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Is my checking account free?
Although our checking accounts theoretically come with monthly service charges, we offer many ways to have these automatically waived. Approximately 80% of our members pay no fees on their Basic Checking accounts
by meeting one of the following qualifying factors:
• Six or fewer checks clear through the account during the month
• Any direct deposit regularly made to the account
• Any consumer or real estate loan with a balance of $1,000 or greater
(excluding Visa cards and lines of credit)
• Minimum daily balance of $500 or more
• Combined balances in all credit union accounts of $3,000 or more
• Age 60 or older (primary member)
Interest Checking accounts are also eligible for monthly service fee waivers if you meet any of the following qualifications:
• Any direct deposit regularly made to the account
• Any consumer or real estate loan with a balance of $1,000 or greater
(excluding Visa cards and lines of credit)
• Combined balances in all credit union accounts of $5,000 or more
• Age 60 or older (primary member)
Some of these factors can be determined automatically by our computer system, but others (for instance, if the qualifying factor is established across multiple member numbers) may need to be brought to
our attention. If you find that you're paying a monthly service charge but do in fact meet one (or more) of the above qualifiers, please contact us.
Qualification for monthly fee waiver is evaluated on a month-to-month basis, with balance evaluations taking place on the 27th of each month.
What's the best way to keep track of my balances?
Each member will have their own record-keeping preferences; what's most important is that you do keep a record in some way of each and every transaction you make. Even if you have a knack for keeping
track of things in your head, we always recommend keeping a written register of all debit and credit transactions to your account. We can provide you with a transaction register if you drop by any of our
member services branches, and these are usually included with every box of checks you order through us.
If you're concerned about the time it takes to note every transaction immediately, you can keep track at intervals of your preference if you make sure to keep a receipt for every transaction you make.
In this case, be sure to check your online banking transaction history, E-Statements, or paper statements regularly to ensure that all transactions have cleared (and that no unexpected or unauthorized ones
have occurred). This will help you keep your balances in check much better than memory or a quick balance inquiry.
Important: If you rely solely upon balance inquiries via ATM or online banking, we cannot guarantee that the stated balance (or even the available balance) is fully accurate. Coast Central
cannot control the amount of funds charged or held by merchants, which can sometimes differ substantially from the balance on our system. You may also have outstanding checks which have not yet cleared.
You need to keep track of what has cleared on your account, and what may still be
pending, in order to know how much you can spend.
What's the difference between "balance" and "available"?
You may notice that your vouchers (receipts), online banking, and some other documents list a balance and an "available" balance. The available balance takes into account any pending holds on your account
due to debit card purchases or check holds (often including ATM deposits). Transactions attempted for more than this amount will be declined.
Amounts held by pending debit card purchases generally drop off when the transaction clears (when it is withdrawn from your actual balance), within a few business days. ATM deposit holds are generally
removed on the same or next business day; if you are concerned about when funds will be available, please contact our Member Support Center. Check holds placed at the time of deposit will be released
on the date printed on your voucher, unless we notify you otherwise.
Important: Please note that while our system may state a particular available balance, we cannot guarantee that amounts held on your account are accurate. Coast Central cannot control the
amount of funds charged or held by merchants, which can sometimes differ substantially from the balance on our system. You may also have outstanding checks which have not yet cleared.
You need to keep track of what has cleared on your account, and what may still be
pending, in order to know how much you can spend.
What's the difference between "debit" and "credit"?
Since your Visa Debit Card is accepted both as a debit card and anywhere Visa credit cards are accepted, it may be run as either a "debit" or a "credit" transaction. Debit purchases (when you use your PIN) are processed
through a different system and allow for immediate withdrawal of funds from your account. Credit purchases (non-PIN transactions) hold for an amount specified by the merchant, then are "cleared"
from your account when the transaction posts, generally within a few days. If the transaction does not post within 3 days, the hold for the specific amount expires on the third day and the funds become
available again. Even though the funds become available again, you are still responsible for the transaction and you must leave sufficient amount of funds in your account to cover the charge.
Credit transactions generally require a signature but in accordance with recent regulations, merchants are allowed to perform transactions under certain
threshold amounts without a signature. Please contact our Member Support Center for additional details.
Can minors apply for a Visa Debit Card?
Members are generally required to be 18 years old in order to open a checking account and apply for debit card services. In some cases, usually when a minor is working and requires regular ATM deposit/withdrawal
activity, a minor checking account may be approved with a parent or guardian as cosigner. The minor must demonstrate a need for these services. Their cosigner must be approved by the credit union and
assumes all financial responsibility for the minor's use of the account.
What do I do if my checkbook is lost or stolen?
Notify the credit union immediately (or as soon as possible if discovered outside of business hours). You can call our Member Support Center at (707) 445-8801, or during evenings and weekends, you may
be able to visit our Bayshore Mall or Ray's Food Place locations. See our Contact Section for exact hours of availability.
If your checkbook has been lost or stolen, we will need to close your checking account in order to prevent any unauthorized activity. Specific outstanding check numbers may be approved to clear with your
permission. You will
need to order new checks and shred any of your old existing supply. Unless your Visa Debit Card has also been lost or stolen, however, you can usually continue to use the same card. It will only
need to be reprogrammed to match your new checking account information.
