When you've experienced an event that requires updating a name or changing the account owner and/or payable on death (POD) beneficiary layer on your account, we're here to make the process as easy as possible. Visit your local financial center with your documents and we'll make the update.
Tell us what type of account you have and what changes you need to make — we'll tell you what documents and information you need to bring to your appointment so we can quickly update your accounts.
Before your appointment, consider starting your Life Plan for a more personalized experience with a financial specialist. Bank of America Life Plan ® can help you set and track goals and shape a plan for your future.
If you don't live near a financial center, please call us at 800-432-1000 (Mon-Fri 7 a.m.-10p.m. or Sat-Sun 8a.m-5p.m., all times ET).
A POD account is payable on your death (or the death of the last surviving co-owner) to one or more payees named in the title of the account. When the title of an account includes language like "in trust for (ITF)," "transfer on death (TOD)" or similar language, the account is treated as a POD account. You may change, add or remove the name of any payee or beneficiary anytime by visiting a financial center and providing us with proper written notice. Generally, the payee or beneficiary must survive all owners in order to receive their share of funds from a POD account.
If you are a Private Bank client:
Please contact your client team: 800-878-7878
If you are a Merrill Lynch client:
Please contact your Financial Advisor: 800-637-7455
In order to update a name on your Bank of America account, you'll need to schedule an appointment in a financial center and bring:
If there are multiple owners on the account, all account owners will need to be present at the financial center appointment and bring valid government-issued IDs.
Don't live near a financial center? Please contact customer service at 800-432-1000 (Mon-Fri 7 a.m.-10 p.m. or Sat-Sun 8 a.m.-5 p.m., ET) for information on how to make this change to your account.
In order to add or remove an owner on your Bank of America account, you'll need to schedule an appointment in a financial center.
When adding an owner, all account owners will need to be present at the appointment and bring a valid government-issued photo ID. During your appointment, you may want to ask the bank associate about the advantages of bringing the added owner's other bank relationships to Bank of America.
When removing an owner, bring a valid government-issued ID to your appointment. (In the event of a deceased account owner, you'll need to notify estate services of the deathnotify estate services of the deathnotify estate services of the death.) If all account owners are unable to be present at the appointment, make sure they're aware that they will need to visit a financial center to complete the process.
Don't live near a financial center? Please contact customer service at 800-432-1000 (Mon-Fri 7 a.m.-10 p.m. or Sat-Sun 8 a.m.-5 p.m., ET) for information on how to make this change to your account.
The beneficiary on a payable on death (POD) account (sometimes referred to as a Totten trust or an in trust for account) is a person (or persons) who will take ownership of the account funds upon the account owner’s death.
In order to add, remove or update a payable on death (POD) beneficiary on your Bank of America account, you can visit the Your Beneficiary self-service pages, you will need the following information about the beneficiary:
If you’re updating a retirement account or you prefer to meet with us in person, you can schedule an appointment. You can download and complete a Bank of America IRA beneficiary change formBank of America IRA beneficiary change formBank of America IRA beneficiary change form (PDF, requires Adobe Reader layer Adobe Reader layer Adobe Reader layer ) prior to your appointment. (Note: It is not necessary for the beneficiary to attend the financial center appointment.)
Don't live near a financial center? Please contact customer service at 800-432-1000 (Mon-Fri 7 a.m.-10 p.m. or Sat-Sun 8 a.m.-5 p.m., ET) for information on how to make this change to your account.
In order to update a name and add or remove an owner on your Bank of America account, you'll need to schedule an appointment in a financial center.
For updating a name, you'll need to bring one of the following: marriage certificate, divorce decree indicating name change, court order of name change or adoption certificate.
When adding an owner, all account owners will need to be present at the appointment and bring a valid government-issued photo ID. During your appointment, you may want to ask the bank associate about the advantages of bringing the added owner's other bank relationships to Bank of America.
