Credit & Debit Cards
Fraud Alerts
A text message and/or pre-recorded voice call may be sent to your mobile device when there is a suspicious transaction(s) identified. Simply reply to the text to confirm whether you recognize the transaction(s). If you do not recognize the transaction(s), you will receive a text asking you to call 888-918-7313 for further assistance. There will be a block placed on your card to protect you from further fraud until you call us. If you reply to the text that you recognize the transaction(s), your card will remain available for use.
If you do not reply to the text within 30 minutes, a pre-recorded voice call may be attempted to your mobile device and home number listed on your account. If you receive a pre-recorded call, please listen to the prompts provided to review and respond to the validity of each transaction that is presented during the call. An email will also be sent to the address on file to confirm transactions on the account. You can also call us at any time to validate the transactions or if you have any concerns about the message you received.
SMS stands for Short Message Service and is also commonly referred to as a “text message.” With an SMS, you can send a message of up to 160 characters to another device. Longer messages will automatically be split up into several parts. Most mobile phones support this type of text messaging.
There’s no cost to use the automated fraud alerts service. Southeast Financial pays for all costs associated with sending and delivering the SMS fraud alert messages to your mobile device. This service is provided to you free of charge.
Yes! Your security is our priority! Our fraud alert messages will simply ask you to reply Y or N to confirm charges. We will never ask for your account number, card number, PIN number, or any other personal information via text message. If you ever receive a text message asking for any personal or identifying information, please do not respond. Call Southeast Financial at 800-521-9653 immediately to report the fraudulent text message.
You will still receive automated fraud alerts via phone and email. A text messaging plan is not required but is a great way to receive fraud alerts about your Southeast Financial account.
SMS fraud alerts will come from 919-37. You may want to save this number in your contacts with a name you will recognize for future alerts. We recommend ‘CU Fraud Alerts’. Fraud alert messages sent from this number will also be labeled with the Southeast Financial or SFCU.
Please update your contact information as soon as possible so that alerts will be sent to the proper number on file. You will still receive alerts on your home phone number or email, if that information is on file. Accurate contact information is important so that we can reach you in the event we identify suspicious transactions on your account.
Most SMS messages have a maximum length of 160 characters per message. Some alerts may require multiple messages to provide you with all the necessary information. All SMS messages are paid by Southeast Financial and you will not be charged for any text message alerts.
To opt-out of text alerts, simply reply STOP to any text alert. You will no longer receive fraud alerts via SMS message. You may also opt-out by calling the number provided on the back of your card and asking to be opted out of Automated Fraud Alerts messages.
If you recognize all the transactions present in the fraud alert. Simply reply “Y”, to confirm the activity as valid. Your card will automatically be unblocked, and no further action is required. You may now complete any purchases that may have been declined.
No. Commands can be sent as upper-case, lower-case or a mixture of both.
Falcon Credit & Debit Card Fraud Monitoring
No. Falcon monitors all Southeast Financial credit and debit cards for fraudulent activity. No enrollment is required.
No. All Southeast Financial credit and debit cards are covered by this service at no cost to the cardholder.
Falcon monitors and analyzes transactions and assigns a rating to the transaction. Based on your normal spending patterns, if a questionable transaction is detected on your Southeast Financial debit or credit card, Falcon will contact you to verify the transaction. In some cases, the transaction may be declined at the point of purchase if the fraud rating is high.
If fraudulent activity is detected, Falcon will contact you using the primary telephone number we have on file. If there is no answer, a representative from Falcon will leave you a message requesting a call back to verify the suspected transaction. If you miss the phone call, you can contact the Falcon call center at 1-888-918-7313, 24-hours a day, 7 days a week.
Falcon may ask you for information to verify your identity. For example, the last four digits of your Social Security number may be requested. They may also compare the phone number that you call from to see if it matches the phone number that is on file. You'll never be asked for information they already have, like your full account number, PIN or 3-digit code.
Falcon will contact you using the primary telephone number we have on file. Therefore, it is extremely important that your contact information is up to date. Contact us or visit any branch to verify your current contact information and make any necessary changes.
