Your Accounts
ATM / Debit Card / Credit Card
Online Banking
BillPayer
Lending
Your Accounts
Why is there a difference between my checking account balance and available balance?
Your checking balance shows the complete balance in your account, as well as the 'available balance' - which shows the amount of that balance you have access to at a specific point in time. There are several possible reasons for a difference between the account balance and available balance, due to various types of holds that can be placed on funds in checking accounts:
A. When you deposit a check, a hold is placed on those funds to allow MECU time to process the check and receive the funds. The length of time depends on whether the check is drawn on a local or non-local financial institution. Your deposit receipt will show how long the hold will be placed on your funds.
B. A hold may be due to a purchase you made using your MECU VISA Debit Card that has not yet been posted. It may take up to five days for check card transactions to be submitted by the merchant. MECU removes the hold after five days or as soon as the transaction is posted to your account, whichever comes first. Remember - if for some reason the merchant is delayed in collecting the transaction funds from your account and the hold is automatically released, you are still responsible for paying for your purchase.
MECU's online banking allows you to view any current holds on funds in your account.
If a bank is local, why is there a hold on the check?
Even when a check is local, time is required to process it and verify that funds are available before they are withdrawn from the issuer's account. Credit Unions and other financial institutions are allowed to place these holds by Regulation CC.
What are the holds on different kinds of checks?
There are basically two types of holds - local hold, which is two days, and non-local, which is five days. With both types of holds, you may withdraw up to $100 on the day of deposit, as long as your account has been open more than 30 days.
This access to funds before the check clears may be denied if the check was previously deposited but returned for non-sufficient funds or your account has been repeatedly overdrawn.
What is MECU’s routing number?
252076468. You may need this number if you set up an automatic payment plan.
Why haven’t my automatic deductions been taken from my payroll?
There could be a number of reasons.
It takes two pay periods to process a request for automatic deductions -- one pay period to receive the request and the second pay period to process the request.
If you have waited two pay periods since filing your request, the deduction may be set up incorrectly, or there could be another problem. Contact a Member Service Representative either over the phone or in the branch. The MSR will ask for your information and investigate the problem to get your deductions started.
How do I get my Christmas Club funds?
They will be automatically transferred to your checking or savings account around October 31 every year. You may make withdrawals throughout the year but this will reduce the amount of funds you have available to you for the holidays.
How do I remove my joint owner from my account?
You will have to complete a new account card so the account can be placed in just your name.
How can I update my address?
You may notify us in writing of your address change, or you may come into the nearest branch. In either case, your signature is required. You can download the "Request to change" form used to change your address from our website: www.mecu.com 
Products & Services Applications & Forms.
How can I change a payroll deduction?
You can either come into a branch or send a written request with your signature and account number. You can download the "Request to change" form used to change your payroll deductions from our website: www.mecu.com Products & Services Applications & Forms.
How much can I deposit into any savings account?
There is no limit on how much you may deposit into your share or any other deposit account, except for IRAs, which have an annual deposit limit set by the IRS.
When will we get interest rebates?
Although MECU has a history of paying interest rebates and has done so consistently over more than two decades, the interest refund is not guaranteed. The Board of Directors decides every year around November 30 if an interest rebate will be given.
ATM / Debit Card / Credit Card
When I use my VISA Debit Card I am always being asked "debit or credit". What’s the difference?
Your MECU VISA Debit Card gives you a great deal of flexibility. It can be used as an ATM card to withdraw funds, or it can act like a credit card - with the amount "charged" coming out of your checking account.
When you select debit you authorize the transaction by using a PIN. When you select credit, your signature authorizes the transaction. Both options deduct the funds from your account. There is no disadvantage to you of choosing one over the other. MECU generates more revenue from Visa when you choose the "credit" option, which may increase dividends for members.
What is the limit I can withdraw at an ATM machine?
There is a $400.00 limit per day at the MECU ATM machines. Some ATM machines owned by other financial institutions may not allow a single transaction of that amount.
I can’t remember my PIN for my ATM or VISA Debit Card.
For your security, MECU personnel do not have access to PIN numbers for any plastic cards we issue. If you forget your PIN and cannot find the form originally mailed to you with your number, you can:
- Come into a MECU branch to have the card modified to a password of your choice.
- If you are unable to get to a branch, you can request a new PIN number in writing. This process takes 7-10 business days from the day we receive your request.
