How Do I Open an Estate Account at Mascoma Bank?
Mascoma Bank opens estate accounts for a court-appointed executor or administrator. The account is opened online or in a branch. The documents it asks for, what the account costs, and the steps it lists are below.
Opening an estate account at Mascoma Bank
Account type: Small Business Checking, Statement Savings, 12-Month CD Special
Where to open it
Online or in a branch
How it opens
- In a branch
- Available
- Online
- Available
Documents to bring
- Estate EIN
- Copy of the death certificate
- Court-appointment document
- Legal name of the estate and the decedent's full name
- Primary address for the estate
- Government-issued ID for the executor opening the account
- W-9 certification and backup-withholding certification
Steps at Mascoma Bank
- 1Obtain the estate's EIN and your court appointment document.
- 2Open the account through either channel:
- Online at openaccount.mascoma.bank, from the business product list, choosing the "Estate with EIN" ownership type.
- At any Mascoma branch (mascoma.bank/locations).
- 3Provide the estate's legal name, the decedent's full name, the estate's address, the EIN, a copy of the death certificate, and the court appointment document.
- 4Bring your own government-issued photo ID.
- 5Fund the account: $100 minimum for Small Business Checking, $10 for Statement Savings (Business).
What it costs
- Opening deposit
- $10 (Statement Savings (Business)); $100 (Small Business Checking)
What to know at Mascoma Bank
Mascoma opens an estate account on its business products under the "Estate with EIN" ownership type: Small Business Checking, Statement Savings (Business), or a 12-Month CD Special that only a banker opens. Bounce Protection is not available on estate accounts, and Mascoma charges $25 for an account closed within 60 days of opening. Free notary service at most branches covers estate paperwork signed at the same visit.
Not in Mascoma 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
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
Yes. Mascoma Bank's published guidance states an estate account can be opened online. It also states the account can be opened in a branch.
Mascoma Bank asks for: Estate EIN; Copy of the death certificate; Court-appointment document; Legal name of the estate and the decedent's full name; Primary address for the estate; Government-issued ID for the executor opening the account; W-9 certification and backup-withholding certification.
Opening deposit: $10 (Statement Savings (Business)); $100 (Small Business Checking).
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 Mascoma 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.