When removing an owner, bring a valid government-issued ID to your appointment. (In the event of a deceased account owner, you'll need to notify estate services of the deathnotify estate services of the deathnotify estate services of the death.) If all account owners are unable to be present at the appointment, make sure they're aware that they will need to visit a financial center to complete the process.
Don't live near a financial center? Please contact customer service at 800-432-1000 (Mon-Fri 7 a.m.-10 p.m. or Sat-Sun 8 a.m.-5 p.m., ET) for information on how to make this change to your account.
In order to update a name and add, remove or update a payable on death (POD) beneficiary on your Bank of America account, you'll need to schedule an appointment in a financial center and bring the following:
If you're updating a retirement account, you can download and complete a Bank of America IRA beneficiary change formBank of America IRA beneficiary change formBank of America IRA beneficiary change form (PDF, requires Adobe Reader layer Adobe Reader layer Adobe Reader layer ) prior to your appointment. (Note: It is not necessary for the beneficiary to attend the financial center appointment.)
Don't live near a financial center? Please contact customer service at 800-432-1000 (Mon-Fri 7 a.m.-10 p.m. or Sat-Sun 8 a.m.-5 p.m., ET) for information on how to make this change to your account.
In order to add or remove an owner and add, remove or update a beneficiary on your Bank of America account, you'll need to schedule an appointment in a financial center.
When adding an owner, all account owners will need to be present at the appointment and bring a valid government-issued photo ID. During your appointment, you may want to ask the bank associate about the advantages of bringing the added owner's other bank relationships to Bank of America.
When removing an owner, bring a valid government-issued ID to your appointment. (In the event of a deceased account owner, you'll need to notify estate services of the deathnotify estate services of the deathnotify estate services of the death.) If all account owners are unable to be present at the appointment, make sure they're aware that they will need to visit a financial center to complete the process.
For updating a beneficiary, you'll need to bring the following information about the beneficiary: name and country of citizenship, plus either (a) Social Security number or (b) date of birth and current address.
If you're updating a retirement account, you can download and complete a Bank of America IRA beneficiary change formBank of America IRA beneficiary change formBank of America IRA beneficiary change form (PDF, requires Adobe Reader layer Adobe Reader layer Adobe Reader layer ) prior to your appointment. (Note: It is not necessary for the beneficiary to attend the financial center appointment.)
Don't live near a financial center? Please contact customer service at 800-432-1000 (Mon-Fri 7 a.m.-10 p.m. or Sat-Sun 8 a.m.-5 p.m., ET) for information on how to make this change to your account.
In order to update a name, add or remove an owner and add, remove or update a payable on death (POD) beneficiary on your Bank of America account, you'll need to schedule an appointment in a financial center and bring the following:
For updating a name, you'll need to bring one of the following: marriage certificate, divorce decree indicating name change, court order of name change or adoption certificate.
When adding an owner, all account owners will need to be present at the appointment and bring a valid government-issued photo ID. During your appointment, you may want to ask the bank associate about the advantages of bringing the added owner's other bank relationships to Bank of America.
When removing an owner, bring a valid government-issued ID to your appointment. (In the event of a deceased account owner, you'll need to notify estate services of the deathnotify estate services of the deathnotify estate services of the death.) If all account owners are unable to be present at the appointment, make sure they're aware that they will need to visit a financial center to complete the process.
For updating a payable on death (POD) beneficiary on your Bank of America account, you'll need to bring the following information about the POD beneficiary: legal name, country of citizenship, date of birth and either the beneficiary's Social Security number or current address.
If you're updating a retirement account, you can download and complete a Bank of America IRA beneficiary change formBank of America IRA beneficiary change formBank of America IRA beneficiary change form (PDF, requires Adobe Reader layer Adobe Reader layer Adobe Reader layer ) prior to your appointment. (Note: It is not necessary for the beneficiary to attend the financial center appointment.)
Don't live near a financial center? Please contact customer service at 800-432-1000 (Mon-Fri 7 a.m.-10 p.m. or Sat-Sun 8 a.m.-5 p.m., ET) for information on how to make this change to your account.
