How to name beneficiaries and fund a trust at SouthState Bank

Covers 9 deposit, 2 retirement, and 1 lending accounts — beneficiaries must be updated in-branch

SouthState Bank

Subsidiary of SouthState Corporation

southstatebank.com
SouthState Bank logo

Customer Care

Mailing Address

SouthState Bank, PO Box 118068, Charleston, SC 29423

Phone Banking (24/7)
BillPay Support (24/7)
After Hours Debit Card Support

SouthState Wealth - Estate Settlement

Death Claims / Customer Care

Mailing Address

SouthState Bank, ATTN: Inquiries, PO Box 118068, Charleston, SC 29423

Verified Jul 2026

The key to protecting your SouthState Bank accounts is making sure each one has a transfer mechanism in place—either a beneficiary designation or trust ownership. Without one, the account goes through probate, adding time, cost, and court involvement for your family.

SouthState Bank has 12 accounts with different estate transfer rules. Here is how beneficiary designations, trust ownership, and probate apply to each one.

SouthState CheckingChoice CheckingGold CheckingCommunity Hero CheckingDirect CheckingPersonal SavingsMoney Market AccountCertificate of Deposit (CD)Health Savings Account (HSA)
1
Visit a SouthState Bank branch with government-issued photo ID
2
Request to update your signature card with a POD (Payable on Death) beneficiary designation
3
Provide beneficiary information:
  • Legal name
  • Date of birth
  • SSN or address
4
Sign the updated signature card
5
Confirm changes with the branch representative before leaving

Required Documents

  • Trust name, date established, and tax ID (EIN or SSN)

Special Requirements

  • POD designation is established on the signature card -- not a separate form
  • Changes must be evidenced by a written change to the signature card (in-branch only)
  • Beneficiary changes cannot be made online, by phone, or by mail
  • A beneficiary can be added during the initial account opening process or by visiting a branch after account opening
  • Upon death of last owner, funds pass equally to surviving beneficiaries after deducting fees owed
  • Bank has no obligation to notify beneficiaries of the existence of a POD account
  • Must satisfy all requirements under applicable law to establish a valid POD account
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust Editorial·

Sources

Data sourced from SouthState Bank primary sources (25 pages reviewed). How we research.

Download these SouthState Bank instructions

Download instructions for the whole estate

A printable PDF with the steps, required documents, and contact details — verified against SouthState Bank primary sources. Bring it to the branch or keep it beside the phone.

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