How to name beneficiaries and fund a trust at Dow CU
Covers 13 deposit, 3 retirement, and 2 lending accounts — beneficiaries must be updated in-branch
Member Contact Center
Dow Credit Union, P.O. Box 1649, Midland, MI 48641-1649
Member Contact Center
Dow Credit Union, P.O. Box 1649, Midland, MI 48641-1649
Member Services - Deceased Member Accounts
Dow Credit Union, P.O. Box 1649, Midland, MI 48641-1649
Estate planning at Dow CU means getting each account set up so it transfers automatically when you die—either through a POD beneficiary or trust ownership. Because Dow CU is a membership-based institution, trust retitling must maintain the membership eligibility requirement. Without one of these in place, accounts may require probate before your family can access the funds.
With 18 product types, Dow CU 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.
- Full legal name
- Date of birth
- Social Security number
- Relationship to account holder
- Percentage allocation, if the form allows multiple beneficiaries
Required Documents
- Trust name, date established, and tax ID (EIN or SSN)
Special Requirements
- Notarization is required when the Membership and Services Application (which carries the Beneficiary Information section) is not completed in person with a Dow Credit Union officer
- POD designations apply to deposit accounts (checking, savings, high-yield deposits, certificates)
- A POD designation pays out only after the LAST account owner dies; where more than one beneficiary survives, they take jointly with rights of survivorship (Account Agreement, POD/Trust Account Designation)
- Dow Credit Union is not obligated to notify a beneficiary that an account exists or that their interest has vested (Account Agreement, POD/Trust Account Designation)
- IRA beneficiary designations are separate from deposit account POD designations
- HSA beneficiary designations are separate from other account types
- Spousal consent may be required for IRA beneficiary changes depending on plan type
- A joint owner on a Dow CU account can request account maintenance, including changing beneficiaries (Account Agreement, joint account consent clause)
- Beneficiary designations supersede instructions in a will
Sources
Data sourced from Dow CU primary sources (16 pages reviewed). How we research.
Download these Dow CU instructions
Download instructions for the whole estateA printable PDF with the steps, required documents, and contact details — verified against Dow CU primary sources. Bring it to the branch or keep it beside the phone.
Member Contact Center
Dow Credit Union, P.O. Box 1649, Midland, MI 48641-1649
Member Contact Center
Dow Credit Union, P.O. Box 1649, Midland, MI 48641-1649
Member Services - Deceased Member Accounts
Dow Credit Union, P.O. Box 1649, Midland, MI 48641-1649
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