How to name beneficiaries and fund a trust at First Intl Bank
Covers 9 deposit, 2 retirement, and 5 lending accounts — beneficiaries must be updated in-branch
Customer Service
Phone(800) 359-8092
Toll-Free(800) 359-8092
Mailing Address
100 North Main, Watford City, ND 58854
WebsiteLearn more→
Wealth Enhancement Trust Services (formerly FIBT Wealth Services Division)
Phone1-833-307-3750
WebsiteLearn more→
Customer Service (FIBT publishes no separate estate or death-claim department; claims are opened through customer service or a branch)
Phone(800) 359-8092
Toll-Free(800) 359-8092
Mailing Address
First International Bank & Trust, 100 North Main, Watford City, ND 58854
Trust administration (Wealth Enhancement Trust Services, acquirer of the FIBT Wealth Services Division)
Mineral & Land Services / MineralTracker (inherited mineral and royalty interests)
WebsiteNotify online→
Verified Jul 2026
There are two ways to keep your First Intl Bank accounts out of probate: adding beneficiary designations and retitling eligible accounts into a revocable living trust. Which approach works best depends on the account type and your overall estate plan.
First Intl Bank has 16 product types, and the estate transfer rules differ across them. Some support Payable on Death (POD) designations, some can be retitled into a trust, and others will require probate if nothing is set up. Each is covered below.
Essential CheckingRewards CheckingAdvantage CheckingRegular SavingsFirst Money MarketPremium Money MarketCertificate of Deposit (CD)Higher Learning Fund CDHealth Savings Account (HSA)
1
Visit any First International Bank & Trust branch with government-issued photo ID
2
Request the appropriate beneficiary designation form:
- POD (Payable on Death) form for deposit accounts (checking, savings, money market, CDs)
- Separate IRA beneficiary designation form for IRA accounts
- HSA beneficiary designation form for Health Savings Accounts
3
Provide required information for each beneficiary:
- Full legal name and date of birth
- Social Security number
- Relationship to account holder
- Percentage allocation (must total 100%)
4
Designate primary and contingent beneficiaries
5
Sign and submit the completed form
Required Documents
- Trust name, date established, and tax ID (EIN or SSN)
Special Requirements
- POD designations available for deposit accounts (checking, savings, money market, CDs)
- Per FIBT's Terms and Conditions (TC-ND 6/1/2023), on a Single-Party Account With Pay-on-Death Designation ownership passes at the owner's death to the designated POD beneficiaries and is not part of the owner's estate; on a Multiple-Party Account With Right of Survivorship and Pay-on-Death Designation the POD beneficiaries take only after the last surviving party dies
- On a Single-Party Account with no POD designation, FIBT's Terms and Conditions state ownership passes as part of the party's estate -- probate paperwork will be required
- FIBT reserves the right to refuse some forms of ownership and beneficiary designation, and states it makes no representation as to the appropriateness or effect of a designation except as it determines to whom the funds are paid
- IRA accounts require a separate beneficiary designation; POD is not applicable to IRAs
- HSA accounts use a separate beneficiary designation form
- Online beneficiary designation is not available; must use branch, phone, or mail -- FIBT publishes no POD form for download
- A trust may be named as POD beneficiary on deposit accounts
- FDIC coverage up to $250,000 per POD beneficiary
- The account agreement is governed by federal law and the laws of the State of North Dakota, whatever state the account was opened in
Sources
Data sourced from First Intl Bank primary sources (15 pages reviewed). How we research.
Download these First Intl Bank instructions
Download instructions for the whole estateA printable PDF with the steps, required documents, and contact details — verified against First Intl Bank primary sources. Bring it to the branch or keep it beside the phone.
Customer Service
Phone(800) 359-8092
Toll-Free(800) 359-8092
Mailing Address
100 North Main, Watford City, ND 58854
WebsiteLearn more→
Wealth Enhancement Trust Services (formerly FIBT Wealth Services Division)
Phone1-833-307-3750
WebsiteLearn more→
Customer Service (FIBT publishes no separate estate or death-claim department; claims are opened through customer service or a branch)
Phone(800) 359-8092
Toll-Free(800) 359-8092
Mailing Address
First International Bank & Trust, 100 North Main, Watford City, ND 58854
Trust administration (Wealth Enhancement Trust Services, acquirer of the FIBT Wealth Services Division)
Mineral & Land Services / MineralTracker (inherited mineral and royalty interests)
WebsiteNotify online→
Verified Jul 2026
Estate planning articles
Learn how to protect your First Intl Bank accounts and other assets with trusts, beneficiary designations, and estate planning documents.
