How Do I Open an Estate Account at City National?

City National's estate-account opening requirements: where the account can be opened, the documents to bring, and the EIN requirement.

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Opening an estate account at City National

Where to open it

Not stated — contact City National

Before you go

The account is opened under the estate's EIN — not the deceased's Social Security Number. Get the estate's EIN free

Opening channels

In a branch: Not stated
Online: Not stated
By phone: Not stated
By mail: Not stated
Appointment: Not stated
Co-executors: Not stated

Documents to bring

Evidence of the fiduciary's authority to act, such as a copy of the court order appointing the fiduciary (for an executor or administrator, the Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration)
Certified taxpayer identification number ("TIN") for the account holder -- for an account titled to an estate, the estate's EIN

What to know at City National

City National publishes no dedicated estate-account page; the only primary source is the fiduciary ownership section of the Deposit Account Disclosures (ID 66503E, Rev 04/2026). It confirms executors and administrators may open accounts as fiduciaries and must evidence their court appointment, but states no opening channel, appointment policy, co-fiduciary signing rule, Letters recency window, estate-specific minimum deposit, or estimated opening time. Standard product minimums (e.g., $1,000 for Personal Checking) are published only for personal accounts, not for fiduciary titling. General customer service: (800) 773-7100; Investments & Trust Services: (800) 708-8881.

Estate services: 1-800-708-8881View City National's guidance

This guide summarizes each bank's published estate-account requirements and is not legal or banking advice. Requirements may vary by state and account type.

Frequently Asked Questions

City National's published guidance does not state whether an estate account can be opened online.

City National asks for: Evidence of the fiduciary's authority to act, such as a copy of the court order appointing the fiduciary (for an executor or administrator, the Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration); Certified taxpayer identification number ("TIN") for the account holder -- for an account titled to an estate, the estate's EIN.

Yes. City National opens the account under the estate's Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the IRS — the deceased's Social Security Number cannot be used. Getting the EIN is the first step.

City National's published guidance does not state a co-executor appearance rule. When more than one executor or administrator was appointed, confirm with City National whether all must attend.

An estate account is a bank account titled to the estate itself — not to the person who died and not to the executor personally. The court-appointed executor or administrator opens it to deposit money owed to the estate (final paychecks, refunds, proceeds from closed accounts), pay the estate's debts and expenses, and distribute what remains. Checks made out to "the Estate of" can only be deposited into an account titled this way.

The estate is its own taxpayer, separate from the person who died. Banks open estate accounts under the estate's Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the IRS, not the deceased's Social Security Number. The free EIN application prepares IRS Form SS-4 for the estate.