Estate planning at Western Alliance
How to protect 9 Western Alliance accounts — manage beneficiaries online, fund a trust in-branch, and file claims through Western Alliance's Personal Banking Customer Service
Phone1-888-271-0610
Toll-Free1-888-271-0610
Mailing Address
One East Washington Street, Suite 1400, Phoenix, AZ 85004
Personal Banking Customer Service
Phone(602) 389-3500
Toll-Free1-888-271-0610
Mailing Address
One East Washington Street, Suite 1400, Phoenix, AZ 85004
WebsiteLearn more →
Phone1-888-271-0610
Mailing Address
Western Alliance Bank, ATTN: Payment Processing, P.O. Box 650094, Dallas, TX 75265-0094
Verified Mar 2026
Western Alliance offers 9 consumer accounts that interact with estate planning in distinct ways. Of those, 8 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.
Beneficiary designations at Western Alliance can be managed online, in branch, 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.
Western Alliance provides specific procedures for both proactive estate planning and filing claims after a death.
Preparing your estate
Beneficiaries and trust funding
How to manage beneficiaries online, fund a trust in-branch, and review 9 account types at Western Alliance.
View details →When someone dies
Death claim process
Contact Western Alliance's Personal Banking Customer Service to file a claim. 7-step process, 6 required documents, and contact information for survivors.
View details →For questions about any of these procedures, contact Western Alliance's Personal Banking Customer Service at 1-888-271-0610.
Western Alliance 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. Trusts can be named as POD beneficiaries on Western Alliance Bank checking, savings, money market, and CD accounts. You will need to provide the trust name, date established, and EIN. Contact the bank at 1-888-271-0610 or visit a branch to set this up.
Visit a Western Alliance Bank branch with your trust document or Certificate of Trust, government-issued photo ID for all trustees, and the trust tax identification number (EIN or grantor SSN for revocable trusts). A banker will help you complete the trust account application and transfer funds. Trust accounts cannot be opened online.
Western Alliance Bank is the commercial and personal banking subsidiary of Western Alliance Bancorporation, offering deposit accounts, loans, and consumer banking services. Western Alliance Trust Company, N.A. is a separate subsidiary that provides corporate trust services and levered loan administration for institutional clients. Products offered by Western Alliance Trust Company are not FDIC insured.
No. IRAs cannot be retitled to a trust. However, you can name a trust as the beneficiary of your IRA. Consult a tax advisor before doing so, as there are significant tax implications for trust beneficiaries under the SECURE Act distribution rules.
Yes. Deposit accounts at Western Alliance Bank are protected by FDIC insurance up to $250,000 per depositor, per account ownership category. Joint accounts are insured up to $500,000 ($250,000 per co-owner). Products offered by Western Alliance Trust Company, N.A. are not FDIC insured.
Western Alliance Bank has full-service branches in Arizona, California, and Nevada. In 2025 the bank unified all divisions (Alliance Bank of Arizona, Bank of Nevada, Torrey Pines Bank, First Independent Bank, and Bridge Bank) under the single Western Alliance Bank brand. The High-Yield Savings Premier account is available nationwide online.
IRA beneficiary changes require a separate IRA beneficiary designation form, which is different from the POD form used for deposit accounts. Contact Western Alliance Bank at 1-888-271-0610 or visit a branch to request the IRA beneficiary form and make changes.
Phone1-888-271-0610
Toll-Free1-888-271-0610
Mailing Address
One East Washington Street, Suite 1400, Phoenix, AZ 85004
Personal Banking Customer Service
Phone(602) 389-3500
Toll-Free1-888-271-0610
Mailing Address
One East Washington Street, Suite 1400, Phoenix, AZ 85004
WebsiteLearn more →
Phone1-888-271-0610
Mailing Address
Western Alliance Bank, ATTN: Payment Processing, P.O. Box 650094, Dallas, TX 75265-0094
Verified Mar 2026
Estate planning resources for Western Alliance customers
Tools and documents to help protect your Western Alliance accounts.
Do I Need a Revocable Trust?
Answer questions about your estate size, real estate, family situation, and privacy preferences to see how a revocable trust compares to a will alone.
Take the Quiz
Are My Beneficiary Designations Protected?
See how your state handles beneficiary designations after divorce, inherited IRA creditor protection, and spousal consent requirements for retirement accounts.
Check Now
What Does Estate Planning Actually Cost?
See the true cost of estate planning. Compare SimplyTrust, Trust & Will, LegalZoom, and attorneys including life events like marriage, divorce, and having children.
Compare Costs