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)
701 N Haven Ave, Ontario, CA 91764
CitizensTrust Wealth Management (trust administration, probate and probate avoidance, revocable living trusts)
701 N Haven Ave, Ontario, CA 91764
Death Claims / Estate Services (handled by Citizens Business Bank post-merger; no separate legacy Heritage claims line)
701 N Haven Ave, Ontario, CA 91764
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.
- 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
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)
701 N Haven Ave, Ontario, CA 91764
CitizensTrust Wealth Management (trust administration, probate and probate avoidance, revocable living trusts)
701 N Haven Ave, Ontario, CA 91764
Death Claims / Estate Services (handled by Citizens Business Bank post-merger; no separate legacy Heritage claims line)
701 N Haven Ave, Ontario, CA 91764
Estate planning articles
Learn how to protect your Heritage Bank accounts and other assets with trusts, beneficiary designations, and estate planning documents.
Is this your situation?
Get a complete guide for your specific circumstances.
New Baby or Adoption
Your family is growing. Your protection should too. Guardian nominations, trusts for minors, beneficiary updates, and the documents new parents need in place.
Learn more
Marriage
What married couples need in place: one joint trust or two, wills, beneficiary updates, and the spousal rights your state grants you automatically.
Learn more
New Home
How to put your house in a revocable trust: the deed you record, what it does to your mortgage and property taxes, and when a TOD deed is simpler.
Learn more
Retirement
Retirement changes your financial picture. Healthcare directives, beneficiary reviews, long-term care planning, and protecting what you've built.
Learn moreMore estate planning resources
Explore related tools and documents to complete your estate plan.
How Much Does Probate Cost?
Estimate attorney fees, executor fees, court costs, and timeline for probating an estate in your state. See if the estate qualifies for simplified probate procedures.
Who Inherits Without a Will?
Find out who inherits your estate and how much they get if you die without a will. Based on your state's intestate succession laws.
How Much Are Estate & Inheritance Taxes?
Calculate federal estate tax, state estate tax (12 states + DC), and inheritance tax (5 states) for an estate or trust.
What Does Estate Planning Actually Cost?
See the true cost of estate planning. Compare SimplyTrust, Trust & Will, LegalZoom, and attorneys including life events like marriage, divorce, and having children.
How Much Does a Revocable Living Trust Cost?
Compare the cost of creating a revocable living trust. See how SimplyTrust, Trust & Will, LegalZoom, and attorneys compare over 5 years including life events.
How Much Does a Will Cost?
Compare the cost of creating a will. See document costs plus probate fees your heirs will pay. Compare SimplyTrust, Trust & Will, LegalZoom, and attorneys.
