not qualify for Member Advantage rates.4
- IRA
An IRA is not converted to a trust account; a new trust savings account has to be opened instead.4
- Loan
If a revocable trust is being established for a HELOC, BECU handles it by phone or at a branch rather than with the packet.4
Trust account forms BECU issues5
- Request to Open Revocable or Irrevocable Trust Accounts (BECU form 1548)
For trust accounts. Available to download.4
Return to
Fax: 1-206-805-5612
Mailing address: BECU Account Servicing M/S 1094-2, P.O. Box 97050, Seattle, WA 98124-9750
- BECU Certification of Trust (Form 6001)
For trust accounts. Available to download.5
- Third Party Web Access Transfer Authorization (form 7655), for consumer accounts
Available to download.6
- Third Party Web Access Transfer Authorization (form 7656), for business and trust accounts
Available to download.7
- Trust Account Successor Trustee Certification and Account Closure Request (Form 6829)
For trust accounts. Available to download.8
What BECU says about trust accounts3
- Whether a new account is opened
BECU states it "is generally able to convert personal accounts to Revocable Trust accounts with the exception of Member Share Savings and Member Advantage Savings." For those two, a new trust savings account has to be opened instead.4
A checking account tied to an active line of credit cannot be converted, and a personal Member Share Savings account cannot be closed while any BECU loan is outstanding.4
- The trust's tax identification number
The trust tax ID must match the primary owner tax ID on the personal accounts being converted. BECU requires the acting trustees' SSNs plus the trust's TIN.4
Accounts handled elsewhere1
- BECU Trust Services (Members Trust Company)
Serving as trustee or successor trustee9
Phone: 1-206-812-5176
Email: becutrust@becu.org
Not in BECU's published guidance1
- A beneficiary form to download, for retirement accounts
Sources9
- 1.Designate Beneficiaries
- 2.Designate Beneficiaries (Form 6851)
- 3.BECU locations
- 4.Request to Open Revocable or Irrevocable Trust Accounts (BECU form 1548)
- 5.BECU Certification of Trust (Form 6001)
- 6.Third Party Web Access Transfer Authorization (form 7655)
- 7.Third Party Web Access Transfer Authorization (form 7656)
- 8.Trust Account Successor Trustee Certification and Account Closure Request (Form 6829)
- 9.BECU Trust Services
Sources
Data sourced from BECU primary sources (31 pages reviewed). How we research.
Download these BECU instructions
A printable PDF with the steps, required documents, and contact details, verified against BECU primary sources. Bring it to the branch or keep it beside the phone.
BECU estate support
BECU Trust Services (trade name of Members Trust Company, a federal thrift regulated by the OCC)
Phone
Trust Services via member support extension
Office
Mailing address
Website
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