Understanding Courtesy Pay
Courtesy Pay is a benefit offered to qualified members providing a limited level of protection from non-sufficient funds (NSF) returned checks, returned check charges from merchants, and declined debit and ACH transactions. Courtesy Pay is not a loan.
What is the benefit of Courtesy Pay?
With Courtesy Pay, overdrafts in your checking account created by check, in-person withdrawal, ATM withdrawal, or other electronic means, may be honored by Justice Federal up to your approved limit. Limits may vary for each individual account.
Whether your overdrafts will be paid is discretionary and we reserve the right not to pay. For example, we typically do not pay overdrafts if your account is not in good standing, or you are not making regular deposits, or you have too many overdrafts.
How do I know if I can have Courtesy Pay?
If you have any one or more Checking Accounts, Courtesy Pay overdraft protection is a benefit available to you unless you have chosen to opt-out of the service or have had the service revoked by the Credit Union.
How much will Courtesy Pay cost me?
Courtesy Pay is assessed at $30 per-item. If you overdraw your account with an NSF item that is paid by the Credit Union, the cost to you is $30 for EACH item presented and paid.
Example: If two NSF items are presented to the credit union, you will be required to pay the amount of the two overdrafts, PLUS $60 in Courtesy Pay fees, ($30 per NSF item presented).
Fees charged for covering an overdraft, as well as the amount of the overdraft items(s) will be subtracted from your available Courtesy Pay limit.
How is Courtesy Pay applied to my account?
Courtesy Pay is applied in the order in which items are presented. With daily automated postings we post Visa debit transactions, ACH debits then checks.
When do I have to repay the overdraft?
Any overdraft amount, plus a per-item Courtesy Pay fee is due and payable within 30-days or less. All deposits you make will first be applied to recovering any overdrawn balance.
How can I be notified if my account is overdrawn?
Enroll in eAlerts – Justice Federal’s free instant email notification service.
How will I know if my account is overdrawn?
- Enroll in eAlerts – to request an instant email notification.
- Call our Phone Banking system at 703.480.5333 in the Washington, DC area, or 800.347.9965 outside the Washington, DC area, to access your account balance.
- Log-on to Digital Banking to access your accounts, obtain balances, or to verify if a check has cleared.
- Visit one of nearly 135,000 ATMs nationwide, to obtain your account balance, surcharge free.
Can I Opt-In or Out of Courtesy Pay?
Yes. To opt-in or out of Courtesy Pay, visit your nearest branch, or call 800.550.5328.
You may also print the Courtesy Pay Opt-In Agreement Form and fax the form to 703.480.5400 or mail it to:
Justice Federal Credit Union
5175 Parkstone Drive, Ste 200
Chantilly, VA 20151
Justice Federal reserves the right to suspend Courtesy Pay privileges any time we believe there has been misuse of the program, if your account is not in good standing, or if you exhibit poor account management.
Alternative Options to Courtesy Pay
Transfer Option
Your monthly statement is the key to keeping your checking account balanced. A balanced checking account makes you less susceptible to non-sufficient fund (NSF) occurrences (‘bouncing’ a check) because you have a clear idea of your balance at all times. It is important to balance your checking account at least monthly.
Remember to keep record of all checking account transactions such as: deposits, withdrawals, Debit card withdrawals, credits of dividends (interest) paid to you, and fees such as ATM, or NSF fees.
Direct Deposit
Both Direct Deposit and Payroll Deduction are available to you free of charge. Your funds are automatically deposited to your account at pre-set times so your money is there when you need it.
Automatic Transfers
You can also set up an automatic transfer of funds from your other designated credit union accounts to cover overdrafts in your checking account.
Don’t forget you have FREE electronic options through Digital Banking, and Phone Banking 24/7.
Phone Banking
Phone Banking offers 24/7 convenience. Obtain your account balances, transfer funds, search for cleared checks, and so much more. To reach Phone Banking, simply call 703.480.5333 in the Washington, DC area, or 800.347.9965 outside the DC area.
Digital Banking
Digital Banking allows you to manage your accounts on the go — no matter how fast you go, or where you’re going. Use our app to check balances, transfer money between accounts, make bill payments, view-spending habits and more.
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Download our free Digital Banking App:
