Preparing your ORNL FCU accounts for estate transfer involves two key steps: designating beneficiaries on each account and, where appropriate, retitling accounts into a trust. Because ORNL FCU is a membership-based institution, trust retitling must maintain the membership eligibility requirement. Accounts with Payable on Death designations or trust ownership bypass probate entirely.

ORNL FCU offers 14 accounts, each with its own transfer rules. The sections below cover how to set up beneficiaries, fund a trust, and which products support each approach.

Spending AccountSpending Plus AccountDigital Spending AccountMembership AccountPlan Ahead SavingsMoney Market AccountShare CertificateHealth Savings Account

1Visit any ORNL FCU branch with government-issued photo ID

2Request a POD (Payable on Death) beneficiary designation form for deposit accounts

3For IRA accounts, request the separate IRA beneficiary designation form

4Provide beneficiary details: full name, date of birth, Social Security number, and relationship

5Designate primary and contingent beneficiaries with percentage allocations

6Sign and submit the completed form

Required Documents

Trust name, date established, and tax ID (EIN or SSN)

Special Requirements

POD designations available for deposit accounts (checking/spending, savings, certificates, money market)
POD beneficiary designations do not apply to IRA accounts, which are governed by a separate IRA agreement
Online beneficiary designation is not available; must use branch, phone, or mail
Investment account beneficiaries managed separately through LPL Financial
Per the Universal Account Agreement (2025), beneficiaries may be named at the share level for share certificates only
Review recommended after marriage, divorce, birth of a child, or other major life events