Frequently Asked Questions

My debit card was lost/stolen what should I do?

During credit union business hours, contact our accounting department at 242-3765 or 800-732-1921.
After credit union hours within the U.S. call 800-754-4128.
After credit union hours outside the U.S. call 414-341-4015.

I want to protect my identity, why can't I write "SEE ID" on the back of my card instead of my signature?

If you do not sign your card, you are not covered by the Mastercard charge back rights. Therefore, you are more protected by signing the card. With the debit card, you are not required to show your ID unless you are getting cash back, so the seller is required to compare the signature on your card with the signature on the receipt.

Where can I use my debit card?

ANYWHERE that accepts Mastercard. This includes but is not
limited to:

a. Restaurants
b. Movie theaters
c. Online purchases
d. Airline ticket purchases
e. Department stores
f. Gas stations
g. Car Rental
(you can pay for the rental, however, you cannot use the card to
HOLD the reservation)
h. ATM machines

Why does EPCU require overdraft protection for a debit card?

Primarily for the members protection. With a check the member has a carbon copy. When they use the debit card, it is very easy to forget to deduct it from the register which could cause checks to bounce resulting in a $25.00 fee.

Why does EPCU have credit scoring requirements for debit cards?

The debit card is a Mastercard product that withdraws the funds from the members checking instead of sending a monthly bill. When the member selects "credit" when using the card, there can be a 3 day lag time before the transaction is processed. This is technically a short term loan for the members.
The member does not have the option of just not selecting credit.

Does the debit card replace my ATM card?

Yes - any existing ATM cards will be deleted 30 days after the member receives their debit card.
The debit card WILL work at an ATM machine and can withdraw or deposit funds to/from regular savings and/or primary checking.
When the member receives their debit card, they must first use it at an ATM machine to activate it.

If I choose "CREDIT" does it still come out of my checking account?

YES! Any time the member uses their debit card, the money will be taken from their checking account regardless if they choose debit or credit.

Why should I choose "CREDIT" instead of "DEBIT"?

By choosing "credit", you retain your chargeback rights through Mastercard.

Choosing "credit" will recognize your overdraft loan, Choosing "debit" will not. See the following example:

	Credit	Debit
Checking Account Balance	$100	$100
Available Overdraft Amount	$500	$500
Purchase Amount	$150	$150
Results	APPROVED	DENIED

Why is there a difference between my balance and my available balance on my checking account?

When you make a "credit" purchase, a hold is placed on your account for the balance. The difference between your balance and your available balance will be the amount of your outstanding "credit" purchases. This hold will clear after the purchase is posted to your account. This will take no longer than 3 days.

If you do not have enough in your checking to cover a purchase, a hold will be placed on your overdraft loan in $50 increments to cover the purchase price. For example:

Checking Account Balance Available Before Purchase	$100
Available Overdraft Amount Before Purchase	$1000
Amount of Purchase	$125
Checking Account Balance Available After Purchase	$0
Available Overdraft Amount After Purchase	$950

I have enough money available, but my transaction was declined. Why?

There could be several reasons for this including:
- If you move and do not change your address with EPCU, the merchant may decline your transaction when they check your zip code for authenticity. FIX: Change your address (in writing) with EPCU).
- You may not have as much available as you think. Remember, if you make a checking account deposit through an ATM, only the first $100 is available immediately - the rest will not be available for 3 days. FIX: Make sure you have enough funds available before attempting to purchase - remember, you can check your balances with Homebanking or Voice Response.
- The EPCU system, Mastercard system or merchant system may be temporarily down. In the event that this happens, you will have a reduced amount available to you. FIX: Wait an hour and try again. These systems rarely go down, and when they do they are usually not down for long.
- The magnetic strip on your card has stopped working. This can happen for a number of reasons including scratching, cracking, demagnetizing, etc. FIX: Contact your accounting department at EPCU to order a new card.
- You selected "debit" and are using the wrong PIN number. FIX: Select "credit" and sign for the transaction. Contact your accounting department at EPCU to have your PIN sent to you again.
- If you have negative share accounts or delinquent loans with EPCU, your debit card will not work. FIX: Bring loans and share accounts current.

This Credit Union is Federally Insured by the NCUA