To complete a USAA POD form, gather each beneficiary’s full legal name, Social Security Number, date of birth, address, and citizenship status, decide on percentage allocations if you’re naming more than one person, and submit the designation to USAA Federal Savings Bank by phone, through the member portal or mobile app, or by mail to 10750 McDermott Freeway, San Antonio, TX 78288. The Payable on Death designation tells the bank to transfer your account balance directly to the people you name, bypassing probate once a certified death certificate is produced.
Which Accounts the POD Form Covers
The POD form applies to deposit accounts at USAA Federal Savings Bank: standard checking, savings, and non-IRA certificates of deposit. Those are the products where the bank holds your money directly and can release it to a named beneficiary on proof of death.
It does not cover everything you hold at USAA. Investment and brokerage accounts use a separate Transfer on Death mechanism and require the USAA Investment Account Transfer on Death Registration and Beneficiary Designation Form. Retirement accounts such as IRAs have their own beneficiary designation forms. If you hold a mix of account types, plan on completing the right form for each one.
Information to Gather Before You Start
For every person you plan to name, you’ll need:
- Full legal name, exactly as it appears on official documents, so there’s no confusion when the beneficiary later claims the funds.
- Social Security Number. The bank uses this for IRS reporting, since interest on the account generates a 1099-INT tied to each beneficiary.
- Date of birth and current address, which help USAA verify identity and route tax documents.
- Citizenship status. Non-U.S. persons may need to submit an IRS W-8 series form before USAA releases funds.1USAA. Instructions for Filing a Death Claim
- Percentage allocation. If you name more than one beneficiary, assign each a whole-number percentage that totals 100%.2USAA. USAA Federal Savings Bank – Individual Retirement Account Designation of Beneficiary
Get the Social Security Number right. If the number is wrong or missing, the bank may be required to withhold 24% of certain payments under federal backup withholding rules until the issue is corrected.3Internal Revenue Service. Topic No. 307, Backup Withholding That rate holds at 24% for 2026.4Internal Revenue Service. Publication 15 (2026), (Circular E), Employers Tax Guide Fixing the problem after the account holder dies is much harder than catching it now.
Primary and Contingent Beneficiaries
The form lets you name both primary and contingent beneficiaries. Primary beneficiaries receive the funds first. If a primary beneficiary has already died when the account holder passes, contingent beneficiaries step in. Skip the contingent slot and the share belonging to a deceased primary beneficiary could end up flowing into the probate estate, which is the outcome the designation was meant to avoid.
With multiple primary beneficiaries, think through the percentage split carefully. A 50/50 division between two children is straightforward. Unequal splits are allowed, but the numbers must add up to exactly 100%. There’s no partial amendment later: a new designation replaces the old one entirely.
How to Submit the Form
USAA offers three paths:
- Phone. Call USAA’s member line and ask to update the beneficiary designation on your banking accounts. A representative can walk you through it and may be able to complete the update during the call.
- Online or app. Log into the member portal or mobile app and look for “Beneficiary Designation” or “Account Title Change” under account settings or the documents section. Where a digital form is available for your account type, you can complete and submit it with an electronic signature.
- Mail. Download or request the beneficiary designation form, complete and sign it, and mail it to USAA Federal Savings Bank, 10750 McDermott Freeway, San Antonio, TX 78288. Certified mail is worth the small extra cost for proof of delivery.
USAA then reviews the form against internal compliance requirements. Processing typically takes up to 10 business days. Once the update is complete, the POD designation should appear on your account details page in the app or on the website. Save a copy of the confirmation, either a screenshot or the message USAA sends to your secure inbox, with your other estate planning documents.
Changing or Revoking a Designation
A POD designation is revocable at any time while you’re alive, and you don’t need the beneficiary’s permission to remove or replace them. To change a designation, submit a new form through any of the channels above. The latest designation on file controls, so there’s no separate revocation form.
Revisit the designation after major life events: divorce, remarriage, a birth, or the death of a named beneficiary. A stale designation can produce results you didn’t intend. If an ex-spouse is still listed when you die, many states will honor that designation regardless of what your will says, because POD transfers happen outside the will entirely.5USAA. Tips for Beneficiaries: Estate Planning and More
A Note for Community Property States
If you live in Arizona, California, Idaho, Louisiana, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Washington, or Wisconsin, money deposited during a marriage is generally considered to belong to both spouses equally. Naming someone other than your spouse as POD beneficiary on an account funded with marital earnings can create legal complications. The specific rules vary by state, and not all community property states handle POD accounts the same way. If you want to name a non-spouse beneficiary in one of these states, talk to an estate planning attorney before submitting the form.