Why We Partnered with Quorum
When we built SwiftProbate's guide to the best estate bank accounts, we reviewed every major bank, credit union, online bank, and brokerage. One finding stood out: almost every institution in the country still requires an in-person branch visit to open an estate account. For an executor who lives out of state, can't take time off work, or is caring for a grieving family across town, that's a genuine obstacle.
Quorum Federal Credit Union was the single exception — its "Probate Express" product is the only one that lets you open an estate account fully online: application, document upload, and funding without a branch visit, notarization, or mailed paperwork. Because so many of our users are remote or first-time executors who just need a place to deposit estate funds quickly, we partnered with Quorum so you can open an estate account online directly.
This guide explains how the online account works, who it's right for, and the situations where you'll need a traditional bank instead.
This is informational only — not legal, tax, or financial advice. Policies, fees, and state rules change; verify with Quorum and your probate attorney before relying on anything here.
Who the Online Estate Account Is Right For
Quorum's online estate account is a strong fit when:
- You're a remote or out-of-state executor and can't easily get to a branch in the deceased's home state.
- The deceased had no major banking relationship to consolidate — there's no existing bank where opening the estate account would be simpler.
- You can't take time off work for a branch appointment, which at big banks often means waiting weeks.
- Speed matters — you need somewhere to deposit a final paycheck, life insurance proceeds, or the balance of the deceased's frozen accounts.
If the deceased already banked at a major institution with good estate services, opening the account there can also be straightforward. Our full comparison walks through the national banks, brokerages, and other credit unions side by side.
How It Works
The process is built to be done from your laptop:
- Gather your core documents first. You'll need the estate's EIN and IRS assignment letter (CP 575), your Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration, a certified death certificate, and your government-issued photo ID. If you don't have an EIN yet, apply free at IRS.gov — it's issued immediately. See our EIN guide.
- Start the application online. Begin at Quorum's online estate account page. It takes a few minutes.
- Upload your documents through the secure portal — no mailing or notarization.
- The account opens, usually within 24 hours of your documents being verified. You can then fund it and start paying estate expenses.
There's no opening fee and no monthly service fee. A $5 minimum deposit funds the underlying basic savings account, which Quorum has historically covered for applicants.
Eligibility: Do You Have to Be a Member?
No — the executor does not need to be a Quorum member personally. Under federal credit union rules, either the deceased or all beneficiaries must be (or become) Quorum members. But Quorum membership is free and broadly available nationwide through partner association eligibility, so most applicants qualify without restriction.
When You'll Need a Traditional Bank Instead
An online-only account doesn't work everywhere. Use a bank with a physical branch when:
- Your Florida county requires a restricted depository. Many Florida counties (Miami-Dade, Palm Beach, Broward, and others) require estate funds to be held at a court-designated bank with a local branch. This rules out any online-only institution.
- The estate is in New York. New York banking law requires the estate account to be opened physically at a branch within the state.
- Co-executors must be on the account together. Joint co-executor openings sometimes require an in-person process — confirm Quorum's policy before applying.
- Your Letters are restricted and require a court-approved depository.
The Bottom Line
For the large number of executors settling an estate remotely, Quorum removes one of probate's most frustrating early roadblocks. If that's your situation — and you're not in a restricted-depository county or New York — you can open an estate account online with Quorum and have it ready within about a day.
Not sure an estate account is even the right move for your situation? SwiftProbate builds a personalized, step-by-step roadmap for settling an estate — including when to get an EIN, when to open an estate account, and every other task in the right order.