How to name beneficiaries and fund a trust at Great Plains Bank
Beneficiaries are managed in branch or by phone. Trust paperwork is taken in branch
Estate planning for your Great Plains Bank accounts starts with understanding how each one transfers at death. Beneficiary designations and trust retitling both bypass probate, but the right approach depends on the account type, your tax situation, and how much control you want over distributions.
Great Plains Bank offers 13 accounts, each with its own transfer rules. The sections below cover how to set up beneficiaries, fund a trust, and which products support each approach.
Beneficiary form at Great Plains Bank
Payable on Death (POD) Beneficiary Designation (for payable-on-death accounts) and IRA Beneficiary Designation (for IRAs).
- Full legal name, date of birth, SSN, relationship, and address for each beneficiary
- Primary and contingent designations with percentage allocations
- For trust beneficiaries, bring a copy of the trust agreement or Certification of Trust
- Provide account information and beneficiary details
- A representative may require you to visit a branch or submit documentation for IRA or trust beneficiary changes
Required Documents
- Beneficiary's full legal name
- Beneficiary's date of birth
- Beneficiary's Social Security number
- Beneficiary's relationship to you
- Beneficiary's mailing address
- Government-issued photo ID (at a branch)
- Copy of the trust agreement or Certification of Trust (to name a trust as beneficiary)
- Trust agreement or Certification of Trust
- Government-issued photo ID for all trustees named in the trust
- Trust's tax identification number
Required Documents
- Certification of Trust or full trust agreement. Either a Certification of Trust or the full trust agreement is accepted
- Government-issued photo ID (for all trustees named in the trust)
- Trust name and trustee information
- Trust tax identification number
- Completed IRS Form W-9
- New account signature card (completed at the branch)
- Full legal name, date of birth, SSN, relationship, and address for each beneficiary
- Primary and contingent designations with percentage allocations
- For trust beneficiaries, bring a copy of the trust agreement or Certification of Trust
- Provide account information and beneficiary details
- A representative may require you to visit a branch or submit documentation for IRA or trust beneficiary changes
Required Documents
- Beneficiary's full legal name
- Beneficiary's date of birth
- Beneficiary's Social Security number
- Beneficiary's relationship to you
- Beneficiary's mailing address
- Government-issued photo ID (at a branch)
- Copy of the trust agreement or Certification of Trust (to name a trust as beneficiary)
What Great Plains Bank says about beneficiaries and trusts
Each section is Great Plains Bank's own statement, with the document it comes from numbered under Sources.
Which accounts take a beneficiary2
- Payable-on-death account
Deposit accounts (checking, savings and CDs) take a POD (payable on death) beneficiary designation.1
- IRA
IRA beneficiaries are named on a separate IRA beneficiary designation form, with primary and contingent beneficiaries.1
For an IRA beneficiary change by phone, a representative may require you to visit a branch or submit documentation.1
Who can be named1
- A trust
A trust can be named as beneficiary with a copy of the trust agreement or Certification of Trust. For a trust beneficiary change by phone, a representative may require a branch visit or documentation.1
How many beneficiaries, and how shares are split
- All accounts
At a branch, primary and contingent beneficiaries are designated with percentage allocations.1
What a designation takes to be effective
- All accounts
A signed paper designation at a branch is required.1
Beneficiary forms Great Plains Bank issues2
- Payable on Death (POD) Beneficiary Designation
For payable-on-death accounts. Completed by the account owner, at a branch. Provided at a branch.1
- IRA Beneficiary Designation
For IRAs. Completed by the account owner, at a branch. Provided at a branch.1
What Great Plains Bank's agreement says about beneficiaries1
- Online access
Beneficiary designations cannot be added or changed through Internet Banking, which the bank describes as letting you "check your balances, view your transaction history and transfer funds," plus bill pay.2
Which accounts a trust can hold3
- Trust account
Trust accounts are available for checking, savings and CD accounts.1
- IRA
IRA accounts cannot be retitled to a trust.1
- Safe deposit box
Safe deposit boxes are rented at the branches. A box is not retitled by the trust account paperwork and is re-rented in the trust name separately.1
What Great Plains Bank says about trust accounts1
- Online access
A branch visit is required to open or retitle a trust account. Great Plains Bank offers no online account opening and no mailed trust-account packet.1
Not in Great Plains Bank's published guidance2
- A beneficiary form to download
- An online way to name a beneficiary
Sources2
- 1.Great Plains Bank branch and phone guidance
- 2.Internet Banking
Sources
Data sourced from Great Plains Bank primary sources (15 pages reviewed). How we research.
Download these Great Plains Bank instructions
Download instructions for the whole estateA printable PDF with the steps, required documents, and contact details — verified against Great Plains Bank primary sources. Bring it to the branch or keep it beside the phone.
Great Plains Bank estate support
Customer Service (Aberdeen main office)
Phone
Eden branch
Eureka branch
Gettysburg loan production office
Fax
Hours
Mailing address
Website
Estate requests go through general customer service.
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