How to name beneficiaries and fund a trust at East West Bank
Covers 13 deposit, 4 retirement, and 2 lending accounts — beneficiaries must be updated in-branch
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 Jul 2026
Preparing your East West Bank accounts for estate transfer involves two primary strategies: designating beneficiaries on individual accounts and, where supported, retitling accounts into a revocable living trust. Both approaches bypass probate, but they work differently depending on the account type.
Across 19 product types, East West Bank accounts vary in how they transfer at death. The sections below walk through Payable on Death (POD) designations, trust funding options, and which products support each method.
Value CheckingPremier CheckingPremier Maximizer Money Market CheckingSenior CheckingStudent Plus CheckingCommunity CheckingGlobal Student AccountGlobal CheckingPremier SavingsSenior SavingsStudent Plus SavingsPremier High Yield SavingsCertificate of Deposit (CD)
1
Visit an East West Bank branch with a government-issued photo ID (find a branch at https://www.eastwestbank.com/en/branch-locator)
2
Request the appropriate beneficiary designation form:
- POD (Payable on Death) form for deposit accounts
- IRA beneficiary designation form for retirement accounts (separate from the POD form)
3
Provide each beneficiary's information:
- Full legal name, date of birth, and Social Security number
- Relationship to account holder and mailing address
- Primary and contingent designations with percentage allocations totaling 100%
4
Sign the completed designation form
5
Keep a copy of the signed form for your records
Required Documents
- Trust name, date established, and tax ID (EIN or SSN)
Special Requirements
- In-branch process only -- online beneficiary designation is not available
- Named beneficiaries override your will
- Multilingual assistance available in English, Mandarin, Cantonese, and Spanish
Sources
Data sourced from East West Bank primary sources (15 pages reviewed). How we research.
Download these East West Bank instructions
Download instructions for the whole estateA printable PDF with the steps, required documents, and contact details — verified against East West Bank primary sources. Bring it to the branch or keep it beside the phone.
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 Jul 2026
Estate planning articles
Learn how to protect your East West Bank accounts and other assets with trusts, beneficiary designations, and estate planning documents.
