FAQs for ACU

• What is our location and contact information?
• What is a credit union?
  A credit union is a cooperative, not-for-profit financial institution organized to promote thrift and provide credit to members. Credit unions are member-owned and controlled through a board of directors elected by the membership, from the membership. The Board of Directors is made up of unpaid volunteers who set the direction of the credit union. The Board of Directors also establishes and revises policy, sets dividend and loan rates, and directs certain operations. As a result, members are provided with a safe place to save as well as a place to borrow at reasonable rates.
• Tell me about Arapahoe CU.
  Arapahoe Credit Union is the premier credit union in Colorado. We began as a teachers credit union and, 75 years later, we are now able to serve Colorado, current members, and any family or friend associated with these two groups... pretty much anyone.
  
  We recently received the highest score in the nation from the NCUA (credit union equivalent to the FDIC) for compliance and stability. Essentially, we are as good as it gets. When coupled with our not-for-profit status and dedication to service, we really are top-tier on the national scale.
• Who owns a credit union?
  You do! As a member of Arapahoe Credit Union, you are also an owner. Members can vote for your volunteer Board of Directors, or even run for an open position. We are governed by the best interests of our members, not Wall Street stockholders.
• What's the purpose of a credit union?
  The primary purpose of a credit union is to save members money. Basically, we cut out the stock holders and run a bank without skimming or maximizing profits. As with a bank, people deposit money and we invest or loan this out (insured, of course). Again, we don't have to pay anyone else so all profits stay in-house, paying for better services and better rates. Not-for-profit means we can charge lower rates for loans and pay higher dividends on savings.
• Are my savings federally insured?
  Yes. All savings accounts are insured up to $250,000 by the NCUA (National Credit Union Administration), an agency of the federal government similar to the FDIC. Your Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) are insured up to an additional $250,000.
• Who can join a credit union?
  Technically, there are federal restrictions that guide who can join a credit union. Realistically, it isn't that complicated. Barring an unusual circumstance, we can almost assuredly make you a member (though, we do reserve the right to refuse).

• What are our funds availability and check hold policies?
  Arapahoe Credit Union will try to make check deposits available to you when we receive them. However, large dollar deposits and certain situations will sometimes make this impossible. Below are some general guidelines to help you with this policy*.

  • ATM and service center deposits will generally allow the first $1000 in deposits to be released for use as soon as they are processed. Any amount over this will be placed on a two-day hold to become available on the sixth business day. In some cases, this may be extended.
  • Electronic direct deposits and cash will be available on the day we receive the deposit.
  • In some cases, check deposits will need to be on hold longer than two days. Depending on the type of check and the amount you are depositing, funds may not be available until the 5th business day at the earliest, after the day of deposit. However, the first $200.00 will be available immediately.

  * Please note: We will try to reduce inconveniences that result from deposit holds. However, individual circumstances such as deposit size, questions about the physical check, or arrangements made on your account may prevent us from releasing funds on these timeframes. Additionally, some other items are eligible for next day availability. If you have questions about your specific deposit or wish to review our full Funds Availability Policy, please let us know. Arapahoe Credit Union reserves the right to delay the availability of funds deposited into non-transaction accounts.

• Which Number? Checking or Member?
  Your choice depends on where you want your funds to be pulled from or deposited. Your member number will default to your primary savings account and your checking number will go to your checking account. This is true whether making a direct deposit or paying from your account. Please note: Federal regulations restrict some withdrawals from your savings account to six per calendar month. If this is an issue, please contact us. On direct deposits, Arapahoe Credit Union has the ability to automatically distribute funds into other accounts at the credit union. For example, you can automatically make your loan payments or savings deposit or divide it among all of your accounts.
  
  Your member number is the number you received at the time you opened your account and use to access online banking. Your checking account number is the second set of numbers on the bottom of your checks (the other number is the routing number). This will be ten total digits.

AcUtransfer Lets You Connect With Your Other Accounts.

1. Register your AcUtransfer
   Please note: If you have a pop-up blocker, you must disable it.
   • Log into online banking as you normally would. You can do this from the home page.
   • Under "Transfers," click "AcUtransfer."
   • Read and accept the terms of service if you agree.
   
   That's it to register! You can now begin setting up your transfers.


