Personal Checking

An ECU Personal Checking Account is used for everyday expenses and payments, and includes all the convenience and security features you're looking for!

• Easy access to your funds via check, a MasterCard debit card, pre-authorized payments, and/or electronic funds transfers.
• A network of over 38,000 surcharge-free ATMs across the U.S. and Puerto Rico.
• Our free Mobile App keeps you connected, and offers the ability to freeze and re-activate your debit card.
• No minimum balance requirement or monthly service fee.
• Free Overdraft Protection transfers from an associated Share Savings Account are available, subject to Regulation D (please refer to Important Account Information: Disclosures & Notices).
• Overdraft Advantage with or without ATM and one-time debit card transactions is available (you must opt-in to receive Overdraft Advantage on your ATM and one-time debit card transactions).

Emerald Personal Checking Accounts do not earn dividends.

Checking & Deposit Accounts FAQs

Youth Checking Account

This basic personal checking account is designed for minors ages 16-17 years old, and requires a parent or legal guardian as the joint owner.

• No minimum balance requirement or monthly service fee.
• The minor and the parent or legal guardian must sign the membership application.
• A Mastercard Debit Card may be added for access to over 38,000 surcharge-free ATMs.
• The parent or legal guardian will accept liability for all debt incurred by the minor on the account.
• Overdraft Advantage is not available on Youth Checking Accounts.

 

Financial Wellness Tip: Know your Checking Account balance! Keeping tabs on how much money you have available will make it easier to plan for upcoming bills, avoid fees, and monitor your budget and spending. Our free Mobile App offers a convenient way to help manage your Checking Account on the go, by letting you review activity, deposit checks, and pay bills.

Need to Reorder Checks?

You may reorder all of your personal and business checks safely and securely, and at your convenience at www.OrderMyChecks.com.

Fresh Start Checking

A Fresh Start Checking Account is designed for members who may have difficulty obtaining a checking account at other financial institutions due to a record with ChexSystems.

• Funds are easily accessed via checks, a MasterCard Debit Card, preauthorized payments and/or electronic funds transfers.
• A MasterCard Debit Card may be added for access to over 38,000 surcharge-free ATMs.
• Free Overdraft Protection transfers from an associated Share Savings Account are available, subject to Regulation D (please refer to Important Account Information: Disclosures & Notices).

Fresh Start Checking has a six-month term and a minimum deposit requirement of just $25.00. There is a nominal monthly fee (please refer to Fee Schedule) but once the account has remained in good standing for the six-month term, it may be eligible to convert into a regular Personal Checking Account - with no monthly service fee. An Emerald Fresh Start Checking Account does not earn dividends.

Checking & Deposit Accounts FAQs

Financial Wellness Tip: Know your Checking Account balance! Keeping tabs on how much money you have available will make it easier to plan for upcoming bills, avoid fees, and monitor your budget and spending. Our free Mobile App offers a convenient way to help manage your Checking Account on the go, by letting you review activity, deposit checks, and pay bills.

Need to Reorder Checks?

You may reorder all of your personal and business checks safely and securely, and at your convenience at www.OrderMyChecks.com.

Business Checking

Emerald offers a checking account for your business needs, too. 

• Funds are easily accessed via checks, a MasterCard Debit Card, preauthorized payments and/or electronic funds transfers.
• The MasterCard Debit Card may be used for both point-of-sale transactions and access to cash at over 38,000 surcharge-free ATMs.
• Free Overdraft Protection transfers from an associated Share Savings Account are available, subject to Regulation D (please refer to Important Account Information: Disclosures & Notices).

Overdraft Advantage is not available with a Business Checking Account.  The monthly Business Checking Maintenance Fee may be waived by maintaining a minimum daily balance of $5,000.00 (please refer to Fee Schedule).  An Emerald Business Checking Account does not earn dividends.
We are happy to open the following types of Business Checking Accounts:

• Sole Proprietor/DBA
• Organization, Club, or Association

Contact our branch for more information, including required documentation.

