045: Fiduciary Banking for Probate: What Attorneys Need to Know About Estate and Trust Accounts with Blanca Alfaro

Sam Price sits down with Blanca Alfaro, a relationship banking specialist at CalPrivate Bank, to break down exactly what probate attorneys, fiduciaries, and personal representatives need to know about estate and trust banking in California. Blanca walks through the full account setup process, from gathering probate letters and death certificates to funding accounts remotely via wire or FedEx, all without the client ever stepping foot in a branch. She covers blocked accounts, joint control accounts, extended FDIC insurance, U.S. Treasury bond redemptions, medallion stamps, and the court forms attorneys deal with every day, including MC355 and MC356. What sets Blanca apart is her approach. She meets clients at home, at coffee shops, even at hospitals, because getting the paperwork done right matters more than keeping office hours. This one is packed with practical detail that will make the next probate matter easier to manage. In this episode, you will hear: Opening estate and trust accounts remotely, without clients ever visiting a branch What documents CalPrivate Bank needs to get started, from probate letters to death certificates and EINs How blocked accounts work, what triggers a court order to release funds, and the specific court forms attorneys use daily Extended FDIC insurance that keeps all estate funds under one roof, one statement, and one year-end 1099 Two-signature and joint control accounts, and how CalPrivate actually monitors and confirms both approvals before any funds move U.S. Treasury bond redemptions, medallion stamps, and notary services handled directly by the bank's team The relationship banking difference, personal contacts, no 800 numbers, and a specialist who has met clients at hospitals, coffee shops, and home visits to get the job done Resources from this Episode https://calprivate.bank/directors/blanca-alfaro/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/blanca-alfaro-10b9486/ The 6-Stage Probate Process: How to Navigate California Probate: https://a.co/d/82310Rw    Follow and Review: We'd love for you to follow us if you haven't yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select "Ratings and Reviews" and "Write a Review" then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you.