How Do I Open an Estate Account at First Tech?
First Tech 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 First Tech
Account type: Membership Savings, Share Certificate, First Tech Rewards Checking
Where to open it
In a branch
How it opens
- In a branch
- Available
Who can open it
- Existing customer
- Not required
- Membership
- Required
- EIN proof
- The number alone
Documents to bring
- Fiduciary Membership Application and Authorization (Form F-00002) with "Estate" selected
- Court documents evidencing the fiduciary's authority
- The estate's taxpayer identification number
- Government-issued photo ID for each fiduciary
- Death certificate
- Opening deposit
Steps at First Tech
- 1Complete Form F-00002, selecting Estate and naming the estate as owner.
- 2Each fiduciary signs the authorization under their fiduciary title; all applicants initial the consent block.
- 3Provide the court documents evidencing your authority and a government-issued photo ID for each fiduciary.
- 4Schedule an appointment or visit a First Tech location to submit the packet.
What it costs
- Opening deposit
- $5.00 (Membership Savings minimum opening balance; the member share is also $5)
- Monthly fee
- None
- Schedule that applies
- Fee Schedule effective May 1, 2026, plus the consumer Rate Sheet effective 09/01/2026
- Other charges
- Inactivity Fee up to $10/month after at least 6 months without member-initiated activity; not charged with more than $1,000 in relationship deposits
| Account | To open |
|---|---|
| Membership Savings | $5.00 |
| Share Certificate | $500.00 |
| First Tech Rewards Savings | $25.00 |
| First Tech Rewards Checking | $10.00 |
Once it is open
- Online banking
- Available
- Checks
- Available
- Debit card
- Issued
- Deceased's balances
- Moved directly into the estate account
What to know at First Tech
First Tech opens the estate account as a fiduciary membership; funds in a fiduciary account may not be pledged as security for any loan. For a court-ordered blocked account, the fiduciary files documentation with the court confirming the funds and dividends may not be withdrawn or pledged except upon court order. The deceased member's own share account, unless held in joint tenancy, may stay open until administration ends, up to 4 years.
Not in First Tech's published guidance
- Whether it can be opened online, by phone, or by mail
- Whether a branch appointment is needed
- Whether every co-executor must sign or appear
- Whether the estate's EIN is needed before opening
- Whether an out-of-state executor can open one
- Whether the death certificate must be a certified copy
- Whether the account comes with mobile deposit
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
First Tech's published guidance does not state whether an estate account can be opened online. It states the account can be opened in a branch.
First Tech asks for: Fiduciary Membership Application and Authorization (Form F-00002) with "Estate" selected; Court documents evidencing the fiduciary's authority; The estate's taxpayer identification number; Government-issued photo ID for each fiduciary; Death certificate; Opening deposit.
Opening deposit: $5.00 (Membership Savings minimum opening balance; the member share is also $5). Monthly fee: None. First Tech's 4 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 First Tech primary sources (7 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.
