Online Bill Payment Q&A

Q: What can I do through Online Bill Payment?
A: Online Bill Payment offers you not only the ability to pay all of your bills from one simple-to-use site, but also provides you with the convenience of receiving, viewing and managing your bills at the same online location.

 

In addition, you are able to:

 

• Arrange email alerts for bill arrivals, due dates, and upcoming payments
• Schedule automatic recurring payment rules for each payee
• Run payment reports and create custom reports
• Use multiple funding accounts to pay your bills
• Make expedited payments (next day electronic payment)
• Make overnight check payments
• Make stop payments on Online Bill Payment items

 

Q: How do I register for Online Bill Payment?
A: If you are not currently using Online Banking, you will first need to register for an Online Banking account. You will then be able to register for Bill Payment from the menu within Online Banking.

 

If you already have an Online Banking account, but are not registered for Online Bill Payment, login to your Online Banking account and click the Bill Pay button in the menu on the left. You will be prompted to begin Online Bill Payment registration. Once the registration form is completed and submitted, it is then forwarded to us for review. We are responsible for checking the information on the form and approving your application. Once you are ready to use Bill Payment, you will receive an email. Access to Bill Payment does not require a separate login. Simply log into your Online Banking and click on the “Bill Pay” button to add payees and schedule payments.

 

Q: Are there any requirements to keep my Online Bill Payment account?
A: Since Bill Payment is accessed through Online Banking, Online Banking access is required. Other than that, the system requires that you use your Bill Payment at least once every sixty days. Additionally, we reserve the right to cancel your bill pay account access if we suspect your account has been compromised or misused. If you want to cancel the service at any time, please contact us.

 

Q: When can I start using Online Bill Payment?
A: You can begin Bill Payment once you have received an email from us (usually the next business day) that tells you that you’re set!

 

Q: Can I schedule regular automatic payments?
A: Yes. You can schedule weekly, bi-weekly, semi-monthly, bi-monthly, monthly, quarterly, semi-annual, and annual recurring payments for the same amount. The final payment of a recurring payment is designated by a ‘Final Payment Date.’

 

Q: How does a payee get paid through Online Bill Payment?
A: Payees are paid one of two ways: by check or an electronic credit.

Q: How can I tell if a payee will be paid with a check or electronically?
A: The Bill Payment service will try to pay through electronic means if it’s possible, otherwise it will be paid with a check. When setting up a new payee you will be informed by the Bill Payment service whether the payments will be sent electronically or by check.

 

Q: How long does it take for my bill to be paid?
A: When you enter a payment, the process starts on the “send date” that you enter on the payments screen. On the following day, the payment is withdrawn from your account and sent to the payee. Depending on the method the payment is sent, it will take a few days to reach the payee. If the payment is scheduled to be paid by a check, allow 5 business days. Or if it is by an electronic debit, allow 3 business days. The payment may be received sooner than the recommended time, however, you will be responsible for any late charges you may incur if you don’t allow the recommended time period.

 

Q: When I add a new payee to my Bill Payment account, or change my account number, how quickly will the change take place?
A: When you update the information for the Bill Payment account, the changes are implemented virtually instantaneously.

 

Q: Can I use Bill Payment with all my accounts?
A: You can use any checking account for Bill Payment funding accounts. If you want to add a checking account to the Bill Payment, please contact us. Savings accounts cannot be used with Bill Payment at this time.

 

Q: Can I specify which account my payment comes out of?
A: Yes. Inside the “Profile” section of Bill Payment, you will see a listing of all your accounts you can use. The “Primary” account is the default account that will be debited unless you specify the payment come out of another account. When making manual payments, you can select which account you want to pay from with the drop-down menu.

 

Q: When is Bill Payment available?
A: You can schedule payments 24 hours a day, seven days a week. However, the payments will only be paid on processing days (no holidays or weekends).

 

Q: Are my Bill Payment transactions reflected as Online Banking transactions?
A: All Bill Payment transactions become part of the Online Banking transaction history and show up within Online Banking, your statement, and any files exported into your financial software.

 

Q: How do I add new payees?
A: You can add payees by accessing the “Add Payee” screen. New payees will be added to the payee list immediately.

 

Q: Can Bill Payment be used when I am out of the country?
A: Bill Payment provides you with peace of mind when you are traveling for an extended period of time. All you need is access to the internet with a secure browser and you can see and pay your bills while out of the country.

 

Q: Who can be paid using the Bill Payment system?
A: Anyone in the 50 United States and territories who can accept a check can be paid using Bill Payment. You can pay practically anyone – charge accounts, utilities, auto loans, professionals, even a lawn service or a relative. However, tax payments (such as federal, state and local) and court directed payments (such as alimony and child support) cannot be processed through the Bill Payment system.

 

Q: If I schedule multiple bill payments for a single day, how will my account be debited — as a lump sum or separately?
A: Each bill payment is debited from your account separately.

 

Q: How is my account debited for online bill payments?
A: Your account is debited via ACH.

 

Q: What is ACH?
A: ACH stands for “Automated Clearing House”. It simply means that a transaction was processed electronically.

 

Q: If I make an error in selecting an electronic payee and it results in a late fee, am I responsible for the charges?
A: If you select an electronic payee with an address that is different from that indicated on the payment coupon, then you are responsible for the late fee. You always have the option to manually enter a different address for a payee.

 

If you select an electronic payee with the address that matches that indicated on the payment coupon, you allowed the 3 days for an electronic payment or 5 business days for a check payment, or the payment was routed incorrectly, then our bill pay provider will take responsibility for the late fee.