How to name beneficiaries and fund a trust at Western Alliance

Covers 6 deposit, 2 retirement, and 1 lending accounts — beneficiaries can be managed online

Western Alliance

Subsidiary of Western Alliance Bancorporation

westernalliancebancorporation.com
Western Alliance logo
Mailing Address

One East Washington Street, Suite 1400, Phoenix, AZ 85004

Personal Banking Customer Service

Mailing Address

One East Washington Street, Suite 1400, Phoenix, AZ 85004

Personal Banking Customer Service

Mailing Address

Western Alliance Bank, ATTN: Payment Processing, P.O. Box 650094, Dallas, TX 75265-0094

Verified Jul 2026

There are two ways to keep your Western Alliance accounts out of probate: adding beneficiary designations and retitling eligible accounts into a revocable living trust. Which approach works best depends on the account type and your overall estate plan.

Each of Western Alliance's 9 accounts has different rules for how it transfers at death. The sections below explain the options for each.

Personal CheckingPersonal Interest CheckingPersonal SavingsHigh-Yield Savings PremierPersonal Money MarketPersonal Certificate of Deposit
1
Log in and locate your account settings
  • Log in to Western Alliance Bank personal online banking at westernalliancebancorporation.com/personal/online-banking
  • Navigate to the account for which you want to add or update a POD beneficiary
  • Select the beneficiary or POD designation option within account settings
2
Enter beneficiary information and confirm
  • Provide beneficiary details: full legal name, date of birth, and Social Security number
  • For trusts as beneficiary: provide the trust name, date established, and EIN
  • Review and save your beneficiary designation
  • Note: The High-Yield Savings Premier account allows a beneficiary to be designated during the online sign-up process

Required Documents

  • Trust name, date established, and tax ID (EIN or SSN)

Special Requirements

  • Trusts can be named as POD beneficiaries on deposit accounts
  • Beneficiary designations override will instructions for POD accounts
  • All account owners must consent to POD beneficiary changes on joint accounts
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Sources

Data sourced from Western Alliance primary sources (15 pages reviewed). How we research.

Download these Western Alliance instructions

Download instructions for the whole estate

A printable PDF with the steps, required documents, and contact details — verified against Western Alliance primary sources. Bring it to the branch or keep it beside the phone.

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