Frequently Asked Questions - Education First Credit Union (2024)

Members wishing to change their mailing address must submit the request in writing via mail or email, be sure to include the new address, the date and a signature. Address changes can also be made in person at any of our offices.

Education First Credit Union is open for membership to any person who is affiliated with the education community in the state of Ohio. Whether you are an administrator, teacher,custodian or even a volunteer you and your immediate family members are eligible to join the credit union and take advantage of all the great benefits that come along with credit union membership.

Eligible is anyone who attends school, works, lives or worships in Franklin County, the Worthington, Gahanna, Westerville, or Olentangy School Districts. You are also eligible for membership if you work for one of our Select Employee Groups (SEGs).

Additionally any K-12 student at any school in Franklin, Delaware, and Union counties are eligible for membership. All college or university students across the state of Ohio are eligible for membership.

Welcome to Education First Credit Union! We look forward to meeting and serving you.

Mother, father, children, step-mom, step-dad, mother in-law, father in-law, grandparents, sister, brother, grandchildren, step-brother, step-sister, brother in-law, sister in-law and spouse. Also eligible is anyone living within the primary member’s household.

Phone: 614-221-9376, outside the area 1-866-628-6446

CU Access: 614-221-1136, outside the area 1-800-342-3643

Mail:
510 E. Mound St.
Columbus, Ohio 43215

Star ATM/Visa Debit Card Lost or Stolen: 1-800-523-4175

VISA® Credit Card Lost or Stolen: 1-800-449-7728

CUAccess: 614-221-1136 or outside the area 1-800-342-3643

We are a member-owned, not for profit financial cooperative association dedicated to providing you and your family with a broad range of personal financial products and services. Unlike most other types of financial institutions who need to generate a profit to satisfy stockholders, we return excess earnings to our members in the form of:

• Competitive dividend rates on savings
• Competitive interest rates on loans
• A low structured fee schedule

No, once a member of the credit union, you can always be a member.

Your credit union allows you to receive money into your account from anywhere in the world. Additionally, you can wire money from your account to anywhere in the United States for a nominal fee. Please click here for more information.

Education First offers Share Savings Accounts as well as a tiered Money Management Savings, IRA Savings and Certificates, Certificate Accounts, Holiday Savings Accounts, ABC Savings Accounts, Young Adult Accounts and Health Savings Accounts.

Yes, we offer accounts for each of these groups. A complete description of these accounts can be found under the savings and checking programs on our web site.

We offer three types of checking accounts: Premium, Value and Student.

Education First Credit Union
510 E. Mound St.,
Columbus, Ohio 43215

Yes, log onto Home Banking from the "LOGIN" button in the header of the website. Choose the “efirst Home” tab, then the 3rd option across the blue tool bar is “Order Checks”; click on it and follow the prompts. The checks will be mailed to the address that we have on file. If this information is not current please contact the credit union before reordering your checks.

An ABA number uniquely identifies Education First Credit Union and is used for electronic processing. That number is 244077271.

A new signature card must be filled out and a copy of a valid picture ID of the person you are adding must be presented with the new card.

You can call the credit union during business hours and if we are able to identify you over the phone with your password then we can submit the change for you. If you do not have a password you must come into the credit union with proper identification and we will then submit the change for you. It takes 24 business hours for the change to occur.

We offer CU Access which gives you the ability to access your account via the telephone and conduct transactions on your accounts over the phone 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. From any touchtone phone call 614-221-1136 or toll free 1-800-342-3643 and follow the prompts.

Home Banking is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, through the "LOGIN" button in the header of our website. Members are able to conduct transactions within their account, apply for a loan and even print a copy of a cleared check right at home. For first time users, you also need to click on “enroll” to request a username and temporary password.

Log onto your account via Home Banking "LOGIN" button in the header of the website. Choose checking, once you see your checking history on your screen click on the check number you wish to view and the front and back image will appear on your screen. This is a printable copy of your cleared check.

We offer FREE Bill Pay service to our members. Bill Pay allows you to go onto our website and set up merchants and amounts to be withdrawn from your checking account on a date specified by you. We can take away the hassle of you having to write out checks and finding a stamp to mail them with. Try it today!

We have a coin counter available in our Downtown Office Lobby. If you are a non-member the fee is 8% of the total coined brought in. If you are a member there is no fee.

