Preparing your Fifth Third 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.

With 15 product types, Fifth Third Bank 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.

Fifth Third Momentum® CheckingFifth Third Preferred Checking®Fifth Third Momentum® SavingsFifth Third Relationship Money MarketCertificate of Deposit (CD)Fifth Third Express Banking®

1Visit your local Fifth Third banking center with valid government-issued photo ID

2Request a Payable on Death (POD) designation form for deposit accounts

3For Fifth Third Securities investment/retirement accounts, request a beneficiary designation form

4Provide beneficiary details: full legal name, date of birth, and Social Security number

5Designate primary and contingent beneficiaries with percentage allocations

6For trusts as beneficiary: provide trust name, date established, and EIN

7Sign the completed designation form with a banker

Required Documents

Trust name, date established, and tax ID (EIN or SSN)

Special Requirements

Trusts can be named as POD beneficiaries with trust name, date, and EIN
Primary and contingent beneficiaries can be designated
All account owners must agree to beneficiary designations on joint accounts
Named beneficiaries override your will
HSA beneficiary designation requires a separate form (HSA Designation of Death Beneficiary)