How to name beneficiaries and fund a trust at Ledyard Bank
Covers 9 deposit, and 2 retirement accounts — beneficiaries must be updated in-branch
Customer Service
Ledyard Bank, 66 Benning Street, Suite 5, West Lebanon, NH 03784
Ledyard Wealth Management — Investment and Trust Services Division (fiduciary / corporate trustee)
Ledyard Bank Wealth Management, 38 S. Main Street, Hanover, NH 03755
Client Support Team (deceased account holders)
Ledyard Bank, 66 Benning Street, Suite 5, West Lebanon, NH 03784
The key to protecting your Ledyard Bank 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.
With 11 product types, Ledyard Bank offers a range of transfer options. Some accounts support Payable on Death (POD) designations, others can be retitled into a trust, and some require probate if no beneficiary is designated. The sections below break down each step.
- Full legal name, date of birth, Social Security number, and relationship
- Designate primary and contingent beneficiaries
- Specify percentage allocation if naming multiple beneficiaries
Required Documents
- Trust name, date established, and tax ID (EIN or SSN)
Special Requirements
- POD designations available for deposit accounts (checking, savings, money market, CDs)
- A POD beneficiary at Ledyard cannot withdraw until 90 days after the death of the last surviving account owner, and must be living at that point (Consumer Account Disclosure). Anyone who needs their heirs to reach cash sooner should hold the account jointly with survivorship or title it in a revocable trust.
- Two or more surviving POD beneficiaries take the account in EQUAL SHARES without right of survivorship — an unequal split cannot be achieved with a POD designation
- Ledyard applies separate New Hampshire and Vermont ownership rule sets; the Vermont set adds a condition that no probate court order or personal representative process has been served on the bank during the 90-day window
- A revocable trust or POD account created by two or more owners is held jointly WITH survivorship between those owners
- IRA beneficiary designations are separate from POD designations on deposit accounts
- Online beneficiary designation is not available; visit a branch or call 1-888-746-4562 to request forms
Sources
Data sourced from Ledyard Bank primary sources (15 pages reviewed). How we research.
Download these Ledyard Bank instructions
Download instructions for the whole estateA printable PDF with the steps, required documents, and contact details — verified against Ledyard Bank primary sources. Bring it to the branch or keep it beside the phone.
Customer Service
Ledyard Bank, 66 Benning Street, Suite 5, West Lebanon, NH 03784
Ledyard Wealth Management — Investment and Trust Services Division (fiduciary / corporate trustee)
Ledyard Bank Wealth Management, 38 S. Main Street, Hanover, NH 03755
Client Support Team (deceased account holders)
Ledyard Bank, 66 Benning Street, Suite 5, West Lebanon, NH 03784
Estate planning articles
Learn how to protect your Ledyard Bank 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.
