How Do I Open an Estate Account at Fifth Third Bank?

Fifth Third Bank'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 Fifth Third Bank

Where to open it

Not stated — contact Fifth Third Bank

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

Documents demonstrating the fiduciary's appropriate authority, as reasonably requested by the bank (the Deposit Account Rules & Regulations do not itemize them)

What to know at Fifth Third Bank

Estate accounts are governed by Section 2.6 (Other Fiduciary Accounts) of the Deposit Account Rules & Regulations (LIDN 4238, dated June 25, 2026), which reserves the bank's right to require any documents it reasonably requests to demonstrate appropriate authority before opening, and to withhold changes or withdrawals until all requested documents are received. Fifth Third's public pages do not document the opening channels, an itemized document list, EIN timing, or minimum deposit for estate accounts. Separately, Fifth Third Private Bank offers full estate settlement administration (serving as executor, administrator, or agent) at 1-866-488-0017.

Estate services: 1-866-488-0017View Fifth Third Bank'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

Fifth Third Bank's published guidance does not state whether an estate account can be opened online.

Fifth Third Bank asks for: Documents demonstrating the fiduciary's appropriate authority, as reasonably requested by the bank (the Deposit Account Rules & Regulations do not itemize them).

Fifth Third Bank's published guidance does not state a co-executor appearance rule. When more than one executor or administrator was appointed, confirm with Fifth Third Bank 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.