Checking & Deposit Accounts FAQs

Financial Wellness Tip: Know your Checking Account balance! Keeping tabs on how much money you have available will make it easier to plan for upcoming bills, avoid fees, and monitor your budget and spending. Our free Mobile App offers a convenient way to help manage your Checking Account on the go, by letting you review activity, deposit checks, and pay bills.

Need to Reorder Checks?

You may reorder all of your personal and business checks safely and securely, and at your convenience at www.OrderMyChecks.com.

Mastercard Debit Cards

  

Use Your Debit Card and Enjoy the Great Outdoors!

Breathe in the fresh air and get out into nature. Each time you use your debit card for a PIN or signature-based purchase, now through June 30, 2022, you’ll automatically be entered for a chance to win great prizes in the Choose Your Adventure Rewards promotion!*

Grab your debit card and your hiking gear! During the Choose Your Adventure Rewards promotion, when you use your Emerald Credit Union debit card, shopping and checkout is fast and easy. Every purchase earns you another chance to win! An outdoor adventure has never been easier or more convenient. Simply use our debit card to pay for your equipment and any travel/food expenses. Plus, you could be on your way to winning great prizes!

• Grand Prize: $500.00 gift card
• Eight Monthly Winners: $50.00 gift card

Be sure to use your Emerald Credit Union debit card for all the daily essentials, too, including fuel and groceries! Paying with your debit card is safe and helps you stay on budget. The more you use your debit card, the more chances you’ll have to win! Don’t have a debit card? Stop in and apply today! This promotion is sponsored by our debit card provider, SHAZAM.

*No purchase is necessary to enter to win. A purchase will not increase your chances of winning. Void where prohibited. Promotion period is between April 1, 2022 and June 30, 2022. Visit www.shazam.net/services/marketing/sdr-rules/ for official rules and complete contest details.

A Mastercard debit card is available with all types of Emerald Checking Accounts, and offers access to a network of over 38,000 surcharge-free ATMs nationwide. The free Brella™ mobile app is also available, giving you more control over how your debit card is used. Other debit card benefits include:

• Eliminate carrying cash and writing cumbersome checks.
• Avoid an extra trip to the ATM by getting cash back with in-store purchases.
• The ability to freeze and reactivate your debit card right within our Mobile App.
• Unlike credit cards, there are no late fees, annual fees, or interest charges, which can save you a bundle.

Mobile Wallets

You may add our debit card to the mobile wallet of your choice, including  Google Pay, Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, Garmin Pay, and Fitbit Pay. A mobile wallet is an app that stores payment card information on your smartphone, and it's a convenient way to make in-store and online purchases. Simply make sure your ECU debit card is setup as the default payment card within your mobile wallet, and when you're ready to make a purchase, you may either:

• Select your ECU debit card at the checkout screen when you’re shopping online with your smartphone.
• Tap your smartphone to a digital payment-enabled terminal in-store at participating merchants when checking out. All you have to do is unlock your phone’s screen and hold it directly above the terminal (you don’t even have to login to your mobile wallet app). When processing a purchase this way, the mobile app uses a technology called near-field communication (NFC), which uses radio frequencies to communicate between devices.

Debit Card Customer Service:

Lost/Stolen

800-383-8000

Dispute Services

833-288-1126

Fraud Services

855-219-5399

Card Activation / PIN Changes

800-717-4923

Traveling?

To ensure uninterrupted usage of your Emerald Mastercard debit card while you travel, please notify us prior to your departure date. We will add a “Travel Memo” to your account preventing the Fraud Department from blocking your card due to unusual spending. This is also a great opportunity to update your home and/or cell phone number(s) as well, in the event that the Fraud Department ever attempts to contact you.

Financial Wellness Tip: Keep yourself and your card data protected while you’re at the ATM or fuel pump with these simple S-T-E-P-S:

S - Set online and mobile banking fraud alerts.
T - Tug the card reader. If it's loose, walk away.
E - Examine your surroundings.
P - Protect your PIN; cover it with your hand while entering it.
S - Scan for the security tape seal on fuel pumps.

