Estate planning at Star One
How to protect 14 Star One accounts — manage beneficiaries in-branch, fund a trust in-branch, and file death claims
Phone(408) 543-5202
Toll-Free1-866-543-5202
Emailservice@starone.org
Fax(408) 543-5203
Mailing Address
Star One Credit Union, P.O. Box 3643, Sunnyvale, CA 94088-3643
WebsiteLearn more→
Phone(408) 543-5202
Toll-Free1-866-543-5202
Emailservice@starone.org
Fax(408) 543-5203
Mailing Address
Star One Credit Union, P.O. Box 3643, Sunnyvale, CA 94088-3643
WebsiteLearn more→
Beneficiary/Retiree Services
Phone(408) 543-5202
Toll-Free1-866-543-5202
Fax(408) 543-5203
Mailing Address
Star One Credit Union, Attn: Beneficiary/Retiree Services, P.O. Box 3643, Sunnyvale, CA 94088-3643
WebsiteNotify online→
Verified May 2026
Star One offers 14 accounts, each with its own rules for what happens when a member dies. As a membership-based credit union, Star One serves members in 9 California counties: Santa Clara, Alameda, Merced, Monterey, San Benito, San Joaquin, San Mateo, Santa Cruz, and Stanislaus. Also open to employees of 100+ corporate partners. Minimum $50 savings balance required for membership. Branch locations in the Silicon Valley area (Cupertino, San Jose, Saratoga, Sunnyvale, Los Altos). Some transfer automatically to a named beneficiary, others can be held in a trust, and a few may require probate if no plan is in place.
Managing beneficiaries at Star One is straightforward—changes can be made in branch, by mail, and by phone, typically taking 15-30 minutes. Trust funding is also available, allowing families to retitle accounts into the name of a revocable living trust.
Star One has documented procedures for both preparing accounts during your lifetime and handling claims when an account holder passes away.
Preparing your estate
Beneficiaries and trust funding
How to update beneficiaries in-branch, fund a trust in-branch, and review 14 account types at Star One.
View details →When someone dies
Death claim process
6-step process, 6 required documents, and contact information for survivors.
View details →Star One operates in select states, so estate planning procedures may vary by location. Confirm availability in your state before initiating trust funding or account changes.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. Star One provides complimentary estate-planning consultations through Affinity Trusts and discounts of 40% or more on living trusts and estate documents through partner RELAW, APC. Pricing starts at $1,795 for individuals or $2,095 for married couples, plus a $25 title search fee.
Star One offers separate membership applications for each type. For revocable trusts, all trustors and trustees must be Star One members, and you can use your SSN as the tax ID. For irrevocable trusts, all trustors or all named beneficiaries must be members, and you need an EIN from the IRS (Form SS-4). Both types require the Certification of Trust by Trustee(s) form.
Mail-in forms for trust accounts, POD designations, and estate accounts require notarized signatures. However, you can avoid the notary requirement by visiting a Star One branch in person or scheduling a Virtual Branch video appointment. The Certification of Trust by Trustee(s) form always requires notary acknowledgment with the notary's seal and signature.
Revocable and living trust accounts at Star One are insured by NCUA up to $250,000 per owner per beneficiary, separately from your individual and joint accounts. This means members can significantly exceed the base $250,000 coverage by using multiple ownership structures including trust, POD, joint, and individual accounts.
No. Having Power of Attorney does not automatically grant access to a trust account at Star One. The trust documents themselves must explicitly authorize the agent named in the Power of Attorney to access trust-held accounts. Contact Star One at (866) 543-5202 or visit a branch for guidance on trust account access authorization.
Sources
Data sourced from Star One primary sources (22 pages reviewed). How we research.
Phone(408) 543-5202
Toll-Free1-866-543-5202
Emailservice@starone.org
Fax(408) 543-5203
Mailing Address
Star One Credit Union, P.O. Box 3643, Sunnyvale, CA 94088-3643
WebsiteLearn more→
Phone(408) 543-5202
Toll-Free1-866-543-5202
Emailservice@starone.org
Fax(408) 543-5203
Mailing Address
Star One Credit Union, P.O. Box 3643, Sunnyvale, CA 94088-3643
WebsiteLearn more→
Beneficiary/Retiree Services
Phone(408) 543-5202
Toll-Free1-866-543-5202
Fax(408) 543-5203
Mailing Address
Star One Credit Union, Attn: Beneficiary/Retiree Services, P.O. Box 3643, Sunnyvale, CA 94088-3643
WebsiteNotify online→
Verified May 2026
Estate planning articles
Learn how to protect your Star One accounts and other assets with trusts, beneficiary designations, and estate planning documents.
