Estate planning at Commerce Bank
How to protect 10 Commerce Bank accounts — manage beneficiaries in-branch, fund a trust in-branch, and file claims through Commerce Bank's Commerce Trust Company
Phone1-800-453-2265
Mailing Address
Commerce Bank, 1000 Walnut Street, Kansas City, MO 64106
Spanish-Language Assistance
International / Outside U.S. (collect)
WebsiteLearn more →
Commerce Trust Company
Phone(816) 234-2552
Mailing Address
Commerce Trust Company, 1000 Walnut Street, Kansas City, MO 64106
WebsiteLearn more →
Death Claims
Phone1-800-453-2265
Toll-Free1-800-453-2265
Mailing Address
Contact your local Commerce Bank branch for the appropriate mailing address for estate documents
Verified Mar 2026
Commerce Bank offers 10 consumer accounts that interact with estate planning in distinct ways. Of those, 2 can name a trust as beneficiary or be retitled into a trust. Understanding the transfer methods available for each account type helps families keep assets out of probate and ensure they pass to the right people.
Beneficiary designations at Commerce Bank can be managed in branch, by mail, 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.
Commerce 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 10 account types at Commerce Bank.
View details →When someone dies
Death claim process
Contact Commerce Bank's Commerce Trust Company to file a claim. 9-step process, 9 required documents, and contact information for survivors.
View details →For questions about any of these procedures, contact Commerce Bank's Commerce Trust Company at (816) 234-2552. Email inquiries can be sent to thecommercetrustcompany@commercebank.com.
Commerce Bank operates in select states, so estate planning procedures may vary by location. Confirm availability in your state before initiating trust funding or account changes.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. A trust can be named as a POD beneficiary on Commerce Bank deposit accounts. Visit a branch with the full legal trust name, date of trust, and trustee information. A banker will help you complete the beneficiary designation form with the trust details.
Yes. Commerce Bank supports both revocable and irrevocable trust accounts for checking, savings, money market, and CD accounts. Visit a branch with your Certification of Trust or required trust agreement pages, trustee identification, and the trust tax identification number. Existing personal accounts can typically be retitled to a trust if the same SSN is retained for revocable living trusts.
No. IRA accounts cannot be retitled to a trust at Commerce Bank or any financial institution, per IRS regulations. However, you can name a trust as the beneficiary of your IRA. Contact Commerce Financial Advisors or visit a branch to update your IRA beneficiary designation. Naming a trust as IRA beneficiary may affect required minimum distribution rules for beneficiaries.
Yes. Commerce Bank deposit accounts are FDIC insured. POD beneficiaries receive separate FDIC insurance coverage of up to $250,000 per beneficiary. Trust accounts are also FDIC insured up to the maximum allowed by law, based on the number of qualifying beneficiaries under the trust.
You need a Certification of Trust (or the relevant pages of your trust agreement identifying the trust name, date, grantors, trustees, and trustee powers), government-issued photo ID for all trustees, and the trust tax identification number (EIN) or grantor SSN for revocable trusts. Bring any amendments to the original trust agreement. Visit a Commerce Bank branch to complete the application.
Phone1-800-453-2265
Mailing Address
Commerce Bank, 1000 Walnut Street, Kansas City, MO 64106
Spanish-Language Assistance
International / Outside U.S. (collect)
WebsiteLearn more →
Commerce Trust Company
Phone(816) 234-2552
Mailing Address
Commerce Trust Company, 1000 Walnut Street, Kansas City, MO 64106
WebsiteLearn more →
Death Claims
Phone1-800-453-2265
Toll-Free1-800-453-2265
Mailing Address
Contact your local Commerce Bank branch for the appropriate mailing address for estate documents
Verified Mar 2026
Estate planning resources for Commerce Bank customers
Tools and documents to help protect your Commerce Bank accounts.
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