Preparing your GE Credit Union accounts for estate transfer involves two key steps: designating beneficiaries on each account and, where appropriate, retitling accounts into a trust. Because GE Credit Union is a membership-based institution, trust retitling must maintain the membership eligibility requirement. Accounts with Payable on Death designations or trust ownership bypass probate entirely.

With 15 product types, GE Credit Union 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.

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1Visit any GECU branch with government-issued photo ID

2Request a POD (Payable on Death) beneficiary designation form

3Provide beneficiary details: full name, date of birth, Social Security number, and relationship

4Designate primary and contingent beneficiaries

5Specify percentage allocation if naming multiple beneficiaries

6Sign 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, certificates, money market)
POD designations do not apply to IRA accounts; IRAs use a separate beneficiary designation
To name a beneficiary other than your spouse, you and your spouse must complete the form and the spouse signature must be notarized
When two or more beneficiaries are named and survive the death of all account owners, beneficiaries own the account in equal shares without right of survivorship
Account owners may change beneficiaries, change account types, and withdraw funds at any time
A will or trust does not override the beneficiary designation form on file with GECU
Review recommended after marriage, divorce, birth, or death of a beneficiary