This is about basic, Totten-type Trusts. According to 330.10(a), we are only required to have evidence of our customer's intention that funds belong to one or more beneficiaries of an account upon death. There is no mention of a requirement to obtain the customer's signature. In this post from BOL: http://www.bankersonline.com/operations/guru2006/gurus_op080706a.html it says we should obtain the customer's signature as intent but there is no citation, legal requirement noted in the post, which I suspect it is because there is no actual requirement to actually obtain a signature. BUT don't you think that if we don't obtain the customer's signature, it could cause possible problems? For example: Mr. Customer opens the account today naming Nephew as beneficiary. 2 years later he gets mad at Nephew and names Niece as the new beneficiary but we don't obtain his signature to do so, only a a new form with the new name. Mr. Customer dies and now Niece and Nephew both claim they are beneficiary because we have a signature (at account opening) for Nephew but do not have a signature when the account was amended. Would anyone mind sharing their thoughts - and even any legal advice they may have been given?? THANK YOU!

Nevermind...I found my answer. In case someone else ever asks this question and researches these threads, this is what I found...According to NYS (EPTL 7-5.2), a signature IS required in order to revoke, terminate or modify a Totten-type trust.