How to name beneficiaries and fund a trust at BNY
Beneficiaries are managed online, by phone or by mail. Trust paperwork is taken in branch, by phone or by mail
BNY operates under a new nameRebranded, effective June 2024
The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation unified its public brand to "BNY" in June 2024, and bny.com now states in its own footer that "BNY is the corporate brand of The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation." The consumer wealth division, formerly BNY Mellon Wealth Management, operates as BNY Wealth; the RIA/broker-dealer custody arm, formerly BNY Mellon Pershing, is Pershing LLC D/B/A BNY Pershing. Same legal entity — no merger or acquisition. Legacy "BNY Mellon" naming survives where it is legally attached: the BNY Mellon Family of Funds, BNY Mellon Securities Corporation (distributor), BNY Mellon Transfer, Inc. (mutual-fund transfer agent), and BNY Mellon, N.A. (bank custody). The file id and slug retain "bny-mellon" so legacy links resolve.
The key to protecting your BNY accounts is making sure each one has a transfer mechanism in place—either a beneficiary designation or trust ownership. Without one, the account goes through probate, adding time, cost, and court involvement for your family.
Across 11 product types, BNY 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 BNY
IRA Beneficiary Designation Form (mutual fund IRAs) (for IRAs), IRA Beneficiary Designation Form (brokerage IRAs) (for IRAs), Beneficiary Designation Form (mutual fund non-IRA accounts, Adobe Sign digital form) (for investment accounts), Change of Registration Authorization Form (TOD section) (for investment accounts), Individual Transfer on Death Account Agreement (brokerage non-IRA) (for investment accounts), Joint Transfer on Death Account Agreement (brokerage non-IRA) (for investment accounts) and 403(b)(7) Account Beneficiary Designation Form (for employer retirement plans).
Open the form →- BNY Wealth clients: log in at wealth.bny.com and contact your relationship manager to update beneficiary or TOD designations
- BNY mutual fund accounts (including mutual fund IRAs): log in at my.accessportals.com
- BNY Brokerage accounts: log in at the BNY Brokerage portal
- BNY Wealth clients: call 1-800-610-8229 to speak with a wealth management professional, or your own relationship manager
- BNY Investments mutual fund accounts: 1-800-645-6561 (24/7 express voice-activated system) or 1-800-373-9387 for a BNY Funds representative (9am-5pm ET, Monday-Friday)
- BNY Brokerage accounts: 1-800-843-5466 (24/7 automated; Brokerage Services representatives 8am-6pm ET, Monday-Friday)
- BNY 403(b)(7) and retirement plan accounts: 1-800-358-0910 (9am-5pm ET, Monday-Friday)
- Account number
- Beneficiary full name, SSN/Tax ID, date of birth, and relationship (spouse or other)
- Allocation percentage, and, if a beneficiary is a minor, the custodian you are designating and the minor's date of birth
- Mutual fund IRA accounts: IRA Beneficiary Designation Form (im-ira-beneficiary-designation-form.pdf)
- Brokerage IRA accounts: IRA Beneficiary Designation Form
- Mutual fund non-IRA accounts: Beneficiary Designation Form (digital Adobe Sign form) or the TOD section of the Change of Registration Authorization Form
- Brokerage non-IRA accounts: Individual Transfer on Death Account Agreement or Joint Transfer on Death Account Agreement
- 403(b)(7) accounts: 403(b)(7) Account Beneficiary Designation Form (ret-403-ben-dsgt-form.pdf)
- Mutual fund forms: BNY Shareholder Services, P.O. Box 534434, Pittsburgh, PA 15253-4434
- Mutual fund overnight/registered/certified mail: BNY Shareholder Services, Attention: 534434, 500 Ross Street, 154-0520, Pittsburgh, PA 15262