You can become a member and apply for a loan, all at the same time.

You can apply for a loan online via our secure website, in person with a loan officer at 614-221-9376, option 2 (toll free 1-866-628-6446), or you can fill out an application and mail it into the credit union.

Yes, we offer several different loan programs for first and second mortgages. For more details or to apply please contact our Mortgage Department at 614-340-1504 or via email mortgage@educu.org

We offer two different VISA® card programs (Platinum and Rewards) to meet the varying needs of our different members. Both feature no annual fee and great rates. Begin saving today when you transfer those high-interest store and credit card accounts to your credit union VISA®.

1. Variable
2. Secured

We have added an extra layer of security that will work behind-the-scenes to protect your account. The new security may occasionally prompt you to verify your identity before continuing. This means you can now bank online with a renewed sense of confidence.

As our member, we know how you typically behave: what types of transactions you conduct, when and from where. If we detect any activity that does not seem like your typical behavior, we will prompt you to further verify your identity-so that we can ensure it is you and not a fraudster attempting to compromise your account.

Expect to be prompted at some point while banking online to enter additional information. This may include choosing several security questions that only you know the answers to, as well as supplying phone numbers where you can be reached while banking online. Once this occurs you have added a layer of protection to your account.

There is absolutely no cost associated with the new security system.

You will only be prompted to enter additional information when a particular activity or transaction appears to be unusual or uncharacteristic of your typical behavior.

Anything that appears out-of-the ordinary compared to how you normally would bank online and where you normally bank online. If the action being requested does not appear to be something you would normally do, we will ask you for more information to make sure it is really you and not an unauthorized user.

The security system takes into account factors such as the type of transactions you ordinarily perform, the computers you typically use to access your account, or the typical security settings for your computer. Hundreds of factors, such as these, create a profile that is unique to you that allows us to make decisions about whether the person conducting a given activity and transaction within your account appears to really be you.

No, you will only be asked for more information when unusual or uncharacteristic behavior is detected. This will most likely be a very rare occurrence.

Yes. In fact, your personal information is safer than ever before because we are making sure it is really you and not an unauthorized user trying to access your information.

We are glad to hear that you use anti-virus and a personal firewall. Be sure that you keep both software programs up-to-date for the best possible protection against viruses and hackers. This new security feature protects against other threats such as stolen user name and password. It works with you other personal security programs, but it does not replace them.

You should access the settings tab inside home banking before you ever get locked out to create a password reset question & answer. Then if you happened to get locked out, you can click the “Reset Password” link on your log on page. If you already got locked out, of home banking, you will need to call one of our member service representatives to manually reset the password.

In a typical phishing case, you will receive an email that looks like it is from a legitimate company or organization that you do business with, such as the credit union. In many situations the email will be marked urgent and may use wordage such as “please contact us immediately”, or “immediate attention is required”. In a phishing scam you will be redirected to a phony web site that many times looks like the real one. You could be asked to update or provide account information, your social security number, your password or even your mother’s maiden name. If you provide any of the above information you could possibly find yourself the victim of fraud also known as identity theft.

Tips on how to protect yourself:

1. Never provide your personal information in response to an unsolicited request.
2. If you believe the contact may be legitimate, contact the financial institution yourself.
3. Never provide your password over the phone or in response to an unsolicited internet request.
4. Review account statements regularly to ensure all charges and deductions on your accounts are correct.

Education First Credit Union would never send an email requesting your personal information.

Overdraft Privilege allows you to overdraw your account up to the disclosed limit for a fee in order topay a transaction. The account must be in good standing, and payment of items is discretionary.
$33.00 Overdraft Fee per Item.

The Overdraft Privilege limit for all eligible checking accounts is variable based on your checking account type. Both the amount of the overdraft items and all applicable fees, including but not limited to our $33 overdraft fee, are included in this limit. There is no limit to the number of fees charged to your account in one day.

No, the amount of your Overdraft Privilege Limit is based on your checking account type. Please call 614-221-9376 and speak with a Relationship Officer if you would like to apply for a different Checking account.

You will be charged our standard $33 overdraft fee for each item that we pay, the same fee that we charge if we return the item unpaid due to non-sufficient funds (NSF) in your account.

