How to name beneficiaries and fund a trust at Independent Financial
Covers 5 deposit, 1 retirement, and 3 lending accounts — beneficiaries must be updated in-branch
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)
Phone1-800-277-2175
Toll-Free1-800-277-2175
Mailing Address
SouthState Bank, N.A., P.O. Box 118068, Charleston, SC 29423-9910 (the payment address given to converting Independent Financial customers)
Phone Banking (24/7)
WebsiteLearn more→
SouthState Customer Care (no separate death-claims unit or claims portal; estate work escalates to SouthState Wealth)
Phone1-800-277-2175
Toll-Free1-800-277-2175
Mailing Address
SouthState Bank, ATTN: Inquiries, PO Box 118068, Charleston, SC 29423
WebsiteNotify online→
Verified Jul 2026
There are two ways to keep your Independent Financial 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.
Independent Financial has 9 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
1
Visit a SouthState branch with government-issued photo ID and your account number
2
Ask to add or update the POD / statutory revocable trust beneficiary — the banker records it as a written change to the signature card, which is the only way SouthState recognizes the designation
3
Confirm whether the account is a single or multiple-party (joint) account with rights of survivorship: on a joint POD account, the funds go to the surviving owner first and only reach the POD beneficiary after the LAST owner dies
4
Confirm the split among multiple beneficiaries in writing — otherwise they take equally
Required Documents
- Trust name, date established, and tax ID (EIN or SSN)
Special Requirements
- The POD / revocable trust beneficiary exists only as a designation on the signature card — a phone request or a secure message does not create or change it
- Any one owner of a joint account can change the beneficiary or payee without the other owner's consent, provided the change is written onto the signature card
- On the last owner's death, funds pass to the beneficiary AFTER SouthState deducts any fees or costs the last owner owed the bank
- Multiple surviving beneficiaries take equally unless the signature card documents otherwise; if no beneficiary survives the last owner, the funds go to the last owner's estate
- If the POD or revocable trust account does not satisfy the requirements of applicable state law, the agreement lets SouthState treat it as an ordinary single or joint account and pay the last surviving owner's estate instead
- SouthState has no obligation to notify a beneficiary that the account exists
- A business deposit account cannot carry a POD/Totten trust beneficiary unless it is a sole proprietorship account
Sources
Data sourced from Independent Financial primary sources (15 pages reviewed). How we research.
Download these Independent Financial instructions
Download instructions for the whole estateA printable PDF with the steps, required documents, and contact details — verified against Independent Financial primary sources. Bring it to the branch or keep it beside the phone.
Independent Financial
Subsidiary of SouthState Corporation (merger closed January 1, 2025)
independent-bank.com→SouthState Customer Care (formerly Independent Financial)
Phone1-800-277-2175
Toll-Free1-800-277-2175
Mailing Address
SouthState Bank, N.A., P.O. Box 118068, Charleston, SC 29423-9910 (the payment address given to converting Independent Financial customers)
Phone Banking (24/7)
WebsiteLearn more→
SouthState Customer Care (no separate death-claims unit or claims portal; estate work escalates to SouthState Wealth)
Phone1-800-277-2175
Toll-Free1-800-277-2175
Mailing Address
SouthState Bank, ATTN: Inquiries, PO Box 118068, Charleston, SC 29423
WebsiteNotify online→
Verified Jul 2026
Estate planning articles
Learn how to protect your Independent Financial accounts and other assets with trusts, beneficiary designations, and estate planning documents.
