Frequently Asked Questions

It is still our intention to offer the most valuable checking account product available, with no monthly fees and a program that allows you to earn reward points with every purchase you make with your debit card. The bottom line: America’s First always wants you to keep your checking account balanced in order to avoid overdrafts altogether. Your first “line of defense” against overdrafts should be an Overdraft Protection Line of Credit. If you do not already have an Overdraft Line of Credit, establish one today. You can apply at any branch or call us at 1-800-633-8431. Finally, we recommend that you “opt-in” to Courtesy Pay for debit transactions in order to avoid the embarrassment and hassle of being declined at a merchant.

You may opt-out of Courtesy Pay for point of sale transactions at any time by giving us written, electronic or verbal notice. Once we receive your opt-out instructions, point of sale transactions that exceed the available balance in your checking account will be declined. You may also opt out of Courtesy Pay for checks and ACH transactions by giving us written, electronic or verbal instructions. Once we receive your opt-out instructions, any checks or ACH transactions that are presented for payment will be returned unpaid. If you choose to notify us in writing, you may mail it to our call center at P.O. Box 11349, Birmingham, Alabama 35202 or in person at any America’s First branch location.

The new federal regulations do not affect overdrafts or Courtesy Pay transactions involving checks, ACH, or bill pay transactions.

All we need is your written confirmation. There are a number of ways for you to opt-in.

• You may visit any branch location of America’s First
• You can print and mail your opt-in notice to P.O. Box 11349, Birmingham, Alabama 35202
• Opt in online
• Contact our call center at 1-800-633-8431 or (205) 320-4000
• If you are applying to open an account online, select “Yes” to the question “Do you want America’s First to authorize and pay overdrafts on your everyday debit card transactions?”
• Regardless of how you choose to opt-in it will only take a few minutes.

Courtesy Pay is a service designed to help you avoid costly mistakes in your checking account. Think of the following scenarios:

• You are at the checkout counter of the grocery store and your total comes to $300. Your account has a balance of $285. If you opted in to Courtesy Pay, this transaction could be approved.
• You and the family are at a restaurant having dinner. The total bill comes to over $100. You only have $85 in your checking account. If you haven’t opted in to Courtesy Pay, you’ll have to find another way to pay for your meal.

Opting in to Courtesy Pay can help you avoid an embarrassing situation when your account balance is less than you anticipated.

If you are making a purchase with your debit card and there are no available funds in your checking account, and your other overdraft sources are depleted, the transaction will be denied.

Currently, new members are automatically enrolled after they meet certain eligibility qualifications. These include but are not limited to:

• Your membership must be in good standing; and
• Your checking account must have been open for at least 30 days.

However, under new federal regulations, beginning July 1, 2010, new members will not be eligible for Courtesy Pay on Debit transactions unless they “opt-in” to the program and existing members who are currently using the program must “opt-in” by August, 15, 2010 to continue their eligibility for this service.

America’s First will not overdraw an account more than $500 using Courtesy Pay. The payment of a check, point of sale or ACH transaction that results in an overdrawn balance is at the sole discretion of America’s First.

You must make a deposit to repay the overdrawn balance within 5 business days.

There is a $30.00 fee assessed for each transaction that is paid via Courtesy Pay.

If your account is in good standing, and your other overdraft sources are not available, we will pay insufficient items up to $500. Your checking account will be overdrawn by the amount that you exceeded your balance plus the amount of the Courtesy Pay fee.

Courtesy Pay is a service for qualifying members that allows us to pay certain checking account transactions when there are insufficient funds in your account. Debit transactions that qualify for Courtesy Pay protection are checks, ACH debits, and point of sale (Check Card). Courtesy Pay provides an added layer of protection on eligible checking accounts to help members avoid the embarrassment of “bounced” checks and declined point of sale transactions.

If there are no available funds in your savings account, or you have reached the limit of six (6) transfers in one month, we may, at our discretion, pay the Overdraft through our Courtesy Pay program.

Under current federal regulations, you may have no more than six (6) electronic transfers from your savings account per calendar month (transfers via Online Banking and FlashTalk count towards this total).

There is a $5 transfer fee each time a transfer is made.

If there are available funds in your savings account, we will automatically transfer the funds electronically from your savings account.

If you do not have an Overdraft Protection Line of Credit, or if you have reached your limit on this Line of Credit, we will then look to your savings that you have with us to cover insufficient items.

In order to open an Overdraft Line of Credit, you do have to apply and qualify. Because it is a loan, you must meet certain requirements. You can apply at any of our branches or call 205-320-4000 or 1-800-633-8431. An Overdraft Line of Credit is the most inexpensive way to protect your account from overdraft charges and is our recommended Overdraft Protection method.

