Estate planning at Cathay Bank
How to protect 16 Cathay Bank accounts — manage beneficiaries in-branch, fund a trust in-branch, and file death claims
Phone(626) 582-7380
Toll-Free1-800-922-8429
Mailing Address
777 North Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Wealth management and estate planning advisory
WebsiteLearn more→
Phone(626) 582-7380
Toll-Free1-800-922-8429
Mailing Address
777 North Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Wealth management and estate planning advisory
WebsiteLearn more→
Death Claims
Phone1-800-922-8429
Toll-Free1-800-922-8429
Mailing Address
Cathay Bank, 777 North Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Verified May 2026
Cathay Bank has 16 accounts, each with different rules for what happens when the account holder dies. Of those, 11 can name a trust as beneficiary or be retitled into a trust. The right combination of beneficiary designations and trust ownership can keep the entire portfolio out of probate.
Beneficiary changes at Cathay Bank can be made in branch, by mail, and by phone. Accounts can also be retitled into a trust to keep them out of probate entirely.
Cathay Bank provides specific procedures for both proactive estate planning and filing claims after a death.
Preparing your estate
Beneficiaries and trust funding
How to update beneficiaries in-branch, fund a trust in-branch, and review 16 account types at Cathay Bank.
View details →When someone dies
Death claim process
4-step process, 8 required documents, and contact information for survivors.
View details →Cathay Bank is not available nationwide. Estate planning procedures may vary by state, so confirm that your location is served before making account changes.
Frequently asked questions
Cathay Bank handles trust account setup and retitling in branch rather than online. Bring a Certification of Trust (or the full trust agreement with signature and notary pages), all trust amendments, government-issued photo ID for every trustee, and the trust Social Security number or EIN. Existing non-IRA personal checking, savings, money market, and CD accounts can generally be converted to trust ownership with that documentation; IRA CDs cannot be retitled to a trust. Both revocable and irrevocable trusts are accepted. An in-branch visit is recommended so the documentation can be reviewed on the spot.
No. Cathay Bank itself does not act as a corporate trustee or operate a trust department. Estate planning and wealth transfer advisory is offered through Cathay Wealth Management, a marketing name of Cetera Investment Services LLC (member FINRA/SIPC), with advisory services through Cetera Investment Advisers LLC. A Cetera advisor can help with surviving-spouse and beneficiary planning and tax-efficient asset distribution, but you must name an individual or third-party corporate trustee in your trust document. Call 1-877-722-8429 to speak with a Financial Advisor. Cetera products are not FDIC insured, are not bank deposits, and may lose value.
Yes. While IRA accounts cannot be retitled to a trust, you can name a trust as the primary or contingent beneficiary of your Traditional IRA CD or Roth IRA CD. Visit a Cathay Bank branch or call 1-800-922-8429 to complete the IRA beneficiary designation form. Community property state residents may need spousal consent to name a non-spouse beneficiary.
No. Cathay Bank does not support POD beneficiary or trust designation changes through its digital banking platform. All beneficiary additions and updates must be made in person at a branch, by phone at 1-800-922-8429, or by mailing a completed POD beneficiary designation form to Cathay Bank, 777 North Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90012. Trust beneficiary designations require a copy of the Certification of Trust, and IRA beneficiary changes require a separate IRA beneficiary designation form. If you live in a community property state, naming a non-spouse IRA beneficiary may require spousal consent.
Sources
Data sourced from Cathay Bank primary sources (22 pages reviewed). How we research.
Phone(626) 582-7380
Toll-Free1-800-922-8429
Mailing Address
777 North Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Wealth management and estate planning advisory
WebsiteLearn more→
Phone(626) 582-7380
Toll-Free1-800-922-8429
Mailing Address
777 North Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Wealth management and estate planning advisory
WebsiteLearn more→
Death Claims
Phone1-800-922-8429
Toll-Free1-800-922-8429
Mailing Address
Cathay Bank, 777 North Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Verified May 2026
Estate planning articles
Learn how to protect your Cathay Bank accounts and other assets with trusts, beneficiary designations, and estate planning documents.
