How to name beneficiaries and fund a trust at Independent Bank
Covers 7 deposit, 2 retirement, and 4 lending accounts — beneficiaries must be updated in-branch
Customer Connection Hub
Independent Bank, 4200 East Beltline Ave NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49525
IB Wealth Management (a marketing name of Cetera Investment Services)
IB Wealth Management, 230 West Main Street, Ionia, MI 48846
Customer Connection Hub
Independent Bank, 4200 East Beltline Ave NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49525
Preparing your Independent Bank accounts for estate transfer involves two primary strategies: designating beneficiaries on individual accounts and, where supported, retitling accounts into a revocable living trust. Both approaches bypass probate, but they work differently depending on the account type.
The transfer rules at Independent Bank vary across 13 accounts. Below is a breakdown of beneficiary options, trust funding, and which products support each method.
- Valid government-issued photo ID
- Full legal name, date of birth, and Social Security number for each beneficiary
Required Documents
- Trust name, date established, and tax ID (EIN or SSN)
Special Requirements
- Independent Bank does not publish a downloadable POD beneficiary form and ONE Wallet digital banking does not expose beneficiary designations; changes are made on the bank's own signature-card paperwork in a branch or on a signed form the Customer Connection Hub sends you
- Mark each beneficiary primary or contingent. Under Section 13 of the Deposit Account Agreement a named beneficiary is ASSUMED PRIMARY unless it is indicated as contingent
- If you name two or more beneficiaries, they take in EQUAL SHARES WITHOUT right of survivorship unless the account record says otherwise — state unequal percentages explicitly if that is what you want
- A POD beneficiary on an Independent Bank account can only withdraw after every owner/trustee on the account has died, and only from the balance remaining after your outstanding checks and debits clear
- Trust beneficiary designations require the trust name, date of trust, and tax identification number
Sources
Data sourced from Independent Bank primary sources (21 pages reviewed). How we research.
Download these Independent Bank instructions
Download instructions for the whole estateA printable PDF with the steps, required documents, and contact details — verified against Independent Bank primary sources. Bring it to the branch or keep it beside the phone.
Customer Connection Hub
Independent Bank, 4200 East Beltline Ave NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49525
IB Wealth Management (a marketing name of Cetera Investment Services)
IB Wealth Management, 230 West Main Street, Ionia, MI 48846
Customer Connection Hub
Independent Bank, 4200 East Beltline Ave NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49525
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