How to name beneficiaries and fund a trust at Premier America CU
Covers 8 deposit, 2 retirement, and 3 lending accounts — beneficiaries must be updated in-branch
Phone1-800-772-4000
Mailing Address
Premier America Credit Union, P.O. Box 2178, Chatsworth, CA 91313-2178
WebsiteLearn more→
Premier America Wealth Management Group (PAWMG)
Phone1-866-410-0170
Mailing Address
19867 Prairie Street, Chatsworth, CA 91311
WebsiteLearn more→
Member Care / Estate Services
Phone1-800-772-4000
Mailing Address
Premier America Credit Union, P.O. Box 2178, Chatsworth, CA 91313-2178
Real Estate Loan Servicing (mortgage/HELOC decedent)
Collections Department (loan payoff from deposits)
Auto/personal loan questions
PAWMG (investment accounts)
WebsiteNotify online→
Verified Jul 2026
The goal with your Premier America CU accounts is to make sure every account has a transfer mechanism in place—either a POD beneficiary designation or trust ownership. Because Premier America CU is a membership-based institution, trust retitling must maintain the membership eligibility requirement. Accounts without either one will require probate, which means court involvement and delays for your family.
Across 13 product types, Premier America CU accounts vary in how they transfer at death. The sections below walk through Payable on Death (POD) designations, trust funding options, and which products support each method.
Smart Spending CheckingPremier Plus CheckingPrimary CheckingFresh Start CheckingRegular SavingsMoney Market AccountAdvantage Money MarketCertificate (CD)
1
Visit any Premier America Credit Union branch with a valid government-issued photo ID
2
Request to add or update beneficiary designations on your accounts
3
Provide beneficiary information:
- For deposit accounts: request POD (Payable on Death) designation with beneficiary full legal name, date of birth, Social Security number, and relationship
- For IRA accounts: complete the IRA Beneficiary Designation form with primary and contingent beneficiary sections
4
Sign the Premier America Signature Card -- deposit-account P.O.D. beneficiary designations are recorded on the Signature Card, not on a separate standalone form
5
Review and sign the updated account documentation
Required Documents
- Trust name, date established, and tax ID (EIN or SSN)
Special Requirements
- A Pay-On-Death designation at Premier America CANNOT be changed by a will (Membership Agreements and Disclosures, "Additional Terms and Conditions Applicable to All Pay-On-Death Beneficiary Designations," item 2). Updating the P.O.D. payee requires a new Signature Card, not a codicil.
- If a P.O.D. payee dies before all of the account owners, on the death of the last owner the funds are divided equally among the surviving P.O.D. payees -- the deceased payee's share does not pass to that payee's own heirs
- Trust beneficiary designations may require a copy of the Certification of Trust
- IRA beneficiary changes for married account holders in community property states (CA) may require spousal consent
Sources
Data sourced from Premier America CU primary sources (25 pages reviewed). How we research.
Download these Premier America CU instructions
Download instructions for the whole estateA printable PDF with the steps, required documents, and contact details — verified against Premier America CU primary sources. Bring it to the branch or keep it beside the phone.
Phone1-800-772-4000
Mailing Address
Premier America Credit Union, P.O. Box 2178, Chatsworth, CA 91313-2178
WebsiteLearn more→
Premier America Wealth Management Group (PAWMG)
Phone1-866-410-0170
Mailing Address
19867 Prairie Street, Chatsworth, CA 91311
WebsiteLearn more→
Member Care / Estate Services
Phone1-800-772-4000
Mailing Address
Premier America Credit Union, P.O. Box 2178, Chatsworth, CA 91313-2178
Real Estate Loan Servicing (mortgage/HELOC decedent)
Collections Department (loan payoff from deposits)
Auto/personal loan questions
PAWMG (investment accounts)
WebsiteNotify online→
Verified Jul 2026
Estate planning articles
Learn how to protect your Premier America CU accounts and other assets with trusts, beneficiary designations, and estate planning documents.
