What is Branch24?
Branch24 is Rhode Island Credit Union's Online Banking Service. At Branch24, you are able to perform online banking transactions from your computer or other Internet-access device. You can view account balances and transaction history, make and schedule transfers between eligible accounts, request check withdrawals from eligible accounts, request other check services, view check images online, send and receive secure messages and download transaction history to Quicken® or Microsoft® Money and other software applications. You may also optionally pay bills using Branch24's Online Bill Payment Service.
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Is Branch24 secure?
Branch24 is very secure. In fact, members using Branch24 are required to use a browser that supports 128 bit encryption which is the highest form of encryption today. By way of example, the Internet browser may be Internet Explorer version 5.0 or higher or Netscape Navigator version 5.0 or higher. 128 bit encryption means that information passing from your computer to the Credit Union’s computer is encrypted or scrambled, making it virtually impossible for anyone to access your account information. If you do not have an Internet browser meeting these requirements, newer browser versions may be easily downloaded to your computer by visiting www.microsoft.com or www.netscape.com depending on your browser preference. A special note to AOL users, AOL version 5.0 or higher is recommended when using Branch24.
In addition when you log on, you are required to enter a Security Code. The security code is randomly generated by the Rhode Island Credit Union online banking server for authentication into Branch24. It provides an added layer of security, especially against brute force PIN attacks. The random security code works by statistically making it much harder to authenticate into Branch24 as it is nearly impossible to guess both a member's PIN and the random security code during an unwanted authentication attempt.
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What role do I play in maintaining security?
You play an important role in maintaining security by never divulging your User ID, Branch24/Express Service Phone 24 ("ESP24") PIN to anyone. No one employed by Rhode Island Credit Union will ever ask you for your User ID, Branch24/ESP24 PIN. Do not store your User ID, PIN or other sensitive account information near or on your computer. Be sure to log out of your Branch24 session when you are done using it. For added protection, Branch24 has a timeout feature. By default, Branch24 will automatically log you out after 25 minutes of inactivity. You may, however, change this setting to 5, 10, 15 or 20 minutes. Please read more about other safe computing practices by clicking on the Security and Privacy button.
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Is Branch24 available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week?
Yes, except during any special or scheduled maintenance periods or any periods of technical difficulties. In most instances, interruption in service will be brief and will occur during hours when the system is least used. Any special or scheduled maintenance times will be shown when you log on to Branch24.
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How do I navigate through Branch24?
Branch24's Online Banking Service has a top navigation bar, which appears on all pages. Simply point to Accounts, Check Services, Bill Pay, Settings & Services or Log Off to choose an option from each associated drop down list.
Branch24's Online Bill Payment Service has a top navigation bar, which appears on all screens. The top navigation bar buttons are Home, Payees, Payments, Preferences, Message Center and Reports. Simply click on any of these buttons to make another selection. For example, clicking on Payments will display the Schedule Payments screen with the option to navigate to Schedule Recurring Payment, View Pending Payments, or Payment History. Help and Logout links also display on each screen in the upper right hand corner.
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Can I use the Back button on my browser to navigate through Branch24?
No, do not use the browser back button. Clicking on the browser back button will not produce the desired results. Use the appropriate button shown on each page to navigate through the site or to continue processing. In some instances, you may need to scroll down or left to right to see the button depending upon the amount of information displayed on a page. You may also click on any item that is highlighted and/or underlined to get to another screen, option or feature
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Whom do I contact if I have a problem or question when using Branch24?
Our customer service representatives are standing by to assist you during normal business hours. During non-business hours, you may visit our Help facilities and Frequently Asked Questions page for answers to commonly asked questions about our Online Banking and Bill Payment Services.
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What happens if my scheduled transfer cannot be made?
You will receive a secure message informing you that your transfer could not be processed. We will attempt to reprocess your request each subsequent day until it can be processed or you delete it.
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What is the cutoff time for scheduling a transfer to occur on the current day?
We will process scheduled transfers due for the current day at approximately 12:00pm. If you have scheduled a transfer for the current day after that time, it will not be processed until the next day. If you require a transfer to be completed on the current day after 12:00pm, please use the Transfer option under the Accounts drop down list instead.
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What account balances will I have access to at Branch24?
You will be able to view the balances for all of your open accounts under your member account number.
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Why is my balance and available balance different?
The Available Balance may differ from the Account Balance because of funds on hold due to check transactions, debit card transaction authorizations, or account minimum balance requirements.
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What account histories will I have access to at Branch24?
You may view transaction histories for accounts shown on your Balances page with the exception of your First Mortgage. Transaction history and additional information about your VISA® Credit Card account may be obtained by clicking on the account title to go to www.eZCardInfo.com.
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Why does my VISA® Credit Card balance and available credit shown in Branch24 differ from my balance and available credit shown at www.eZCardInfo.com?
