Estate planning at Wintrust
How to protect 16 Wintrust accounts — manage beneficiaries in-branch, fund a trust in-branch, and file claims through Wintrust's Wintrust Private Trust Company, N.A.
Phone1-800-856-0212
Mailing Address
231 South LaSalle Street, Chicago, IL 60604
Wintrust Private Trust Company, N.A.
Phone1-877-243-4048
Mailing Address
231 South LaSalle Street, 13th Floor, Chicago, IL 60604
WebsiteLearn more →
Phone1-800-856-0212
Mailing Address
Wintrust, P.O. Box 2027, Des Plaines, IL 60017
Verified Mar 2026
Wintrust offers 16 consumer accounts that interact with estate planning in distinct ways. Of those, 14 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 Wintrust can be managed in branch and by phone, typically taking 15-30 minutes in branch. Trust funding is also available, allowing families to retitle accounts into the name of a revocable living trust.
Wintrust provides specific procedures for both proactive estate planning and filing claims after a death.
Preparing your estate
Beneficiaries and trust funding
How to update beneficiaries in-branch, fund a trust in-branch, and review 16 account types at Wintrust.
View details →When someone dies
Death claim process
Contact Wintrust's Wintrust Private Trust Company, N.A. to file a claim. 9-step process, 5 required documents, and contact information for survivors.
View details →For questions about any of these procedures, contact Wintrust's Wintrust Private Trust Company, N.A. at 1-877-243-4048. Email inquiries can be sent to SupportTeam@wintrustwealth.com.
Wintrust 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
No. Wintrust requires an in-branch visit or phone call to add or update POD beneficiary designations on deposit accounts. Call 1-800-856-0212 for assistance or visit any of Wintrust's 200+ community bank locations.
Visit a Wintrust branch with your Certification of Trust (or trust excerpts), government-issued ID for all trustees, and a completed W-9. The bank will retitle your accounts from individual to trust ownership. Processing typically takes 1-2 weeks. Checking, savings, money market, and CD accounts can all be retitled to a trust.
No. IRAs cannot be titled to a trust due to IRS rules. However, you can name your trust as the beneficiary of your Wintrust IRA. Visit a branch to update your IRA beneficiary designation. Consult a tax advisor before naming a trust as IRA beneficiary, as there are significant tax implications.
MaxSafe spreads your deposits across Wintrust's 16 community bank charters to provide up to $4 million in FDIC insurance per accountholder (or up to $3.75 million for IRA accounts). Available as a Money Market account, fixed-rate CD, or IRA. You manage everything through a single bank with one statement and one 1099. $1,000 minimum to open with no minimum monthly balance or monthly service fee.
Yes. Wintrust Private Trust Company, N.A. (a subsidiary of Wintrust Wealth Management) offers personal and corporate trustee services, estate settlement, specialty trusts (including special needs trusts and land trusts), guardianships, donor-advised funds, custody and escrow services, and 1031 exchange services. As a national association, it can provide services anywhere in the United States. Contact 877-243-4048.
Yes. POD beneficiary designations on Wintrust deposit accounts take precedence over anything stated in your will. This is why it is important to keep beneficiary designations updated whenever your circumstances change, such as after marriage, divorce, or the birth of a child.
Phone1-800-856-0212
Mailing Address
231 South LaSalle Street, Chicago, IL 60604
Wintrust Private Trust Company, N.A.
Phone1-877-243-4048
Mailing Address
231 South LaSalle Street, 13th Floor, Chicago, IL 60604
WebsiteLearn more →
Phone1-800-856-0212
Mailing Address
Wintrust, P.O. Box 2027, Des Plaines, IL 60017
Verified Mar 2026
Estate planning resources for Wintrust customers
Tools and documents to help protect your Wintrust accounts.
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