Estate planning at SouthState Bank
How to protect 12 SouthState Bank accounts — manage beneficiaries in-branch, fund a trust in-branch, and file claims through SouthState Bank's SouthState Wealth - Estate Settlement
Customer Care
SouthState Bank, PO Box 118068, Charleston, SC 29423
SouthState Wealth - Estate Settlement
Death Claims / Customer Care
SouthState Bank, ATTN: Inquiries, PO Box 118068, Charleston, SC 29423
How your SouthState Bank accounts transfer at death depends on how each one is titled and whether a beneficiary is on file. Of those, 11 can name a trust as beneficiary or be retitled into a trust. Getting these details right keeps assets out of probate and ensures they reach the intended recipients.
At SouthState Bank, beneficiary designations are managed in branch. Accounts can also be retitled into a trust to keep them out of probate entirely.
SouthState Bank provides specific procedures for both proactive estate planning and filing claims after a death.
Preparing your estate
Beneficiaries and trust funding
How to update beneficiaries in-branch, fund a trust in-branch, and review 12 account types at SouthState Bank.
View details →When someone dies
Death claim process
Contact SouthState Bank's SouthState Wealth - Estate Settlement to file a claim. 7-step process, 5 required documents, and contact information for survivors.
View details →SouthState Bank is not available nationwide. Estate planning procedures may vary by state, so confirm that your location is served before making account changes.
Frequently asked questions
Independent Bank Group (doing business as Independent Financial) merged with SouthState Corporation effective January 1, 2025. All former Independent Financial branches now operate under the SouthState Bank brand. The independent-bank.com domain now redirects to southstatebank.com.
Yes. SouthState Wealth provides trust administration and estate settlement services. Their team includes attorneys, CPAs, certified financial planners, and certified trust and financial advisors. They can serve as Personal Representative or as agent for the Personal Representative in estate settlement. SouthState Wealth offices are located in South Carolina, Georgia, and Virginia. Contact a Private Wealth Advisor through southstatebank.com/wealth/contact-a-wealth-advisor.
Yes. SouthState offers an HSA for individuals with a high-deductible health plan. The account includes an HSA debit card for qualified medical expenses (PIN and signature transactions limited to $2,500/day), check writing access, interest earnings, and contributions that roll over annually. You can open an HSA online for current year contributions or visit a branch for prior year contributions, rollovers from another HSA, or transfers from an IRA. POD beneficiary designations are available.
Per the Personal Deposit Account Agreement, accounts at SouthState Bank cannot be transferred or assigned. To hold a deposit account in a trust name, the existing account is closed and a new trust account is opened. Bring your full trust agreement or trust certification, government-issued ID for all trustees, and the trust EIN to any branch. Fiduciary capacity must be designated on new signature cards. SouthState Wealth also offers professional trust administration for clients who want ongoing management.
Sources
Data sourced from SouthState Bank primary sources (25 pages reviewed). How we research.
Customer Care
SouthState Bank, PO Box 118068, Charleston, SC 29423
SouthState Wealth - Estate Settlement
Death Claims / Customer Care
SouthState Bank, ATTN: Inquiries, PO Box 118068, Charleston, SC 29423
Estate planning articles
Learn how to protect your SouthState Bank accounts and other assets with trusts, beneficiary designations, and estate planning documents.
