Estate planning at Congressional FCU
How to protect 15 Congressional FCU accounts — manage beneficiaries in-branch, fund a trust in-branch, and file death claims
Member Services
Congressional Federal Credit Union, PO Box 2408, Merrifield, VA 22116-2408
Member Services
Congressional Federal Credit Union, PO Box 2408, Merrifield, VA 22116-2408
Member Services - Death Claims
Congressional Federal Credit Union, PO Box 2408, Merrifield, VA 22116-2408
Congressional FCU is a credit union offering 15 accounts that interact with estate planning in different ways. As a membership-based credit union, Congressional FCU membership open to employees and members of eligible organizations, associations, and clubs on Capitol Hill and in the DC metro area. Includes current and retired members of Congress, congressional staff, and employees of partner organizations. Family members of existing members are also eligible. $5 minimum savings balance required to establish and maintain membership. Understanding how each account transfers at death—and which ones a trust can hold—helps families avoid probate delays and unintended outcomes.
Beneficiary changes at Congressional FCU can be made in branch and by mail. Accounts can also be retitled into a trust to keep them out of probate entirely.
Congressional FCU 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 15 account types at Congressional FCU.
View details →When someone dies
Death claim process
4-step process, 4 required documents, and contact information for survivors.
View details →Congressional FCU is not available nationwide. Estate planning procedures may vary by state, so confirm that your location is served before making account changes.
Frequently asked questions
Download the Designate a POD Beneficiary form from the Forms & Applications page on congressionalfcu.org or request one at any branch. Complete the form with each beneficiary's full legal name, Social Security number, date of birth, and relationship. Designate primary and contingent beneficiaries with percentage allocations. All account owners must sign the form. Submit by mail to PO Box 2408, Merrifield, VA 22116-2408 or at a branch. The POD form is for personal deposit accounts only and should not be used for IRA accounts.
Visit a Congressional FCU branch with the Certificate of Trust or relevant pages of the trust document and valid government-issued photo ID for all trustees. Complete a trust account application and the credit union will retitle accounts to trust ownership. Alternatively, you can name your trust as POD beneficiary on personal deposit accounts as a simpler approach. IRAs cannot be retitled to a trust -- name the trust as beneficiary instead. Call (703) 934-8300 or (800) 491-2328 to discuss which option is appropriate.
Yes. Congressional Financial Network provides investment advisory and securities services including mutual funds, IRAs, fixed and variable annuities, long-term care insurance, and life insurance. Registered Representatives offer securities through Securities America, Inc. (member FINRA/SIPC), and Investment Advisor Representatives offer financial advice through USAdvisors Wealth Management LLC. Congressional Federal Credit Union, USAdvisors Wealth Management, Congressional Financial Network, and the Securities America companies are separate entities. Investment products are not NCUA insured, not a credit union guarantee, and may lose value. Contact (703) 934-8300 and ask to speak with the Congressional Financial Network Consultant.
IRA beneficiary designations are completed on a separate IRA Beneficiary Designation Form, distinct from the POD form used for deposit accounts. You can designate primary and contingent beneficiaries with percentage allocations. A trust can be named as IRA beneficiary. The IRA beneficiary designation supersedes instructions in a will or trust. Download the IRA Designation of a Beneficiary form from the Forms & Applications page at congressionalfcu.org or request one at any branch.
Sources
Data sourced from Congressional FCU primary sources (20 pages reviewed). How we research.
Member Services
Congressional Federal Credit Union, PO Box 2408, Merrifield, VA 22116-2408
Member Services
Congressional Federal Credit Union, PO Box 2408, Merrifield, VA 22116-2408
Member Services - Death Claims
Congressional Federal Credit Union, PO Box 2408, Merrifield, VA 22116-2408
Estate planning articles
Learn how to protect your Congressional FCU accounts and other assets with trusts, beneficiary designations, and estate planning documents.
