How to name beneficiaries and fund a trust at Santander
Covers 9 deposit, 4 retirement, 1 investment, and 1 lending accounts — beneficiaries must be updated in-branch
Customer Service Center (Monday-Saturday 8am-8pm ET)
Phone1-877-768-2265
Mailing Address
Santander Bank, 75 State Street, Boston, MA 02109
Santander Select Services
Select/Private Client Mastercard Benefits
Santander Private Client
Private Client Investment Services
Santander Investment Services
Mortgage Servicing
Small Business Loan Specialist
Relay Service (hearing/speech-impaired)
WebsiteLearn more→
Customer Service Center (Monday-Saturday 8am-8pm ET)
Phone1-877-768-2265
Mailing Address
Santander Bank, 75 State Street, Boston, MA 02109
Santander Select Services
Select/Private Client Mastercard Benefits
Santander Private Client
Private Client Investment Services
Santander Investment Services
Mortgage Servicing
Small Business Loan Specialist
Relay Service (hearing/speech-impaired)
WebsiteLearn more→
Death Claims / Estate Processing
Phone1-877-768-2265
Toll-Free1-877-768-2265
Mailing Address
Santander Bank, N.A., P.O. Box 12646, Reading, PA 19612
Verified Apr 2026
There are two ways to keep your Santander accounts out of probate: adding beneficiary designations and retitling eligible accounts into a revocable living trust. Which approach works best depends on the account type and your overall estate plan.
Santander has 15 accounts with different estate transfer rules. Here is how beneficiary designations, trust ownership, and probate apply to each one.
Santander Essential CheckingSimply Right CheckingSantander Select CheckingSantander Private Client CheckingSantander SavingsSantander Money Market SavingsSantander Select Money Market SavingsSantander Private Client Money Market SavingsSantander Certificate of Deposit
1
Visit a local Santander branch with valid government-issued ID
2
Request to add a POD (Payable on Death) beneficiary designation or set up an informal trust account (ITF - In Trust For)
3
Provide beneficiary information:
- For natural persons: legal name, street address, and date of birth
- For trusts as beneficiary: trust name, address, and EIN
4
Complete and sign the beneficiary designation form
5
Receive confirmation of the beneficiary designation on your account
Required Documents
- Trust name, date established, and tax ID (EIN or SSN)
Special Requirements
- Beneficiary changes require an in-branch visit; cannot be completed online, by mail, or by phone
- POD accounts are also known as Totten trusts or informal trust accounts (ITF)
- Multiple trustees allowed on informal trust accounts
- Trustees own the funds during their lifetimes and may withdraw or change beneficiaries at any time
- Upon death of last surviving trustee, funds distributed equally to surviving beneficiaries
- If all beneficiaries are present at the branch, each receives an equal share
- If not all beneficiaries are present, a check payable to all beneficiaries as tenants in common is issued
- Bank is not obligated to notify beneficiaries of trustee death or account existence
- If all beneficiaries predecease the last surviving trustee, balance goes to trustee's estate
- POD/ITF accounts avoid probate
Customer Service Center (Monday-Saturday 8am-8pm ET)
Phone1-877-768-2265
Mailing Address
Santander Bank, 75 State Street, Boston, MA 02109
Santander Select Services
Select/Private Client Mastercard Benefits
Santander Private Client
Private Client Investment Services
Santander Investment Services
Mortgage Servicing
Small Business Loan Specialist
Relay Service (hearing/speech-impaired)
WebsiteLearn more→
Customer Service Center (Monday-Saturday 8am-8pm ET)
Phone1-877-768-2265
Mailing Address
Santander Bank, 75 State Street, Boston, MA 02109
Santander Select Services
Select/Private Client Mastercard Benefits
Santander Private Client
Private Client Investment Services
Santander Investment Services
Mortgage Servicing
Small Business Loan Specialist
Relay Service (hearing/speech-impaired)
WebsiteLearn more→
Death Claims / Estate Processing
Phone1-877-768-2265
Toll-Free1-877-768-2265
Mailing Address
Santander Bank, N.A., P.O. Box 12646, Reading, PA 19612
Verified Apr 2026
Estate planning articles
Learn how to protect your Santander accounts and other assets with trusts, beneficiary designations, and estate planning documents.