- Brokerage forms: BNY Brokerage Services, PO Box 958408, Lake Mary, FL 32795
- Brokerage overnight/certified mail: BNY Brokerage Services, 600 Colonial Center Parkway - Suite 400, Lake Mary, FL 32746
Required Documents
- Account number (by phone)
- Beneficiary's full name
- Beneficiary's SSN or Tax ID
- Beneficiary's date of birth
- Beneficiary's relationship to you. Spouse or other
- Allocation percentage for each beneficiary
- The custodian you are designating and the minor's date of birth (when a beneficiary is a minor)
- The beneficiary form for the account, completed (by mail)
- Certification of Trust, or the trust agreement pages identifying the trust, grantor(s), trustee(s), successor trustee(s), and trustee powers
- Government-issued photo ID for every trustee
- Trust taxpayer ID (EIN) for an irrevocable trust, or the grantor's SSN for a revocable grantor trust
- BNY mutual fund trust accounts: Certificate of Trust Form (im-cert-trust-form.pdf), plus the Change of Registration Authorization Form (im-carf-and-application.pdf) to retitle an existing account
- BNY Brokerage trust accounts: Trust Account Certification Form (mbs-trust-acct-cert-form.pdf), which certifies the trust powers and adds authorized persons
- Trust name and date of trust
- State or country where the trust was established and the trust's tax residence
- All trustees, their signatures, and the trustee powers
- Trust taxpayer ID number
- Mutual fund forms: BNY Shareholder Services, P.O. Box 534434, Pittsburgh, PA 15253-4434
- Mutual fund overnight/registered/certified mail, and any package enclosing share certificates: Attention: 534434, 500 Ross Street, 154-0520, Pittsburgh, PA 15262
- Brokerage forms: BNY Brokerage Services, PO Box 958408, Lake Mary, FL 32795
- Brokerage overnight/certified mail: 600 Colonial Center Parkway - Suite 400, Lake Mary, FL 32746
Required Documents
- Certificate of Trust Form or Trust Account Certification Form (the Certificate of Trust Form for a mutual fund account; the Trust Account Certification Form for a brokerage account). A Certification of Trust, Trust Abstract or Affidavit of Trust prepared under state law is also taken, with the required trust excerpt attached
- Trust excerpt. Shows the trust name, trustee signatures, and the pages and amendments identifying the trustees, successor trustees or attorney-in-fact. Required in addition to the certificate
- Relevant pages of the trust agreement. Trust name, trust date, trustees and their signatures, trustee powers, successor trustee provisions, and the signature and notary pages
- First page and signature page(s) of the probated will (for a testamentary trust). The probated will confirming the trust was created
- Amendments to the trust agreement (if any)
- Death certificates (if a grantor or original trustee has died)
- Government-issued photo ID (for every trustee)
- Trust taxpayer ID number. The trust's EIN for an irrevocable trust, or the grantor's SSN for a revocable grantor trust
- Medallion Signature Guarantee (on the mutual fund trust and change-of-registration forms). Notarization is not accepted in its place. BNY Mellon Transfer, Inc. accepts guarantees from the NYSE Medallion Signature Program (MSP), STAMP and SEMP
- Account Application, completed (when an existing account is retitled). The change of registration opens a new account
- Multi-purpose Certification Form (where specific individuals must be authorized to transact on an account registered to a trust)
- BNY Wealth clients: log in at wealth.bny.com and contact your relationship manager to update beneficiary or TOD designations
- BNY mutual fund accounts (including mutual fund IRAs): log in at my.accessportals.com
- BNY Brokerage accounts: log in at the BNY Brokerage portal
