How Do I Open an Estate Account at Firefighters First?
Firefighters First 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 Firefighters First
Where to open it
Not published by Firefighters First
Who can open it
- Membership
- Required
- EIN proof
- The number alone
Documents to bring
- Court order or letters appointing you as executor, administrator, conservator, or guardian
- Certified copy of the death certificate
- Government-issued photo ID for each fiduciary
- Employer Identification Number (EIN) for the estate
Steps at Firefighters First
- 1Call 800-231-1626 or use the contact form at https://www.firefightersfirstcu.org/contact-us/ and select "Trust & Estate".
What it costs
- Schedule that applies
- Share Rates & Schedule of Fees and Charges (the consumer schedule); no estate- or fiduciary-specific fee is published
| Account | To open |
|---|---|
| Regular Share Account | $5 |
| Holiday Helper | $0 |
| Coverdell ESA | $0 |
| Money Market | $0 |
| Ready Checking | $0 |
| eChecking | $0 |
What to know at Firefighters First
Firefighters First opens fiduciary accounts for an executor or administrator under court orders, and the fiduciary's authority continues until the credit union receives written notice to the contrary. Funds in a fiduciary account cannot be pledged as security for a loan. For a court-ordered blocked account, the fiduciary files documentation with the court confirming the funds and dividends cannot be withdrawn or pledged except on court order.
Not in Firefighters First'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
- 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 13, 2026
Firefighters First's published guidance does not state whether an estate account can be opened online.
Firefighters First asks for: Court order or letters appointing you as executor, administrator, conservator, or guardian; Certified copy of the death certificate; Government-issued photo ID for each fiduciary; Employer Identification Number (EIN) for the estate.
Firefighters First's 6 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 Firefighters First primary sources (2 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.
