How to name beneficiaries and fund a trust at Bell Bank
Covers 10 deposit, and 1 retirement accounts — beneficiaries must be updated in-branch
Customer Service
Bell Bank Wealth Management — Trust and Financial Planning
Bell Bank, PO Box 10877, Fargo, ND 58106-0877
Customer Service (Death Notification)
Bell Bank, PO Box 10877, Fargo, ND 58106-0877
Estate planning for your Bell Bank accounts starts with understanding how each one transfers at death. Beneficiary designations and trust retitling both bypass probate, but the right approach depends on the account type, your tax situation, and how much control you want over distributions.
Bell Bank has 11 product types, and the estate transfer rules differ across them. Some support Payable on Death (POD) designations, some can be retitled into a trust, and others will require probate if nothing is set up. Each is covered below.
- Beneficiary full legal name
- Date of birth
- Social Security number
- Percentage allocation if naming more than one beneficiary
Required Documents
- Trust name, date established, and tax ID (EIN or SSN)
Special Requirements
- A POD beneficiary does not need to be present or a Bell Bank customer
- Named POD beneficiaries pass outside of probate and override instructions in a will
- Variable Rate IRAs must be opened and updated at a branch, not online
Sources
Data sourced from Bell Bank primary sources (11 pages reviewed). How we research.
Download these Bell Bank instructions
Download instructions for the whole estateA printable PDF with the steps, required documents, and contact details — verified against Bell Bank primary sources. Bring it to the branch or keep it beside the phone.
Customer Service
Bell Bank Wealth Management — Trust and Financial Planning
Bell Bank, PO Box 10877, Fargo, ND 58106-0877
Customer Service (Death Notification)
Bell Bank, PO Box 10877, Fargo, ND 58106-0877
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