Bill Pay FAQs
How do I pay bills online, and when are transactions processed?
There are two forms of payment—PAPER CHECK and ELECTRONIC. CHECKS are printed and mailed from the Service Bureau on the same day they are processed. ELECTRONIC payment information is transferred electronically to the payees on the same day they are processed.
Payments are processed twice a day, Monday through Friday, at 3 a.m. and 1 p.m. EST. Any payments entered after 1 p.m. will be processed the next day.
How do holidays and weekends affect bill pay?
Bills are not paid on holidays or weekends. If a scheduled bill payment falls on a holiday or weekend, it will be paid on the Friday before the weekend, or the last working day before the holiday.
How much time do I have to add, delete, or edit a payment?
You can make changes to a payment until 3 a.m. EST for the first processing, and until 1 p.m. EST for the second processing, on the day the payment is sent.
How far in advance can a payment be set up?
A recurring payment can be set up in advance for up to five years in the future.
How many payees can I set up in bill pay?
There is no limit to the number of payees you can set up.
Can I edit an existing payee?
The only things that can be edited on an existing payee are the nickname on the account and the account number. To make any other changes, the payee must be deleted and re-entered.
How long does it take my payment to reach the payee?
For an electronic payment, allow 3 to 4 business days from when the payment is submitted. A check will be mailed via USPS the same day the payment is submitted — if it is entered into our system before 1 p.m. EST. Typically you should allow 5 to 7 business days for a check payment. (Note—we have no control over the U.S. Postal Service).
What is the maximum payment amount?
There is no maximum dollar limit associated with bill pay, but since electronic payments are validated against your account balance prior to processing, you will be limited by the amount of funds in your account.
Can an electronic payment be deleted once I submit it?
No. Once the payment is submitted, it will be processed. It will then be up to the customer to contact the payee for a refund, or ask the bank to submit a claim.
When do funds for payments debit my account?
For an electronic payment, funds are debited the same day that the payment is sent, as long as the payment is sent before 1 p.m. EST. Electronic payments submitted after this time will be debited the next day. Check payment funds are debited from the account when the check clears the account.
Are checks drawn against my account mailed to the payee?
Yes. All checks issued through bill pay are encoded just as if they were a check from the customer’s own checkbook. The signature line on the check is usually printed as “Signature on File,” or “As Authorized by Accountholder.” The checks are printed and mailed from the Service Bureau.
What will happen if I do not have sufficient funds for a payment?
Check payments are subject to the same fees or penalties as a check written out of the customer’s checkbook against an insufficient balance. Electronic payments are verified for funds availability during processing. If the funds are available, the customer’s account is debited for the payment. If the funds are not available in time for the first processing, the system will try again.