Preparing your First Hawaiian 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 18 product types, First Hawaiian 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.

Pure CheckingPriority Banking GoldPriority Banking PlatinumRegular SavingsYesSavingsMaxiMizerCertificate of Deposit

1Visit any First Hawaiian Bank branch with government-issued photo ID

2Request to add a Payable on Death (POD) or "in trust for" beneficiary designation to your deposit account

3Provide beneficiary information: full legal name, relationship, and contact details

4If naming multiple beneficiaries, specify the percentage allocation for each

5Review and sign the beneficiary designation form with a banker

6For IRA accounts, request the IRA beneficiary designation form and complete with beneficiary details

Required Documents

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

Special Requirements

POD/"in trust for" designations on deposit accounts require an in-branch visit
POD designations are available only at Hawaii branches and are not available at Guam or CNMI branches
Named beneficiaries override your will
Upon death of the last surviving trustee, funds are paid to the named beneficiary or beneficiaries jointly if more than one is living
First Hawaiian Bank's online banking disclosures describe an "in trust for" designation where the account is held by the trustee(s) for one or more beneficiaries