Trust & Wealth Services

Fiduciary Services, Wealth Management, and Custody Services

Chain Bridge Bank, N.A. provides fiduciary services, wealth management, and custody services for individuals, families, trusts, estates, nonprofit organizations, and institutions. Services are offered under the Bank’s national charter and fiduciary powers granted by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.

Our Fiduciary Framework

Our Trust & Wealth services emphasize documented administration, oversight, and recordkeeping. We act under written agreements, governing documents, and applicable law, and we coordinate with clients’ chosen legal, tax, and accounting advisors.

Our Trust & Wealth Services platform supports long-term trust administration, investment services, and asset custody within a regulated national bank framework, with an emphasis on continuity, documentation, and fiduciary discipline.

Fiduciary Services

Chain Bridge Bank, N.A. is authorized to exercise fiduciary powers under 12 U.S.C. § 92a and 12 C.F.R. Part 9. Where appointed, the Bank may serve in multiple fiduciary capacities under governing documents and applicable law.

Trustee or Co-Trustee

We administer the scope of trustee responsibilities as defined in the trust agreement, including discretionary decisions where authorized.

Successor Trustee

We step in upon a triggering event, such as incapacity or death, to maintain consistent trust administration.

Executor or Administrator

Where appointed, the Bank may administer a decedent’s probate estate.

Agent for Trustee

We assist individual trustees with accounting, reporting, and administrative coordination while authority remains with the named trustee.

Directed Trustee

We perform custodial and administrative duties while investment discretion is exercised by an external advisor, as provided in the trust agreement.

Custodian for Fiduciary and Retirement Accounts

Custody and reporting services for fiduciary and retirement account arrangements.

Fiduciary services are administered in accordance with governing documents and applicable federal and state law. Additional detail is available on our Trustee & Fiduciary Services page.

Trust Administration

Trust administration services focus on the operational and fiduciary administration of trust accounts over the life of the trust.

These services support continuity, clarity, and orderly administration, particularly for long-term or multi-generational structures.

Fiduciary accounting and recordkeeping
Administration of distributions as directed by governing documents
Coordination with beneficiaries and external advisors
Compliance with trust terms and fiduciary obligations

Wealth Management & Investment Services

Where engaged under a written agreement, Chain Bridge Bank, N.A. provides discretionary or non-discretionary investment management services within a fiduciary framework. Investment management is aligned with objectives and constraints established in governing documents or client agreements.

Our approach emphasizes disciplined portfolio construction, prudent risk management, and ongoing oversight consistent with fiduciary standards.

Learn more about our Wealth Management Services.

Explore Wealth Planning Services.

Custody Services

Chain Bridge Bank, N.A. offers custody services for traditional and non-traditional assets, including certain assets that may be difficult to custody through brokerage platforms. Custody services may be provided independently or in conjunction with fiduciary administration.

Secure asset holding

Fiduciary accounting and reporting

Custody of alternative and hard-to-value assets, subject to acceptance review

Additional information is available under Asset & IRA Custody Services.

Compare custody considerations on our National Banks versus Brokerages page.

Scope and Engagement

Trust & Wealth services are provided pursuant to written agreements and formal fiduciary appointments. Service scope may vary based on account structure, jurisdiction, asset type, and governing documents.

Trust & Wealth Leadership

Our Trust & Wealth team includes professionals focused on fiduciary administration, trust oversight, and client coordination.

Gregory M. Smolen, J.D.

Senior Vice President, Chief Trust & Wealth Officer

Trust & Wealth Department

As Senior Vice President and Manager of the Trust & Wealth Department, Gregory M. Smolen manages trust administration, investment management, and asset custody at Chain Bridge Bank, N.A. He chairs the Bank’s Trust Administration and Investment Committee. Before joining Chain Bridge Bank, N.A., Mr. Smolen led TCV Trust & Wealth Management’s Northern Virginia office and previously held advisory roles at Merrill Edge and Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. Mr. Smolen earned his J.D. from the Antonin Scalia School of Law at George Mason University and a B.A. from the University of Chicago.

View full bio gsmolen@chainbridgebank.com (703) 748-7395

Jennifer A. Crane, J.D.