To avoid delays with card usage or confirming potential fraud, we strongly recommend contacting the Falcon Fraud Monitoring Department directly. The staff at Falcon is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to quickly verify transactions and take appropriate action if fraud occurs on your account.
If Falcon doesn’t hear back from you within 48 hours of calling, your card will be blocked from use as a precautionary measure. If Falcon has blocked your card, you can contact them to un-block it at 1-888-918-7313. They are available to take your call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Yes, we encourage you to monitor your account for suspicious or unauthorized charges that the Falcon monitoring system may not detect.
With Falcon Fraud Protection service, your Southeast Financial credit and debit card transaction activity is monitored 24 hours a day, seven days a week to better detect fraudulent card use. Our goal is to protect members from the risk associated with fraud and identity theft. Please remember to frequently review your account activity and never hesitate to contact us if you have questions or concerns. To report fraudulent activity on your Southeast Financial credit or debit card during weekend or evening hours, please call the Falcon Fraud Protection Center at 1-888-918-7313.
To report fraudulent activity on your Southeast Financial credit or debit card during weekend or evening hours, please call the Falcon Fraud Protection Center at 1-888-918-7313.
Visa Purchase Alerts
Purchase Alerts are messages sent to your email or mobile phone to help you manage and track your signature-based Visa® credit and/or debit card transactions. Alerts provide near real-time notification of transaction activity based on your alert settings. You select from preset alerts and specify the settings for the alerts you want to receive (for example, the option to be notified when a transaction exceeds a specific value). Information in the alert includes the amount of the transaction, the merchant name and location (if available), and the last 4 digits of the Visa card used. Alerts can be sent to an e-mail address or to a mobile phone as an SMS text message
The advantages of Purchase Alerts are that they:
Let you monitor your card's signature-based purchase transactions in near-real-time
Offer you peace of mind by providing timely information that helps you monitor your Visa card for suspicious activity.
Give you a tool to help you manage your money.
You can enroll most Visa credit and debit cards. For debit cards, Purchase Alerts are not available for purchases that require you enter a PIN number. You can enroll your card if you’re sharing an account; the primary account holder on the card designates the Purchase Alert settings. Purchase Alerts are available for business credit cards as well.
Yes. Purchase Alerts can be sent to up to two cardholders on the same account. One cardholder receives an SMS message and one cardholder receives the e-mail alert message. The primary account holder designates the mobile number that receives the SMS message alert and the e-mail account that receives the e-mail alert.
Yes. Two debit cardholders who share the same account can each receive Purchase Alerts. Each cardholder logs in to their Online Banking account to enroll in Purchase Alerts, customize his/her Purchase Alert choices and designate if he/she wants to receive SMS alert or e-mail messages.
Each card can be set up with unique alert settings.
You can enroll in Purchase Alerts at no charge from Southeast Financial. Standard mobile text and data charges apply for SMS alerts.
After you enroll, you will immediately begin receiving alert messages.
The following alerts are available:
Threshold transaction: An alert is sent if a purchase amount is greater than a preset dollar amount.
Card-not-present transaction: An alert is sent if a purchase is made without having to physically present the card at the point of sale, such as when a purchase is made online or by phone.
International transaction: An alert is sent if a purchase is made outside the country that issued the Visa card.
Gasoline transaction: An alert is sent if a purchase is made at a gas station (i.e., fuel, car wash)
Declined transaction: An alert is sent if a purchase is made and subsequently declined for any reason.
EMV Chip Cards
EMV chip cards incorporate micro-computer technology, providing increased security capabilities for both card transactions and your information, which is stored in the small metallic square on the front of the cards. EMV technology ensures that you have the most secure and seamless purchasing experience possible and is one of the most effective tools being using to prevent the spread of credit card fraud.
You don't need to do anything to upgrade to an EMV credit or debit card.
All non-chip debit cards were reissued with new debit cards containing the EMV chip in early 2016.
All non-chip credit cards will be replaced with credit cards containing the EMV chip as they expire.
If you have a Visa Credit Card, you may request a new card before your current card expires, but you'll need to pay a $10 reissue fee. Otherwise, you'll receive your new card shortly before your existing card expires.