You may make payments on your Overdraft account any time there is an outstanding balance, but we automatically transfer a minimum payment from your checking account on the 5th day of each month if a payment is due and there are available funds.

The Overdraft Protection Line of Credit is a loan and any amounts advanced on the Line of Credit are subject to a finance charge.

If you have Overdraft Protection, instead of overdrawing your account or sending items back unpaid and charging an NSF fee, we will advance money from your Overdraft Line of Credit to pay those transactions up to your available limit.

An Overdraft Protection Line of Credit is a loan. It is a line of credit that is available to you when needed to cover an insufficient checking account transaction. This loan will cover insufficient checking transactions (checks, ACH, Point of Sale, or Bill Payment) up to your available credit limit.

The best way to avoid Overdraft and bounced-check fees is to keep your checking account balanced so you don’t overdraw it.

• Know how much money you have in your checking account by keeping your account register up-to-date. Record all checks when you write them and other transactions when you make them. And don’t forget to subtract any fees.
• Record all transactions, including ATM withdrawals and fees, debit card purchases, and online payments.
• Don’t forget about automatic bill payments you may have set up for utilities, insurance, or other recurring payments.
• Keep an eye on your account balance. Remember that some checks and automatic payments may not have cleared yet. You may set up alerts in online banking that will notify you via e-mail of your daily balance, when your balance drops below an amount you specify, and when a check has cleared.
• Review your account statements each month.
• Use our free services, online banking and FlashTalk telephone banking, 205-327-2328 or 1-800-524-6546, to check your available balance at any time.

You can do most of your financial transactions by using direct deposit, ATMs or ACH (Automated Clearing House) transactions. We also offer remote deposit capture for qualifying accounts, which allows you to deposit checks by using mobile banking.  Contact us for details on a method that’s best for you.

Yes! Funds can be transferred to and from accounts by wire transfer. A Wire Transfer Agreement is required in order to process outgoing wire transfers. Incoming wire transfers must include the Amfirst beneficiary member name and account number. For questions regarding wire transfers or to process your wire transfer please contact your local branch or the Wire Transfer department directly at 205-320-4106.

Your account information is available in real time and is always current.

Yes! With online banking, you have access to your account information 24 hours a day, 7 days a week!

Yes! Thanks to the convenience of Digital Banking and services like Direct Deposit and our ATMs/ITMs, everyday financial transactions can be performed on your own time. Contact us with questions about your needs.

At this time, you do not have to live within the United States, but you must have a valid U.S. tax identification number (Social Security Number). If you have questions, contact us. We’d like to hear from you.

Yes! Account information is available from our Member Service Representatives during business hours at any of our offices. Flash Talk Telephone Account Access offers automated account information for free 24 hours a day. We also offer free mobile banking.

After your checking application has been approved, you will receive our routing and transit number and your account number. Simply contact us at 205-320-4000, and have your Social Security Number and account information available to set up your direct deposit right over the phone.

After your checking application has been approved, you will receive our routing and transit number and your account number. If your employer participates in a direct deposit program, simply provide this information to the human resources or payroll department at your company, and your direct deposit will usually begin within thirty days.

Yes! Each individual member’s account is Federally insured by the NCUA up to $250,000 per account.

Just call us and we will take you through the steps needed to get back into the system immediately!

Yes. You can go to User Options/Settings and change your password at any time.

To access online banking, you can log in here or directly from the right side of our homepage.  First time users should use the Sign Up link to establish online access to their account.

In order for your browsing experience to be enjoyable, your browser must be compatible with our list of supported browsers. Please see our list of supported browsers.

You have access to your account information 24 hours a day, 7 days a week!

Yes. Using the Manage Transfers tab, you can select future dated and recurring transfers.

Online Banking supports downloads to Quicken™, Microsoft Money™ or as a comma-delimited text file.

Yes, you can view your accounts by date, check number, payee, amount or balance in ascending or descending order.

You can access your checking, savings,and loan accounts from online banking. Online banking is intended to give you as much access, security, and versatility as possible.

Online banking displays real time account information.

Yes, online banking stores your User ID, password and user preferences.

You can view account balances and transaction history, transfer money, and download transactions to a personal financial manager and much more.

Online Banking is a tool that allows you to use a personal computer with an Internet connection to conduct your banking online.

