How to name beneficiaries and fund a trust at HSBC
Beneficiaries are managed in branch or by mail. Trust paperwork is taken in branch or by mail
Estate planning for your HSBC 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.
Across 10 product types, HSBC 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.
Beneficiary form at HSBC
HSBC Change or Remove a Beneficiary Package (Deposit Accounts) (for payable-on-death accounts) and Fiduciary Account Beneficiary Change Form (BR 10147, Rev. 12/2024) (for payable-on-death accounts).
Open the form →Required Documents
- Each ITF beneficiary's name, date of birth, citizenship and address
- Government-issued photo ID (at a Wealth Center)
- Fiduciary Account Beneficiary Change Form, notarized (to change or remove a beneficiary)
- Fiduciary Deposit Agreement - Consumer Form (when changing a beneficiary)
- Master Deposit Agreement - Consumer Form (when removing the last beneficiary so the account has none)
- Certified copy of the trust agreement or Certificate of Trust
- Photo ID copies for all trustees
- Any notarized signatures HSBC asks for
Required Documents
- Trust agreement or Certificate of Trust. A certified copy of the full trust agreement, or a Certificate of Trust showing trustee authority
- Government-issued photo ID (for every trustee)
- Trust name, date established, and trust TIN
- HSBC trust account documentation. Provided by the Wealth Relationship Manager
Required Documents
- Each ITF beneficiary's name, date of birth, citizenship and address
- Government-issued photo ID (at a Wealth Center)
- Fiduciary Account Beneficiary Change Form, notarized (to change or remove a beneficiary)
- Fiduciary Deposit Agreement - Consumer Form (when changing a beneficiary)
- Master Deposit Agreement - Consumer Form (when removing the last beneficiary so the account has none)
- Certified copy of the trust agreement or Certificate of Trust
- Photo ID copies for all trustees
- Any notarized signatures HSBC asks for
Required Documents
- Trust agreement or Certificate of Trust. A certified copy of the full trust agreement, or a Certificate of Trust showing trustee authority
- Government-issued photo ID (for every trustee)
- Trust name, date established, and trust TIN
- HSBC trust account documentation. Provided by the Wealth Relationship Manager
Required Documents
- Each ITF beneficiary's name, date of birth, citizenship and address
- Government-issued photo ID (at a Wealth Center)
- Fiduciary Account Beneficiary Change Form, notarized (to change or remove a beneficiary)
- Fiduciary Deposit Agreement - Consumer Form (when changing a beneficiary)
- Master Deposit Agreement - Consumer Form (when removing the last beneficiary so the account has none)
What HSBC says about beneficiaries and trusts
Each section is HSBC's own statement, with the document it comes from numbered under Sources.
Which accounts take a beneficiary3
- Payable-on-death account
HSBC deposit beneficiaries are "In Trust For" (ITF) designations: a tentative or Totten trust, also known as pay-on-death.1
- Investment account
A beneficiary on a brokerage account at HSBC Securities (USA) Inc. is arranged through the Wealth Relationship Manager. The deposit-account package does not cover investment accounts.1
- IRA
A beneficiary on an IRA at HSBC Securities (USA) Inc. is arranged through the Wealth Relationship Manager. A trust named as beneficiary of an IRA is handled through the brokerage beneficiary paperwork, not the deposit package.1
How many beneficiaries, and how shares are split
What a designation takes to be effective
- Payable-on-death account
The Fiduciary Account Beneficiary Change Form must be notarized, at an HSBC Wealth Center or through an external notary service. The form carries a separate California-only notary certificate for signers in California.1
Beneficiary forms HSBC issues2
- HSBC Change or Remove a Beneficiary Package (Deposit Accounts)
For payable-on-death accounts. Available to download. Must be notarized.1
Return to
Mailing address: HSBC Bank USA, NA, Attn: Account Opening, P.O. Box 9, Buffalo, NY 14240
- Fiduciary Account Beneficiary Change Form (BR 10147, Rev. 12/2024)
For payable-on-death accounts. Available to download. Must be notarized.1
What HSBC's agreement says about beneficiaries4
- Changing or revoking a designation
The change form revokes all prior beneficiary designations and replaces them with what is listed on it. Its operative sentence reads: "Change of Beneficiary. I hereby revoke all prior beneficiary designations and designate the following beneficiary(ies) for my account."1
There is no way to add a single beneficiary without relisting the others.1
- What the owner keeps while living
ITF beneficiaries have no ownership or transaction ability while any account owner is living. After the last owner dies they may only claim the funds, and the account is closed immediately once all ITF beneficiaries have claimed.1
- No beneficiary survives
If every ITF beneficiary dies before the last account owner, the account is handled under the rules of the relevant state.1
- A designation and a will
Property passing by an ITF designation is not part of the last surviving owner's estate, so it overrides the will.1
Which accounts a trust can hold2
Trust account forms HSBC issues1
- HSBC trust account documentation
Completed by the trustees, with the Wealth Relationship Manager. Sent by the institution on request.2
Return to
Mailing address: HSBC Bank USA, NA, Attn: Account Opening, P.O. Box 9, Buffalo, NY 14240
Accounts handled elsewhere1
- HSBC Securities (USA) Inc.
Brokerage and IRA accounts1
Sources
Data sourced from HSBC primary sources (15 pages reviewed). How we research.
Download these HSBC instructions
A printable PDF with the steps, required documents, and contact details, verified against HSBC primary sources. Bring it to the branch or keep it beside the phone.
HSBC estate support
Phone
Toll-free
Premier (US/Canada)
Personal Banking
Personal Banking (international)
Mortgage Customer Service
Mortgage Customer Service (international)
Premier Mortgage Customer Service
Private Bank Mortgage Customer Service
HSBC SPOC Team (mortgage loss mitigation)
Lost or Stolen Cards
Chat (mobile app, Web Chat, Apple Business Messages)
Hours
Mailing address
Website
Estate requests go through general customer service.
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