How to name beneficiaries and fund a trust at Heritage Bank
Covers 5 deposit, 1 retirement, and 2 lending accounts — beneficiaries must be updated in-branch
Brand change
Heritage Bank of Commerce was merged into Citizens Business Bank on April 17, 2026. Former Heritage accounts, POD beneficiary designations, and trust account titles remain in effect under Citizens Business Bank; ongoing service is at (888) 228-2265. The heritagebankofcommerce.bank website now redirects to cbbank.com. Effective April 2026.
Heritage Bank is now part of Citizens Business Bank. The procedures below reflect Heritage Bank's accounts during the transition. View the Citizens Business Bank estate planning page.
Customer Service (Citizens Business Bank, servicing former Heritage Bank of Commerce accounts post-merger)
Phone(888) 228-2265
Mailing Address
701 N Haven Ave, Ontario, CA 91764
Legacy Heritage Bank of Commerce / Heritage Commerce Corp line
WebsiteLearn more→
CitizensTrust Wealth Management (trust administration, probate and probate avoidance, revocable living trusts)
Phone(888) 734-4222
Mailing Address
701 N Haven Ave, Ontario, CA 91764
WebsiteLearn more→
Death Claims / Estate Services (handled by Citizens Business Bank post-merger; no separate legacy Heritage claims line)
Phone(888) 228-2265
Mailing Address
701 N Haven Ave, Ontario, CA 91764
CitizensTrust Wealth Management (trust administration, probate)
Legacy Heritage Bank of Commerce / Heritage Commerce Corp line
WebsiteNotify online→
Verified Jul 2026
There are two ways to keep your Heritage 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.
Heritage Bank has 8 accounts with different estate transfer rules. Here is how beneficiary designations, trust ownership, and probate apply to each one.
Personal CheckingInterest CheckingPersonal SavingsMoney Market AccountCertificate of Deposit (CD)
1
Visit a Citizens Business Bank banking center (former Heritage Bay Area branches are now CBB banking centers) with government-issued photo ID
2
Request the POD beneficiary designation form for each legacy Heritage deposit account, and the IRA beneficiary designation form for an IRA CD
3
Complete the beneficiary designation form:
- Provide full legal name, date of birth, and Social Security number for each beneficiary
- Designate primary and contingent beneficiaries
- Specify distribution percentages if naming multiple beneficiaries
4
Sign with the banker, keep a copy, and confirm in writing that the designation is on the account of record
Required Documents
- Trust name, date established, and tax ID (EIN or SSN)
Special Requirements
- All account owners must consent to beneficiary designation changes; on a California marital account, both spouses should sign
- For a business account, the POD path is only available if the account is titled to the individual (sole proprietorship or DBA). An LLC, corporate, or partnership account cannot carry a POD beneficiary -- what passes is the ownership interest in the entity
- Citizens Business Bank does not publish its POD beneficiary form online; the form is obtained from a banker, so there is no downloadable form URL for this institution
- Coordinate designations with your will or trust -- a POD designation beats both
Sources
Data sourced from Heritage Bank primary sources (14 pages reviewed). How we research.
Download these Heritage Bank instructions
Download instructions for the whole estateA printable PDF with the steps, required documents, and contact details — verified against Heritage Bank primary sources. Bring it to the branch or keep it beside the phone.
Customer Service (Citizens Business Bank, servicing former Heritage Bank of Commerce accounts post-merger)
Phone(888) 228-2265
Mailing Address
701 N Haven Ave, Ontario, CA 91764
Legacy Heritage Bank of Commerce / Heritage Commerce Corp line
WebsiteLearn more→
CitizensTrust Wealth Management (trust administration, probate and probate avoidance, revocable living trusts)
Phone(888) 734-4222
Mailing Address
701 N Haven Ave, Ontario, CA 91764
WebsiteLearn more→
Death Claims / Estate Services (handled by Citizens Business Bank post-merger; no separate legacy Heritage claims line)
Phone(888) 228-2265
Mailing Address
701 N Haven Ave, Ontario, CA 91764
CitizensTrust Wealth Management (trust administration, probate)
Legacy Heritage Bank of Commerce / Heritage Commerce Corp line
WebsiteNotify online→
Verified Jul 2026
Estate planning articles
Learn how to protect your Heritage Bank accounts and other assets with trusts, beneficiary designations, and estate planning documents.