Platinum Pro members will continue to earn reward points. However, as part of these changes, we will be converting our Platinum Pro Rewards program from ScoreCard Rewards to Choice Rewards. You will still earn points on your Platinum Pro rewards credit card but how and where you redeem your points will change. If you would like to redeem any of your current points through ScoreCard rewards, you must do so by May 14, 2015. To redeem rewards through Scorecard, visit www.scorecardrewards.com or call 1(800) 854-0790. Any points not redeemed by May 14, 2015, will roll over to your new Platinum Pro card and you will begin earning points on your new card as soon as you activate and begin using your card. However, after May 14, 2015, points will not be available for redemption until July 1, 2015. When you are ready to redeem points on your new card after July 1, 2015, you will simply log in to Online Banking at amfirst.org, select your Credit Card account, and then select Browse Rewards.

No, if you are currently in a card program that earns cash back, you will continue to earn cash back. However, cash back amounts will not be visible on your statement until July.

Yes. However, the process you use to make online payments will change. To make a credit card payment via an online banking transfer, log into Online Banking, and click on your Credit Card account.

Yes. Payments can be made at any America’s First location. However, if you prefer to mail your payment, the address will change to: America’s First Federal Credit Union P.O. Box 37035 Boone, IA 50037-0035 *Payments received at the mailing address will be credited to your account as of the day of receipt.

Replacement cards can be obtained by contacting America’s First at 205-320-4000 or 1-800-633-8431

Your new payment will not change. The due date will be the 16th of each month.

Contact America’s First at 205-320-4000 or 1-800-633-8431 or visit any America’s First branch location.

You will need to access your credit card account via Online Banking. Once you have done this, you will receive an email confirmation when your next credit card eStatement is available for viewing.

Yes. You will need to access your credit card account via Online Banking. You will then be able to click on “Statement History” from the top navigational menu.

In addition to viewing statement history, you can view current balance information, payment information, and current and historical transaction activity; make a payment and view payment history; find contact information; request balance transfers; and download account transactions into multiple formats.

Yes, you can access and manage your credit card account via Online Banking. To do this, log in to Online Banking, and click on the name of your credit card account. Please note that access to EZCard Info will not be available after May 14.

Notify America’s First of any changes to your address or phone number so that we may correct the information on all of your America’s First accounts, including your credit card account(s).

Your annual percentage rate (APR) for purchases and cash advances will not change.

Yes. This EMV chip card is more secure and the preferred type of card for all major credit card companies.

Yes. Notify any companies that are automatically paid by your card of the new card number and expiration date (ie. gym memberships, bill payments and subscriptions). You will also need to change the payment mailing address and account number on any bill payment system that you might use to make your card payments when you receive your May statement. New payment address will be: America’s First Federal Credit Union, P.O. Box 37035, Boone, IA 50037-0035.

America’s First is transitioning to a new credit card processing system in order to provide our members access to new and innovative credit card product offerings, 24-hour member service phone support staff, and state-of-the-art security features that further protect your accounts.

On May 15 2015, a credit card processor transition will change your America’s First credit card, statement, and the way you access your credit card information online.

Paying with a chip card is fast and easy. Just insert your card, face up and chip end first, into a chip capable card reader. Then follow the directions on the screen. Watch this video for more information on how to use a chip card.

Cards that have tap and pay capabilities have this symbol on the front or back of the card. For smaller-dollar amount purchases, you can tap your contactless card to pay at merchants that have this symbol on the terminal. If a merchant does not have this functionality, you will need to insert the card into the terminal and follow the prompts to complete the transaction.

When making a transaction with your chip-enhanced card, it’s important to leave the card in the terminal until the transaction is complete. (If you remove the card too soon, the transaction will end and your purchase will not be processed.)

1. Insert the chip portion of the card into the terminal with the chip facing up.
2. Follow the prompts on the terminal screen.
3. The terminal will display the purchase amount.
4. When your transaction is complete, you will be prompted to remove your card.

At restaurants, a portable terminal may be brought to your table. Remember, if a chip terminal is not available, you will still be able to make purchases by swiping your card and signing the receipt.

Use your chip card at the exact same merchants you do now, by inserting the card into terminals that are chip-enabled or swiping your card at merchant locations that have not yet switched to chip-enabled terminals. You can also continue to use your card as you do currently for online and telephone payments.

A chip-enhanced card contains an embedded microchip. The chip holds encrypted information, making it extremely difficult for the card to be copied or counterfeited. Rather than swiping the card, you will insert your card into a chip-enabled terminal to complete a transaction. In addition to the embedded microchip, the chip-card has a magnetic stripe on the back, and purchases can still be made by swiping the card at merchants that have not yet switched to chip-enabled terminals.