
An independent, trust-only bank earned its national trust charter, which will allow it to expand services nationwide.
The Officer of the Comptroller of Currency, the division of the U.S. Treasury Department that regulates national banks, granted Plante Moran Trust (PMT) the national trust charter. PMT said this makes it one of only 52 nationally chartered trust banks in the country — and, unlike most of its publicly traded counterparts, one of the few connected to an accounting firm. The firm Plante Moran is based in Southfield with locations in Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids.
Securing national trust powers will enable PMT to provide clients more easily with full fiduciary services in all states, with only a few exceptions. Prior to this time, PMT had a Michigan trust charter, as well as trust powers in Illinois and Ohio, which enabled it to serve clients in all three states — but it was more challenging to provide fiduciary services to the firm’s clients in other states.
PMT has more than $2.8 billion in assets under administration, serving clients by acting as trustee, co-trustee or agent for trustee. The team at PMT takes a holistic, client-centered approach to trust administration, estate settlement, family office services and foundation and charitable trust administration, providing independent, objective counsel that reduces administrative burdens and encourages healthy relationships between grantors, trustees and beneficiaries.
“We are excited to have received our national trust charter as we celebrate 20 years of providing exceptional, client-focused service,” said Cheri Stein, a partner overseeing PMT’s West Michigan practice. “This important designation truly extends our reach, enabling us to more easily serve our clients in the majority of states.”
Established in 2002, PMT is an independent, privately held trust-only bank that is part of a wide service offering of Plante Moran’s wealth management practice. Like other affiliates, Plante Moran Financial Advisors and Plante Moran Insurance Agency, PMT was formed in response to client needs.
“At the time, we were providing accounting, business consulting and personal financial advisory services to clients who recognized and valued the fact that we knew business, we knew their family, and we were providing a comprehensive financial strategy,” Stein said. “When we were asked, ‘Will you be my trustee?’ we decided to establish Plante Moran Trust so we could better serve the needs of our clients.”
Securing the national charter is the next step in that process. If a client moved outside of the firm’s initial Midwest footprint, PMT had to navigate the different regulations each state had surrounding who can act as a trustee or personal representative. The national charter enables PMT to serve as a fiduciary in virtually all states, with only a few exceptions.
More about Plante Moran Trust is online.
https://grbj.com/news/banking-finance/plante-moran-trust-earns-national-charter-expands-services-nationwide/