
Estate planning options at TrustCo Bank
There are two ways to keep your TrustCo Bank accounts out of probate: adding beneficiary designations and structuring ownership to align with your estate plan. Which approach works best depends on the account type and your overall estate plan.
Each of TrustCo Bank's 14 accounts has different rules for how it transfers at death. The sections below explain the options for each.
Contact TrustCo Bank directly for information about adding or updating beneficiary designations on your accounts.
Why trust accounts are not available
TrustCo Bank does not currently support retitling accounts into a trust. The alternative is to name a trust as the Transfer on Death beneficiary, which provides similar probate-avoidance benefits while keeping the account in the individual's name.
Home Town Free Checking
$50 minimum deposit to open and no monthly maintenance fee. Includes a debit card, online banking, the mobile app, access to over 55,000 ATMs, and a free initial order of checks. $10.00 monthly non-activity fee on balances below $250.00 after 9 months with no customer-initiated deposits, withdrawals, or ACH transactions.
Home Town Premier Checking
$50 minimum deposit to open. $5.00 monthly service charge, waived with a recurring direct deposit of payroll, retirement, or Social Security income or a $500.00 monthly average collected balance. Interest is paid on a collected daily balance of $500.00 or more. Includes a debit card, online banking, the mobile app, access to over 55,000 ATMs, and a free initial order of checks.
Home Town Investment Checking
$50 minimum deposit to open. $25.00 monthly service charge, waived with a recurring direct deposit of payroll, retirement, or Social Security income or a $20,000.00 monthly average collected balance. Interest is paid on a collected daily balance of $20,000.00 or more. Includes a debit card, online banking, the mobile app, access to over 55,000 ATMs, and a free initial order of checks.
Home Town Student Checking
Available for individual students age 13-24. $50 minimum deposit to open and no monthly maintenance fee. No check writing; funds are reached through debit card and electronic transactions, including bill pay.
Home Town BankOn
Low-cost account offered through TrustCo's membership in the BankOn coalition. $25.00 minimum deposit to open and a $4.99 monthly maintenance fee. No check writing, no overdraft or insufficient-funds fee, and no monthly non-activity fee. Opened in person only.
Home Town Passbook and Statement Savings
Passbook or statement savings with interest compounded monthly. $50.00 minimum deposit to open; a $200.00 daily minimum available balance avoids a $5.00 monthly service charge and earns interest. Statement Savings includes ATM/debit card access; passbook transactions require the book. Passbook Savings is opened in person only.
Junior (U.T.M.A.) Savings
Custodial savings account under the Uniform Transfers to Minors Act, with no minimum balance requirement.
Senior Saver
Savings account for customers age 65 and older, with no minimum balance requirement.
Money Market Account
$2,500 minimum deposit to open. A $2,500.00 daily minimum statement balance avoids a $10.00 monthly service charge. A promotional introductory rate for the first 3 months requires a $100,000 deposit of new money from outside TrustCo.
Certificate of Deposit
Fixed-rate CDs with a $500 minimum deposit to open, including a Pick Your Term CD. The rate sheet lists terms from 30 days to 5 years and over; the CRA list of services says terms run up to 10 years. Substantial penalty for early withdrawal. A CD renews automatically for the same term unless changed within the 10-day grace period after maturity.
Traditional IRA
TrustCo lists Traditional IRAs among its deposit services, and its Wealth Management division offers IRA and IRA rollover services. TrustCo publishes no IRA terms or beneficiary-designation form.
Roth IRA
TrustCo lists Roth IRAs among its deposit services. TrustCo publishes no IRA terms or beneficiary-designation form.
Sources
(2)·
Data sourced from TrustCo Bank primary sources (12 pages reviewed). How we research.
TrustCo Bank estate support
Trustco Wealth Management (trust administration and estate settlement)
Estate planning articles
Learn how to protect your TrustCo Bank accounts and other assets with trusts, beneficiary designations, and estate planning documents.
Is this your situation?
Get a complete guide for your specific circumstances.

New Baby or Adoption
Your family is growing. Your protection should too. Guardian nominations, trusts for minors, beneficiary updates, and the documents new parents need in place.
Learn more
Marriage
What married couples need in place: one joint trust or two, wills, beneficiary updates, and the spousal rights your state grants you automatically.
Learn more
New Home
How to put your house in a revocable trust: the deed you record, what it does to your mortgage and property taxes, and when a TOD deed is simpler.
Learn more
Retirement
Retirement changes your financial picture. Healthcare directives, beneficiary reviews, long-term care planning, and protecting what you've built.
Learn moreForms for Planning Your Estate
Free forms for planning your estate: will, living trust, pour-over will, powers of attorney and TOD deed. Prepare each form for your state and download the PDF.
Revocable Living Trust
Create a revocable living trust to avoid probate, protect privacy, and control asset distribution.
Last Will and Testament
Name your heirs, guardians, and final wishes. Free for every state.
Codicil to a Will
Add, revoke or replace provisions of your will and republish the rest, signed as your state requires for a will.
Tools for Planning Your Estate
Free tools for planning your estate: will and trust costs, trust or TOD deed, and the signing rules. Run each tool for your state and read its answer.
How Much Does a Revocable Living Trust Cost?
Compare revocable living trust costs across providers including online services and attorneys.
How Does SimplyTrust Compare to LegalZoom, Trust & Will, and Other Services?
Compare what it costs to make a trust official across SimplyTrust, LegalZoom, Trust & Will, Rocket Lawyer, and Quicken WillMaker.
Do I Need a Revocable Trust?
Find out if a revocable trust makes sense based on your state, estate value, and family situation.
Trust or Will: Which Costs Less?
Compare the cost of probate vs a trust for your state and estate value.
How Much Is the Federal Gift Tax?
Whether a gift owes federal gift tax, how much of the annual exclusion and lifetime exemption it uses, and whether Form 709 is due.
What Does Estate Planning Actually Cost?
Compare costs across estate planning providers including online services and attorneys.






