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

Citizens Bank

Subsidiary of Citizens Financial Group, Inc.

citizensbank.com
Citizens Bank logo

Customer Service

Citizens Access Online Accounts
IRA Questions
Checking, Savings, Money Market, CD Questions
Online Banking Support

Citizens Private Wealth / Estate Services

Mailing Address

Citizens Bank Estate Services, PO Box 42001, Providence, RI 02940-9418

Decedent Account Processing

Fax855-724-2362
Mailing Address

Citizens - Decedent Account Processing, One Citizens Bank Way JCB270, Johnston, RI 02919

Citizens Access Death Claims
Mortgage Loan Servicing
Home Equity Loan Servicing
Home Equity Loan Servicing (alt)
Verified Jul 2026

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.

One Deposit CheckingCitizens EverValue CheckingCitizens Quest CheckingCitizens Private Client CheckingStudent CheckingOne Deposit SavingsCitizens Quest SavingsCitizens Private Client SavingsCitizens Access Online SavingsPersonal Money MarketCitizens Quest Money MarketCitizens Private Client Money MarketCertificate of Deposit (CD)Citizens Access Online CD
1
Sign in to your Citizens Bank online banking account at citizensbank.com
2
Select "Manage Beneficiaries" from the "Account Services" menu
3
Select "Add Beneficiaries" for the desired account
4
Complete the beneficiary profile:
  • 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
5
Review and confirm your selections

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
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust Editorial·

Sources

Data sourced from Citizens Bank primary sources (21 pages reviewed). How we research.

Download these Citizens Bank instructions

Download instructions for the whole estate

A 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.

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