Courtesy Pay FAQs

Have a question about our Courtesy Pay Program?
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Courtesy Pay is a service that adds a measure of protection to your personal checking account. Courtesy Pay may cover your insufficient funds items, up to your approved limit, for one low fee of $20 per covered overdraft transaction. That means, instead of returning a check or other item to the merchant or payee because of insufficient funds, the credit union may pay your check, saving you additional charges from merchant collection companies, in addition to the credit union’s non-sufficient fund fee. It also saves you from the embarrassment that a declined transaction or an inadvertent overdrawn check can cause. Dow Credit Union offers the following Courtesy Pay options:

Basic Courtesy Pay

Qualified members are eligible for courtesy pay coverage for ACH items, paper drafts, and Bill Pay transactions. Fees may be assessed if any of these items are covered by Courtesy Pay. This choice will not cover ATM Card Point of Sale or everyday debit card transactions. If you attempt to process one of these types of transactions without having sufficient available funds, it may be declined. This choice will cover recurring debit card transactions

Enhanced Courtesy Pay

Qualified members are eligible for courtesy pay coverage for ACH items, paper drafts, Bill Pay transactions, plus ATM Card Point of Sale, and everyday debit card transactions. Fees may be assessed when courtesy pay is used to cover any of these transactions.

Yes, you may decline at any time. Declining Courtesy Pay means items will not be paid and may be subject to a $20 non-sufficient funds fee for each time an item is presented for payment and we return it unpaid due to non-sufficient available balance. Dow Credit Union has no control over the number of times an intended payee may resubmit the same item to us for payment. You may also incur a fee from the payee. Dow Credit Union may not authorize any ATM Card Point of Sale or everyday debit card transactions you try to process without sufficient available funds in your account.
Everyday purchases are one-time debit card transactions such as those conducted at grocery stores, doctor's offices, gas stations, restaurants, and other similar transactions. These transactions can be completed with your signature, by entering your PIN, or perhaps no further action on your part.
When Courtesy Pay privileges have been used to cover an overdraft, it is your responsibility to correct any balance deficiency as quickly as possible. Dow Credit Union expects you to make a deposit covering your overdraft to maintain eligibility in the program. We trust you’ll agree that it’s important to promptly meet your financial obligations to preserve your good standing with the Credit Union and to prevent any collection activity.

Courtesy Pay privileges cannot be used to cover overdrafts that might result from:

  • An automatic transfer between accounts at Dow Credit Union
  • "Today" Online Banking Bill Pay transactions
  • Transfer requests within Online Banking or the Mobile App
  • Withdrawals over the counter at Dow Credit Union
  • ATM withdrawals

If an account has been open at least 90 days and maintained in good standing, we may, at our sole discretion, pay overdrafts up to the approved limits, including the Courtesy Pay fee(s).

Members may become eligible for Courtesy Pay privileges when they:

  • Have an open share draft (checking) account greater than 90 days
  • Have aggregate balances of $500
  • Have no more than 15 checks or other items returned NSF in the current or previous year
  • Have not caused a financial loss (charge off) to the Credit Union
  • Are not past due on a loan payment
  • Trust accounts, HSA, and Minor accounts are not eligible for Courtesy Pay (Basic or Enhanced)

The Overdraft Transfer Service will remain in place exactly as it is now. Overdrafts on your Checking Account will still look to your Prime Share Savings Account to cover the deficient balance. If there are sufficient available funds in the Prime Share Savings Account to cover the transaction, then the Overdraft Transfer Service transfers the funds from your Prime Share Savings to your Checking Account. There is no fee for using the Overdraft Transfer Service.

If you have non-sufficient available funds in your Prime Share Savings Account, Courtesy Pay privileges may be activated.

You may add or decline Courtesy Pay privileges to your Checking Account by sending us a message within Online Banking, calling us, or visiting a Dow Credit Union branch located in Saginaw or Midland.