FAQ's (Frequently Asked Questions)

Q. How can I contact AFFCU?

A. Our local numbers are:
410-584-7474 for Hunt Valley, Maryland
410-539-3274 for our Inner Harbor branch in Baltimore

Other options are available:
800-505-7476 for toll free access
888-24AFFCU for out of hours loan applications
www.affcu.org is our full service website.

Q. Are AFFCU deposit accounts insured?

A. Yes. The National Share Insurance Fund (NCUSIF) is equivalent to FDIC, but stronger. It comes under our federal regulator, the National Credit Union Administration and is presently insured up to an aggregate of $250,000. IRA's are insured separately up to an aggregate of $250,000. There could be multiple aggregates based on the way your accounts are established.

Q. How do I set up Direct Deposit for my payroll?

A. If your employer offers a direct deposit program, or you receive a pension, dividends, social security or IRS refunds all you need is our Routing &Transit number 252075744 and your account number. In many cases we can provide a form for your use. The number for the Social Security Administration is 1 800 SSA-1213.

Q. Can I get information about my account by phone?

A. Yes. PAT (Phone Activated Transactions) can be reached by dialing 410 584-7474 or 1 800 505-7476 and selecting option 6. A PIN (Personal Identification Number) is needed and can easily be set up. This service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Q. Can I get information about my account through the internet?

A. Yes. Our website is www.affcu.org. Once at the website you can go to our E-Branch and conduct the same transactions as with PAT. The PIN code is also the same. This service is also 24 by 7.

Q. Can I pay bills through the website?

A. Yes. AFFCU's E-Bill Pay service must first be set up by an AFFCU employee. Simply go to the log in area on our home page to enter the E-Branch/E-Bill Pay service. Use the same PIN that you established on PAT to log in and request the E-Bill Pay service. If you have additional questions about this service you may contact our Call Center 410 584-7474 or 1 800 505-7476 and select option 5 to have this service explained and established. Based on very simple criteria, this service is absolutely free.

Q. Can I do all my financial transactions at AFFCU?

A. Absolutely! AFFCU provides a complete, full range of services and products. Check out this website, 410-84-7474 or 1 800-505-7476, option 5 for services and products available.

Q. Where are AFFCU's branches?

A. We have two branches of our own located at 40 Schilling Road in Hunt Valley and at 100 E. Pratt Street in Baltimore City's Inner Harbor. We are also part of a cooperative network of "shared branches" and "outlets" located conveniently throughout the United States numbering over 4,000. Go to Branch and Surcharge Free ATMS to find your most convenient location by city, state and zip code.

Q. Does AFFCU offer free ATM service?

A. AFFCU owns three ATMs that are totally free of all surcharges and fees and also belongs to a nationwide cooperative network of credit unions that provide access to 40,000 surcharge free ATM's, including all 7/11 stores. Find these locations by city, state and zip code here on our website.

Q. Can businesses have accounts at AFFCU?

A. Yes. AFFCU serves the employees and families of its affiliated companies. Those companies can establish accounts at AFFCU as well as members who might own a company or operate a company on the side of their regular occupation. Further information can be provided by contacting our Call Center at 410 584-7474 or 1 800 505-7476 option 5.

Q. Does AFFCU have a check card?

A. Yes. Our Atlantic Plu$ VISA Check Card can be used as an ATM card or a debit card. It provides you with access virtually anywhere in the world at ATM's, cash dispensers, and point-of sale terminals.

Q. Does AFFCU provide over-draft protection for my checking account?

A. Yes, in three forms. When items are presented against your checking account and there are insufficient funds available to clear the transaction our system first looks in the order listed below for:

Quick Draw overdraft line of credit to transfer money in $100 increments- only pay interest on amounts that are advanced to your checking account
Share savings account for available funds
MAC (Member Account Courtesy) with a $25 fee per transaction. Provides coverage up to $500

Q. How can I join AFFCU?

A. AFFCU is an employer-based credit union. That is, a company or organization must be affiliated with AFFCU before employees of that company are eligible to join. Immediate family members and those that share in the economic responsibility are also eligible to join.

Q. What is Regulation D?

A. This is a federal regulation that limits certain withdrawals and transfers on accounts such as share savings and money market. The account limitations are at no more than six (6) transfers and/or withdrawals per calendar month to a third party by means of pre-authorized or automatic transfer, or telephone agreement, order, or instruction and no more than three (3) of the six should be made by check in the money market account.