When you receive your new EMV card, the card number will be different than the number on your old card. It's important that you contact any companies that take automatic payments using your card and ask that they update your account with this new number.
Because your new card will have a new card number, you'll need to call the PIN change line, 1-866-985-2273, to set up your PIN. You may use the same PIN as you used previously with your old card or pick a new one. The choice is yours, but it's important that you call to set it up in order to use your card when a PIN is required.
Using your EMV Chip card takes 3 simple steps:
Insert your card into the bottom of the card reader.
Follow the on-screen instructions to complete your transaction.
Remove your card from the card reader when prompted.
EMV cards store payment information in a secure chip rather than on a magnetic stripe, and the personalization of EMV cards is done using issuer-specific keys. Unlike a magnetic stripe card, it is virtually impossible to create a counterfeit EMV card that can be used to conduct an EMV payment transaction successfully.
The microchip embedded in the card stores information required to authenticate, authorize and process transactions. This is the same type of information already stored in the magnetic stripe. No personal information about your account is stored on the chip card.
The biggest benefit of EMV chip cards lies in the powerful fraud prevention technology inherent in the chip. Because the EMV chip is essentially a small, secure computer, EMV cards are nearly impossible to counterfeit. By replacing the current unencrypted magnetic stripe with a chip embedded in the card, smartcard technology adds dynamic data to the transaction process, making it far less vulnerable to fraudsters.
No, magnetic stripes will continue to be used on cards so they can be used at terminals in countries that have not yet converted to chip technology, including the United States. Many major retailers have already made the conversion to EMV chip card readers. When you complete your transaction with these merchants, your chip card will be used for payment at the checkout. When paying a merchant who has not yet made the transition to EMV chip card readers, your card will be run through a magnetic stripe reader.
EMV has been implemented in more than 80 countries around the world, with approximately 1.5 billion EMV cards issued globally and 21.9 million POS terminals accepting EMV cards at the end of 2011. The U.S. payments infrastructure is now moving to EMV with incentives and requirements for issuers, acquirers/processors and merchants to adopt EMV.
The United States is one of the last countries to migrate to EMV. In 2011 and 2012, American Express, Discover, MasterCard and Visa all announced their plans for moving to an EMV-based payments infrastructure in the U.S.
Online Banking
Online Banking Registration & Security
When creating a User Name, be sure it meets these requirements:
Must be between six and 20 characters long
May be alphabetic or alphanumeric
Must not contain any spaces
We recommend including one or more of the following
special characters for maximum protection: $*_-=.!~@
When creating a Password, be sure it meets these requirements:
Must be between six and 32 characters long
May be alphanumeric or a combination of letters or numbers and one or more of the following special characters for maximum protection: $*_-=.!~@
Must not contain any spaces
Cannot match the Username
We use your phone number to send a one-time security code that you'll need in order to complete the registration process. You can choose to receive the code via text or voice message.
Requiring something you know (User Name and Password) and something you have (your telephone) is called multi-factor authentication. This security strategy helps mitigate the risk of fraud, and is in accordance with guidance published by the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council (FFIEC).
Online Banking technology uses multi-factor authentication to protect your account information. It's a two step sign-on process that makes hacking more difficult, because the hacker would need access to multiple items in order to breach your account.
You may be required to receive a one-time security code using the telephone number you provided at registration under certain circumstances, including:
When you log in to the system from a new device. For example, if you registered for Online Banking on your home computer and want to log in and check your balance on your computer at work, you'll be prompted to enter a security code which will be sent to your phone.
When you log in using a new browser. For example, if you normally check your account using Internet Explorer, but today you're logging in on Chrome, you'll be prompted to enter a security code which will be sent to your phone.
When you log in for the first time after clearing data from your browser. For example, if you normally check your account using Internet Explorer, but you've recently cleared cache and cookies in your Internet Explorer settings, you'll be prompted to enter a security code which will be sent to your phone.
When the system doesn't recognize the device you're using for another reason. If the system has any doubt about your security, it will err on the side of caution. We know it can be a hassle, but your account security is our priority.
eStatements
An eStatement is an electronic version of your statement. It provides you an alternate way to receive and store your monthly or quarterly statement from SFCU through Online Banking.
