How Do I Open an Estate Account at First National Bank?

First National 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 First National Bank

Account type: Estate Management Account (estate checking)

Where to open it

In a branch

Opening channels

In a branch: Available
Online: Not stated
By phone: Not stated
By mail: Not stated
Appointment: Not stated
Co-executors: Not stated
Minimum deposit: None — no minimum account opening balance

Documents to bring

Letter of Testamentary, Letter of Administration or Letter of Representation
Valid certificate of death
Non-expired ID (driver's license, state-issued ID, Military ID, passport, or Permanent Resident Card and visa)

Steps at First National Bank

1
Schedule an appointment through the Estate Management Account page on fnb-online.com (the page's opening flow is an appointment scheduler) or contact a local FNB branch
2
Bring the required documentation to the appointment:
- Letter of Testamentary, Letter of Administration or Letter of Representation
- Valid certificate of death
- Non-expired government-issued photo ID
3
Optionally order checks during the application process and request a debit card (mailed within 7-10 business days)

What to know at First National Bank

FNB markets a dedicated Estate Management Account "designed for court-appointed representatives or executors of estates." No minimum opening balance, no required minimum balance, no monthly service charge, unlimited check writing and deposits, and surcharge-free cash access at more than 1,600 FNB ATMs. The account carries Business Online Banking, FNB Business Mobile app, and Telephone Banking access, and can accept Instant Payment (RTP/FedNow) deposits. The product page's only opening call-to-action is "To Schedule an Appointment"; the page does not state whether the account can be opened fully online, by phone, or by mail, does not state whether an appointment is strictly required versus walk-in, and does not mention an estate EIN, a Letters recency window, or co-executor signature requirements.

Estate services: 1-877-871-7680View First National 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

First National Bank's published guidance does not state whether an estate account can be opened online. Its stated channel is in person at a branch.

First National Bank asks for: Letter of Testamentary, Letter of Administration or Letter of Representation; Valid certificate of death; Non-expired ID (driver's license, state-issued ID, Military ID, passport, or Permanent Resident Card and visa).

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