Q. Are there minimum deposit requirements at AFFCU?

A. AFFCU requires a minimum deposit of $25 to open a primary share savings account to join the credit union. This $25 must stay on deposit in the share savings account in order to maintain a member in good standing relationship. This is the basis of ownership in AFFCU and allows you voting rights and access to other products and services.

Q. What if I leave the employment of an affiliated company or are no longer part of an affiliated family or economic relationship?

A. AFFCU's charter states "once a member always a member" as long as you remain a member in good standing.

E-Deposit FAQs

Q:         What is E-Deposit?

A:         E-Deposit lets you make real-time deposits using a standard scanner.  You must log in to E-Branch to use the service.

Q:         Can anyone use E-Deposit?

A:         Members must request this service by sending an email to remotedeposit@affcu.org.

Q:         Are holds placed on my E-Deposits?

A.         Yes, holds are placed according to our standard hold policy.  It is AFFCU’s general policy to place a two business day hold on check deposits.  In some cases this hold could be extended.

Q.         How do I access E-Deposit?

A.         Log onto E-Branch, and then click on the E-Deposit tab located in the navigation bar.

Q.         Are there any unacceptable deposit items?

A.         Yes, they include:

ü  Foreign Checks

ü  Altered Checks

ü  Incomplete Checks

ü  Non-Negotiable Items

ü  Non-readable or non-visible MICR line items (the numbers at the bottom of checks)

ü  Deposits from the same account that the deposit is crediting (on us checks)

ü  Checks issued to others than the member and endorsed over to the member

The deposit of any of the above items is PROHIBITED.  Deposits of this nature may result in the immediate revocation of this service and may be subject to collection efforts.

Q.         Do checks need to be endorsed by the account owner?

A.         Yes, all checks deposited through E-Deposit must be properly endorsed by the account owner.

Q.         How do I know if you’ve received my deposit?

A.         Deposits are in real-time.  If you try to scan a check and the response screen states, “Successful Deposit,” and gives you a receipt number, then AFFCU has received the funds.  You can view your updated balance by exiting E-Branch, then logging in again to refresh the information and check the balance.

Q.         What do I do with checks after I have deposited them using E-Deposit?

A.         The last screen instructs users to use a post it note and to write the date you made the deposit on the note and to adhere it to the check.  We ask that you not deface the check (write on it) in case we need you to re-deposit it.  This is a rare occurrence.  After at least 90 days have passed, you can shred the check or otherwise dispose of it securely.

Q.         Is there a help file?

A.         Yes, after you access the E-Deposit system, there is a help link located at the top right of the page.

Q.         Is there more than 1 way to use the system?

A.         Yes, there are 2 ways to use the system.

1.     If on a PC running Internet Explorer as the browser, you can use the built in helper software (requires a download of an Active X twain driver which you will be prompted to install if you desire).

2.     If on any other system, you can use your own scanner software.

Q.         How do I use the “Active X Twain Driver” method of scanning?

A.         Upon your first usage of E-Deposit (and if on a PC running IE as the browser), you will be prompted to install the driver (a pop up instruction within the browser).  This driver allows our system to communicate with your scanner.  This method displays screens that show you where to place your checks and has controls over the scanner to correct the settings for a successful E-Deposit.

Q.         How do I use the “use your own scanner software” method of scanning?

A.         You can also use your own scanner software to use E-Deposit.  When asked to select your method (on the second page), select “use your own scanner software” from the drop down menu.  This will then require you to first save the front and back of the image on your machine.  Then you are asked to “browse” to the images.  After that you will see the image you scanned within our system and you can then crop them if necessary.

Q.         What is the deposit limit?

A.         The limit is $5,000 daily.

Q.         The message reads “unable to read account numbers.”  What do I do?

A.         If this occurs, you may not have enough space under the bottom MICR numbers located on the check bottom.  Try clicking the “undo” button within the “crop” section, which will move the check image back a little bit so that you can re-crop it.  There has to be ample white space visible under the bottom numbers in order for the scan to be accepted.  Tip:  Before scanning the item, place 4 small dots on each corner of the check (front and back).  This may help your scanner create an acceptable image that may not require cropping.

Q.         How do I crop?

A.         Cropping is a 4 step process.

1.     Click “Crop”

2.     Click (one time) the top left of the check

3.     Click (one time) the bottom right corner of the check

4.     Click the “Crop” button.

This will crop the check to your specifications.

Q.         Whom do I call for assistance?

A.         If the help file does not answer your question, you can call us at (410) 584-7474 or (800) 505-7476 or email us via the Contact Us page.