Estate planning at Citizens Business Bank
How to protect 14 Citizens Business Bank accounts — manage beneficiaries in-branch, fund a trust in-branch, and file claims through Citizens Business Bank's CitizensTrust Wealth Management
C
CitizensTrust Wealth Management
Phone1-888-228-2265
Mailing Address
701 N Haven Avenue, Ontario, CA 91764
WebsiteLearn more→
Client Services
Phone1-888-228-2265
Toll-Free1-888-228-2265
Mailing Address
701 N Haven Avenue, Ontario, CA 91764
Verified Apr 2026
Citizens Business Bank has 14 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.
Citizens Business Bank lets account holders update beneficiary designations in branch and by phone, typically taking 15-30 minutes in branch. Trust funding is also available, allowing families to retitle accounts into the name of a revocable living trust.
There are two sides to estate planning at Citizens Business Bank: setting things up while you're alive, and the process survivors follow after a death.
Preparing your estate
Beneficiaries and trust funding
How to update beneficiaries in-branch, fund a trust in-branch, and review 14 account types at Citizens Business Bank.
View details →When someone dies
Death claim process
Contact Citizens Business Bank's CitizensTrust Wealth Management to file a claim. 6-step process, 6 required documents, and contact information for survivors.
View details →Reach Citizens Business Bank's CitizensTrust Wealth Management at 1-888-228-2265 for help with any of these procedures.
Because Citizens Business Bank serves a limited number of states, procedures for trust funding and beneficiary changes may differ depending on your location. Verify availability before starting.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. Visit a Business Financial Center with your trust document (full trust agreement or Certification of Trust), government-issued photo ID, and the trust tax identification number. A banker will help you complete the retitling paperwork. For CitizensTrust wealth management accounts, contact your CitizensTrust advisor.
CitizensTrust is the wealth management and trust division of Citizens Business Bank with approximately $5.0 billion in assets under management and administration. It provides personal trust administration, estate planning coordination, estate settlement, investment management, retirement planning, charitable services, and business succession planning. Securities and advisory services are offered through LPL Financial (member FINRA/SIPC). CitizensTrust operates from 3 trust office locations in California.
Yes. Through the CitizensTrust division, Citizens Business Bank offers comprehensive trust administration including personal trust management, special needs trust administration, estate settlement, fiduciary services, and investment management. CitizensTrust operates from 3 trust office locations in California and their team includes Certified Trust and Financial Advisors with extensive experience administering a broad range of trust relationships.
CDARS (Certificate of Deposit Account Registry Service) allows you to place large deposits through Citizens Business Bank, which are then distributed into certificates of deposit at other financial institutions in the CDARS network. This provides FDIC insurance coverage beyond the standard $250,000 limit while maintaining a single banking relationship with Citizens Business Bank.
Citizens Business Bank operates exclusively in California, with over 60 banking centers and 3 trust office locations serving the Inland Empire, Los Angeles County, Orange County, San Diego County, Ventura County, Santa Barbara County, and Central California. The corporate headquarters is in Ontario, California. Following the Heritage Commerce Corp. merger (closing expected April 17, 2026), the combined organization will have more than 75 offices with expanded Bay Area presence.
CVB Financial Corp. (parent of Citizens Business Bank) and Heritage Commerce Corp. (parent of Heritage Bank of Commerce) reached an all-stock merger agreement valued at approximately $811 million. The merger received regulatory approvals from the Federal Reserve and OCC, and was approved by shareholders of both companies on March 26, 2026. The merger is expected to close on April 17, 2026, creating a combined organization with approximately $22 billion in assets and more than 75 offices across California, including expanded Bay Area presence.
Sources
Data sourced from Citizens Business Bank primary sources (25 pages reviewed). How we research.
C
CitizensTrust Wealth Management
Phone1-888-228-2265
Mailing Address
701 N Haven Avenue, Ontario, CA 91764
WebsiteLearn more→
Client Services
Phone1-888-228-2265
Toll-Free1-888-228-2265
Mailing Address
701 N Haven Avenue, Ontario, CA 91764
Verified Apr 2026
Estate planning articles
Learn how to protect your Citizens Business Bank accounts and other assets with trusts, beneficiary designations, and estate planning documents.
