Preparing your Service CU accounts for estate transfer involves two key steps: designating beneficiaries on each account and, where appropriate, retitling accounts into a trust. Because Service CU 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.

Service CU 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.

Everyday CheckingDividend CheckingPrimary SavingsMoney Market AccountHoliday ClubMilitary SavingsDeployed Warrior SavingsYouth SavingsShare Certificate

1Visit any Service Credit Union branch with government-issued photo ID

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

3Provide beneficiary details: full name, date of birth, Social Security number, and relationship

4Designate primary and contingent beneficiaries

5Specify percentage allocation if naming multiple beneficiaries

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, savings, certificates, money market)
Changes to beneficiaries can be made at any time
Life events such as divorce, death of a current beneficiary, or birth of a child may require beneficiary updates
Investment account beneficiaries managed separately through Service Financial Group / LPL Financial
Service CU cannot provide legal, tax, or estate planning advice