Estate planning at ESL Federal CU
How to protect 16 ESL Federal CU accounts — manage beneficiaries in-branch, fund a trust in-branch, and file claims through ESL Federal CU's ESL Trust Services
Phone585-336-1000
Toll-Free1-800-848-2265
Fax585-336-1138
Mailing Address
ESL Federal Credit Union, P.O. Box 92714, Rochester, NY 14692-8814
WebsiteLearn more →
ESL Trust Services
Phone585-336-1300
Mailing Address
225 Chestnut Street, Rochester, NY 14604
WebsiteLearn more →
Customer Case Specialist Team
Phone585-336-1599
Emaildepositops@esl.org
Fax585-336-1283
Mailing Address
ESL Federal Credit Union, 225 Chestnut Street, Rochester, NY 14604
WebsiteNotify online →
Verified Mar 2026
ESL Federal CU is a credit union offering 16 accounts that interact with estate planning in different ways. As a membership-based credit union, ESL Federal CU serves members in the Rochester, New York metropolitan area. Membership is open to anyone who lives, works, worships, or attends school in the counties of Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Orleans, Seneca, Steuben, Wayne, Wyoming, or Yates through a complimentary membership in the George Eastman Museum. Also open to employees of Eastman Kodak and other eligible employer groups. Understanding how each account transfers at death—and which ones a trust can hold—helps families avoid probate delays and unintended outcomes.
Beneficiary designations at ESL Federal CU can be managed in branch and by mail, typically taking 15 minutes to complete; processing time varies. Trust funding is also available, allowing families to retitle accounts into the name of a revocable living trust.
ESL Federal CU provides specific procedures for both proactive estate planning and filing claims after a death.
Preparing your estate
Beneficiaries and trust funding
How to update beneficiaries in-branch, fund a trust in-branch, and review 16 account types at ESL Federal CU.
View details →When someone dies
Death claim process
Contact ESL Federal CU's ESL Trust Services to file a claim. 12-step process, 9 required documents, and contact information for survivors.
View details →For questions about any of these procedures, contact ESL Federal CU's ESL Trust Services at 585-336-1300.
ESL Federal CU operates in select states, so estate planning procedures may vary by location. Confirm availability in your state before initiating trust funding or account changes.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. ESL Trust Services, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of ESL Federal Credit Union, provides trust administration, estate settlement, fiduciary investment management, and corporate trustee/executor services. ESL Trust Services received New York State authorization in July 2017. Contact the Trust Services team at 585-336-1300, Monday-Friday 8 AM - 5 PM ET. Trust and investment products are not NCUA or FDIC insured.
Yes. ESL Trust Services, LLC can serve as corporate trustee or executor. Their team manages administration, investments, tax preparation, and record keeping. They collaborate with your attorney on the financial implications of your plan. Contact ESL Trust Services at 585-336-1300. These services are provided through the ESL Trust Services subsidiary and are not NCUA or FDIC insured.
Membership is open to anyone who lives, works, worships, or attends school in the New York counties of Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Orleans, Seneca, Steuben, Wayne, Wyoming, or Yates through a complimentary membership in the George Eastman Museum. Employees of Eastman Kodak and other eligible employer groups also qualify.
No. POD designations apply only to deposit accounts such as checking, savings, money maker, and certificates. IRA, HSA, and Coverdell Education Savings accounts use separate beneficiary designation processes governed by their respective account agreements. Contact ESL to ensure your retirement account beneficiary designations are current.
Yes. ESL deposit accounts are insured by the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) up to $250,000 per depositor, per insured credit union. IRA accounts receive separate $250,000 coverage. Trust and investment products offered through ESL Trust Services, LLC are not NCUA or FDIC insured and involve investment risk.
Yes. ESL checking, savings, money maker, and certificate accounts can be retitled to a revocable living trust. Visit any full-service branch or contact ESL at 585-336-1000 to initiate the process. You will need to provide the trust document or certification of trust, government-issued ID for all trustees, and the trust TIN/EIN.
ESL does not publish the POD beneficiary designation form as a public download. To obtain the form, visit any full-service branch or contact ESL at 585-336-1000 or 800-848-2265. The completed form can be submitted in-branch or by mail to ESL Federal Credit Union, 225 Chestnut Street, Rochester, NY 14604.
Phone585-336-1000
Toll-Free1-800-848-2265
Fax585-336-1138
Mailing Address
ESL Federal Credit Union, P.O. Box 92714, Rochester, NY 14692-8814
WebsiteLearn more →
ESL Trust Services
Phone585-336-1300
Mailing Address
225 Chestnut Street, Rochester, NY 14604
WebsiteLearn more →
Customer Case Specialist Team
Phone585-336-1599
Emaildepositops@esl.org
Fax585-336-1283
Mailing Address
ESL Federal Credit Union, 225 Chestnut Street, Rochester, NY 14604
WebsiteNotify online →
Verified Mar 2026
Estate planning resources for ESL Federal CU customers
Tools and documents to help protect your ESL Federal CU accounts.
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