How to name beneficiaries and fund a trust at Wintrust
Covers 9 deposit, 3 retirement, 2 investment, and 2 lending accounts — beneficiaries must be updated in-branch
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
Preparing your Wintrust accounts for estate transfer involves two primary strategies: designating beneficiaries on individual accounts and, where supported, retitling accounts into a revocable living trust. Both approaches bypass probate, but they work differently depending on the account type.
With 16 product types, Wintrust 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.
Total Access CheckingAccess Plus CheckingPremier CheckingMoney Smart CheckingStatement SavingsMoney Market AccountMaxSafe Money MarketCertificate of Deposit (CD)MaxSafe CD
1Visit a Wintrust community bank location with government-issued photo ID
2Request a POD (Payable on Death) beneficiary designation form for deposit accounts
3Provide each beneficiary's full legal name, home address, date of birth, and relationship
4Specify percentage allocations if naming multiple beneficiaries
5Add contingent beneficiaries if desired
6Complete and sign the designation form
7Receive confirmation of beneficiary designation
Required Documents
- Trust name, date established, and tax ID (EIN or SSN)
Special Requirements
- POD beneficiary changes require in-branch visit or phone contact; not available online
- Named beneficiaries override your will
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 documents for Wintrust customers
Free documents designed to protect your Wintrust accounts.