In order to add or remove an authorized signer on your Business Advantage account, you'll need to schedule an appointment in a financial center and bring a government-issued photo ID for all existing and new authorized signers/owners. The documents you need to bring depend on the type of business you have.
For a corporation, limited liability company (LLC) unincorporated association or non-business you'll need to provide meeting minutes signed by the secretary (or, for an LLC, signed by the managers for manager-managed or by the members for member-managed). A sole proprietor must initiate all signer changes for the business accounts. For a general or limited partnership, please contact small business customer service at 888-600-4000 (Mon-Fri 8 a.m.-10 p.m. ET).
Don't live near a financial center? Please contact small business customer service at 888-600-4000 (Mon-Fri 8 a.m.-10 p.m. ET) for information on how to make this change to your account.
A POD account is payable on your death (or the death of the last surviving co-owner) to one or more payees named in the title of the account. When the title of an account includes language like "in trust for (ITF)," "transfer on death (TOD)" or similar language, the account is treated as a POD account. You may change, add or remove the name of any payee or beneficiary anytime by visiting a financial center and providing us with proper written notice. Generally, the payee or beneficiary must survive all owners in order to receive their share of funds from a POD account.
In order to update a name on your Bank of America account, you'll need to schedule an appointment in a financial center and bring:
If there are multiple owners on the account, all account owners will need to be present at the financial center appointment and bring valid government-issued IDs.
Don't live near a financial center? Please contact customer service at 800-432-1000 (Mon-Fri 7 a.m.-10 p.m. or Sat-Sun 8 a.m.-5 p.m., ET) for information on how to make this change to your account.
In order to add or remove an owner on your Bank of America account, you'll need to schedule an appointment in a financial center.
When adding an owner, all account owners will need to be present at the appointment and bring a valid government-issued photo ID. During your appointment, you may want to ask the bank associate about the advantages of bringing the added owner's other bank relationships to Bank of America.
When removing an owner, bring a valid government-issued ID to your appointment. (In the event of a deceased account owner, you'll need to notify estate services of the deathnotify estate services of the deathnotify estate services of the death.) If all account owners are unable to be present at the appointment, make sure they're aware that they will need to visit a financial center to complete the process.
Don't live near a financial center? Please contact customer service at 800-432-1000 (Mon-Fri 7 a.m.-10 p.m. or Sat-Sun 8 a.m.-5 p.m., ET) for information on how to make this change to your account.
The beneficiary on a payable on death (POD) account (sometimes referred to as a Totten trust or an in trust for account) is a person (or persons) who will take ownership of the account funds upon the account owner’s death.
In order to add, remove or update a payable on death (POD) beneficiary on your Bank of America account, you can visit the Your Beneficiary self-service pages, you will need the following information about the beneficiary:
If you’re updating a retirement account or you prefer to meet with us in person, you can schedule an appointment. You can download and complete a Bank of America IRA beneficiary change formBank of America IRA beneficiary change formBank of America IRA beneficiary change form (PDF, requires Adobe Reader layer Adobe Reader layer Adobe Reader layer ) prior to your appointment. (Note: It is not necessary for the beneficiary to attend the financial center appointment.)
Don't live near a financial center? Please contact customer service at 800-432-1000 (Mon-Fri 7 a.m.-10 p.m. or Sat-Sun 8 a.m.-5 p.m., ET) for information on how to make this change to your account.
In order to update a name and add or remove an owner on your Bank of America account, you'll need to schedule an appointment in a financial center.
For updating a name, you'll need to bring one of the following: marriage certificate, divorce decree indicating name change, court order of name change or adoption certificate.
When adding an owner, all account owners will need to be present at the appointment and bring a valid government-issued photo ID. During your appointment, you may want to ask the bank associate about the advantages of bringing the added owner's other bank relationships to Bank of America.