Payments we receive by mail or at our branches do not get transmitted to our credit card processor until the close of business. Until that time, payments are memo posted and reflected in the balance and available credit shown in Branch24. The balance and available credit shown at www.eZCardInfo.com will be updated when our file is transmitted and processed. Likewise, www.eZCardInfo.com reflects recent transaction authorizations that Branch24 does not until we receive a daily refresh file from our credit card processor.
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How much history will I have access to at Branch24?
You may view several months of history online based on what is stored on our system. There are various ways to display transactions at Branch24 by clicking on the arrows shown in the column headings. You may access transaction history in two ways: from the Accounts drop down list or by clicking on the account title on the Balances page. When you click on the account title, the last seven days of history will be displayed. When you access History from the Accounts drop down list, you will have the option to view the current day's history, the last seven days history or a specified history date range.
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How do transactions affect the balances I see at Branch24 and when will I see transactions in history?
You will have access to balance and history information as transactions are posted to your account. When you process a transfer or check withdrawal using Branch24, there may be a slight delay in the time it takes to post to your account. Once it is posted, your history will be updated. This may or may not occur during your current Branch24 session. Please see the Pending Transactions section of our Help facility for further information.
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Can I download transaction history to my Quicken® or Microsoft Money or other software application?
Yes, on the History results page you will see an option called Export Data. You may also click on Export Data in the Accounts drop down list. There are four export formats available, OFX, QIF, Excel, and Comma Separated (CSV). Please refer to Export Data in our Help facility and to your software application manual or vendor for additional information.
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Why do I have pending transactions?
Each day after our close of business and during our nightly processing, Branch24, ESP24, ATM and POS transactions completed in this timeframe will be reflected in a separate category called Pending Transactions.
Upon completion of our nightly processing, pending transactions will post and be reflected in account history as of the next business day. Please also note that during business hours when you process a Branch24 transaction, there may be a slight delay in the time it takes to post and it could briefly show in Pending Transactions.
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How do I view check images for checks that have cleared my account?
When viewing your transaction history for your checking account, you will notice that check transactions will be highlighted and underlined. Simply click on the highlighted and underlined text or the check icon to retrieve the image. Check images are available online for checks that have cleared your account within the past 120 days.
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When requesting a check image of a different check, why does the image of my previous request appear?
If you request a check image and get the image from the previous request, you need to change your Internet browser settings to refresh each time you visit a page.
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Why do I receive a message to contact the Credit Union instead of the check image?
In rare instances, some images may not be available online. You may contact our Checking Department for a copy in these instances. Please also note that images for checks you have written that were presented for payment at one of our branches prior to 12/20/2004 will not be available online. Please allow up to one business day for images to be available online.
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Which savings/checking accounts may I use for transfers?
You may transfer available funds to or from your eligible savings and checking account under your member account number except Certificates of Deposit or Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs). You may transfer funds from these same accounts to pay loans or your VISA® Credit Card under your member account number. A drop down list easily identifies which accounts are eligible for transfers.
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Which loan accounts may I use for transfers?
You may transfer available funds from a Customer Line, Prime Line or Security Line you have with the Credit Union under your member account number to any eligible savings/checking or loan account also under your member account number. A drop down list easily identifies which accounts are eligible for transfers. Please keep in mind that minimum advance requirements apply when transferring from your line of credit loan. Also note that you may only transfer from your eligible savings or checking account to pay your VISA® Credit Card.
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Will I receive confirmation that my transfer was processed?
Yes, after making your transfer selection, you will first verify your entries and then you will receive a Transaction Results confirmation screen with the date and time stating that your transfer was successful. You may print that screen for your records. If a transfer fails, an error message will be displayed. Click on the Refresh Balances link to go to the Balances page to view your updated account balances.
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When will my loan balance be updated after I transfer funds at Branch24 to make a loan payment?
Your loan balance will be updated after your loan payment at Branch24 has been posted to your loan account. During your Branch24 session, your loan balance may not accurately reflect a payment made at Branch24 because your loan payment may not yet have been posted. Until the payment is actually posted, you may notice that your loan balance reflects a reduction in the principal amount of your loan of the full payment amount with no adjustment for interest due. When your payment is actually posted, you will see that your loan balance accurately reflects the application of your payment to both principal and interest due. If you have a First Mortgage Account and your payment has not yet been posted, you may notice this same discrepancy. In addition, if you log back onto Branch24 and your loan payment has not yet been posted, you may notice that your First Mortgage Account loan balance reverted back to the loan balance prior to your payment. Your First Mortgage Account loan balance will accurately reflect the application of your payment only after the loan payment has been posted.
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When might a transfer fail?
A transaction could have posted to your account such as a check or an automatic debit, which reduced your available balance from what was displayed on the Transfer screen.
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What is Online Bill Payment?