- BNY Wealth clients: call 1-800-610-8229 to speak with a wealth management professional, or your own relationship manager
- BNY Investments mutual fund accounts: 1-800-645-6561 (24/7 express voice-activated system) or 1-800-373-9387 for a BNY Funds representative (9am-5pm ET, Monday-Friday)
- BNY Brokerage accounts: 1-800-843-5466 (24/7 automated; Brokerage Services representatives 8am-6pm ET, Monday-Friday)
- BNY 403(b)(7) and retirement plan accounts: 1-800-358-0910 (9am-5pm ET, Monday-Friday)
- Account number
- Beneficiary full name, SSN/Tax ID, date of birth, and relationship (spouse or other)
- Allocation percentage, and, if a beneficiary is a minor, the custodian you are designating and the minor's date of birth
- Mutual fund IRA accounts: IRA Beneficiary Designation Form (im-ira-beneficiary-designation-form.pdf)
- Brokerage IRA accounts: IRA Beneficiary Designation Form
- Mutual fund non-IRA accounts: Beneficiary Designation Form (digital Adobe Sign form) or the TOD section of the Change of Registration Authorization Form
- Brokerage non-IRA accounts: Individual Transfer on Death Account Agreement or Joint Transfer on Death Account Agreement
- 403(b)(7) accounts: 403(b)(7) Account Beneficiary Designation Form (ret-403-ben-dsgt-form.pdf)
- Mutual fund forms: BNY Shareholder Services, P.O. Box 534434, Pittsburgh, PA 15253-4434
- Mutual fund overnight/registered/certified mail: BNY Shareholder Services, Attention: 534434, 500 Ross Street, 154-0520, Pittsburgh, PA 15262
- Brokerage forms: BNY Brokerage Services, PO Box 958408, Lake Mary, FL 32795
- Brokerage overnight/certified mail: BNY Brokerage Services, 600 Colonial Center Parkway - Suite 400, Lake Mary, FL 32746
Required Documents
- Account number (by phone)
- Beneficiary's full name
- Beneficiary's SSN or Tax ID
- Beneficiary's date of birth
- Beneficiary's relationship to you. Spouse or other
- Allocation percentage for each beneficiary
- The custodian you are designating and the minor's date of birth (when a beneficiary is a minor)
- The beneficiary form for the account, completed (by mail)
- Certification of Trust, or the trust agreement pages identifying the trust, grantor(s), trustee(s), successor trustee(s), and trustee powers
- Government-issued photo ID for every trustee
- Trust taxpayer ID (EIN) for an irrevocable trust, or the grantor's SSN for a revocable grantor trust
- BNY mutual fund trust accounts: Certificate of Trust Form (im-cert-trust-form.pdf), plus the Change of Registration Authorization Form (im-carf-and-application.pdf) to retitle an existing account
- BNY Brokerage trust accounts: Trust Account Certification Form (mbs-trust-acct-cert-form.pdf), which certifies the trust powers and adds authorized persons
- Trust name and date of trust
- State or country where the trust was established and the trust's tax residence
- All trustees, their signatures, and the trustee powers
- Trust taxpayer ID number
- Mutual fund forms: BNY Shareholder Services, P.O. Box 534434, Pittsburgh, PA 15253-4434
- Mutual fund overnight/registered/certified mail, and any package enclosing share certificates: Attention: 534434, 500 Ross Street, 154-0520, Pittsburgh, PA 15262
- Brokerage forms: BNY Brokerage Services, PO Box 958408, Lake Mary, FL 32795
- Brokerage overnight/certified mail: 600 Colonial Center Parkway - Suite 400, Lake Mary, FL 32746
Required Documents
- Certificate of Trust Form or Trust Account Certification Form (the Certificate of Trust Form for a mutual fund account; the Trust Account Certification Form for a brokerage account). A Certification of Trust, Trust Abstract or Affidavit of Trust prepared under state law is also taken, with the required trust excerpt attached