All security precautions have been taken to ensure the confidentiality of your electronic statement. Logging into Online Banking ensures that viewing your eStatement is safe as every other transaction you make with Southeast Financial.
You can sign up for eStatements through Online Banking. If you have questions or need assistance, contact our Member Services Call Center between 7am and 6pm CST, Monday through Friday.
Log in to Online Banking and click Additional Services, then eStatements, and Register.
Enter the code shown on the PDF Test Drive screen and click Next.
Complete all the fields on the Contact Information screen and click Next.
When you receive your confirmation email, click the link, and then click Next.
Read and accept the User Agreement and click Finish to complete registration.
No, your paper statements will stop once you sign-up for eStatements. If you sign up for eStatements by the last business day of the month, your next statement will come electronically
After signing up for eStatements, you will receive your first email notification to the email address you specified at the beginning of the following month. You will continue to receive a monthly email notification that your eStatement is available. You will be provided a link to access your eStatement or you can log into Online Banking and click on the eStatements link anytime.
If you have a savings account only, you will only receive statements quarterly (January, April, July, and October), unless you have direct deposit or any other ACH transaction.
eStatements are available for 18 months online. You can also download and save eStatements for your records.
Yes, it will look almost identical and will include all inserts mailed with the paper statements. Variation may occur depending on your operating system and internet browser.
Log in to Online Banking and access your eStatements. Click on Settings then Discontinue/Resume Accounts. Check the box for the account you want to cancel and click submit. You can stop and start eStatements at any time. Remember that there is a $3 fee for paper statements.
A PDF (Portable Document Formant) is a universal file formant that preserves all the fonts, formatting, graphics, and color of any source document, regardless of the application and platform used to create it. Adobe PDF files are compact and can be shared, viewed, navigated, and printed exactly as intended by anyone using Adobe Acrobat Reader.
Make sure you've installed Acrobat Reader and it's up-to-date.
Check to see if you're using a recommended operating system and browser here.
Clear your browser's cache and cookies and try registering again.
If you continue to experience issues, call Member Services at 615-743-3700 or 1-800-521-9653.
Mobile Banking
Remote Deposit
Remote Deposit is a free, secure, online banking service that allows eligible Southeast Financial Credit Union (SFCU) members to deposit funds using a scanner and computer, iPhone, or smartphone with an Android operating system, into their SFCU account.
Remote Deposit is available to any SFCU member, 18 years of age and older, with an open active account in good standing. A valid email address is also required.
Sign in to Online Banking and click on the Additional Services link located at the top of the page, then select the Remote Deposits link from the drop-down list.
All notifications will be sent to the email address listed under the My Settings link in Online Banking. Please verify that the email address listed is current and correct.
The following are the minimum currently supported environments.
For Home Scanning:
Windows XP or Vista with Internet Explorer 7+
Windows XP or Vista with Firefox 2+
Mac OS X 10.6 with Safari 3+ (must be run in 32-bit mode)
Mac OS X 10.6 with Firefox 2+
TWAIN-compliant document scanner
Note:To find out if your scanner is compliant, refer to the documentation that was supplied with the scanner. For help with your scanner, log in to your SFCU Online Banking account and click on the Remote Deposits link. Then click on “Help with Scanners and Drivers” near the bottom of the screen.)
Note: The recommended version of the browsers listed above are Internet Explorer 8, Firefox 3, and Safari 3.1.
For Mobile Devices:
For iPhone, the free SFCU app, available through the App Store.
For Android phones, the free SFCU app, available through the Google Play Store.
You should endorse your checks with your name as it appears on the front of the check, and then include the following information:
For deposit only at SFCU
Your account number
Via Remote Deposit
On date (in mm/dd/yyyy format)
Home Scanning: When using the Remote Deposit system through Online Banking, the scanned images will stay on the system until the deposit is submitted.
Mobile Devices: When using an iPhone or Android phone for scanning, check images captured are stored on the device until they have been submitted successfully.
Note: Please try to complete each deposit promptly. In the event that you are unable to promptly complete your deposit, please delete the associated images from the application.
