Estate planning at CEFCU
How to protect 15 CEFCU accounts — manage beneficiaries in-branch, fund a trust in-branch, and file claims through CEFCU's CEFCU Trust and Investment Management (trust and estate settlement services provided by Members Trust Company)
CEFCU Member Contact Center
CEFCU, P.O. Box 1805, Peoria, IL 61656-1805
CEFCU Trust and Investment Management (trust and estate settlement services provided by Members Trust Company)
7900 N. University Street, Peoria, IL 61615
CEFCU Member Contact Center (deceased member accounts) — settlement completed at a Member Center
CEFCU, P.O. Box 1805, Peoria, IL 61656-1805
CEFCU is a credit union offering 15 accounts that interact with estate planning in different ways. As a membership-based credit union, CEFCU serves members through Member Centers in Central Illinois, Metro East Illinois, and California (https://www.cefcu.com/locations/). Membership is open to those who live, work, or worship in eligible Illinois and California counties, to Caterpillar Inc. and partner-company employees and retirees, and to immediate family and household members of eligible individuals. CEFCU also admits the spouse of a member who has passed away, provided the surviving spouse establishes membership within six months of the member's death (https://www.cefcu.com/who-can-join.html). Once joined, membership continues for life. Headquarters: 2801 W. War Memorial Dr., Peoria, IL 61613. Understanding how each account transfers at death—and which ones a trust can hold—helps families avoid probate delays and unintended outcomes.
Managing beneficiaries at CEFCU is straightforward—changes can be made in branch and by phone, typically taking 15-30 minutes at a Member Center. Trust funding is also available, allowing families to retitle accounts into the name of a revocable living trust.
CEFCU has documented procedures for both preparing accounts during your lifetime and handling claims when an account holder passes away.
Preparing your estate
Beneficiaries and trust funding
How to update beneficiaries in-branch, fund a trust in-branch, and review 15 account types at CEFCU.
View details →When someone dies
Death claim process
Contact CEFCU's CEFCU Trust and Investment Management (trust and estate settlement services provided by Members Trust Company) to file a claim. 8-step process, 7 required documents, and contact information for survivors.
View details →CEFCU's CEFCU Trust and Investment Management (trust and estate settlement services provided by Members Trust Company) can answer questions about beneficiaries, trusts, or death claims at 1-800-633-7077 ext. 32681.
CEFCU 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
CEFCU calls it a Totten Trust Designation. It is not part of the Signature Card — the Signature Card only collects joint members and a "nearest relative," which is a contact field, not a beneficiary. CEFCU also has a separate Totten Trust Revocation document for cancelling a designation. Neither is published as a downloadable PDF: they are signed at a Member Center, or electronically if the member has consented to CEFCU's E-Sign Disclosure and Consent. There is no online beneficiary tool, so plan to visit a Member Center or start the request at 1.800.542.3328.
Sources
Data sourced from CEFCU primary sources (22 pages reviewed). How we research.
CEFCU Member Contact Center
CEFCU, P.O. Box 1805, Peoria, IL 61656-1805
CEFCU Trust and Investment Management (trust and estate settlement services provided by Members Trust Company)
7900 N. University Street, Peoria, IL 61615
CEFCU Member Contact Center (deceased member accounts) — settlement completed at a Member Center
CEFCU, P.O. Box 1805, Peoria, IL 61656-1805
Estate planning articles
Learn how to protect your CEFCU accounts and other assets with trusts, beneficiary designations, and estate planning documents.
