Courtesy Pay

Courtesy Pay is a feature that can save you the embarrassment and inconvenience of having a check returned or a debit transaction refused. For a fee of $20 per item, ATFCU will cover your overdrafts up to a $600 maximum.

There are two levels of courtesy pay protection:

1. As a standard practice, we will cover overdrafts made by check and automatic drafts on the checking accounts of approved members.
2. Effective August 15, 2010 we must have your permission to cover overdrafts made via your debit card or ATM card. You can give us your permission in writing or give us a call at 677-2274 or 800-677-6770.

Much media attention has recently been given to courtesy payment programs. Only you can decide what's best for you and your family. Obviously, each overdraft costs you $20. That can add up quickly. On the other hand, courtesy pay saves you embarrassment and a huge amount of hassle. Given that merchants routinely charge up to $39 for returned checks, courtesy pay can be the least expensive option in emergency situations.

If you're not in the habit of balancing your checkbook and/or keeping a close eye on your balance, courtesy pay may offer you significant value.

We Have Other Tools to Help You Avoid Overdrafts

ATFCU offers several free services that can help you avoid overdrafts. These can be used instead of, or in combination with courtesy payment.

1. Link your savings account to your checking account so that funds will be automatically transferred to checking when needed. A Member Services rep will assist you with the paperwork to enable this feature.
2. Sign up for free text banking or mobile banking so you can use your cell phone to keep track of your current balance. Alerts can be set to notify you when your balance drops below a specified level.
3. Use your monthly statement to keep your account balanced. It's not high tech but it works!