My husband and I have two checks made out to each of our trusts and we would like to open CDs just in our names, without having to take our trust papers into the bank to show proof, is this possible or do we have to open trust accounts?
It's very unlikely that you will find a bank willing to allow you, as trustees, to endorse the checks to yourselves as individuals and use the checks to purchase CD accounts in your individual names, although that is one way it could be accomplished. Any bank that would agree with that sort of transaction would need to see proof of the existence of the trusts and verification of your respective status as trustees.
It's more likely that a bank would require that the checks be deposited to accounts of the trusts, from which you could issue checks payable to yourselves as individuals. That would be after viewing the trust documents or trustees affidavits, depending on state law and the bank's policies. That means that regardless of the route taken to establish the accounts you want, the bank will require verification of the trust and current trustees.
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It's very unlikely that you will find a bank willing to allow you, as trustees, to endorse the checks to yourselves as individuals and use the checks to purchase CD accounts in your individual names, although that is one way it could be accomplished. Any bank that would agree with that sort of transaction would need to see proof of the existence of the trusts and verification of your respective status as trustees.