When removing an owner, bring a valid government-issued ID to your appointment. (In the event of a deceased account owner, you'll need to notify estate services of the deathnotify estate services of the deathnotify estate services of the death.) If all account owners are unable to be present at the appointment, make sure they're aware that they will need to visit a financial center to complete the process.
Don't live near a financial center? Please contact customer service at 800-432-1000 (Mon-Fri 7 a.m.-10 p.m. or Sat-Sun 8 a.m.-5 p.m., ET) for information on how to make this change to your account.
In order to update a name and add, remove or update a payable on death (POD) beneficiary on your Bank of America account, you'll need to schedule an appointment in a financial center and bring the following:
If you're updating a retirement account, you can download and complete a Bank of America IRA beneficiary change formBank of America IRA beneficiary change formBank of America IRA beneficiary change form (PDF, requires Adobe Reader layer Adobe Reader layer Adobe Reader layer ) prior to your appointment. (Note: It is not necessary for the beneficiary to attend the financial center appointment.)
Don't live near a financial center? Please contact customer service at 800-432-1000 (Mon-Fri 7 a.m.-10 p.m. or Sat-Sun 8 a.m.-5 p.m., ET) for information on how to make this change to your account.
In order to add or remove an owner and add, remove or update a beneficiary on your Bank of America account, you'll need to schedule an appointment in a financial center.
When adding an owner, all account owners will need to be present at the appointment and bring a valid government-issued photo ID. During your appointment, you may want to ask the bank associate about the advantages of bringing the added owner's other bank relationships to Bank of America.
When removing an owner, bring a valid government-issued ID to your appointment. (In the event of a deceased account owner, you'll need to notify estate services of the deathnotify estate services of the deathnotify estate services of the death.) If all account owners are unable to be present at the appointment, make sure they're aware that they will need to visit a financial center to complete the process.
For updating a beneficiary, you'll need to bring the following information about the beneficiary: name and country of citizenship, plus either (a) Social Security number or (b) date of birth and current address.
If you're updating a retirement account, you can download and complete a Bank of America IRA beneficiary change formBank of America IRA beneficiary change formBank of America IRA beneficiary change form (PDF, requires Adobe Reader layer Adobe Reader layer Adobe Reader layer ) prior to your appointment. (Note: It is not necessary for the beneficiary to attend the financial center appointment.)
Don't live near a financial center? Please contact customer service at 800-432-1000 (Mon-Fri 7 a.m.-10 p.m. or Sat-Sun 8 a.m.-5 p.m., ET) for information on how to make this change to your account.
In order to update a name, add or remove an owner and add, remove or update a payable on death (POD) beneficiary on your Bank of America account, you'll need to schedule an appointment in a financial center and bring the following:
For updating a name, you'll need to bring one of the following: marriage certificate, divorce decree indicating name change, court order of name change or adoption certificate.
When adding an owner, all account owners will need to be present at the appointment and bring a valid government-issued photo ID. During your appointment, you may want to ask the bank associate about the advantages of bringing the added owner's other bank relationships to Bank of America.
When removing an owner, bring a valid government-issued ID to your appointment. (In the event of a deceased account owner, you'll need to notify estate services of the deathnotify estate services of the deathnotify estate services of the death.) If all account owners are unable to be present at the appointment, make sure they're aware that they will need to visit a financial center to complete the process.
For updating a payable on death (POD) beneficiary on your Bank of America account, you'll need to bring the following information about the POD beneficiary: legal name, country of citizenship, date of birth and either the beneficiary's Social Security number or current address.
If you're updating a retirement account, you can download and complete a Bank of America IRA beneficiary change formBank of America IRA beneficiary change formBank of America IRA beneficiary change form (PDF, requires Adobe Reader layer Adobe Reader layer Adobe Reader layer ) prior to your appointment. (Note: It is not necessary for the beneficiary to attend the financial center appointment.)
Don't live near a financial center? Please contact customer service at 800-432-1000 (Mon-Fri 7 a.m.-10 p.m. or Sat-Sun 8 a.m.-5 p.m., ET) for information on how to make this change to your account.
