Estate planning at First Tech
How to protect 26 First Tech accounts — manage beneficiaries in-branch, fund a trust in-branch, and file claims through First Tech's Addison Avenue Investment Services
Member Services
First Tech Federal Credit Union, PO Box 2100, Beaverton, OR 97075-2100
Regulatory Deposit Services and Reporting (Estate / Deceased Member)
First Tech Federal Credit Union, Attn: Regulatory Deposit Services and Reporting, PO Box 2100, Beaverton, OR 97075
How your First Tech accounts transfer at death depends on how each one is set up. As a membership-based credit union, First Tech national membership through 1,700+ tech employer partners. Over 50 branches (31 First Tech + 23 DCU) across CA, CO, GA, ID, MA, NH, OR, TX, and WA. Merged with DCU effective January 1, 2026, operating as two divisions during integration. Online and phone banking available nationwide. Surcharge-free access at nearly 30,000 CO-OP Network ATMs. With 26 account types, the transfer rules vary—getting the right designations in place now prevents delays and court involvement later.
First Tech lets account holders update beneficiary designations in branch, by mail, and by phone, typically taking 15-30 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.
First Tech provides specific procedures for both proactive estate planning and filing claims after a death.
Preparing your estate
Beneficiaries and trust funding
How to update beneficiaries in-branch, fund a trust in-branch, and review 26 account types at First Tech.
View details →When someone dies
Death claim process
Contact First Tech's Addison Avenue Investment Services to file a claim. 7-step process, 6 required documents, and contact information for survivors.
View details →Reach First Tech's Addison Avenue Investment Services at 1-855-744-8585 for help with any of these procedures.
Frequently asked questions
First Tech requires the complete trust document or a Certificate of Trust, the Fiduciary Membership Application (Form F-00002), government-issued photo ID for each trustee, the trust EIN (or settlor SSN for revocable trusts), and an opening deposit. Per First Tech bylaws, the trust must state the names of all beneficiaries in both revocable and irrevocable trusts. For revocable trusts the settlor must be a First Tech member in their own right; for irrevocable trusts either the settlor or a named beneficiary must be a member. Form F-00002 is downloadable from firsttechfed.com/help/forms.
Yes. This is a First Tech bylaw requirement that differs from many banks: trust beneficiary names must be stated in both revocable and irrevocable trusts before First Tech will accept the trust as a member or as a beneficiary. A trust that uses class language only ("my issue per stirpes") without naming current living beneficiaries may need to be amended or supplemented with a Certificate of Trust that lists current beneficiaries before First Tech will fund or pay it.
First Tech and DCU legally combined on January 1, 2026 into a single federally insured credit union (operating as two divisions during integration). Because they are now one charter, share balances across both divisions aggregate for NCUA insurance purposes at the standard $250,000 per share owner per ownership category limit. Members who previously held separately insured accounts at both institutions should review balances and add POD beneficiaries or restructure ownership categories to maintain full coverage if combined balances exceed $250,000.
Trust titling is available on most personal deposit accounts: Rewards Checking (added to trust/fiduciary eligibility effective January 1, 2026), Premier Rewards Checking, Dividends Rewards Checking, Carefree Checking, First Checking Plus, Membership Savings, Rewards Savings, Premier Rewards Savings, Carefree Savings, Instant Access Savings, and all Share Certificate types. Trust titling is not available on HSA Checking, Start Up youth accounts, or business/organization accounts. IRAs cannot be retitled to a trust under IRS rules, but a trust can be named as IRA beneficiary (consult a tax advisor about SECURE Act distribution rules).
Sources
Data sourced from First Tech primary sources (18 pages reviewed). How we research.
Member Services
First Tech Federal Credit Union, PO Box 2100, Beaverton, OR 97075-2100
Regulatory Deposit Services and Reporting (Estate / Deceased Member)
First Tech Federal Credit Union, Attn: Regulatory Deposit Services and Reporting, PO Box 2100, Beaverton, OR 97075
Estate planning articles
Learn how to protect your First Tech accounts and other assets with trusts, beneficiary designations, and estate planning documents.