Vice President & Director of Fiduciary Strategy

Trust & Wealth Department

Jennifer A. Crane serves as Vice President & Director of Fiduciary Strategy in the Trust & Wealth Department at Chain Bridge Bank, N.A. She collaborates with clients, their professional advisors, and the Bank’s fiduciary team on the administration and oversight of trusts and estates, and participates in client and professional education initiatives on fiduciary and estate-planning topics. Before joining Chain Bridge Bank, N.A., Ms. Crane practiced in estate planning, special needs and elder law, and fiduciary administration, most recently with Odin Feldman & Pittleman, P.C. Ms. Crane earned her bachelor’s degree in theology, magna cum laude, from Mount St. Mary’s University, her J.D. from The Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law, and holds the Accredited Estate Planner (AEP^®) designation.

View full bio jcrane@chainbridgebank.com (571) 899-6650

Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to common questions about fiduciary administration, wealth management, custody services, and working with a national bank trustee.

What is a fiduciary, and why does it matter?

A fiduciary is a person or institution required to act for the benefit of another party within the scope of the fiduciary relationship. Chain Bridge Bank, N.A. is authorized to exercise fiduciary powers under 12 U.S.C. § 92a and 12 C.F.R. Part 9.

This matters because the Bank’s role is defined by governing documents, applicable law, and fiduciary duties when administering trusts, managing assets under agreement, or serving as executor or administrator where appointed.

What Trust & Wealth services does Chain Bridge Bank, N.A. offer?

Chain Bridge Bank, N.A. provides fiduciary administration, wealth management, and custody services for individuals, families, trusts, estates, nonprofit organizations, and institutions, as applicable under written agreements, formal appointments, and governing documents.

The Bank may serve as trustee, co-trustee, successor trustee, executor or administrator, agent for trustee, directed trustee, and custodian for fiduciary and retirement account arrangements where the engagement and applicable law permit.

What is the difference between a trustee, co-trustee, and successor trustee?

A trustee has primary responsibility for administering a trust according to its governing documents. A co-trustee shares that responsibility with one or more other trustees.

A successor trustee steps in upon a triggering event, such as incapacity or death, to maintain consistent trust administration.

Can Chain Bridge Bank, N.A. serve as executor of an estate?

Where appointed, yes. Chain Bridge Bank, N.A. may serve as the court-appointed executor or administrator of a decedent’s probate estate.

The Bank manages estate assets, coordinates with legal and tax advisors, and administers the estate in accordance with the will and applicable law.

How does trust administration work at Chain Bridge Bank, N.A.?

Trust administration services focus on the operational and fiduciary management of trust accounts over the life of the trust.

This includes fiduciary accounting and recordkeeping, administration of distributions as directed by governing documents, coordination with beneficiaries and external advisors, and compliance with trust terms and fiduciary obligations.

What wealth management and investment services are available?

Where engaged under a written agreement, Chain Bridge Bank, N.A. provides discretionary or non-discretionary investment management within a fiduciary framework.

Investment management is aligned with objectives and constraints established in governing documents or client agreements. The Bank’s approach emphasizes disciplined portfolio construction, prudent risk management, and ongoing oversight consistent with fiduciary standards.

How is national bank custody different from brokerage custody?

National bank custody and brokerage custody are different arrangements, with different legal, regulatory, and operational frameworks.

Chain Bridge Bank, N.A. offers custody services for traditional and non-traditional assets, including certain assets that may be difficult to custody through brokerage platforms. Additional detail is available on the National Banks versus Brokerages page.

How do I get started with Trust & Wealth services?

To discuss fiduciary administration, wealth management, or custody services, contact the Trust & Wealth Department through the Connect With Us page, or review our Trust & Wealth professionals.

Important Disclosures

Investment products and services are not FDIC insured. Not deposits. Not guaranteed by Chain Bridge Bank, N.A. May lose value.

Chain Bridge Bank, N.A. does not provide tax, legal, or accounting advice. Clients should consult their own advisors.

Chain Bridge Bank, N.A. is authorized to exercise fiduciary powers under 12 U.S.C. § 92a and 12 C.F.R. Part 9.

Discuss Trust & Wealth Services

To discuss fiduciary administration, wealth management, or custody services, please contact Chain Bridge Bank, N.A. through our Connect With Us page. You can also review our Trust & Wealth professionals.

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