Estate planning and settlement at SECU
Name beneficiaries in branch, fund a trust in branch, and report a death at 1-888-732-8562
SECU is a credit union offering 19 accounts that interact with estate planning in different ways. As a membership-based credit union, SECU membership is open to employees of the state of North Carolina and related public employers (including public boards of education, county departments of Social Services, Health, Mental Health, and Emergency Management, and members of the NC National Guard), retirees from that employment, immediate family of existing members, persons in the same household as a member, un-remarried spouses of persons who died while in the field of membership, and employees of Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina and certain related organizations. Branches and ATMs are located across all 100 North Carolina counties. Understanding how each account transfers at death—and which ones a trust can hold—helps families avoid probate delays and unintended outcomes.
Beneficiary designations at SECU can be managed in branch and by mail. Trust funding is also available, allowing families to retitle accounts into the name of a revocable living trust.
There are two sides to estate planning at SECU: setting things up while you're alive, and the process survivors follow after a death.
Beneficiaries and trust funding
How to update beneficiaries in-branch, fund a trust in-branch, and review 19 account types at SECU.
Preparing your estate →Death claim process
Report the death to SECU's Member Services Support at 1-888-732-8562. The page lists the steps and the documents to send.
When someone dies →Reach SECU's Financial Advisory Services Contact Center at 1-833-599-7328 for help with any of these procedures.
SECU operates in select states, so estate planning procedures may vary by location. Confirm availability in your state before initiating trust funding or account changes.
Sources
Data sourced from SECU primary sources (32 pages reviewed). How we research.
SECU customer support
Member Services Support
Phone
ASK SECU automated phone service
Lending Contact Center
Verify an SECU account number
Credit Union Investment Services (CUIS)
Hours
Mailing address
Website
Estate planning articles
Learn how to protect your SECU accounts and other assets with trusts, beneficiary designations, and estate planning documents.
Forms for Planning Your Estate
Free forms for planning your estate: a will, living trust, pour-over will, both powers of attorney, living will, and TOD deed.
Last Will and Testament
Name your heirs, guardians, and final wishes. Free for every state.
Transfer on Death Deed
Transfer real property to a beneficiary upon your death without probate. Available in 34 states and the District of Columbia.
Vehicle Transfer on Death
Name a beneficiary to inherit your vehicle at death without probate. Available in 26 states and the District of Columbia.
Tools for Planning Your Estate
Free tools for planning your estate: what a will or trust costs, whether you need a trust or TOD deed, and how documents are signed.
How Do I Sign Estate Documents?
Find witness, notary, and remote signing requirements for all 50 states.
Will My Estate Documents Transfer?
Check if estate planning documents signed in one state are valid in another.
Trust or Will: Which Costs Less?
Compare the cost of probate vs a trust for your state and estate value.
How Much Does a Revocable Living Trust Cost?
Compare revocable living trust costs across providers including online services and attorneys.
How Much Does a Will Cost?
Compare will costs across providers plus probate costs your heirs will pay.
How Does SimplyTrust Compare to LegalZoom, Trust & Will, and Other Services?
Compare what it costs to make a trust official across SimplyTrust, LegalZoom, Trust & Will, Rocket Lawyer, and Quicken WillMaker.
