What can I do if I don't recognize a transaction? Or if there is an unauthorized transaction on my account?
Contact STCU for help identifying the transaction or to block your card. To dispute a transaction, you must notify STCU within 60 days of the statement date.
To save time, you can also submit your dispute online: Log in to online banking and select "Dispute a transaction" under "My accounts".
Why does STCU charge a fee for excess transactions on saving and money market accounts?
At STCU, we (1) encourage long-term savings and (2) do not penalize every member for the mistakes of a few.
Credit unions that have dropped excess withdrawal fees on savings accounts typically make up the lost fee income by reducing the saving rates paid to all members. This across-the-board action penalizes members who follow the rules, a practice STCU rejects as unfair and unequal.
Rather, our practice is to charge excess item fees only when a member exceeds the standard six (6) remote transfers and transactions per month from their savings or money market account. These limits or fees do NOT apply to your checking account.
"Remote" refers to a transaction done when you are not physically present at the credit union or ATM. It includes online banking or mobile app transfers and bill payments; calling STCU to transfer funds; making an ACH electronic transfer; writing a check; or automatic transfers to cover checking account overdrafts.
The STCU limit of six remote transactions is the same the Federal Reserve used for decades to create stability in the banking system by restricting consumers from using their long-term savings as a checking account.
After the six permitted remote transactions, STCU charges $5 for each of the first three excess transactions, and $15 for each excess item thereafter.
How to avoid the fee. Automatic transfers from a saving or money market account to cover a checking account overdraft is the most frequent way members trigger the excess item limit. The easiest way to avoid those fees is to either:
(1) Close your saving account and use the funds to open a checking account to cover your overdrafts. (Converting a money market account is even easier because you don't have to close it — just convert it to a checking account!)
Or (2) set up a second checking account — with free, unlimited transfers — as your go-to source to cover overdrafts. (Some members also set their STCU credit card as the default for checking overdrafts, but cards have a $5 cash advance fee per item.)
Unlimited transactions. Remember, there is no limit to the number of transactions you can make on your savings or money market accounts when you:
- Deposit money into your account from anywhere.
- Transfer money to STCU to make your loan or credit card payment.
- Make a transfer or withdrawal in person at an ATM or STCU branch location.
- Request a transfer or withdrawal in writing to STCU through the mail.
- Or issue a check by phone that is payable to you.
Your excess transaction limits are reset each month, giving you a fresh start.
What if I need to make deposits or access my accounts after business hours?
Keeping in mind the Reg D restrictions on excess transactions, as described above, you may:
- Use the 24-hour Night Drop at any STCU branch location.
- Use one of the thousands of 24-hour ATMs nationwide.
- Call STCU's telephone banking for round-the-clock account access.
- Log into your online banking account.
- Contact our Loan Center 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at (509) 326-1954.
Why isn’t my deposit showing in my account?
Funds directly deposited into your account from the Social Security Administration, your pension fund, or from your employer's payroll department are typically submitted to us on the same day each month, and are posted as soon as they are received electronically.
If your deposit arrived on a particular date last month, allow at least 24 hours (or one business day) beyond that date this month for the funds to be posted. If your deposit is still missing, call us at (509) 326-1954 or toll-free at (800) 858-3750.
Deposits made at an ATM. Your deposits at an ATM are subject to a hold of two to five business days. Your account balance will reflect the ATM deposit; however, the available amount may be less due to the held funds. Please consult the Funds Availability Policy for details.
Deposits made with a teller. If you had a teller handle your deposit, but the funds have not yet posted to your account, call us at (509) 326-1954 or toll-free at (800) 858-3750.
Mobile deposits. In general, deposits made through the STCU mobile app before 4 p.m. Pacific on open business days will be processed later the same day. Deposits made after 4 p.m. Pacific, or on nonbusiness days, will be processed the following business day. The first $500 will be available by 4 p.m. of the same or following business day; the remaining amount will be available two business days following the day the deposit is processed.
Please note: STCU always makes the first $500 of any check deposit ($500 for mobile deposits) immediately available to you, and in most cases, the entire deposit. However, some deposits may be restricted and not immediately available. The full amount of your deposit will show up in the current balance of your account, but only part of the deposit may be reflected in the "available balance" amount. In such cases, STCU may be holding the deposit while we verify funds. Consult the Funds Availability Policy for more details.
How can I find out if a check I've written has cleared my account? How can I view cleared checks?
Click on the "Online banking" button at the top of this page to log into your online banking account to search for cleared checks:
- From the "Accounts" page, click the account you want to search for cleared checks.
- Click the "filter" funnel button next to the search box and enter the check number in the applicable field to search for a specific check. To search for several checks, select the "Range" check box, then click the "Search" button.
To obtain copies of checks cleared within the last two years:
- Log on to STCU's online banking.
- Click on the account from which the check cleared.
- Locate the check in the list of transactions. (Search for transactions by using the "Filter" button next to the transaction search box. Open the advanced search options to search by a single check number or a range of check numbers).
- Click on the check transaction to view a copy of the check (use the "Front" and "Back" buttons to view the check images).
If you need copies of checks that cleared more than two years ago, contact us by phone or chat. (Research fees of $25 per hour, with a $5 minimum, may apply).
Why is the APYE shown on my statement different from the APY shown in STCU's ads?
There are two reasons that an annual percentage yield earned (APYE) might not match the advertised annual percentage yield (APY):
- During the month, you may have crossed from one rate tier to another, where some days you earned one rate and other days earned another. Your APYE for that month will reflect the "blending" of these two rates.
- You have an STCU First5 or other account, where part of the balance earns one rate and the other part of the balance earns another rate. Your APYE will reflect the "blending" of these two rates.
Is there a way to boost my overall APYE?
Most likely! First, maximize your earnings by saving as much as allowed to earn the higher, advertised APY. For example, always keep $500 in your STCU First5 Savings Account to earn the high, advertised rate. Second, consider transferring funds not earning the highest rate to another STCU savings account that may pay you more for those higher balances. When your First5 balance reaches $2,500, you might earn more (consult our rates) on the higher balance by transferring it to an STCU Money Market Account or Certificate. This could boost your APYE, generating a better overall rate of return.
What does it mean if my account is “dormant?”
A dormant account status means that none of the accounts under your membership have had a deposit, withdrawal, or transfer for 365 consecutive days. Once the status has changed to dormant, you will receive a letter informing you of the change with instructions for how to reactivate your account.
To prevent your account from going dormant in the first place, simply make a deposit, withdrawal, or transfer once a year. Please note that direct deposits, ACH transactions, and automatic transfers will not prevent an account from going dormant.
If you have a dormant account, it’s important that you reactivate it. After a specific dormancy period, 3 or 5 years depending on your state, funds are considered abandoned and the escheatment process begins, resulting in the funds being surrendered to the state. STCU makes business decisions permitted by the Washington Credit Union Act (RCW 31.12.402(17)) and RCW 63.29.060.
How do I add a beneficiary to my account?
Setting up a beneficiary with STCU is simple and quick. You can visit a branch, call us, or do it in online banking in just a few clicks.
If it’s a person you’re adding, all you need is their name, social security number, and birthday. If it’s a charity, you’ll need its name and Tax Id Number (TIN).
