How to name beneficiaries and fund a trust at PlainsCapital
Covers 8 deposit, 4 retirement, and 2 lending accounts — beneficiaries must be updated in-branch
PlainsCapital Bank Customer Service
PlainsCapital Bank, 325 N. Saint Paul St., Suite 800, Dallas, TX 75201
The Private Bank - Trust & Estate Services (Estate Administration; Living & Testamentary Trusts)
PlainsCapital Bank Customer Service (deposit death claims are settled through the branch network; no separate claims desk is published)
PlainsCapital Bank, 325 N. Saint Paul St., Suite 800, Dallas, TX 75201
The key to protecting your PlainsCapital accounts is making sure each one has a transfer mechanism in place—either a beneficiary designation or trust ownership. Without one, the account goes through probate, adding time, cost, and court involvement for your family.
Across 14 product types, PlainsCapital accounts vary in how they transfer at death. The sections below walk through Payable on Death (POD) designations, trust funding options, and which products support each method.
- Single-Party Account with P.O.D. designation -- you own it during life; at death it passes to the surviving P.O.D. payees
- Multiple-Party Account WITH right of survivorship -- passes to the surviving parties, not through your will
- Multiple-Party Account WITHOUT right of survivorship -- the deceased party's share passes through the estate
- Community Property Account with or without right of survivorship (Texas, married couples only, and only if noted on the Signature Card)
- Trust Account (an informal "in trust for" account) -- on the death of the last surviving trustee, ownership passes to the beneficiary and the account is not part of the trustee's estate
- Full legal name, date of birth, and Social Security number
- Primary and contingent designations, with distribution percentages if there are several
Required Documents
- Trust name, date established, and tax ID (EIN or SSN)
Special Requirements
- THE SIGNATURE CARD CONTROLS. The Consumer Deposit Account Agreement states that the type of account you select may determine how property passes at your death and that your will may not control the disposition of funds in some account types.
- A convenience signer is not an heir. The signer owns the account at your death only if also named a P.O.D. payee or Trust Account beneficiary.
- Community property accounts are available only to a married couple and only if noted on the Signature Card; if the spouses later divorce, the bank will treat them as joint owners with right of survivorship.
- For IRA accounts, use the IRA beneficiary designation form, not a P.O.D. designation.
- Review designations after marriage, divorce, birth, or a death in the family, and coordinate them with your will and trust -- a P.O.D. payee takes ahead of your will.
Sources
Data sourced from PlainsCapital primary sources (15 pages reviewed). How we research.
Download these PlainsCapital instructions
Download instructions for the whole estateA printable PDF with the steps, required documents, and contact details — verified against PlainsCapital primary sources. Bring it to the branch or keep it beside the phone.
PlainsCapital Bank Customer Service
PlainsCapital Bank, 325 N. Saint Paul St., Suite 800, Dallas, TX 75201
The Private Bank - Trust & Estate Services (Estate Administration; Living & Testamentary Trusts)
PlainsCapital Bank Customer Service (deposit death claims are settled through the branch network; no separate claims desk is published)
PlainsCapital Bank, 325 N. Saint Paul St., Suite 800, Dallas, TX 75201
Estate planning articles
Learn how to protect your PlainsCapital 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.
