Estate planning at Whitefish CU
How to protect 7 Whitefish CU accounts — manage beneficiaries in-branch, fund a trust in-branch, and file claims through Whitefish CU's Member Services
PO Box 37, Whitefish, MT 59937
Member Services
PO Box 37, Whitefish, MT 59937
Member Services
Whitefish Credit Union, PO Box 37, Whitefish, MT 59937
How your Whitefish CU accounts transfer at death depends on how each one is set up. As a membership-based credit union, Whitefish CU membership open to individuals, trusts, organizations, partnerships, and corporations who live, work, operate, own property, worship, participate in an association, or attend school within 50 air miles of Whitefish, MT, or within the following 25 Montana counties: Beaverhead, Big Horn, Broadwater, Carbon, Cascade, Deer Lodge, Flathead, Gallatin, Granite, Jefferson, Lake, Lewis and Clark, Lincoln, Madison, Meagher, Mineral, Missoula, Park, Powell, Ravalli, Sanders, Silver Bow, Stillwater, Sweet Grass, and Yellowstone. Field of membership expanded July 2025 to include 16 additional counties covering the greater Billings, Butte, and Great Falls areas. Eight branches: Whitefish, Kalispell (2), Polson, Columbia Falls, Thompson Falls, Eureka, and Missoula (opened October 2025). With 7 account types, the transfer rules vary—getting the right designations in place now prevents delays and court involvement later.
Beneficiary changes at Whitefish CU can be made in branch, by mail, and by phone. Accounts can also be retitled into a trust to keep them out of probate entirely.
Whitefish CU has documented procedures for both preparing accounts during your lifetime and handling claims when an account holder passes away.
Preparing your estate
Beneficiaries and trust funding
How to update beneficiaries in-branch, fund a trust in-branch, and review 7 account types at Whitefish CU.
View details →When someone dies
Death claim process
Contact Whitefish CU's Member Services to file a claim. 4-step process, 5 required documents, and contact information for survivors.
View details →Reach Whitefish CU's Member Services at (877) 862-3525 for help with any of these procedures.
Whitefish CU 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
Whitefish CU offers accounts for Revocable Trust, Irrevocable Trust, Estate, Conservator, Montana Medical, and Representative Payee. Accounts are opened and maintained by named trustee(s) under a written trust agreement. The credit union does not act as trustee. Trust accounts are available for savings, checking, and certificate account types.
Membership is open to individuals, trusts, organizations, partnerships, and corporations who live, work, operate, own property, worship, participate in an association, or attend school within 50 air miles of Whitefish, MT, or within 25 designated Montana counties: Beaverhead, Big Horn, Broadwater, Carbon, Cascade, Deer Lodge, Flathead, Gallatin, Granite, Jefferson, Lake, Lewis and Clark, Lincoln, Madison, Meagher, Mineral, Missoula, Park, Powell, Ravalli, Sanders, Silver Bow, Stillwater, Sweet Grass, and Yellowstone. Immediate family of qualified applicants are also eligible. A $5 minimum deposit in a Savings Account establishes membership. Apply online at https://www.whitefishcu.com/Your-Credit-Union/About-Us/Join-us
Deposits at Whitefish CU are federally insured up to $250,000 per account category by the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA). IRA accounts are separately insured up to $250,000, apart from standard deposit coverage. POD accounts receive additional NCUA coverage of up to $250,000 per qualifying beneficiary, meaning accounts with multiple named beneficiaries can receive higher total coverage.
Whitefish CU operates eight branches across Montana: Whitefish, Kalispell (2 locations), Polson, Columbia Falls, Thompson Falls, Eureka, and Missoula (opened October 2025). Branch hours and addresses are listed at https://www.whitefishcu.com/Your-Credit-Union/Find-Us/Branches-ATMs. Members also have access to shared branching and the CO-OP ATM network.
Whitefish CU pays dividends on savings, checking, certificate, and IRA accounts. Dividends are paid semi-annually on June 30 and December 31. Current rates are posted at https://www.whitefishcu.com/Accounts/Savings/Rates. Certificate accounts earn higher rates than standard savings, with multiple term options and a $500 minimum deposit.
Sources
Data sourced from Whitefish CU primary sources (18 pages reviewed). How we research.
PO Box 37, Whitefish, MT 59937
Member Services
PO Box 37, Whitefish, MT 59937
Member Services
Whitefish Credit Union, PO Box 37, Whitefish, MT 59937
Estate planning articles
Learn how to protect your Whitefish CU accounts and other assets with trusts, beneficiary designations, and estate planning documents.