- Trust excerpt. Shows the trust name, trustee signatures, and the pages and amendments identifying the trustees, successor trustees or attorney-in-fact. Required in addition to the certificate
- Relevant pages of the trust agreement. Trust name, trust date, trustees and their signatures, trustee powers, successor trustee provisions, and the signature and notary pages
- First page and signature page(s) of the probated will (for a testamentary trust). The probated will confirming the trust was created
- Amendments to the trust agreement (if any)
- Death certificates (if a grantor or original trustee has died)
- Government-issued photo ID (for every trustee)
- Trust taxpayer ID number. The trust's EIN for an irrevocable trust, or the grantor's SSN for a revocable grantor trust
- Medallion Signature Guarantee (on the mutual fund trust and change-of-registration forms). Notarization is not accepted in its place. BNY Mellon Transfer, Inc. accepts guarantees from the NYSE Medallion Signature Program (MSP), STAMP and SEMP
- Account Application, completed (when an existing account is retitled). The change of registration opens a new account
- Multi-purpose Certification Form (where specific individuals must be authorized to transact on an account registered to a trust)
- BNY Wealth clients: log in at wealth.bny.com and contact your relationship manager to update beneficiary or TOD designations
- BNY mutual fund accounts (including mutual fund IRAs): log in at my.accessportals.com
- BNY Brokerage accounts: log in at the BNY Brokerage portal
- BNY Wealth clients: call 1-800-610-8229 to speak with a wealth management professional, or your own relationship manager
- BNY Investments mutual fund accounts: 1-800-645-6561 (24/7 express voice-activated system) or 1-800-373-9387 for a BNY Funds representative (9am-5pm ET, Monday-Friday)
- BNY Brokerage accounts: 1-800-843-5466 (24/7 automated; Brokerage Services representatives 8am-6pm ET, Monday-Friday)
- BNY 403(b)(7) and retirement plan accounts: 1-800-358-0910 (9am-5pm ET, Monday-Friday)
- Account number
- Beneficiary full name, SSN/Tax ID, date of birth, and relationship (spouse or other)
- Allocation percentage, and, if a beneficiary is a minor, the custodian you are designating and the minor's date of birth
- Mutual fund IRA accounts: IRA Beneficiary Designation Form (im-ira-beneficiary-designation-form.pdf)
- Brokerage IRA accounts: IRA Beneficiary Designation Form
- Mutual fund non-IRA accounts: Beneficiary Designation Form (digital Adobe Sign form) or the TOD section of the Change of Registration Authorization Form
- Brokerage non-IRA accounts: Individual Transfer on Death Account Agreement or Joint Transfer on Death Account Agreement
- 403(b)(7) accounts: 403(b)(7) Account Beneficiary Designation Form (ret-403-ben-dsgt-form.pdf)
- Mutual fund forms: BNY Shareholder Services, P.O. Box 534434, Pittsburgh, PA 15253-4434
- Mutual fund overnight/registered/certified mail: BNY Shareholder Services, Attention: 534434, 500 Ross Street, 154-0520, Pittsburgh, PA 15262
- Brokerage forms: BNY Brokerage Services, PO Box 958408, Lake Mary, FL 32795
- Brokerage overnight/certified mail: BNY Brokerage Services, 600 Colonial Center Parkway - Suite 400, Lake Mary, FL 32746
Required Documents
- Account number (by phone)
- Beneficiary's full name
- Beneficiary's SSN or Tax ID
- Beneficiary's date of birth
- Beneficiary's relationship to you. Spouse or other
- Allocation percentage for each beneficiary
- The custodian you are designating and the minor's date of birth (when a beneficiary is a minor)
- The beneficiary form for the account, completed (by mail)
What BNY says about beneficiaries and trusts
Each section is BNY's own statement, with the document it comes from numbered under Sources.