In the event that you later find your lost checkbook, you may be able to reopen your checking account, depending on the circumstances. If there has been any possibility of an outside party obtaining some of your checks
(or even noting the information on them for later abuse), we advise keeping the old account closed and starting fresh.
How do I dispute a charge to my debit card?
If you see a transaction on your Coast Central Visa Debit Card and believe it is unauthorized, the best thing to do first is to contact the company who made the charge. If a number is listed within the transaction (in your statement's account history or online banking),
try giving them a call. You can also use directory assistance or search the Internet for contact information. Sometimes unexpected charges turn out to be legitimate (the company name may vary from
what you were expecting), or it could be a simple misunderstanding. If you are positive the charge was unauthorized (and you did not participate whatsoever), you may pursue a Visa dispute through Coast Central.
To begin the dispute process, come in to any member services branch and fill out a Visa dispute form. If you live out of the area, you may also send a letter with your name, member number, and the charge(s)
in question. Please provide as much information as possible, and your signature is required. Mail the letter to:
Coast Central Credit Union
Attn: Card Services Department
1968 Central Avenue
McKinleyville, CA 95519
If you have questions about the dispute process, our Card Services Department can be reached at (707) 445-8801, extension 291.
Once we receive your dispute, Our Card Services Department will review your request and investigate the situation. If they find
the charge(s) to be fraudulent or unauthorized, you will receive a credit. Please refer to our EFT Disclosure for specific details on error resolution.
Please note that if you participated in the transaction(s), you will need to attempt to resolve the situation with the merchant. Refer to the terms and conditions applicable to your relationship with them.
For example, charges resulting from "free trial" periods generally do not qualify as unauthorized. If you complied with the merchant's terms and conditions and are unable to resolve the situation with them,
you may pursue a Visa dispute through Coast Central.
If you received merchandise and returned it for a refund, a dispute cannot be filed until 30 days after the return date (to give the merchant time to issue a credit). If 30 days have passed and no credit
has been received, you may pursue a Visa dispute. You must provide a copy of your shipping receipt showing the tracking number and that the package was insured.
For ATM disputes (transactions made at an ATM, not through a merchant), you may also be able to resolve the issue by calling our Member Support Center at (707) 445-8801.
What do I do if my debit card is lost or stolen?
Notify the credit union immediately (or as soon as possible if discovered outside of business hours). You can call our Member Support Center at (707) 445-8801, or during evenings and weekends,
you may call (800) 682-6075 to block the card directly with our processor. During some evening and weekend hours, you may also be able to visit
our Bayshore Mall or Ray's Food Place locations. See our Contact Section for exact hours of availability.
When a debit card is lost or stolen, the card number must be blocked, including any additional cards (with the same number) belonging to joint members. A new card (or cards) will be issued automatically
and sent to the mailing address on file for your account. For your security, a new PIN will be issued for each card as well. You may change your PIN by visiting any of our member services branches
during business hours.
Cards are blocked at the time of notification (either to us or our processor), so any charges made prior to this time will still attempt to process. If you are worried about unauthorized charges,
please contact us.
Why was I charged a monthly service fee?
Although our checking accounts include a low monthly service charge, there are many ways to waive this fee if you qualify. The following factors (determined on a month-to-month basis) will waive this
monthly fee:
• Six or fewer checks clear through the account during the month
• Any direct deposit regularly made to the account
• Any consumer or real estate loan with a balance of $1,000 or greater
(excluding Visa cards and lines of credit)
• Minimum daily balance of $500 or more
• Combined balances in all credit union accounts of $3,000 or more
• Age 55 or older (primary member)
If you find that you do meet one or more of the above qualifications, please contact us. Some of these qualifiers can be determined automatically by our computer system, but others (for instance if the
qualifier is established across more than one member number) must be loaded manually. We would be happy to evaluate your account and find out whether you're eligible for a monthly service charge waiver.
Which ATMs can I use for free?
All Coast Central ATMs are available to our members at no charge (click here for locations). Transactions made at outside ATMs will incur a $1.50 foreign transaction fee.
If you use an ATM belonging to another financial institution, they may charge you a fee as well - up to several dollars per transaction. If you
are unable to visit one of our ATMs, your best bet is to locate a Co-Op Network ATM. Since Coast Central belongs
to the Co-Op ATM Network, our members can use any ATMs on this network with no additional surcharge.
You can also locate a Co-Op ATM with your mobile device if you're out and about. If you text message your current location (address/intersection and zip code) to "MY COOP" (692667), you will receive a
text message reply with the closest Co-Op ATM(s). This is a free service, but be sure you know your mobile service provider's rules about fees as well.
What is a foreign transaction fee?
This small charge is applied whenever you do a transaction at an outside/foreign (non-Coast Central) ATM. To avoid paying a fee, use a Coast Central ATM
whenever possible.
Other financial institutions may charge you a (generally much higher) fee for using their ATMs as well. You can avoid fees from outside institutions by locating a Co-Op Network ATM.
See question above ("Which ATMs can I use for free?") for additional details.
How can I reorder checks?
You have a number of options for reordering your Coast Central checks. As long as your previous order was placed through us (or our check vendor, Deluxe) you may use any of the following options:
• Reorder through online banking (click on "More," then "Order Checks")
• Reorder via Deluxe's website
• Reorder via interactive voice response (877-838-5287)
• Visit any of our member services branches
If you need to make changes to your address or other printed information on your checks, please visit us in person or speak with Deluxe representative by phone.
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