How to name beneficiaries and fund a trust at Synchrony
Beneficiaries are managed online or by mail. Trust paperwork is taken by phone or by mail
Preparing your Synchrony accounts for estate transfer involves two primary strategies: designating beneficiaries on individual accounts and, where supported, retitling accounts into a revocable living trust. Both approaches bypass probate, but they work differently depending on the account type.
The transfer rules at Synchrony vary across 9 accounts. Below is a breakdown of beneficiary options, trust funding, and which products support each method.
Beneficiary form at Synchrony
Beneficiary Designation Form (listed as Change Beneficiary Information Form) and IRA Beneficiary Change Information Form (for IRAs).
Open the form →- Name, Social Security number, address, date of birth, and phone number
- All account owners sign the form
- Beneficiaries are named as primary or contingent, with whole-number percentages totaling 100%
- Mail it to Synchrony Bank Retirement Services, PO Box 669802, Dallas, TX 75266-0955
Required Documents
- Each beneficiary's name, Social Security number, address, date of birth and phone number (on the Beneficiary Designation Form)
- Beneficiary Designation Form, signed by all account owners (by mail)
- IRA Beneficiary Change Information Form (for an IRA)
- Trust name and tax identification number, and whether the trust is revocable or irrevocable
- Account types to open, or existing account numbers to convert to trust accounts
- Information for each trustee; all trustees sign
- A completed, dated, and signed IRS Form W-9
- Copies of the trust agreement pages showing the title of the trust, all signature pages, and the pages appointing the trustees
- If trustees have changed, documents confirming removal and successor appointment, including death certificates for any deceased trustees
Required Documents
- Trust Account Application, Trust Verification and Trustee Certification (signed by all trustees)
- IRS Form W-9, completed, dated and signed
- Copies of the trust agreement pages. The page showing the title of the trust, all signature pages, and the pages appointing the trustees
- Documents confirming the removal of trustees and the appointment of successors (if the trustees have changed since the trust was created). Including death certificates for any deceased trustees
- Name, Social Security number, address, date of birth, and phone number
- All account owners sign the form
- Beneficiaries are named as primary or contingent, with whole-number percentages totaling 100%
- Mail it to Synchrony Bank Retirement Services, PO Box 669802, Dallas, TX 75266-0955
Required Documents
- Each beneficiary's name, Social Security number, address, date of birth and phone number (on the Beneficiary Designation Form)
- Beneficiary Designation Form, signed by all account owners (by mail)
- IRA Beneficiary Change Information Form (for an IRA)
What Synchrony says about beneficiaries and trusts
Each section is Synchrony's own statement, with the document it comes from numbered under Sources.
Which accounts take a beneficiary2
How many beneficiaries, and how shares are split
What a designation takes to be effective
- All accounts
All account owners must sign the Beneficiary Designation Form.2
Beneficiary forms Synchrony issues2
- Beneficiary Designation Form (listed as Change Beneficiary Information Form)
Completed by all account owners. Available to download.2, 4
Return to
Mailing address: Synchrony Bank, PO Box 669802, Dallas, TX 75266-0955
- IRA Beneficiary Change Information Form
For IRAs. Available to download.3, 4
Return to
Mailing address: Synchrony Bank Retirement Services, PO Box 669802, Dallas, TX 75266-0955
What Synchrony's agreement says about beneficiaries1
- Changing or revoking a designation
A new Beneficiary Designation Form supersedes all prior beneficiary designations for the account.2
Which accounts a trust can hold1
Trust account forms Synchrony issues2
- Trust Account Application, Trust Verification and Trustee Certification
For trust accounts. Completed by all trustees. Available to download.5
Return to
Mailing address: Synchrony Bank, PO Box 669802, Dallas, TX 75266-0955
- Trust Verification and Trustee Certification
For trust accounts. Available to download.7
What Synchrony says about trust accounts3
- Whether a new account is opened
The application opens new trust accounts or converts existing accounts, listed by account number, to trust accounts.5
- Checks and cards on a trust account
Only a grantor who is also serving as trustee of a revocable trust can order an ATM card for a High Yield Savings or Money Market account, or checks for a Money Market account, held in trust. ATM cards are ordered through a Trust Specialist.1, 5
- Online access
Only a grantor who is also serving as trustee of a revocable trust may connect an external account to a trust account for money transfers.1
Sources7
- 1.Banking FAQ
- 2.Beneficiary Designation Form (REV. 01/2023)
- 3.IRA Beneficiary Change Information Form (REV. 01/2023)
- 4.Bank Forms
- 5.Trust Account Application, Trust Verification and Trustee Certification (REV.08/2025)
- 6.Deposit Account Agreement
- 7.Trust Verification and Trustee Certification (REV. 08/2025)
Sources
Data sourced from Synchrony primary sources (23 pages reviewed). How we research.
Download these Synchrony instructions
Download instructions for the whole estateA printable PDF with the steps, required documents, and contact details — verified against Synchrony primary sources. Bring it to the branch or keep it beside the phone.
Synchrony estate support
Phone
International
Automated service
Hours
Mailing address
Website
Estate requests go through general customer service.
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