Estate planning at Synovus
How to protect 13 Synovus accounts — manage beneficiaries in-branch, fund a trust in-branch, and file death claims
Brand change
Synovus completed an all-stock merger with Pinnacle Financial Partners, Inc.: the bank holding company merger completed January 1, 2026 and the bank merger completed January 2, 2026, with Synovus Bank merged into Pinnacle Bank (Pinnacle Bank surviving). The Synovus brand continues operating during the transition; systems and brand conversions, consolidating under the Pinnacle brand, are expected in early 2027. Source: synovus.com merger completion release, verified 2026-07-17. Effective January 2026.
Synovus is now part of Pinnacle Bank. The procedures below reflect Synovus's accounts during the transition. View the Pinnacle Bank estate planning page.
Synovus, P.O. Box 120, Columbus, GA 31902
Synovus, P.O. Box 120, Columbus, GA 31902
Death Claims
Synovus Bank, P.O. Box 120, Columbus, GA 31902
Synovus offers 13 consumer accounts that interact with estate planning in distinct ways. Of those, 11 can name a trust as beneficiary or be retitled into a trust. Understanding the transfer methods available for each account type helps families keep assets out of probate and ensure they pass to the right people.
Synovus handles beneficiary designations in branch, by mail, and by phone. Accounts can also be retitled into a trust to keep them out of probate entirely.
There are two sides to estate planning at Synovus: setting things up while you're alive, and the process survivors follow after a death.
Preparing your estate
Beneficiaries and trust funding
How to update beneficiaries in-branch, fund a trust in-branch, and review 13 account types at Synovus.
View details →When someone dies
Death claim process
3-step process, 6 required documents, and contact information for survivors.
View details →Synovus 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
Synovus Trust Company, N.A. (a subsidiary of Pinnacle Bank) provides trust administration, estate settlement, executor/personal representative services, fiduciary investment management, financial planning, and multi-generational family office services through its Family Office division. Every trust client is supported by a relationship manager, portfolio manager, and account specialist. Contact the trust services team at 1-800-942-9764 or general customer service at 1-888-796-6887.
Pinnacle Financial Partners completed its all-stock merger with Synovus in early January 2026: the bank holding company merger completed January 1, 2026 and the bank merger January 2, 2026, with Synovus Bank merged into Pinnacle Bank (Pinnacle Bank surviving). The combined bank operates under both the Pinnacle and Synovus brands, with systems and brand conversions consolidating under the Pinnacle name expected in early 2027 and little to no client disruption in the interim. The combined company has approximately $117.2 billion in assets and more than 400 locations across nine states. Synovus deposit accounts, online banking, and account numbers continue to function under the Synovus brand until conversion.
Yes. Synovus wealth advisors work with clients on strategies including QTIP trusts (Qualified Terminable Interest Property) that provide income to a surviving spouse while preserving principal for children from a prior relationship, credit-shelter trusts, and spendthrift provisions that protect beneficiaries from creditors and poor financial decisions. Contact Synovus Wealth at 1-888-796-6887 or Synovus Securities at 1-800-332-3403.
Sources
Data sourced from Synovus primary sources (20 pages reviewed). How we research.
Synovus, P.O. Box 120, Columbus, GA 31902
Synovus, P.O. Box 120, Columbus, GA 31902
Death Claims
Synovus Bank, P.O. Box 120, Columbus, GA 31902
Estate planning articles
Learn how to protect your Synovus accounts and other assets with trusts, beneficiary designations, and estate planning documents.
