Estate planning at New England FCU
How to protect 21 New England FCU accounts — manage beneficiaries in-branch, fund a trust in-branch, and file death claims
Phone1-800-400-8790
Toll-Free1-800-400-8790
Mailing Address
EastRise Credit Union, P.O. Box 527, Williston, VT 05495
WebsiteLearn more→
Phone1-800-400-8790
Toll-Free1-800-400-8790
Mailing Address
EastRise Credit Union, P.O. Box 527, Williston, VT 05495
WebsiteLearn more→
Death Claims / Member Services
Phone1-800-400-8790
Toll-Free1-800-400-8790
Mailing Address
EastRise Credit Union, P.O. Box 527, Williston, VT 05495
Verified Apr 2026
New England FCU offers 21 accounts, each with its own rules for what happens when a member dies. As a membership-based credit union, New England FCU headquartered in Williston, VT. 16 branch locations throughout Vermont including Burlington, Montpelier, Rutland, Brattleboro, Essex Junction, Bennington, Berlin, Colchester (Service Center), South Burlington, St. Albans, St. Johnsbury, Waterbury, Williston, and service centers at GlobalFoundries and UVM Medical Center. Approximately 85% of members are in Vermont, with additional members in New Hampshire and other New England states. Membership eligibility includes Vermont state employees, IBM employees in ME/MA/RI/VT/CT, UVM Health Network employees, and anyone through complimentary ACC membership. Access to 30,000+ ATMs nationwide through CO-OP network. Some transfer automatically to a named beneficiary, others can be held in a trust, and a few may require probate if no plan is in place.
At New England FCU, beneficiary designations are managed in branch and by phone. Accounts can also be retitled into a trust to keep them out of probate entirely.
New England FCU 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 21 account types at New England FCU.
View details →When someone dies
Death claim process
4-step process, 5 required documents, and contact information for survivors.
View details →Because New England FCU serves a limited number of states, procedures for trust funding and beneficiary changes may differ depending on your location. Verify availability before starting.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. EastRise bylaws (Article III, Section 6) expressly permit shares in revocable trusts, provided the settlor is already a member of the credit union in their own right. The full name of the trust beneficiary must be stated in the trust document. Existing accounts generally need to be closed and reopened in the trust name. Bring your full trust agreement or Certificate of Trust, government-issued photo ID for each trustee, and the trust's EIN (or your SSN for a revocable trust) to any branch.
Under EastRise bylaws (Article III, Section 6), shares may be issued in an irrevocable trust if either the settlor or the trust beneficiary is a member of the credit union. The name of the beneficiary must be stated in the trust document. This differs from most banks, which do not require a membership relationship. If neither the settlor nor the beneficiary is currently a member, one of them must establish membership (including via the complimentary ACC membership path) before the trust account can be opened.
Yes. EastRise partners with TruStage and One Digital Trust (ODT) to offer members access to an online estate planning tool for $199 for the first year (full access), then $36 per year for updates. The tool covers last will and testament, living will, durable power of attorney, trust documents, pet trust, guardianship for minors, and final instructions. It also includes a digital vault for storing estate documents, titles, deeds, and insurance policies. Access through eastrise.com/personal/estate-planning/.
Sources
Data sourced from New England FCU primary sources (22 pages reviewed). How we research.
Phone1-800-400-8790
Toll-Free1-800-400-8790
Mailing Address
EastRise Credit Union, P.O. Box 527, Williston, VT 05495
WebsiteLearn more→
Phone1-800-400-8790
Toll-Free1-800-400-8790
Mailing Address
EastRise Credit Union, P.O. Box 527, Williston, VT 05495
WebsiteLearn more→
Death Claims / Member Services
Phone1-800-400-8790
Toll-Free1-800-400-8790
Mailing Address
EastRise Credit Union, P.O. Box 527, Williston, VT 05495
Verified Apr 2026
Estate planning articles
Learn how to protect your New England FCU accounts and other assets with trusts, beneficiary designations, and estate planning documents.
