How to name beneficiaries and fund a trust at Citizens Bank
Covers 14 deposit, 2 retirement, and 2 lending accounts — beneficiaries can be managed online

Customer Service
Citizens Private Wealth / Estate Services
Citizens Bank Estate Services, PO Box 42001, Providence, RI 02940-9418
Decedent Account Processing
Citizens - Decedent Account Processing, One Citizens Bank Way JCB270, Johnston, RI 02919
Preparing your Citizens Bank accounts for estate transfer involves two primary strategies: designating beneficiaries on individual accounts and, where supported, retitling accounts into a revocable living trust. Both approaches bypass probate, but they work differently depending on the account type.
Across 18 product types, Citizens Bank 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.
- For individual beneficiaries: provide full name, Social Security number, date of birth, and address
- For trusts: provide full trust name and date of trust
- Assign percentage allocations to each beneficiary (must total 100%)
- Designate as primary or contingent beneficiary
Required Documents
- Trust name, date established, and tax ID (EIN or SSN)
Special Requirements
- Up to 15 beneficiary profiles can be added per account
- Trusts can be named as POD beneficiaries
- Primary and contingent beneficiaries allowed
- Multiple beneficiaries can be named with percentage allocations totaling 100%
- Beneficiary designations override will provisions for POD accounts
- For IRA beneficiary changes, complete the IRA Beneficiary Form through a Financial Advisor at a branch or mail to Citizens Securities, Inc. JCB135 PO Box 42033 Providence, RI 02940
Sources
Data sourced from Citizens Bank primary sources (21 pages reviewed). How we research.
Download these Citizens Bank instructions
Download instructions for the whole estateA printable PDF with the steps, required documents, and contact details — verified against Citizens Bank primary sources. Bring it to the branch or keep it beside the phone.

Customer Service
Citizens Private Wealth / Estate Services
Citizens Bank Estate Services, PO Box 42001, Providence, RI 02940-9418
Decedent Account Processing
Citizens - Decedent Account Processing, One Citizens Bank Way JCB270, Johnston, RI 02919
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