How to name beneficiaries and fund a trust at Great Plains Bank
Covers 10 deposit, 2 retirement, and 1 lending accounts — beneficiaries must be updated in-branch
Customer Service (Aberdeen main office)
Phone(605) 725-9400
Fax(605) 725-9405
Mailing Address
Great Plains Bank, P.O. Box 2140, Aberdeen, SD 57402
Eden branch
Eureka branch
Gettysburg loan production office (loans only, by appointment)
WebsiteLearn more→
Customer Service (Aberdeen main office)
Phone(605) 725-9400
Fax(605) 725-9405
Mailing Address
Great Plains Bank, P.O. Box 2140, Aberdeen, SD 57402
Eden branch
Eureka branch
Gettysburg loan production office (loans only, by appointment)
WebsiteLearn more→
Branch Customer Service -- there is no central estate or claims unit; the branch holding the account settles it. Aberdeen main office contact: Susan Schaible-Heiser, Customer Service Manager.
Phone(605) 725-9400
Fax(605) 725-9405
Mailing Address
Great Plains Bank, P.O. Box 2140, Aberdeen, SD 57402
Eden branch (fax (605) 486-4833; P.O. Box 7, Eden, SD 57232)
Eureka branch (fax (605) 284-2807; P.O. Box 8, Eureka, SD 57437)
WebsiteNotify online→
Verified Jul 2026
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.
Freedom CheckingFreedom Plus CheckingCentury CheckingPersonal SavingsMoney Maker SavingsMoney Maker Extra SavingsYouth SavingsCertificate of DepositJump-Up CDCoverdell Education Savings Account
1
Visit a Great Plains Bank branch location
2
Bring government-issued photo ID
3
Provide beneficiary details and complete required forms:
- 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
4
Complete and sign the POD designation form (deposit accounts) or IRA beneficiary form (retirement accounts)
Required Documents
- Trust name, date established, and tax ID (EIN or SSN)
Special Requirements
- Great Plains Bank publishes no beneficiary form for download. The only forms on greatplainsbank.com are an employment application; POD and IRA beneficiary forms are obtained at the Aberdeen, Eden, or Eureka branch or by calling that branch.
- Beneficiary designations cannot be added or changed through Internet Banking (https://www.greatplainsbank.com/personal/internet-banking/) -- the platform is transaction-only. A signed paper designation at a branch is required.
- Do not send beneficiary Social Security numbers or account numbers through the contact form at https://www.greatplainsbank.com/contact-us/. The bank states on that page that email is not necessarily secure against interception and asks that sensitive information be phoned in or sent by U.S. mail.
- Trust beneficiary designations require a copy of the trust agreement or Certification of Trust
- IRA beneficiary changes require completion of a separate IRA beneficiary designation form
- The Gettysburg office is a loan production office, open by appointment only, and cannot take a deposit-account beneficiary designation
Sources
Data sourced from Great Plains Bank primary sources (17 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.
Customer Service (Aberdeen main office)
Phone(605) 725-9400
Fax(605) 725-9405
Mailing Address
Great Plains Bank, P.O. Box 2140, Aberdeen, SD 57402
Eden branch
Eureka branch
Gettysburg loan production office (loans only, by appointment)
WebsiteLearn more→
Customer Service (Aberdeen main office)
Phone(605) 725-9400
Fax(605) 725-9405
Mailing Address
Great Plains Bank, P.O. Box 2140, Aberdeen, SD 57402
Eden branch
Eureka branch
Gettysburg loan production office (loans only, by appointment)
WebsiteLearn more→
Branch Customer Service -- there is no central estate or claims unit; the branch holding the account settles it. Aberdeen main office contact: Susan Schaible-Heiser, Customer Service Manager.
Phone(605) 725-9400
Fax(605) 725-9405
Mailing Address
Great Plains Bank, P.O. Box 2140, Aberdeen, SD 57402
Eden branch (fax (605) 486-4833; P.O. Box 7, Eden, SD 57232)
Eureka branch (fax (605) 284-2807; P.O. Box 8, Eureka, SD 57437)
WebsiteNotify online→
Verified Jul 2026
Estate planning articles
Learn how to protect your Great Plains Bank accounts and other assets with trusts, beneficiary designations, and estate planning documents.
