How Do I Open an Estate Account at Elevations CU?
Elevations CU opens estate accounts for a court-appointed executor or administrator. The account is opened in a branch by appointment. The documents it asks for, what the account costs, and the steps it lists are below.
Opening an estate account at Elevations CU
Where to open it
In a branch by appointment
How it opens
- In a branch
- Available
- Online
- Not available
- By phone
- Not available
- By mail
- Not available
- Appointment
- Required
Who can open it
- Existing customer
- Not required
- Membership
- Required
- Out-of-state executor
- Not accepted
Documents to bring
- Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration issued in Colorado (or Letters of Conservatorship)
- Death certificate
- Government-issued photo ID for the personal representative
- Confirmation of the decedent's Elevations membership eligibility or account, or that all beneficiaries are members
Steps at Elevations CU
- 1Have a personal representative appointed through the Colorado probate process, and obtain Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration issued in Colorado.
- 2Confirm membership eligibility: the deceased qualified for membership or held an Elevations account, or all named beneficiaries are members.
- 3Book a branch appointment at elevationscu.com/locations/book-an-appointment; the acting personal representative opens the account in person.
What it costs
Elevations CU does not state the opening deposit for an estate account.
- Monthly fee
- $0 monthly fees on trust and estate accounts
- Schedule that applies
- Not stated for estate accounts; Consumer Fee Schedule (Effective May 1, 2026) or Business Fee Schedule (Effective July 20, 2026)
- For estate accounts
- The Trust & Estate Accounts page lists "$0 monthly fees" among the benefits of these accounts; it does not name which checking product an estate account is opened as
- Other charges
- Inactive account fee $10.00 per month after 12 months with no qualifying activity; paper statement $3.00
| Account | To open | Monthly fee |
|---|---|---|
| Membership Savings | $0 | |
| Foothills Free Checking | No minimum deposit | |
| Summit Dividend Checking | $10.00 | |
| Peaks Perks Checking | $8.00 | |
| eStyle Checking | $5.00 (product no longer offered) | |
| Business Checking | $10.00 per month | |
| Premium Business Checking | $15.00 per month |
Once it is open
- Online banking
- Available
- Debit card
- Issued
What to know at Elevations CU
Elevations opens probate estate accounts as checking, savings, certificate of deposit and money market accounts, and does not accept powers of attorney. The personal representative does not have to be a member. Estate accounts allow access for multiple personal representatives and safe deposit boxes, but carry no lending products, no shared branching and no payable-on-death beneficiary.
Not in Elevations CU's published guidance
- Whether every co-executor must sign or appear
- Whether the estate's EIN is needed before opening
- Whether the death certificate must be a certified copy
- Whether the account comes with checks 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
No. Elevations CU states an estate account cannot be opened online. It states the account can be opened in a branch by appointment.
Elevations CU asks for: Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration issued in Colorado (or Letters of Conservatorship); Death certificate; Government-issued photo ID for the personal representative; Confirmation of the decedent's Elevations membership eligibility or account, or that all beneficiaries are members.
Monthly fee: $0 monthly fees on trust and estate accounts. Elevations CU does not state the opening deposit for an estate account. The Trust & Estate Accounts page lists "$0 monthly fees" among the benefits of these accounts; it does not name which checking product an estate account is opened as. Elevations CU's 7 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 Elevations CU primary sources (6 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.
