How to name beneficiaries and fund a trust at ESL Federal CU
Covers 9 deposit, 3 retirement, and 4 investment accounts — beneficiaries must be updated in-branch
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
TTY
TTY (toll-free)
ESL Investment Services
WebsiteLearn more→
ESL Trust Services, LLC
Phone585-336-1300
Mailing Address
225 Chestnut Street, Rochester, NY 14604
TTY
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 Jul 2026
Preparing your ESL Federal CU accounts for estate transfer involves two key steps: designating beneficiaries on each account and, where appropriate, retitling accounts into a trust. Because ESL Federal CU is a membership-based institution, trust retitling must maintain the membership eligibility requirement. Accounts with Payable on Death designations or trust ownership bypass probate entirely.
Across 16 product types, ESL Federal CU 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.
ESL Free CheckingESL Premier CheckingESL Primary SavingsESL Daily DividendESL Money MakerESL Premier Money MakerESL Tiered Savings AccountESL Health Savings AccountESL Certificate
1
Visit any ESL full-service branch
2
Bring required materials:
- Government-issued photo ID
- Payable on Death (POD) beneficiary designation form (available at branch)
3
Complete the form with beneficiary details
4
All account owners must sign the form
Required Documents
- Trust name, date established, and tax ID (EIN or SSN)
Special Requirements
- ESL does not publish a POD or beneficiary form as a public PDF; request it in-branch or by calling 585-336-1000 / 800-848-2265 (TTY 585-336-1399)
- POD designations apply to deposit accounts including checking, savings, money maker, and certificates
- IRA, HSA, and Coverdell ESA accounts use separate beneficiary designation processes
- Funds in POD accounts are generally not part of the account owner's probate estate
- POD accounts are disbursed to then-living beneficiaries upon the death of all account owners
- Submitting a new POD designation replaces all prior beneficiary designations on the account
Sources
Data sourced from ESL Federal CU primary sources (24 pages reviewed). How we research.
Download these ESL Federal CU instructions
Download instructions for the whole estateA printable PDF with the steps, required documents, and contact details — verified against ESL Federal CU primary sources. Bring it to the branch or keep it beside the phone.
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
TTY
TTY (toll-free)
ESL Investment Services
WebsiteLearn more→
ESL Trust Services, LLC
Phone585-336-1300
Mailing Address
225 Chestnut Street, Rochester, NY 14604
TTY
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 Jul 2026
Estate planning articles
Learn how to protect your ESL Federal CU accounts and other assets with trusts, beneficiary designations, and estate planning documents.
