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Adding Name to Existing Account/Change Ownership

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Question: 
Is it ok to add a name to an existing account and change ownership or should the account be closed and new account be opened?
Answer: 

A best practice is to open a new account. A lot of banks allow the addition of a second signer, with completion of a new signature card by both owners. Be sure that you understand this is a CIP-triggering event. Although the addition of a new owner does not necessarily require the delivery of new disclosures (opening a completely new account would), I recommend that an updated collection of disclosures be provided.

Why is opening a new account a better idea? I've seen too many instances when the second (new) owner is a new spouse from a second marriage, who ends up with the account balance later when the original owner dies. That's when children from the first marriage tend to show up arguing that "Dad could not have been in his right mind to allow 'that woman' to jointly own his accounts." Setting up a new account and having the established customer write a check to transfer balances to it is just so much cleaner.

First published on 11/25/2013

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