How Do I Open a Trust Account at KeyBank?

Opening or retitling

In a branch

Available

Online

Not available

Documents to bring

• Copy of the trust agreement naming the beneficiary, trustee, and trust property, and the trustee's authority
• Acceptable identification (a thumbprint in certain states)
• Taxpayer Identification Number certification, with backup-withholding status
• Any required minimum deposit

Steps at KeyBank

1. 1
   Gather a copy of the trust agreement specifying the beneficiary, the trustee, the trust property and your authority as trustee to open the account, acceptable identification, and any required minimum deposit.
2. 2
   Visit a KeyBank branch; appointments can be scheduled at key.com, and some branches are open by appointment only.
3. 3
   Complete KeyBank's account forms with the banker and certify the Taxpayer Identification Number and backup withholding status; KeyBank may close the account if required items are not provided within a reasonable period.

What it costs

KeyBank does not state the opening deposit, monthly fee, or fee-waiver balance for a trust account.

Schedule that applies

Not stated; KeyBank publishes personal and small business checking fee disclosures (2026)

For trust accounts

Trust accounts and a trustee role count toward the $200,000 balance that qualifies an owner for Key Private Client Checking.

Other charges

Paper statements $0.00; imaged items with statement $3.00 a cycle on Key Smart Checking; returned statement handling $10.00. No dormant-account or early-closing fee is published.

What to know at KeyBank

KeyBank offers trust accounts where permitted by law and relies on the genuineness of any document a trustee delivers. KeyBank does not offer accounts on which two signatures are required for a check or other withdrawal.

Not in KeyBank's published guidance

• Whether it can be opened by phone or by mail
• Whether the account is opened under the grantor's SSN or the trust's EIN
• Whether it has its own certification of trust form
• Whether an existing account can be retitled to the trust
• Whether a branch appointment is needed
• Whether every co-trustee must sign or appear
• Whether you must already bank there
• Whether the account comes with online banking, checks, or a debit card

After the grantor dies: the successor trustee at KeyBank

Death certificate

Certified copy

1. 1
   Call 1-800-KEY2YOU (1-800-539-2968) or visit a branch by appointment, scheduled at key.com/settle.
2. 2
   Provide an original or certified copy of the death certificate, plus any additional documentation KeyBank requires for the types of accounts that were active at death.
3. 3
   For accounts held within a trust, provide an original or certified copy of the trust documentation; KeyBank cannot accept a will as proof of fiduciary authority.
4. 4
   Documents must be executed or issued within the time allowed by state law.
5. 5
   KeyBank then returns government deposits received after the date on the death certificate, returns ACH payments, stops automatic bill pay and funds transfers, and revokes overdraft protections.

KeyBank accepts an original or certified copy of the trust documentation to validate a successor's authority, and hiring an attorney is not required to settle its accounts. Death does not end KeyBank's authority to pay checks, accept deposits or collect items until it receives written notice of the death, and KeyBank may pay checks drawn before death for up to ten days after notice.