How Do I Open an Estate Account at F&M Bank?
F&M Bank opens estate accounts for a court-appointed executor or administrator. The account is opened in a branch. The documents it asks for, what the account costs, and the steps it lists are below.
Opening an estate account at F&M Bank
Where to open it
In a branch
How it opens
- In a branch
- Available
- Online
- Not available
Documents to bring
- Copy of the court order appointing the executor or administrator
- Client Information Sheet (form FM843), with the estate's EIN and one primary and one secondary form of ID
- Name, address, date of birth, taxpayer identification number (TIN), and driver's license or other photo ID
Steps at F&M Bank
- 1Call the F&M Client Care Center at 866-437-0011 or 562-344-2370 to arrange a branch visit, or request an appointment through https://www.fmb.com/contact.
- 2Bring the court order appointing you, your government-issued photo ID and a second form of identification, and the estate's EIN, which F&M collects on its Client Information Sheet (FM843).
- 3The branch copies the court order to verify your appointment and the powers it gives you, then opens the account under the Fiduciary Account terms.
What it costs
F&M Bank does not state the opening deposit, monthly fee, or fee-waiver balance for an estate account.
- Other waivers
- No fiduciary rule published; some waivers run on direct deposit or debit-card point-of-sale counts, and Senior Checking is limited to "individuals 62 and over"
- Schedule that applies
- Not stated for estate accounts; candidates: Personal Schedule of Fees and Business & Account Analysis Schedule of Fees, both effective July 1, 2026
- Other charges
- Paper Statement $5.00; Early Account Closure (Checking/Money Market within 90 days of opening) $20.00
| Account | To open | Monthly fee | Waiver or condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bronze Checking | $100 | $10 | minimum daily balance of $500 or more, or average daily balance of $1,000 or more |
| Silver Checking | $100 | $15 | $2,000 average daily |
| Gold Checking | $100 | $25 | $5,000 minimum daily or $10,000 average daily |
| Platinum Checking | $100 | $50 | $15,000 minimum daily or $50,000 average daily |
| Senior Checking | $100 | $5 | $2,000 average daily |
| Market Rate Savings | $100 | ||
| Market Rate Money Market | $100 | ||
| Bankruptcy Trustee Account | $200 | ||
| State Bar Association/IOLTA account | $200 | No monthly Service Charge | |
| Business Checking Non-Analyzed | $20 Minimum Balance Fee | charged if the balance falls below $5,000 any day of the statement cycle | |
| Business Checking Plus | $35 | charged below a $35,000 average daily balance | |
| Business Checking Analyzed | $30 maintenance fee per statement cycle |
What to know at F&M Bank
F&M's Deposit Account Terms & Conditions let court-authorized executors and administrators open a Fiduciary Account, with the court order checked at opening. F&M's online application covers only its consumer accounts and is "only available to our personal banking clients." The bank is not responsible for monitoring items deposited to or drawn against a fiduciary account.
Not in F&M Bank's published guidance
- Whether it can be opened by phone or by mail
- Whether a branch appointment is needed
- Whether every co-executor must sign or appear
- Whether the deceased must have banked there
- Whether an out-of-state executor can open one
- 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
No. F&M Bank states an estate account cannot be opened online. It states the account can be opened in a branch.
F&M Bank asks for: Copy of the court order appointing the executor or administrator; Client Information Sheet (form FM843), with the estate's EIN and one primary and one secondary form of ID; Name, address, date of birth, taxpayer identification number (TIN), and driver's license or other photo ID.
F&M Bank does not state the opening deposit, monthly fee, or fee-waiver balance for an estate account. F&M Bank's 12 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 F&M Bank primary sources (8 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.
