Estate planning at Firefighters First
How to protect 24 Firefighters First accounts — manage beneficiaries in-branch, fund a trust in-branch, and file claims through Firefighters First's Trust Services (Members Trust Company)
Member Services / Call Center
Firefighters First Credit Union, P.O. Box 60890, Los Angeles, CA 90060-0890
Member Services - Death Notification
Firefighters First Credit Union, P.O. Box 60890, Los Angeles, CA 90060-0890 (overnight: 1520 West Colorado Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91105)
How your Firefighters First accounts transfer at death depends on how each one is set up. As a membership-based credit union, Firefighters First national membership for firefighters and their families representing 1,600+ fire departments. Branches across Arizona, California, Florida, Tennessee, Texas, and Washington. Online and mobile banking available nationwide. Surcharge-free access at 30,000+ CO-OP Network ATMs and 7,000+ Shared Branches. With 24 account types, the transfer rules vary—getting the right designations in place now prevents delays and court involvement later.
Beneficiary designations at Firefighters First can be managed in branch, by mail, and by phone, typically taking 15-20 minutes in branch; 1-2 weeks by mail. Trust funding is also available, allowing families to retitle accounts into the name of a revocable living trust.
Firefighters First has documented procedures for both preparing accounts during your lifetime and handling claims when an account holder passes away.
Preparing your estate
Beneficiaries and trust funding
How to update beneficiaries in-branch, fund a trust in-branch, and review 24 account types at Firefighters First.
View details →When someone dies
Death claim process
Contact Firefighters First's Trust Services (Members Trust Company) to file a claim. 6-step process, 6 required documents, and contact information for survivors.
View details →For questions about any of these procedures, contact Firefighters First's Trust Services (Members Trust Company) at 1-800-231-1626.
Frequently asked questions
Most personal deposit accounts can be titled to a trust, including eChecking, Ready Checking, Regular Share Savings, Money Market, and Share Certificates (6-month through 5-year terms). IRA and retirement accounts cannot be titled to a trust. Specialty accounts such as Rookie Certificates, Dream Home Certificates, Holiday Helper Savings, and Coverdell ESA accounts are not eligible for trust titling. Investment accounts through Firehouse Financial can also be held in a trust.
Firefighters First offers investment services through Firehouse Financial, powered by LPL Financial (member FINRA/SIPC). Services include financial planning, retirement planning with MoneyGuidePro, college savings, tax-advantaged savings (IRAs, 401(k)s, 457 plans), Deferred Retirement Option Plan (DROP) programs, and life and long-term care insurance. Five registered representatives are available. Trust administration services are provided through Members Trust Company.
Membership is available to firefighters, fire department employees, and their families nationwide. The credit union serves over 75,000 members representing 1,600+ fire departments. Branches are located in Arizona, California, Florida, Tennessee, Texas, and Washington, with online and mobile banking available nationwide. Members also have surcharge-free access to 30,000+ CO-OP Network ATMs and 7,000+ Shared Branches.
Call Member Services at 800-231-1626 (Monday-Friday, 6:00am-5:00pm PT) or visit any branch during business hours (Monday-Friday, 7:00am-4:00pm local time). For trust services, request a consultation with a Trust Officer through the Trust Services department at https://www.firefightersfirstcu.org/Planning/Estate-Planning/Trust-Officer, which partners with Members Trust Company. For investment accounts, contact the Firehouse Financial team at https://www.firefightersfirstcu.org/Firehouse-Financial/Contact. Mailing address: P.O. Box 60890, Los Angeles, CA 90060-0890. Overnight deliveries: 1520 West Colorado Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91105.
IRA accounts at Firefighters First cannot be titled to a trust, but they do require a separate beneficiary designation at account opening. Account owners can update beneficiaries at any time by submitting a new Designation / Change of Beneficiary form. A trust can be named as primary or contingent beneficiary on an IRA; consult a tax advisor before doing so because post-SECURE Act distribution rules for trust beneficiaries differ from individual beneficiaries. NCUA insurance covers IRA deposits up to $250,000 per owner.
Yes. Firefighters First Credit Union is federally insured by the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) up to $250,000 per individual depositor per ownership category. POD beneficiary designations can increase insurance coverage by providing separate $250,000 coverage per eligible beneficiary on qualifying accounts. Trust and investment products offered through Members Trust Company and Firehouse Financial (LPL Financial) are not insured by NCUA and may lose value.
The Dream Home Share Certificate is a specialty 4-month certificate earning 5.75% APY with a $5,000 minimum deposit. It allows unlimited additional deposits and one penalty-free withdrawal for a down payment on a home purchase when paired with an active mortgage application. If the mortgage application remains open at maturity, the certificate auto-renews into a 6-month Dream Home Certificate. This product is not eligible for trust titling.
Sources
Data sourced from Firefighters First primary sources (22 pages reviewed). How we research.
Member Services / Call Center
Firefighters First Credit Union, P.O. Box 60890, Los Angeles, CA 90060-0890
Member Services - Death Notification
Firefighters First Credit Union, P.O. Box 60890, Los Angeles, CA 90060-0890 (overnight: 1520 West Colorado Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91105)
Estate planning articles
Learn how to protect your Firefighters First accounts and other assets with trusts, beneficiary designations, and estate planning documents.
