Estate planning at East West Bank
How to protect 19 East West Bank accounts — manage beneficiaries in-branch, fund a trust in-branch, and file claims through East West Bank's Wealth Management
Phone1-888-895-5650
24-Hour Automated Banking (Domestic)
24-Hour Automated Banking (International)
WebsiteLearn more→
Death Claims
Phone1-888-895-5650
Toll-Free1-888-895-5650
Fax626-242-9570
Mailing Address
East West Bank, 135 N. Los Robles Ave., 7th Floor, Pasadena, CA 91101
Mortgage Servicing
Verified May 2026
How your East West Bank accounts transfer at death depends on how each one is titled and whether a beneficiary is on file. Of those, 17 can name a trust as beneficiary or be retitled into a trust. Getting these details right keeps assets out of probate and ensures they reach the intended recipients.
Beneficiary designations at East West Bank can be managed in branch, typically taking 15-30 minutes in branch. Trust funding is also available, allowing families to retitle accounts into the name of a revocable living trust.
There are two sides to estate planning at East West Bank: setting things up while you're alive, and the process survivors follow after a death.
Preparing your estate
Beneficiaries and trust funding
How to update beneficiaries in-branch, fund a trust in-branch, and review 19 account types at East West Bank.
View details →When someone dies
Death claim process
Contact East West Bank's Wealth Management to file a claim. 5-step process, 5 required documents, and contact information for survivors.
View details →Reach East West Bank's Wealth Management at 1-888-978-8617 for help with any of these procedures.
Because East West Bank serves a limited number of states, procedures for trust funding and beneficiary changes may differ depending on your location. Verify availability before starting.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. Checking, savings, money market, and CD accounts can be retitled into the name of a revocable living trust. Visit a branch with your Certificate of Trust or full trust agreement and government-issued ID for all trustees. The bank will complete new signature cards in the trust name. A revocable trust generally does not need its own EIN -- income is reported under the grantor's SSN.
No. IRS rules do not permit IRAs to be retitled into a trust during the account holder's lifetime. However, you can name a trust as the beneficiary of your IRA. East West Bank IRAs are offered through Cetera Investment Services LLC, and IRA beneficiary designations require a separate form from the deposit account POD form.
Yes. East West Bank Wealth Management offers consultations with multilingual Financial Consultants who speak English, Mandarin, Cantonese, and Spanish. Call 1-888-978-8617 (Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM - 5:30 PM PT) for assistance. Investment services are offered through Cetera Investment Services LLC.
East West Bank Wealth Management provides estate planning consultations and refers clients to Cetera Investment Services LLC for investment and insurance products. East West Bank itself does not act as a corporate trustee or executor. Clients who need a corporate fiduciary should consult an attorney or trust company.
Sources
Data sourced from East West Bank primary sources (26 pages reviewed). How we research.
Phone1-888-895-5650
24-Hour Automated Banking (Domestic)
24-Hour Automated Banking (International)
WebsiteLearn more→
Death Claims
Phone1-888-895-5650
Toll-Free1-888-895-5650
Fax626-242-9570
Mailing Address
East West Bank, 135 N. Los Robles Ave., 7th Floor, Pasadena, CA 91101
Mortgage Servicing
Verified May 2026
Estate planning articles
Learn how to protect your East West Bank accounts and other assets with trusts, beneficiary designations, and estate planning documents.