Online Bill Payment is a high quality Internet-based service, which enables you to schedule payments to just about anyone within the United States. When you use Branch24’s Online Bill Payment Service, you no longer have to write out checks, buy stamps or make a trip to the mailbox. Online Bill Payment is restricted to accounts established for personal, family or household purposes.
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How do I apply for Online Bill Payment?
Prior to applying for Online Bill Payment, you must be enrolled in our Branch24 Online Banking Service and have a checking account under your member account number. The application process is easy. You may either apply using the Enroll in Bill Pay option under the Bill Pay drop down list located at Branch24 or by clicking on the SERVICES button and selecting Online Banking. You may also print out and sign the application if you prefer and mail or deliver it to one of our branch offices.
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What is the fee for Online Bill Payment?
There is no service fee charged for our Online Bill Payment Service.
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Once I have applied, when can I begin using the service?
Our application review process will begin immediately upon submission of your application. Please allow up to 3 business days for processing. You may begin using the service as soon as you receive our email and secure message notification.
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How do I access the Online Bill Payment Service?
Once logged on to Branch24, click on Go To Bill Pay from the Bill Pay drop down list.
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From what account will my payments be made?
Payments will occur from your checking account as established under your member account number used to enroll in our Online Banking Service.
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Whom may I pay?
You may pay virtually anyone located in the United States with the exception of payments of alimony, child-support, taxes or other governmental fees or court-directed payments.
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How are online bill payments made?
Online bill payments are made in two ways, depending on the payee. Payments can be made electronically if your payee is a merchant or company who can receive electronic payments. If payments cannot be made electronically, a check will be issued made payable to the payee. Payments made by check will clear your checking account just as if you wrote the check. Check numbers will start at 50000 to easily identify which checks were issued through our Online Bill Payment Service.
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When do my payments get processed?
This depends on how the payment will be made. If the payment is electronic, the processing date will generally be 3 business days before the due date you scheduled. If the payment is by check, the processing date will generally be 6 business days before the due date you scheduled to allow enough time for the check to be produced and mailed.
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Does the due date I schedule have to agree with the due date on my bill?
The due date you schedule is the date you want the payment to occur. You may designate a due date different from the due date on the bill if you would like to make your payment earlier than requested by the payee. For example, you may prefer to pay your bills at the beginning of each month. Just keep in mind that you must have a sufficient available balance in your checking account on the date we initiate the payment.
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When will my checking account be debited for the payment?
Your checking account will be debited on the processing date for electronic payments, which will occur 2 business days before the scheduled due date. For a payment made by check, your checking account will be debited the date the check clears your checking account, which will occur after your payee receives and deposits your check. In order to ensure that your bill payment will be received by the due date you specify, you must have a sufficient available balance in your checking account on the date we initiate the payment.
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What happens if I do not have a sufficient available balance in my account on the day the payment is processed?
If you do not have sufficient funds to cover an electronic payment because either you do not have overdraft protection or the amount of your bill payment exceeds the amount of your overdraft protection and your checking account available balance, we will retry 2 additional consecutive business days to make your payment. You will also be charged a $30.00 non-sufficient funds ("NSF") or uncollected funds fee for each unsuccessful attempt. If you do not have sufficient funds to cover a payment made by check, the check will be returned unpaid and you will be charged a $30.00 NSF or uncollected funds fee. The payee may choose to redeposit the check one additional time. If payment cannot be made for the second time, you will be charged another $30.00 NSF or uncollected funds fee. We will notify you in writing or by our secure messaging service of the status of your payment.
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What types of payments can I setup?
You can establish single or one-time payments as well as recurring or repeating payments. Recurring payments may occur weekly, biweekly, semi-monthly, monthly, every four weeks, bimonthly, semi-annually or annually. Payments may also be scheduled up to one year in advance if so desired.
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Can I view the status of payments?
Yes, you may view payments that have been scheduled but are not yet due by clicking Payments on the top menu bar and then clicking on View Pending Payments. Once the payment process has begun, payment status may be viewed by clicking on Payments and then on Payment History in the top menu bars. You may view up to 365 days of payment history.
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Will I get a confirmation number when I schedule a payment?
Confirmation numbers that are assigned at the time a payment is scheduled will not be viewable on-screen until after a payment is processed. At the time that a payment is scheduled you will receive an on-screen message confirming that the payment was successfully scheduled.
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Can I edit or cancel a payment?
You may edit or cancel a pending one-time or recurring payment until the payment is processed by selecting and accurately completing the appropriate fields from within the Online Bill Payment Service.
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Can I use the Online Bill Payment Service to pay my Rhode Island Credit Union loan(s)?
To expedite your payment to your Rhode Island Credit Union loan(s) under your member account number, we recommend that you use our Online Banking Service Transfer or Scheduled Transfer function rather than our Online Bill Payment Service. We also offer many other automated payment options for your convenience.
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