2. Set Up Your Payment Account
   • Log into your online banking if you are no longer there.
   • Click the "Transfers" tab and then select "AcUtransfer."
     
   • Go to the "Manage Accounts/ People" tab.
   • Select the "Credit Union or US Bank" option and fill in the necessary information.
     Please note: You can simply enter your other bank's name and our system will usually find your institution.
   
   On completion, our system will start the process by sending two small transactions to your other bank (we pride ourselves on security and must make sure everything is legitimate). You just have to wait until they arrive and then come back here to verify the numbers. After that, you are clear to make your transfers between each bank. Everything is linked!


3. Pay Your Loan
   Now, you just need to transfer.
   • Again, log into your online banking if you are no longer there. Click the "Transfers" tab and then select "AcUtransfer."
     Please note: If you have a pop-up blocker, you must disable it.
   • From the primary page, or the "Overview" tab. Select the "to" and "from" accounts and how much you want to transfer.
   • Click "Confirm" and you are off and running! You can cancel up until processing time by selecting finding your payment to the right in the pending list and just click "cancel."
   
   Please note: If the new window does not load, it is most likely a pop-up blocker stopping it. Adjust your browser to allow pop-ups from our site and this will then load as normal. Generally, you can right click a yellow bar at the top of your browser and select “Allow Pop-Ups,” but please contact us if you run into problems.

AcUbillpay will automate and pay your bills for free!

1. Register your AcUbillpay
   Arapahoe Credit Union’s Bill Pay product is directly linked with your online banking account. You just need to have it activated before you can use it. If you have a checking account and have already registered your online banking, the rest is easy.
   • Log in to your account online. Find the menu bar button that says “Bill Pay.” Click this.
   • You will see an authorization form. Please verify the information, read over the terms of use and click “Accept.” This sends us a message to set your account up.
   • Give us 24 hours or a business day, then log back into your account and click “Bill Pay” one more time. A new window will load with your Bill Pay control panel.
   
   Please note: If the new window does not load, it is most likely a pop-up blocker stopping it. Adjust your browser to allow pop-ups from our site and this will then load as normal. Generally, you can right click a yellow bar at the top of your browser and select “Allow Pop-Ups,” but please contact us if you run into problems.


2. Set Up Payees
   • Log in to your account online. Find the menu bar button that says “Bill Pay.” Click this.
     Please note: If the new window does not load, it is most likely a pop-up blocker stopping it. Adjust your browser to allow pop-ups from our site and this will then load as normal. Generally, you can right click a yellow bar at the top of your browser and select “Allow Pop-Ups,” but please contact us if you run into problems.
   • When the new window is up, just enter the payee into the field that says "Pay Someone New" and click "Add".
     • If our system recognizes the payee, then all you need to do is enter the account number and you'll be ready to move on.
     • If the system doesn't recognize the payee (this happens with small merchants and businesses), then you will need to add an address and some other basic information. This also means you should anticipate the payment to go through regular mail.
   
   
   • Pay a Bill
     • Everything is pretty much taken care of at this point. Now you just need to find your payee on the primary page ("Bills and Payments" tab) and enter how much you would like to pay. Choose the date right next to it and click "Pay." It's that simple!
     • Pay attention to the "Deliver by:" section. This will tell you the approximate date the payee will actually receive your payment. Most of the time, this is an electronic transfer and will be there in around 2 business days, but we can't guarantee it based on the merchant.
     • When you authorize a payment, it will then show up on the right-hand side. You can view and cancel each payment up until it is actually processed.
     • You can also set this up to pay automatically. Simply click on your payee and in the drop down menu select "Pay Automatically." Our system will walk you through from there!

AcUtransfer Lets You Pay Charities and Any Other 3rd Party. All you need is a valid email address or phone number of the people you want to transact with.

1. Register your AcUtransfer
   • Log into online banking as you normally would. You can do this from the home page.
   • Under "Transfers," click "AcUtransfer."
   • Read and accept the terms of service if you agree.
   
   That's it to register! You can now begin setting your transfers.


2. Designate Who You Want to Pay
   • Log into your online banking if you are no longer there.
   • Click the "Transfers" tab and then select "AcUtransfer."
     Please note: If you have a pop-up blocker, you must disable it.
   • Go to the "Manage Accounts/ People" tab.
   • Select the "Person" option and fill in a name and either a phone number or email address.This can absolutely be any party so long as they are willing to take the payment.
   