No application is required for Overdraft Privilege. All qualifying current members have Overdraft Privilege and new accounts that qualify are granted Overdraft Privilege. However, to obtain Overdraft Privilege Extended Coverage which includes your ATM withdrawals and everyday debit card transactions – your consent is required.

If eligible, Overdraft Privilege will be available on your checking account at account opening.

Please contact any member service representative and we will provide you with another copy of the Account Disclosure.

Overdraft Privilege is available for all checks that you write, ACH items that are presented, recurring debit card payments, online bill payment items, internet banking transfers, telephone banking, and teller window transactions. However, due to federal regulations, we offer Overdraft Privilege for ATM withdrawals and everyday debit card transactions only if you ask us to, this does require your consent.

Items presented may be returned if you have exceeded your Overdraft Privilege limit, if you are delinquent on a loan or other obligation to us or if you are in a repayment plan. Also, whether overdrafts will be paid is discretionary and we reserve the right not to pay.

We do not make deposits to cover overdrafts paid by Overdraft Privilege. We cover the transaction if the combination of your Overdraft Protection options, and Overdraft Privilege limit and existing checking balance is sufficient but your account will remain overdrawn until you make a deposit to bring it back to a positive balance. Additional fees may be charged if items presented are either paid or returned after your initial overdraft if your account remains overdrawn.

We offer transfers (for no charge) from other accounts that you have with us.

Once your account is overdrawn you must bring it back to a positive balance for at least one full day within a 32 day period by making a deposit(s) to your account.

We do not charge any interest on account overdrafts that are paid by the Overdraft Privilege. We do charge our normal $33 overdraft fee for each item presented, whether it is paid or returned, if your account is overdrawn.

We generally post items (but not necessarily) in the following order: 1) ACH Debits in Trancode order with deposits first; 2) Inclearing drafts low to high; however, exceptions will occur. Holds on funds and the order in which transactions are posted may impact the total amount of Overdraft Fees or Return Item Fees assessed: 3) Cash withdrawals through a branch; Over-the-counter items; Cash withdrawals through ATM; POS transactions; Everyday debit card transactions; recurring debit card transactions –all real time 4) Force-paid items from prior day processing.

If you do not want your account to be eligible for this service and would prefer us to automatically return any items presented which may overdraw your account, please contact any member service representative. Please note that when we return your items you may be subject to additional fees charged by merchants or by us if the same items are presented again for payment at a later time.

Please contact any member service representative or simply visit one of our offices for additional information about this service.

We are making this change to protect our member-owners and the credit union through the parties working together to resolve disputes quickly and amicably in the limited instances where they arise.

The Credit Union has become aware of class actions asserted against credit unions and other financial institutions. Arbitration provisions are common to, and included in, many credit union and banking terms of Service. Because our Credit Union is a member-owned, not-for-profit financial co-operative, this provision was developed to ensure individual members can assess and make an individual determination for what is the best course for resolution when considering individual interest and the interest of all Credit Union member-owners.

Arbitration is a procedure in which a dispute is submitted, by agreement of the parties, to one or more private arbitrators who make a binding decision on the dispute.

The Arbitration and Class Action Waiver provision explains this more. You can find the procedure at Paragraph 21(e).

A class action is a type of claim where one or more individuals file and prosecute a lawsuit on behalf of a larger group, or a "class," who may have similar experiences and injuries.

To opt-out means you choose not to participate in something.

To opt-out of this provision means you choose not to agree to the Credit Union's proposal to resolve any disputes with you through arbitration.

To opt out, you must notify us in writing of your intent to do so within 30 days after the Arbitration Agreement was provided to you.

Here are instructions on how to opt-out:

The notice expressing your intent to opt-out must be sent in writing to:
Education First Credit Union
Attn: Member Services, Arbitration Opt-Out
510 E. Mound St.
Columbus, Ohio 43215

Your notice of intent to opt-out can be a letter that includes your name as it appears on your Account, your credit union account number, and is signed by you that states, "I elect to opt-out of arbitration consistent with section 21(d) of the Membership and Account Agreement" or any other similar words or phrasing to that effect.

Arbitration and Class Action Waiver provision also explains the process at Paragraph 21(d).

You agree to resolve any disputes with the Credit Union through arbitration.

It will not affect any other terms and conditions of your Membership and Account Agreement or your relationship with the Credit Union.