There are a number of transactions shareholders can complete online:

Exchanges: Most account owners can make exchanges between funds, provided the exchange is to a fund in the same share class.

Purchases: Shareholders who have properly submitted bank instructions can purchase shares to their bank on file via Automatic Clearing House (ACH). If this option is available, it will be indicated in your online account information.

Redemptions: Most non-retirement accounts can be redeemed by sending a check to the address of record. Or, if you have properly submitted bank instructions, you can redeem shares to your bank of record via ACH. At this time, IRA accounts do not have the capability to be redeemed online.

Distributions: Account owners can update options for dividend and capital gain distributions from mutual funds. Most shareholders elect to have the distributions sent out as a check to their address of record, or reinvest to purchase more shares of the fund or another fund they may have set up. With the proper bank instructions, shareholders can have those distributions sent via ACH to the bank account on file.

There are three ways to do this:

1. Log in to your account and select "address change" in the Select an Action drop down menu.
2. Call Shareholder Services at 800.345.6611 Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. ET. (Please have your account number and social security number available when calling.)
3. Write a letter specifying the former and new addresses, including the account owner’s fund name and account number, and signed by the account owner(s). Mail to the address located under our Contact Us section.

Please note whenever an address is changed, there is a 30-day hold on redemptions that would be sent by check. These checks cannot be requested over the phone, but must come in writing using a Redemption Request Form (PDF) with a medallion signature guarantee. This restriction does not apply for redemptions by ACH or wire transfer to bank instructions that we have on file.

Shareholders with a foreign address must submit their address change request in writing or by calling Shareholder Services at 800.345.6611 or 401.278.3744, as this option is not available online. 

In order to add or change the bank information on a mutual fund account, the account owner must complete and return the Application for Account Services Form (PDF), signed by all current account owner(s) exactly as the name(s) appear in the mutual fund account registration. Account owners may also submit a letter of instruction, which should include:

• The name of the financial institution
• The bank account number (please designate the account as savings or checking)
• The ACH routing number (also called the ABA number)
• A copy of a voided check (or deposit slip if a savings account)
• If the intent is to continue or institute a systematic electronic purchase of mutual fund shares, please indicate the dollar amount of and the day of the month for your purchases

In addition to the account privilege of purchase by electronic transfer, if they intend to continue or institute the privilege of redemption by electronic transfer, their letter or Application for ACH Electronic Funds Transfer form should include a signature validation program or medallion signature guarantee stamp.

In order to change the name on an account, we require the following information:

• Name Change Authorization Form (PDF) or letter of instruction signed by account owner using both the new and old/current names, bearing either a signature validation program stamp or a medallion signature guarantee.
• A certified copy of the marriage certificate or legal document affecting the name change AND a Name Change Authorization Form (PDF) or letter of instruction signed using both the new and old names (no signature validation program stamp or medallion signature guarantee required).

This information should be mailed to the address found in the Contact Us section.

Columbia Threadneedle Investments (Columbia Threadneedle) offers a Systematic Investment Plan for all of our mutual funds, which authorizes electronic drafts from a bank checking or savings account to your mutual fund account. There are no purchase minimums for subsequent investments.

In order to set up a Systematic Investment Plan for Columbia Funds account, the account manager must complete and mail the Application for Account Services Form (PDF) for non-retirement accounts or the IRA Optional Services/Change Request Form (PDF) for retirement accounts with applicable banking information. The documentation must include the account number on the first page of the application.

Columbia Threadneedle offers a Transfer on Death account registration option for non-retirement accounts. This registration allows account proceeds to pass to a named beneficiary upon death of the account owner.

Account owners may add this feature to a new or existing account by submitting a Transfer on Death Registration Request Form (PDF) to us.

Some funds offer the option of writing checks to redeem mutual fund shares. If check writing is an option, the account owner must complete and mail a Check Writing Signature Card Form (PDF) and have it stamped with either a signature validation program or medallion signature guarantee stamp. Please allow up to 3 weeks for the delivery of the first checkbook by mail.

Checkbook reorders will not automatically be sent to the shareholder. The shareholder must call or write to request a new checkbook. Each reordered checkbook includes 15 checks. Our phone number and address information can be found on the Contact Us page under Mutual Funds.

If there are shares of a mutual fund that must be divided due to divorce, we require the following:

For non-Retirement Accounts

• New Account Application (PDF) signed by the person receiving the funds
• Transfer of Ownership Request Form (PDF) filled out by the current account owner OR person receiving the funds, medallion signature guaranteed
• If this is filled out by the person receiving the funds, we also require a copy of the final divorce decree that states in specific language how the funds are to be divided

For retirement Accounts

• IRA Distribution Form (PDF) signed by the current account owner, medallion signature guaranteed
• Columbia Funds IRA Application (PDF) filled out by the person receiving the funds
• Copy of the divorce decree

Columbia Threadneedle can process a gift of mutual fund shares to a charitable organization. To do so, an account owner must provide the following information:

• A Transfer of Ownership Request Form (PDF) from the owner(s) of the shares that request the transfer (specific share balance or dollar amount), medallion signature guaranteed. Please note, if there are multiple account owners all will need to sign the request.
• New Account Application (PDF) filled out by the receiving organization
• A Certificate of Authorization (PDF) for the charitable organization, showing who is authorized to trade on the account, filled out by the secretary of the organization and affixed with a corporate seal (if a seal is not available, a signature validation program or medallion signature guarantee stamp are acceptable)

The purpose of a medallion signature guarantee is to authenticate an individual’s signature. The medallion signature guarantee also carries with it certain statutory warranties that we rely on. Only a person who has been formally authorized may execute a medallion signature guarantee on behalf of their organization.

A medallion signature guarantee generally may be obtained from a bank, savings and loan association, or a member of these recognized stock exchanges: Securities Transfer Agents Medallion Program (STAMP), Stock Exchanges Medallion Program (SEMP), and New York Stock Exchange Medallion Signature Program (MSP). Individuals may also obtain a medallion signature guarantee from a credit union, provided it is authorized to guarantee signatures.

We are unable to accept notarizations.

The purpose of the signature validation program stamp is to authenticate an individual’s signature for requests that do not directly involve the sale/redemption or transfer of securities. The signature validation program stamp also carries with it certain statutory warranties that we rely on. Only a person who has been formally authorized may execute a signature validation program (SVP) stamp on behalf of their organization.

A medallion signature guarantee generally may be obtained from a bank, savings and loan association, or a member of these recognized stock exchanges: Securities Transfer Agents Medallion Program (STAMP), Stock Exchanges Medallion Program (SEMP), and New York Stock Exchange Medallion Signature Program (MSP). Individuals may also obtain a medallion signature guarantee from a credit union, provided it is authorized to guarantee signatures.

We are unable to accept notarizations.