Preparing your Commerce 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.

With 10 product types, Commerce Bank offers a range of transfer options. Some accounts support Payable on Death (POD) designations, others can be retitled into a trust, and some require probate if no beneficiary is designated. The sections below break down each step.

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1Visit any Commerce Bank branch location

2Bring the Certification of Trust or full trust agreement

3Provide trustee identification (government-issued photo ID for all trustees)

4Provide the trust tax identification number (EIN) or grantor SSN for revocable trusts

5Complete the trust account application and signature card

6Fund the account via transfer from an existing account or deposit

Required Documents

Certification of Trust (also called Trust Abstract or Affidavit of Trust)
If no Certification of Trust: pages identifying the trust name, date, grantors, and trustees
Provisions related to trustee powers and successor trustee designation
Signature and notary pages from the trust agreement
Any amendments to the original trust agreement
Government-issued photo ID for all trustees
Social Security number or Tax ID number (EIN) for the trust
Death certificates if grantor or trustee is deceased (for successor trustee situations)

Special Requirements

Both revocable and irrevocable trusts are accepted. Existing personal accounts can typically be retitled to a trust if the same SSN is retained (revocable living trusts). IRA accounts cannot be retitled to a trust. Commerce Trust Company, the bank wealth management division, provides comprehensive trust administration and management services for clients who want professional trust oversight.