Estate planning at Independent Financial
How to protect 9 Independent Financial accounts — manage beneficiaries in-branch, fund a trust in-branch, and file claims through Independent Financial's SouthState Wealth — Estate Settlement and Trust Administration
Brand change
Independent Bank Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: IBTX) was acquired by SouthState Corporation on January 1, 2025; its subsidiary Independent Bank (doing business as Independent Financial) merged into SouthState Bank, N.A. the same day. System conversion for former Independent Financial customers completed May 27, 2025, and branches now operate under the SouthState brand. Estate and account matters are handled by SouthState Customer Care and SouthState Wealth. Effective January 2025.
Independent Financial is now part of SouthState Bank. The procedures below reflect Independent Financial's accounts during the transition. View the SouthState Bank estate planning page.
Independent Financial
Subsidiary of SouthState Corporation (merger closed January 1, 2025)
independent-bank.com→
SouthState Customer Care (formerly Independent Financial)
SouthState Bank, N.A., P.O. Box 118068, Charleston, SC 29423-9910 (the payment address given to converting Independent Financial customers)
SouthState Customer Care (no separate death-claims unit or claims portal; estate work escalates to SouthState Wealth)
SouthState Bank, ATTN: Inquiries, PO Box 118068, Charleston, SC 29423
Independent Financial has 9 accounts, each with different rules for what happens when the account holder dies. Of those, 6 can name a trust as beneficiary or be retitled into a trust. The right combination of beneficiary designations and trust ownership can keep the entire portfolio out of probate.
Managing beneficiaries at Independent Financial is straightforward—changes can be made in branch and by phone, typically taking 15-30 minutes in branch. Trust funding is also available, allowing families to retitle accounts into the name of a revocable living trust.
Independent Financial provides specific procedures for both proactive estate planning and filing claims after a death.
Preparing your estate
Beneficiaries and trust funding
How to update beneficiaries in-branch, fund a trust in-branch, and review 9 account types at Independent Financial.
View details →When someone dies
Death claim process
Contact Independent Financial's SouthState Wealth — Estate Settlement and Trust Administration to file a claim. 8-step process, 7 required documents, and contact information for survivors.
View details →For questions about any of these procedures, contact Independent Financial's SouthState Wealth — Estate Settlement and Trust Administration at 1-800-277-2175.
Independent Financial is not available nationwide. Estate planning procedures may vary by state, so confirm that your location is served before making account changes.
Frequently asked questions
A signed and NOTARIZED trust certification. The Personal Deposit Account Agreement says a trustee may establish a trust account based on the provisions of a signed and notarized trust certification, and that in the absence of the certification, or in addition to it, SouthState may require evidence satisfactory in its sole discretion as to the existence of the written trust agreement, the identity of the trustees, and the power of any trustee to act. Bring the notarized certification, the full trust agreement as backup, photo ID for every trustee, and the trust's tax ID (a revocable trust normally uses the grantor's SSN while the grantor is alive). The account title is changed at the branch, on the signature card. The agreement separately requires anyone acting as a trustee, personal representative, guardian, or custodian to be designated in that fiduciary capacity on the signature card.
Sources
Data sourced from Independent Financial primary sources (15 pages reviewed). How we research.
Independent Financial
Subsidiary of SouthState Corporation (merger closed January 1, 2025)
independent-bank.com→SouthState Customer Care (formerly Independent Financial)
SouthState Bank, N.A., P.O. Box 118068, Charleston, SC 29423-9910 (the payment address given to converting Independent Financial customers)
SouthState Customer Care (no separate death-claims unit or claims portal; estate work escalates to SouthState Wealth)
SouthState Bank, ATTN: Inquiries, PO Box 118068, Charleston, SC 29423
Estate planning articles
Learn how to protect your Independent Financial accounts and other assets with trusts, beneficiary designations, and estate planning documents.