   Now you are ready to pay...


3. Pay the Person
   Now, you just need to pay them.
   • Again, log into your online banking if you are no longer there. Click the "Transfers" tab and then select "AcUtransfer."
     Please note: If you have a pop-up blocker, you must disable it.
   • From the primary page, or the "Overview" tab. Select the "to" and "from" accounts and how much you want to transfer.
   • Click "Confirm" and you are off and running! You can cancel up until processing time by selecting finding your payment to the right in the pending list and just click "cancel."
   
   Please note: Once a transaction is processed, it is off the the federal processing system and we cannot cancel it.

• Disable Pop-Up Blocker
  If you are unable to use the AcUvirtual Suite (AcUtransfer and AcUbillpay, specifically) or you are unable to get your e-statement list, disabling a pop-up blocker may help. Many pop-up blockers built into modern browsers are the default and you just have to turn it off for our site (we will never pass ads through a pop-up). You can turn it on just for our site if you like to maintain security.
  
  For internet explorer, you will likely see a yellow message bar that says that a pop-up has been blocked. Just look for this and click the right button to allow them.
  
  You may also see a small box with a red mark across it that shows that a pop-up has been blocked. Simply click this for options to allow it.
  
  On Chrome, you will see the notification in the upper right corner as a box with a red "x" in it. Just click this to view your options the then select "Always allow pop-ups from this site."
  
  In Safari, pop-ups options are shown under the "Safari" tab in the upper left. You will just need to make sure the option "Block Pop-Up Windows" is unchecked.
  
  Firefox is similar. You can find the pop-up blocker under the "Preferences" menu.
  
  If you have any problems, please let us know. We are glad to help you get set up.
• Online Banking Enrollment
  1. Go to our web page https://www.arapahoecu.org
  2. Below Arapahoe Credit Union’s logo and menu options, you will see a section labeled “Online Banking and Bill Pay.”  Below this are two buttons. Please click on “New User.”
  3. The next page will say “Required Security Update.”  Enter your member number, your PIN, (which will generally be the last 4 digits of your social security number), and the security characters you see in the box.  Then select “Next.”
  4. Create three security questions and three answers. Note: the answers are case sensitive so how you type them here is how they need to be typed in the future.
  5. You will then create a security key which is just a word or phrase that is unique to you.  This will show up when you are logged in to help you verify that you are in Arapahoe Credit Union’s web site. Then enter your e-mail address if you choose and hit “Finalize.”
  6. Change your PIN at the prompt. Please note:
  • PIN must be 4-32 numbers and/or letters in length and may also include the following special characters - ! (Exclamation Point), @ (At Sign), # (Number Sign), and $ (Dollar Sign).
  •  If the system does not request this, you can do so under your “Options” tab.
  • The password/PIN for online banking and voice banking (Phone Access Line) will always be the same number.

  For your protection, if there are three (3) failed attempts to log into your account, the system will be locked. To ‘unlock’ the system, please contact a credit union representative at 303.740.7063 or toll-free at 1.866.740.7063.

• Set Up Account Alerts
  We offer fully customizable text and email notifications through on-line banking. You can see debits when they happen, deposits when they arrive or even track your outgoing payments throughout the day. All you have to do is sign into your account, click your “Options” tab and then “Account Alerts.” From here, you can customize these however you want.
  
  
  For text messages, just use your phone number plus your carrier’s email-to-text extension. For example, with T-mobile just use the destination ###-###-####@tmomail.net. For AT&T, use ###-###-####@txt.att.net. Verizon is at ###-###-####@vtext.com. Don’t know your carrier’s extension? Contact Us and we will get that for you.
• Enroll in E-Statements?
  There are several ways to sign up for electronic statements.  When you first register for online banking our computer will automatically ask you if you would like to enroll.  Just follow the prompts and then confirm this through the e-mail that we send.  Second, you can enroll at a later time by logging into your account and clicking “E-statements” in the middle of the menu bar at the top.  Again, follow the prompts and confirm this through the e-mail we have sent.  Lastly, you can always contact us to have it done for you.  Please just call us at 303/740-7063 where any of our member service representatives will gladly complete this process for you.