Which accounts take a beneficiary2
- Account in one name
TOD registration is available on an account registered to an individual with a U.S. address outside Louisiana.1
- Joint account with survivorship
TOD registration is available on an account owned jointly with rights of survivorship or as tenants by the entirety, with a U.S. address outside Louisiana.1
Who can be named2
How many beneficiaries, and how shares are split
- All accounts
Percentages for all primary beneficiaries must total 100%, and for all secondary beneficiaries 100%. If no percentages are designated, BNY assumes an even split among the primary beneficiaries and among the secondary beneficiaries.1
Any fractional shares left over after dividing the account among several primary beneficiaries go to the first-named primary beneficiary; the same rule applies to the first-named secondary beneficiary.1
Beneficiary forms BNY issues7
- IRA Beneficiary Designation Form (mutual fund IRAs)
For IRAs. Available to download.1
Return to
Mailing address: BNY Shareholder Services, P.O. Box 534434, Pittsburgh, PA 15253-4434
- IRA Beneficiary Designation Form (brokerage IRAs)
For IRAs. Available to download.2
Return to
Mailing address: BNY Brokerage Services, PO Box 958408, Lake Mary, FL 32795
- Beneficiary Designation Form (mutual fund non-IRA accounts, Adobe Sign digital form)
For investment accounts. Completed online.1
- Change of Registration Authorization Form (TOD section)
For investment accounts. Available to download.3
Return to
Mailing address: BNY Shareholder Services, P.O. Box 534434, Pittsburgh, PA 15253-4434
- Individual Transfer on Death Account Agreement (brokerage non-IRA)
For investment accounts. Available to download.1
Return to
Mailing address: BNY Brokerage Services, PO Box 958408, Lake Mary, FL 32795
- Joint Transfer on Death Account Agreement (brokerage non-IRA)
For investment accounts. Available to download.1
Return to
Mailing address: BNY Brokerage Services, PO Box 958408, Lake Mary, FL 32795
- 403(b)(7) Account Beneficiary Designation Form
For employer retirement plans. Available to download.1
What BNY's agreement says about beneficiaries4
- A beneficiary who dies first
A secondary (contingent) beneficiary receives the account only if all primary beneficiaries die before the owner.1
- No beneficiary survives
If no beneficiary or TOD designation is on file at death, the account is paid to the deceased owner's estate.1
- Joint accounts
On a joint account, shares transfer to the beneficiaries only on the death of the last surviving account owner.1
- Changing or revoking a designation
BNY states the designations remain in full force and effect until another properly completed form or other written instructions are received.1
State requirements BNY statesLouisiana
Which accounts a trust can hold1
- Investment account
A BNY Brokerage account (non-IRA) has a $10,000 minimum. BNY Investments is the low-minimum route into the same fund family for a smaller trust.1
Trust account forms BNY issues5
- Certificate of Trust Form (mutual fund)
Available to download.1
Return to
Mailing address: BNY Shareholder Services, P.O. Box 534434, Pittsburgh, PA 15253-4434
- Change of Registration Authorization Form
Available to download.3
Return to
Mailing address: BNY Shareholder Services, P.O. Box 534434, Pittsburgh, PA 15253-4434
- Trust Account Certification Form (brokerage)
Available to download.1
Return to
Mailing address: BNY Brokerage Services, PO Box 958408, Lake Mary, FL 32795
- Account Application
Sent by the institution on request.3
- Multi-purpose Certification Form
Sent by the institution on request.4
What BNY says about trust accounts2
- Whether a new account is opened
BNY states that a change of registration requires that a new account be established. Privileges on the current account do not carry over and must be re-applied for on a new Account Application.3
A change of registration is slower than a new account because BNY must open the new account, stop and reinvest outstanding checks, and move the shares.3
BNY states that a re-registered account needs a new cost basis reporting method elected for a non-money-market fund.1
- Account numbers
Retitling an existing mutual fund account into a trust opens a new account number, so checkwriting and other privileges must be re-established.3
Accounts handled elsewhere1
- BNY Pershing
Beneficiary paperwork for accounts custodied by BNY Pershing through the owner's own financial advisor1
Not in BNY's published guidance4
- A BNY Wealth self-service beneficiary form
- A BNY Wealth account minimum
- A BNY Wealth fee schedule
- A stated mutual fund account minimum
Sources
Data sourced from BNY primary sources (17 pages reviewed). How we research.
Download these BNY instructions
Download instructions for the whole estateA printable PDF with the steps, required documents, and contact details — verified against BNY primary sources. Bring it to the branch or keep it beside the phone.
BNY estate support
BNY Wealth Trust & Estate Services
Phone
Website
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