Originally Posted by
othermike27
I started my AFCU member application online, then followed up with a visit to the AFCU mothership location to apply for the GlobeTrek card, requesting $5K. Sat for about 10 minutes in the lobby while the "underwriter" examined my application, then sent word back asking for last 2 pay stubs. I deliberately understated my variable part-time income and requested a low limit to see if I could minimize the hassles. Also specifically did not mention consulting income, figuring that might trigger a request for tax records.
On the bright side, after 90 days as a card-carrying AFCU member, I can now pay my bill using ACH transfer from my checking account - Woohoo! Here's how it works: (1) login to your AFCU account and initiate the payment from checking to your VISA payment account. (That's the companion account with the same number as your shares account that they open for you when you get your Globe Trek card.) (2) Couple days later, the transferred funds show up in your base shares (savings) account, where they sit for a bit. (3) At some point - not sure yet about the timing - the funds are moved from your base savings over to the VISA payment account, where they are used to pay your VISA bill, with no further action by you. (4) Of course, you'll want to login to your Globe trek account to make sure all this really happened, and in time to avoid a late payment penalty.
This has to be the goofiest financial institution I have ever encountered; kind of charming, but this is the 21st century after all! When I visited the office, I should have looked to see if they still use rotary dial phones.
Oh well, happy EMVing to all.
While I am not for one second meaning to be critical or question the way you prefer to do things which is absotively your perogative, I assume you are aware of the bill paying services of most banks today and many brokerage houses. All my bills are paid through my Fidelity Investment account. A few clicks and done. Andrews FCU is no different than any other payee; they are on my list of payees and have never had any trouble making payments and having them properly applied to the account. I can also see the Andrews account in my full view on the same brokerage account which liss all the credit card accounts for which I have on line access. Excellent for record keeping too.
Interestingly enough, while all this was going on and not realizing they have the same processing format (i.e. chip and signature default and then if chip and signature isn't accepted by the pos terminal, then chip and pin kicks in with all the inherent problems described in the other threads regarding this), I opened the SDFCU credit card account, went through the hassle of the process including a request to authorize them to get the last two years worth of tax returnhs (Mitt Romney and me) and got the card but Fidelity Full View seems to be unable to display the account despite the fact I have online ability to look at the account and I have made a payment through their bill paying system and no problem, it went through properly.
As I said elsewhere, if I knew then what I know now, pro bably none of this is necessary as I don't often deal with unpeopled kiosks in Europe and as has been described the usefulness of the format seems to be hit or miss.