How Do I Open an Estate Account at SouthState Bank?
SouthState Bank 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 SouthState Bank
Where to open it
Not published by SouthState Bank
How it opens
- Online
- Not available
Who can open it
- EIN proof
- The number alone
Documents to bring
- Certified U.S. Taxpayer Identification Number for the estate and IRS Form W-9
- Signature card for the account
What it costs
SouthState Bank does not state the opening deposit, monthly fee, or fee-waiver balance for an estate account.
- Schedule that applies
- Business Account Fee Schedule, effective September 1, 2026
- For estate accounts
- SouthState names an Estate Account; its product-level terms are in the account-specific disclosure delivered at opening and are not published. The agreement's definitions section places it under the Business Account Fee Schedule
- Other charges
- Account Closing (within 90 days) $25.00; $2 paper statement fee on the small-business checking products unless enrolled in eStatements
| Account | To open | Monthly fee | Waiver or condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small Business Checking | $50 or No opening deposit required when opening online | None | |
| Business Gold Checking | $50 or No opening deposit required when opening online | $15 | $2,500 average daily balance in checking; $10,000 minimum daily balance in deposits or loans; 15 debit card purchases |
| Community Checking | $50 | None | |
| Commercial Analysis | $50 | $20 | offset by Earnings Credit |
| Commercial Analysis Plus | $50 | $40 | offset by Earnings Credit |
| Community Checking Plus | $50 | $25 | $2,500 minimum daily balance |
What to know at SouthState Bank
SouthState lists its Estate Account among its business checking products, and its Business Deposit Account Agreement governs accounts owned by an estate. The estate's taxpayer identification number can follow within 30 days of opening, with backup withholding in the meantime. The account's product terms come in the disclosures SouthState provides at opening.
Not in SouthState Bank's published guidance
- Whether it can be opened in a branch, by phone, or by mail
- 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 17, 2026
No. SouthState Bank states an estate account cannot be opened online.
SouthState Bank asks for: Certified U.S. Taxpayer Identification Number for the estate and IRS Form W-9; Signature card for the account.
SouthState Bank does not state the opening deposit, monthly fee, or fee-waiver balance for an estate account. SouthState names an Estate Account; its product-level terms are in the account-specific disclosure delivered at opening and are not published. The agreement's definitions section places it under the Business Account Fee Schedule. SouthState Bank'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 SouthState Bank primary sources (13 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.