Surcharge-Free ATM Networks

MoneyPass® is one of the largest surcharge-free ATM networks in the nation, with over 33,000 ATMs, including those found in over 2,000 Walmart stores, and over 8,000 7-Eleven convenience stores.  MoneyPass® now offers an ATM locator app for your smartphone. You can find a MoneyPass® ATM by entering an address or zip code, or by using your current location. Visit www.moneypass.com for all the details.

The Alliance One network also provides our members with surcharge-free ATM use at over 5,000 locations nationwide. The Alliance One mobile app allows you to search by address or geo-location, and includes a bookmarking tool so you can keep your favorite ATM locations together in one place. Visit www.allianceone.coop for all the details.

Brella™ Mobile App

Brella™ is a free mobile app that helps protect you from fraud by sending alerts when your debit card is used, so you can quickly detect unauthorized activity. You have control over which alerts to receive, and when. Alerts include:

• Purchases exceeding thresholds you set
• Purchases made via the internet or over the phone
• Suspicious or high-risk purchases

If you receive an alert, you can quickly take action to help prevent fraud. In addition to this extra layer of protection, the Brella™ app also allows you to:

• Block and reactivate your debit card
• Send money to virtually anyone
• Submit travel notices
• Locate a nearby ATM
• Check your account balance without logging in
• Log in with just your fingerprint

Download the free Brella™ mobile app today from iTunes or Google Play, and learn more from the Brella™ User Guide.  

Overdraft Advantage

Overdraft Advantage gives you three ways to protect your Checking Account from overdrafts, returned items, and non-sufficient funds (NSF) fees:

Transfer from Share Savings (Part 1)

We will automatically transfer the funds from your associated Share Savings Account, for FREE, up to six (6) times within one month* to pay an item that would otherwise be returned for non-sufficient funds (NSF), if the funds in your Checking Account are not available at the time the item is presented for payment. This feature saves the embarrassment of having a bounced check or an item returned unpaid. It will also prevent the $35.00 NSF fee from being charged for each returned item. This transfer of funds will occur first, before the other two parts of Overdraft Advantage are initiated, as outlined below.

*Regulation D limits transfers to a maximum of six (6).

Checks, ACH Debits & Payments, and Automatic Bill Payments (Part 2)

Upon account opening, Overdraft Advantage is automatically activated for checks, ACH debits and payments, and automatic bill payments using your Checking Account. If your Checking Account is overdrawn by any of these items, Overdraft Advantage may pay them for you, up to a limit of $500.00, at our discretion. This $500.00 limit includes a $35.00 fee for each item we pay for you. While there is a fee for Overdraft Advantage to pay your non-sufficient funds (NSF) items, you will not have to pay additional fees to the payee or their financial institution. Overdraft Advantage allows a maximum of 30 days to pay back the overdrawn balance in your Checking Account. This feature of Overdraft Advantage is not available with Fresh Start Checking or Business Checking Accounts.

ATM and One-Time Debit Card Transactions (Part 3)

Overdraft Advantage also pays ATM and one-time debit card transactions if they cause your Checking Account to be overdrawn. However, you will be required to opt-in for these items to be paid. Once you are opted-in, Overdraft Advantage may pay them for you, up to a limit of $500.00, at our discretion. This $500.00 limit includes a $35.00 fee for each ATM and/or one-time debit card transaction that we pay for you. While there is a fee for Overdraft Advantage to pay your non-sufficient funds (NSF) items, you will not have to pay additional fees to the payee or their financial institution. Overdraft Advantage allows a maximum of 30 days to pay back the overdrawn balance in your Checking Account. This feature of Overdraft Advantage is not available with Fresh Start Checking or Business Checking Accounts.

If you have multiple personal Checking Accounts, you will only have access to parts one (1) and two (2) of Overdraft Advantage, as listed above. If you have previously opted-in for ATM and one-time debit card transactions, you are not required to opt-in again. If you have not previously opted-in, but would like to do so now, please contact us for assistance.

PLEASE NOTE: You may not use Overdraft Advantage to overdraw your Checking Account at any Emerald Credit Union branch.

Any account overdrawn beyond a period of 45 days may be closed.  Emerald Credit Union reserves the right to either honor an overdraft or return the item for insufficient funds, even though we may have previously paid overdrafts before.  Contact a Member Service Representative for additional information.