I ordered my VISA Debit Card weeks ago, and I still don’t have it.
Either call MECU or come into a branch to verify the address on your application. If your address is correct, the Member Service Representative or Telephone service Representative can take the necessary steps to correct the problem.
I’ve lost my VISA Debit Card - how do I report it?
Call VISA Security at 1-800-449-7728 as soon as possible.
When getting a credit from a merchant, how long does it take to be credited?
It takes approximately three business days for a credit to post to your account.
Online Banking
What can I do with MECU’s Online Banking?
MECU's Online Banking continually adds new features to give you more access to your accounts. At this time you can:
- Review account summaries and histories
- Check balances, both actual and available
- Open a Checking account, Money Market account, or Certificate of Deposit online
- Download your account information into Quicken® or MSMoney®
- Review account detail such as interest rate, prior year dividends, and transactions descriptions
- View or print copies of your cleared checks and any holds on your account
- Check your loan's interest rate, payoff amount, current payment and due date
- Transfer funds between your MECU accounts
- Receive confirmation of your transfer
- Apply to stop payment on a check or a range of checks
- View an image of your statements
- You also have access to BillPayer through Online banking, which lets you pay most of your regular bills online.
Can I cancel Online Banking? How?
Yes, you may cancel online banking. All you need do is call a MECU member service representative.
What kind of security is used by MECU’s Online Banking?
MECU's Online Banking uses the industry standard 128 bit Single Socket Layer encryption to protect your account.
Can anyone else access my account information?
The only way your account can be accessed is by entering your MECU account number, and your password and you control your password. As long as you do not provide the account number and password to anyone, your information stays private.
What is encryption?
Encryption is the process of scrambling computer input into secure code that is decoded by the receiving computer. This prevents confidential information being transmitted "in the clear".
Who should I call if I have questions about Online Banking?
Any MECU Member Service or Telephone Service Representative will be pleased to help you to access the Online Banking options.
Why is my account locked?
This is usually an indication that attempts have been made to access the account using the wrong password. The software is case sensitive, so if a password was entered in upper or lower case or a combination of both, you will need to enter it in that format. After three unsuccessful attempts to access your account, the system automatically locks the account. Any MECU member or telephone service representative can unlock your account.
Does it matter who my ISP (Internet Service Provider) is?
No.
Does it matter which Internet Browser I use?
No, in fact we have members all over the world who access their MECU accounts through our On-line banking product.
Can I reorder checks on line?
Yes, once you have received your initial order of checks, you can reorder your checks on-line as long as there are no changes in your order.
What is an "invalid account number"?
This indicates that the account number as presented was not found in the account numbers held in the MECU database. You may have inadvertently input the wrong numbers. You can look on your checks or your monthly statement to verify your account number. If you need assistance due to an "invalid account number", call a MECU Account Representative by phone at (410) 752-8313, Ext. 2709 Monday through Friday 8:30 am to 4:30pm (Thursdays begin at 9:00 am), or visit a Member Services Representative at any of MECU's convenient branch offices.
Why are my online banking withdrawals limited to six?
This limitation is a function of federal Regulation D, which affects electronic withdrawals from what the regulation defines as "non-transactional accounts," such as your MECU savings or money market account. You may make as many withdrawals in-person as you like from these accounts. Unlimited withdrawals can be made against your MECU checking account.
Lending
My loan has been approved - what is my next step?
The answer depends on the type of loan approved.
Why didn’t I get the rate you advertised?
MECU's and all financial institutions rates are advertised "as low as". The rate you qualify for is based on your application, credit history, down payment (if applicable) and method of payment.
Can my loan payment be deducted from my paycheck?
If you are on the Baltimore City Payroll System, payments can automatically be deducted from your paycheck. You may also make direct payments through Automatic Clearing House and automatic transfer options. Contact MECU to make arrangements for automatic payments.
How can I find out what’s in my credit history?
All Maryland residents are entitled to request annually, free of charge, a copy of their credit report from each of the major credit bureaus. Their numbers are:
Experian 1-888-397-3742 http://www.experian.com/
Equifax 1-800-685-1111 http://www.equifax.com/
TransUnion 1-800-916-8800 http://www.transunion.com/
Is overtime counted as part of my income?
Overtime income is not generally counted in determining debt ratio for loan qualification. If overtime can be verified that it is received on a consistent basis over an extended period of time, we may use an average of overtime to supplement regular income for qualifying purposes.
