How to name beneficiaries and fund a trust at Desert Financial
Covers 10 deposit, 3 retirement, and 1 investment accounts — beneficiaries must be updated in-branch
Phone(602) 433-7000
Toll-Free(800) 456-9171
Mailing Address
Desert Financial Credit Union, P.O. Box 2945, Phoenix, AZ 85062-2945
Text
24-Hour Phone Banking
New Accounts & Loans
Business Members
WebsiteLearn more→
Operations Resolutions
Phone(602) 433-7000
Toll-Free(800) 456-9171
Mailing Address
Desert Financial Credit Union, Attn: Operations Resolutions, P.O. Box 2945, Phoenix, AZ 85062-2945
Verified Jul 2026
The goal with your Desert Financial accounts is to make sure every account has a transfer mechanism in place—either a POD beneficiary designation or trust ownership. Because Desert Financial is a membership-based institution, trust retitling must maintain the membership eligibility requirement. Accounts without either one will require probate, which means court involvement and delays for your family.
Each of Desert Financial's 14 accounts has different rules for how it transfers at death. The sections below explain the options for each.
Free CheckingMembership SavingsAdditional SavingsHealth Savings Account (HSA)Money MarketJumbo Money MarketSavings CertificateJumbo CertificateCollege Savings CertificateKickstart Checking
1
Visit any Desert Financial branch (approximately 50 locations across Arizona)
2
Bring government-issued photo ID
3
Request to add or update Payable on Death (POD) beneficiary designation
4
Provide beneficiary information:
- Full legal name, date of birth, Social Security number, and relationship
- For trusts as beneficiary: trust name, date of trust, and trust EIN
- Percentage allocation if naming multiple beneficiaries
5
Sign the Account Application or Replacement Agreement
Required Documents
- Trust name, date established, and tax ID (EIN or SSN)
Special Requirements
- POD available for deposit accounts (checking, savings, money market, certificates)
- Certain accounts are not eligible for POD: business accounts, organization accounts, IRAs, and youth accounts
- Trusts can be named as POD beneficiaries on eligible accounts
- NCUA coverage up to $250,000 per POD beneficiary
- Credit union is not obligated to notify POD beneficiaries of the designation
- Investment accounts through Raymond James have separate beneficiary designation processes
- No standalone downloadable beneficiary designation form published; designation is completed in branch or by phone using the Account Application or Replacement Agreement
Sources
Data sourced from Desert Financial primary sources (18 pages reviewed). How we research.
Download these Desert Financial instructions
Download instructions for the whole estateA printable PDF with the steps, required documents, and contact details — verified against Desert Financial primary sources. Bring it to the branch or keep it beside the phone.
Phone(602) 433-7000
Toll-Free(800) 456-9171
Mailing Address
Desert Financial Credit Union, P.O. Box 2945, Phoenix, AZ 85062-2945
Text
24-Hour Phone Banking
New Accounts & Loans
Business Members
WebsiteLearn more→
Operations Resolutions
Phone(602) 433-7000
Toll-Free(800) 456-9171
Mailing Address
Desert Financial Credit Union, Attn: Operations Resolutions, P.O. Box 2945, Phoenix, AZ 85062-2945
Verified Jul 2026
Estate planning articles
Learn how to protect your Desert Financial accounts and other assets with trusts, beneficiary designations, and estate planning documents.
