How Do I Open an Estate Account at City National?
City National opens estate accounts for a court-appointed executor or administrator. The documents it asks for, what the account costs, and the steps it lists are below.
Opening an estate account at City National
Where to open it
Not published by City National
Documents to bring
- Court order appointing the fiduciary, or other evidence of the fiduciary's authority to act
- Certified taxpayer identification number (TIN) for the account holder
- Identifying information for each person opening the account
What it costs
City National does not state the opening deposit, monthly fee, or fee-waiver balance for an estate account.
- Other waivers
- None published for estate accounts; published waivers: Ladder Up Home Loan Grant recipients (Personal Checking); Coogan / Child Performer until account beneficiary reaches age 18
- Schedule that applies
- Not stated for estate accounts; candidates: Personal Products and Services (Rev 07/2026), Business Products and Services (Rev 05/2026)
| Account | To open | Monthly fee | Waiver or condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal Checking | $1,000 | $20 ($12 for accounts domiciled in Nevada) | $3,000 average daily balance |
| Personal Checking Plus | $1,000 | $7,500 or $2,500 direct deposits | |
| Personal Money Market | $2,500 | ||
| Personal Savings line | $25 | ||
| Coogan Savings / Child Performer Trust | $100 | ||
| Preferred Platinum Checking | $250,000 combined balances | ||
| Business Checking | $22 | $7,500 average daily balance | |
| Small Business Checking | $10 | $2,500 | |
| Business Elite package | $50,000 |
What to know at City National
City National may decline to open an account when it cannot understand the account's structure, naming estates as an example, or does not receive sufficient information or documentation. Its agreements define a consumer as a natural person and give a client who is not a consumer 14 days, not 30, to review a statement.
Not in City National's published guidance
- Whether a branch appointment is needed
- Whether every co-executor must sign or appear
- Whether the estate's EIN is needed before opening
- Whether the deceased must have banked there
- Whether an out-of-state executor can open one
- Whether the death certificate must be a certified copy
- What proof of the EIN it accepts
- Whether the account comes with online banking, checks, a debit card, or mobile deposit
- How the deceased's balances reach the estate account
General information about each bank's published estate-account requirements, not legal or banking advice. Requirements vary by state and account type. Consult the institution for its current requirements. Data verified Sep 17, 2026
City National's published guidance does not state whether an estate account can be opened online.
City National asks for: Court order appointing the fiduciary, or other evidence of the fiduciary's authority to act; Certified taxpayer identification number (TIN) for the account holder; Identifying information for each person opening the account.
City National does not state the opening deposit, monthly fee, or fee-waiver balance for an estate account. City National's 9 published accounts are listed above with their fees and waivers; the estate account carries the fees of the account it is opened as.
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.
Sources
Data sourced from City National primary sources (4 pages reviewed). How we research.
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Forms for Settling an Estate
Free forms for settling an estate: the probate petition, small estate affidavit, notice to creditors, inventory, and closing forms.
Petition for Probate and Letters
Open probate and ask the court to appoint you and issue Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration.
Notice to Creditors
Notify estate creditors and start the claim period — the published notice plus mailed copies for known creditors.
Renunciation of Executor
Decline an appointment as executor named in a will — the writing filed with the court before anyone is appointed.
Affidavit of Heirship
Prepare the sworn statement of a deceased person's family history and heirs for recording in the county land records, with your state's recording instructions.
Small Estate Affidavit
Collect a small estate's property without probate — the sworn affidavit presented to banks and other holders, with a presentation letter for each.
Estate Inventory
Prepare the probate inventory of estate property — every asset at its date-of-death value, composed to your state's statute, with the state's filing or delivery instructions.
Tools for Settling an Estate
Free tools for settling an estate: whether probate is needed, executor and trustee pay, creditor deadlines, and inheritance taxes.
How Much Can an Executor Charge?
Calculate how much an executor can charge for administering an estate.
Can I Self-File Probate?
Whether your state lets you open probate yourself, and what it costs with a lawyer and without one.
How Do I Get Appointed as Executor?
See the court, petition, bond, and documents needed to be appointed and receive your Letters.
What Are the Creditor Claim Deadlines?
Find creditor claim deadlines, notice requirements, and payment priority order for your state.
What Happens When an Estate Is Insolvent?
See the order your state pays an insolvent estate's debts and which claims go unpaid.
What Is the Estate's Personal Property Worth for Probate?
Estimate the fair market value of household items for probate and see how it affects fees.
