Here are a few common sense hints on picking a trust company. First and foremost is word of mouth. Find out what trust company or bank department has the best reputation from your accountant, legal services, etc. When interviewing individual trust companies or bank departments, find out who will actually be managing your trust. It will often be someone not as flashy as the people you meet when you first walked into the firm.
Every asset manager has a track record.
Find out how good the companies have been at growing assets and, very importantly, what is their specialty. If you have a lot of real estate, find a company that has a history of managing real estate, not stock and bonds. But be realistic. This isn't a mutual fund company, it's a trust company that will manage your money for the long run. Cost is important, but not the only factor.