How to name beneficiaries and fund a trust at Unitus CCU
Covers 11 deposit, 2 retirement, and 2 lending accounts — beneficiaries must be updated in-branch
Contact Center
Unitus Community Credit Union, P.O. Box 1937, Portland, OR 97207
Contact Center
Unitus Community Credit Union, P.O. Box 1937, Portland, OR 97207
Member Services (deceased member accounts)
Unitus Community Credit Union, P.O. Box 1937, Portland, OR 97207
Estate planning at Unitus CCU means getting each account set up so it transfers automatically when you die—either through a POD beneficiary or trust ownership. Because Unitus CCU is a membership-based institution, trust retitling must maintain the membership eligibility requirement. Without one of these in place, accounts may require probate before your family can access the funds.
With 15 product types, Unitus CCU offers a range of transfer options. Some accounts support Payable on Death (POD) designations, others can be retitled into a trust, and some require probate if no beneficiary is designated. The sections below break down each step.
- For deposit accounts: request POD designation with beneficiary full legal name, date of birth, Social Security number, and relationship
- For IRA accounts: complete the IRA Beneficiary Designation form with primary and contingent beneficiary sections (POD designations do not apply to IRAs)
Required Documents
- Trust name, date established, and tax ID (EIN or SSN)
Special Requirements
- Trust beneficiary designations may require a copy of the Certification of Trust
- POD beneficiary designations do not apply to IRA accounts or accounts held by or on behalf of a formal trust, per Section 10 of the Membership & Account Agreement (effective October 1, 2025)
- POD accounts payable to more than one surviving beneficiary are paid to each surviving beneficiary in EQUAL SHARES. Unitus does not honor unequal percentage splits on a POD designation -- if the shares must be unequal, use a trust as the account owner instead.
- Every joint account at Unitus carries a right of survivorship (Section 6). A joint owner therefore takes the account ahead of any POD beneficiary and ahead of the will.
- A surviving owner's interest is subject to the credit union's statutory lien for the deceased owner's obligations and to any security interest or pledge the deceased owner granted, even if the survivor did not consent to it
- Washington members: Section 29 of the agreement states the member irrevocably waives the right to dispose of Unitus accounts by will. A Washington member's Unitus accounts must be directed by POD designation or joint ownership -- a bequest in the will does not control them.
- Unitus does not recognize an agent under a power of attorney without written authorization and a copy of the POA on record (Section 23), and it does not give legal advice on which account arrangement satisfies a trust, will, or court order.
Sources
Data sourced from Unitus CCU primary sources (13 pages reviewed). How we research.
Download these Unitus CCU instructions
Download instructions for the whole estateA printable PDF with the steps, required documents, and contact details — verified against Unitus CCU primary sources. Bring it to the branch or keep it beside the phone.
Contact Center
Unitus Community Credit Union, P.O. Box 1937, Portland, OR 97207
Contact Center
Unitus Community Credit Union, P.O. Box 1937, Portland, OR 97207
Member Services (deceased member accounts)
Unitus Community Credit Union, P.O. Box 1937, Portland, OR 97207
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