How to designate beneficiaries at Pentegra
Beneficiaries are managed by mail
Estate planning for Pentegra retirement retirement accounts revolves around beneficiary designations. These designations—not a will—control who receives the account balance at death. For IRAs and employer-sponsored plans, the beneficiary designation also determines the tax treatment of inherited distributions, making it a decision with both legal and financial implications.
The transfer rules at Pentegra vary across 10 retirement accounts. Below is a breakdown of beneficiary options, trust funding, and which products support each method.
Beneficiary form at Pentegra
403(b) Beneficiary Change Form (Pentegra Trust Company, Rev. 9/17) (for employer retirement plans), 403(b) Enrollment Application (Rev. 1/26), beneficiary designation section (for employer retirement plans) and The plan's beneficiary form (401(k), ESOP, non-qualified, defined benefit and cash balance plans).
Open the form →- Employee and employer information, and the plan type (ORP or TSA); one form per plan account
- Up to three beneficiaries per form, each with name or entity name, address, Social Security number, date of birth, percentage share, and relationship
- Check the marital-status box that applies.
- A married employee naming someone other than the spouse needs the spouse's signature in the Spousal Consent section, witnessed by a plan representative or a Notary Public.
- Email: 403b-Ops@pentegra.com (the form says to password-protect the file or send via a secure site)
- Fax: 914-821-9582, ATTN: 403(b) Services
- Mail, as printed on the form (Rev. 9/17): Pentegra Trust Company, c/o Pentegra Retirement Services, ATTN: 403(b) Services, 701 Westchester Avenue, Suite 320E, White Plains, NY 10604
- Regular mail, per the 403(b) Enrollment Application (Rev. 1/26): Pentegra Trust Company, c/o Pentegra Services, Inc., ATTN: 403(b) Services, 2261 Market Street, Suite 86302, San Francisco, CA 94114
- Overnight delivery, as listed on the same application: 2 Enterprise Drive, Suite 408, Shelton, CT 06484-4694
Required Documents
- Employee information (on the 403(b) Beneficiary Change Form). Street address only; a post office box is not accepted
- Employer information (on the 403(b) Beneficiary Change Form)
- Plan type (ORP or TSA) (on the 403(b) Beneficiary Change Form). A separate form is required for each plan account
- Beneficiary's name or entity name (for each beneficiary on the 403(b) form)
- Beneficiary's address (for each beneficiary on the 403(b) form)
- Beneficiary's phone numbers and email (for each beneficiary on the 403(b) form)
- Beneficiary's Social Security number (for each beneficiary on the 403(b) form)
- Beneficiary's date of birth (for each beneficiary on the 403(b) form)
- Beneficiary's percentage share (for each beneficiary on the 403(b) form)
- Beneficiary's relationship to the employee (for each beneficiary on the 403(b) form)
- Spouse's written consent (when a married employee names a beneficiary other than the spouse on the 403(b) form). Signed in the Spousal Consent section, witnessed by a plan representative or a Notary Public
What Pentegra says about beneficiaries
Each section is Pentegra's own statement, with the document it comes from numbered under Sources.
Which accounts take a beneficiary2
- Employer retirement plan
A Pentegra Trust Company 403(b)(7) custodial account takes a designation on the 403(b) Beneficiary Change Form. A separate form is required for each plan account (ORP or TSA).1
For a 401(k), ESOP or non-qualified plan, the plan's beneficiary form and its return instructions come from the participant line.2
- Pension
For a defined benefit or cash balance plan, the plan's beneficiary form and its return instructions come from the participant line.2
For the Pentegra Defined Benefit Plan for Financial Institutions, the annual report refers participants to their Summary Plan Descriptions for death and other benefits.3
Who can be named3
- A person, employer retirement plans
The 403(b) death distribution information refers to "a natural person or qualifying trust designated by the Participant (a Designated Beneficiary)".4
- A trust, employer retirement plans
The 403(b) death distribution information refers to "a natural person or qualifying trust designated by the Participant (a Designated Beneficiary)".4
- An entity other than a trust or a business, employer retirement plans
The 403(b) Beneficiary Change Form takes a name or an entity name for each beneficiary.1
How many beneficiaries, and how shares are split
- Employer retirement plan
Each beneficiary on the 403(b) form takes a percentage share and is marked primary or contingent. Contingent designations take effect only if no primary beneficiary survives the employee.1
The 403(b) form holds up to three beneficiaries. Additional forms are attached for more than three.1
What a designation takes to be effective
- Employer retirement plan
On the 403(b) form, written spousal consent is required when a married employee designates a beneficiary other than the spouse. The spouse signs before an authorized plan representative or a Notary Public.1
The 403(b) form states that a designation made by an employee who checks "I am not married" is invalid if the employee is married at death. The death benefit is then paid to the surviving spouse unless the spouse gives written consent before payment.1
Beneficiary forms Pentegra issues3
- 403(b) Beneficiary Change Form (Pentegra Trust Company, Rev. 9/17)
For employer retirement plans. Completed by the employee. Available to download.1
Return to
Email: 403b-Ops@pentegra.com
Fax: 1-914-821-9582
Mailing address: Pentegra Trust Company, c/o Pentegra Retirement Services, ATTN: 403(b) Services, 701 Westchester Avenue, Suite 320E, White Plains, NY 10604
- 403(b) Enrollment Application (Rev. 1/26), beneficiary designation section
For employer retirement plans. Available to download.5
- The plan's beneficiary form (401(k), ESOP, non-qualified, defined benefit and cash balance plans)
Sent by the institution on request.2
What Pentegra's agreement says about beneficiaries2
Sources6
- 1.403(b) Beneficiary Change Form (Pentegra Trust Company, Rev. 9/17)
- 2.Pentegra contact page
- 3.Pentegra Defined Benefit Plan for Financial Institutions annual report
- 4.403(b) Death Distribution Request Form (Pentegra Trust Company)
- 5.403(b) Enrollment Application (Pentegra Trust Company, Rev. 1/26)
- 6.Pentegra Online
Sources
Data sourced from Pentegra primary sources (16 pages reviewed). How we research.
Download these Pentegra instructions
Download instructions for the whole estateA printable PDF with the steps, required documents, and contact details — verified against Pentegra primary sources. Bring it to the branch or keep it beside the phone.
Pentegra estate support
Participants
Phone
Toll-free
401(k), ESOP, or Non-Qualified Plan Participants
Pension or Defined Benefit Plan Participants
Non-ERISA 403(b) or IRA Participants
Plan Sponsors & Partners
Mailing address
Website
Estate requests go through general customer service.
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