The Bank & Financial Accounts Hub

Listing your financial accounts gives your loved ones a roadmap to manage your finances, settle your estate, and avoid unnecessary delays. It also helps protect your assets from being lost or frozen. Here’s what to gather:

• Names and types of accounts (checking, savings, CDs, retirement, brokerage, etc.)
• Bank or financial institution names and phone numbers
• Last four digits of each account number
• Whether the account is individual, joint, or trust-owned
• Login information or password manager access (stored securely)
• Beneficiary designations on accounts like IRAs or 401(k)s
• Statements from the past year (digital or printed)
• Notes on automatic deposits or withdrawals
• Details on safe deposit boxes or held securities
• Contact information for your financial advisor, if applicable

This section doesn’t need to include exact balances. The goal is to help your family identify all accounts and know who to contact. Even small or inactive accounts can cause big delays if no one knows they exist.

It doesn’t take long to make a list of your accounts, but it can save your loved ones months of stress. Here’s how to begin:

• Gather your recent bank statements
• Pull the last statements from your checking, savings, and other bank accounts. Whether digital or paper, these show exactly what accounts are active.
• Write down the institution and type of each account
• Include the bank name, whether it’s a checking, savings, or investment account, and the last four digits of the account number.
• List retirement and investment accounts
• Add IRAs, 401(k)s, brokerage accounts, annuities, and pensions. Note the provider and if any beneficiaries are listed.
• Include contact info for financial advisors
• If someone helps you manage your money, make sure your family knows who they are and how to reach them.
• Make notes on automatic transactions
• List any regular deposits or withdrawals—paychecks, social security, subscriptions, mortgage payments—so nothing gets disrupted.
• Secure your login details
• If you use online banking, store passwords in a safe place or password manager. Don’t include them in your CLEAR Kit unless it's being kept securely.
• Keep the list updated

Each year, scan your financial life for any new accounts, closed ones, or changes. Small updates now can prevent big problems later.

Need professional assistance? Use our directories to find trusted service providers near you who specialize in estate planning, end-of-life organization, and related services.

Sorting out finances is one of the biggest challenges for loved ones after a loss. These questions come up often when trying to make a complete list.