This time of year, I find myself doing two things.
First: the challenge of holiday shopping. People say it’s tough to find a gift for dad (come on, I’m easy to shop for), but try shopping for two adult sons! It was so much simpler when they just wanted Game Boys.
Second: taking some time to reflect on the work we’ve done. As your Associate Vice President of Payments, I’m proud of how Apple Federal Credit Union has made it easier for members to make instant payments online this year.
While you’re out holiday shopping, let me share how we’ve enhanced your payment experience, making it more convenient and secure.
Earn, Pay, Manage
Hopefully, you’re using an Apple FCU Credit Card for your holiday treats and travels. Not only because you can earn everyday bonus points for groceries and gas with our Signature Rewards and MyRewards Cards, but also because our Credit Card interest rates are capped at 18%, setting us apart from the big banks and saving you money.
We’ve also enhanced our digital experience through Apple FCU Online and our Mobile App, letting you manage your Cards and payments effectively. For example, we’ve made it hassle-free to add your Apple FCU Visa® Debit or Credit Card to a digital wallet, allowing you to carry less and pay securely via your smartphone.
Simply log in to our Mobile App and tap More > Accounts > Manage Cards. Then scroll to the bottom to add your Card to Apple Pay®, Google Pay® or your preferred digital wallet.
You can also setup travel notifications, turn your Card off and on for enhanced security, order a replacement Card if yours is lost or stolen, set up transaction alerts and so much more. Watch this video for all Card Management options.
At Apple, we keep making it easier to use your Apple FCU Visa® Cards, but that’s only half the story. We’ve also added multiple features that let you move money quickly, effortlessly and securely when making a payment.
Fast, Safe, Secure
You live in a fast-paced world, and your time is valuable. It should be simple to pay what you need to pay, when you need to pay it.
That’s the experience we provide Apple FCU members, starting with Zelle®. It is a fast, safe and convenient way to send money to friends, family and other people you trust1.
Best of all, there are no fees to send or receive money with Zelle® from Online Banking2 and you can now setup recurring payments as well. You can also use a QR code to make sending and receiving even easier.
Additionally, we’ve expanded our network of federally insured banking institutions that accept real-time payments from Apple FCU. This allows members with accounts at other banks or credit unions participating in either of these networks to transfer money to and from their Apple account within seconds.
These secure payments are processed instantly, meaning your money is available right away. No need to request a wire transfer or wait for the money to come through. Now your funds are immediately available, making it quicker and simpler to make payments on your schedule.
With transactions moving at the speed of an instant, it’s critical that you’re using accurate account information. Learn how to locate your 14-digit MICR Account Number for all electronic payments. Each of your Apple FCU accounts has its own MICR Account Number, a derivation of your member number, so make sure to check that out!
Finally, we’ve made it even easier to pay your Credit Card, Home, Auto or any other type of consumer Loan online.
Of course, you can always transfer funds between your Apple accounts. But did you know you can add your external accounts to pay from another institution? Or that we’ve added the ability to make a one-time payment even if you can’t log in to your account? Use Quick Pay to make a fast payment using any checking or savings account (Routing and Account Number needed) or with a Visa®, Discover®, or Mastercard® debit card.
Fighting Fraud Together
The tactics of cybercriminals this time of year can leave me feeling real Scrooge-like.
Thankfully, our teams work diligently to provide the highest level of security to protect your data and personal information. Additionally, with Visa’s Zero Liability3 you’re not responsible for unauthorized charges made with your Card.
However, the best defense against identity theft and fraud always starts with our members. Here are a few things to watch out for:
- A person you don’t know—or who accidentally texted your number and befriended you—wanting to send you money
- Anyone asking you to first send them money so that they can later send money back to you (e.g., to release your funds or issue a refund)
- Anyone asking you to make a deposit to your account—check or electronic—promising that you can keep some of it after.
If you ever get a call out of the blue from someone asking for your personal information or one-time passcode, hang up right away. They are likely a cybercriminal trying to coax information out of you to access your accounts.
An Apple Federal Credit Union employee will never ask you for personal or account information via email or text message. If we need to call you, we already know your important account information and will only validate that we are speaking to the right person by asking you to confirm certain information.
If you ever have a question about this or any other type of fraudulent scam, please visit our Security and Privacy Page. There you will find online security resources, how-to videos and the latest safety tips via our Fraud Prevention Center.
As always, thank you for being a member of Apple Federal Credit Union, and if you have any gift ideas, let me know! I need all the help I can get.
1U.S. checking or savings account required to use Zelle®. Transactions between enrolled users typically occur in minutes and generally do not incur transaction fees.
2Mobile network carrier fees may apply.
3Visa’s Zero Liability Policy does not apply to certain commercial card and anonymous prepaid card transactions or transactions not processed by Visa. Cardholders must use care in protecting their card and notify their issuing financial institution immediately of any unauthorized use. Contact your issuer for more detail.
