Estate planning and settlement at Consumers CU

Consumers CU offers 26 accounts, each with its own rules for what happens when a member dies. As a membership-based credit union, Consumers CU cCU members have access to 22 branches and an expanded network of ATMs throughout northern Illinois (https://www.myconsumers.org/support/contact-us/locations). Branch locations listed on that page include Lake Forest, Schaumburg (including Meacham Rd.), Arlington Heights, Northbrook, Kildeer, Mundelein, Gurnee, Waukegan and North Waukegan, Volo, Round Lake Beach, Lake in the Hills, Carol Stream, Streamwood, Carpentersville, Geneva, Aurora, Elgin and Downtown Elgin, Loves Park, and Mt. Morris — the Elgin-area branches reflecting the KCT merger. Membership is open to anyone who joins the Consumers Cooperative Association with a one-time $5 fee that CCU reimburses (the reimbursement does not apply to indirect members or those joining to refinance a loan), plus a $5 minimum balance in a Membership Savings account. Over 30,000 surcharge-free ATMs nationwide; shared branching is also available. Headquarters and mailing address: Consumers Credit Union, 300 N Field Dr., Lake Forest, IL 60045. Routing number 271989950. Some transfer automatically to a named beneficiary, others can be held in a trust, and a few may require probate if no plan is in place.

Consumers CU lets account holders update beneficiary designations in branch and by phone, typically taking 15 to 30 minutes in a branch. Trust funding is also available, allowing families to retitle accounts into the name of a revocable living trust.