In order to add or remove an authorized signer on your Business Advantage account, you'll need to schedule an appointment in a financial center and bring a government-issued photo ID for all existing and new authorized signers/owners. The documents you need to bring depend on the type of business you have.
For a corporation, limited liability company (LLC) unincorporated association or non-business you'll need to provide meeting minutes signed by the secretary (or, for an LLC, signed by the managers for manager-managed or by the members for member-managed). A sole proprietor must initiate all signer changes for the business accounts. For a general or limited partnership, please contact small business customer service at 888-600-4000 (Mon-Fri 8 a.m.-10 p.m. ET).
Don't live near a financial center? Please contact small business customer service at 888-600-4000 (Mon-Fri 8 a.m.-10 p.m. ET) for information on how to make this change to your account.
Common questions you may haveHow do I change my name or title on my account?
To change your name or title: Bring a government-issued photo ID plus any additional documentation specific to your situation to any Bank of America financial center. An associate will give you forms to complete and will assist you with obtaining a new debit card and/or credit card.
If you are a co-owner or Authorized User on the account: Please note that in order for us to update your name, the account owner (or other co-owners) must accompany you to the financial center.
| If you have a name change due to: | Please bring your government-issued photo ID and the following documentation: |
|---|---|
| Legal name misspelling on your account | Birth certificate |
| Marriage | Marriage certificate |
| Divorce | Divorce decree indicating name change |
| Court order of name change | Court order of name change |
| Adoption | Adoption certificate |
If you don't live near a financial center, please contact customer service at 800-432-1000 (Mon-Fri 7 a.m.-10p.m. or Sat-Sun 8a.m-5p.m., all times ET). Find a financial centerFind a financial centerFind a financial center
I just got married. How do I add a spouse to my account?
To add a spouse to an account, schedule an appointmentschedule an appointmentschedule an appointment to visit your local financial center. Be sure to bring a valid government-issued ID and your marriage certificate. If there are multiple owners on the account, all account owners will need to be present at the financial center appointment and bring valid government-issued IDs.
In addition to updating your current account, we can help you if you would like to open a joint checking accountopen a joint checking accountopen a joint checking account . We can also assist you with updated account and safety deposit box agreements.
If you have a Bank of America retirement account and want to update your beneficiary, you can download and complete a Bank of America IRA beneficiary change formBank of America IRA beneficiary change formBank of America IRA beneficiary change form (PDF, requires Adobe Reader layer Adobe Reader layer Adobe Reader layer ) prior to your appointment. (Note: It is not necessary for the beneficiary to attend the financial center appointment.)
If you need to update your insurance policy beneficiary declarations, please contact Merrill Lynch at 800-637-7455.
I just got divorced. How do I update my account?
To make changes to your account or to close your account, schedule an appointmentschedule an appointmentschedule an appointment to visit your local financial center. Be sure to bring a valid government-issued ID and a copy of your divorce decree. If there are multiple owners on the account, all account owners will need to be present at the financial center appointment and bring valid government-issued IDs. In addition to updating your current account, we can also assist you with updated account and safety deposit box agreements.
If you have a Bank of America retirement account and want to update your beneficiary, you can download and complete a Bank of America IRA beneficiary change formBank of America IRA beneficiary change formBank of America IRA beneficiary change form (PDF, requires Adobe Reader layer Adobe Reader layer Adobe Reader layer ) prior to your appointment. (Note: It is not necessary for the beneficiary to attend the financial center appointment.)
If you shared an Online Banking login with your spouse, you may want to update your User ID and/or Password. To do this, simply log in to Online Bankinglog in to Online Bankinglog in to Online Banking and select Change my User ID or Change my Password from the Help & Support menu.
You should review any power of attorney documents you have to see if any changes are necessary.
If you need to update your insurance policy beneficiary declarations, please contact Merrill Lynch at 800-637-7455.