Checks should be securely stored for a period of seven (7) days after you receive confirmation from Remote Deposit that your deposit has been accepted.
No. Remote Deposit generates an electronic record with each deposit.
Deposits received before 3:00 pm Central Standard Time (CST) will generally be credited to your account by the next business day after the day of deposit. Deposits received after 3:00 pm CST will be credited to your account by the second business day after the day of deposit. Business days are Monday through Friday, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays. Under certain circumstances, the availability of funds may be delayed beyond the second business day after the day of the deposit. In these cases, notice of the delay will be provided.
Savings Bonds
Foreign checks
Third party checks (an item payable to another party and signed over to you by that party)
Checks written on another Southeast Financial account where you are a signer
Items stamped “non-negotiable”
Incomplete checks (i.e. missing date, missing payee, etc.)
Stale-dated or post-dated checks
Checks that contain evidence of alteration to the information on the check
Checks previously endorsed by SFCU
The deposit will appear with the description “Remote Deposit” on statements.
Home Scanning: Check images captured using your scanner will stay on the system until the deposit is submitted.
Mobile Devices: Check images captured using your iPhone or Android phone will be stored on the device until they have been submitted successfully.
Note: Please try to complete each deposit promptly. In the event that you are unable to promptly complete your deposit, please delete the associated images from the application.
There is no fee for the Remote Deposit service. Please refer to the SFCU Schedule of Products and Fees for any associated fees that may apply.
Within the Remote Deposit system, images are available under the “Deposit History” tab at the top right corner of the page. A copy can be printed or saved to a file on your computer for your records. This history is available for 18 months.
If you are within the Remote Deposit section of Online Banking, you can select “Help” or “?” as you begin the transaction to receive information specific to that page. You may also send an email to member.service@southeastfinancial.org or call 800-521-9653.
Mortgages
Your Property
In addition to verifying that your home's value supports your loan request, we'll also verify that your home is as marketable as others in the area. We'll want to be confident that if you decide to sell your home, it will be as easy to market as other homes in the area.
We certainly don't expect that you'll default under the terms of your loan and that a forced sale will be necessary, but as the lender, we'll need to make sure that if a sale is necessary, it won't be difficult to find another buyer.
We'll review the features of your home and compare them to the features of other homes in the neighborhood. For example, if your home is on a 20-acre lot, or has a large accessory building, we'll want to make sure that there are other homes in the area on similar size lots or with similar outbuildings. It is hard to place a value on such unique features if we can't see what other buyers are willing to pay for them. In some areas, additional acreage or outbuildings could actually be a detriment to a future sale. Finding comparable properties can be more challenging in rural areas where it is more difficult to find homes that have similar features.
We'll also make sure that the value of your home is in the same range as other homes in the area. If the value of your home is substantially more than other homes in the neighborhood, it could affect the market acceptance of the home if you decide to sell.
We'll also review the market statistics about your neighborhood. We'll look at the time on the market for homes that have sold recently and verify that values are steady or increasing.
As soon as we receive your appraisal, we'll update your loan with the estimated value of the home. We will promptly give you a copy of any appraisal, even if your loan does not close.
Since the value and marketability of condominium properties is dependent on items that don't apply to single-family homes, there are some additional steps that must be taken to determine if condominiums meet our guidelines.
One of the most important factors is determining if the project that the condominium is located in is complete. In many cases, it will be necessary for the project, or at least the phase that your unit is located in, to be complete before we can provide financing. The main reason for this is, until the project is complete, we can't be certain that the remaining units will be of the same quality as the existing units. This could affect the marketability of your home.
In addition, we'll consider the ratio of non-owner occupied units to owner-occupied units. This could also affect future marketability since many people would prefer to live in a project that is occupied by owners rather than renters.
We'll also carefully review the appraisal to insure that it includes comparable sales of properties within the project, as well as some from outside the project. Our experience has found that using comparable sales from both the same project as well as other projects gives us a better idea of the condominium project's marketability.
Depending on the percentage of the property's value you'd like to finance, other items may also need to be reviewed.
Both a home inspection and an appraisal are designed to protect you against potential issues with your new home. Although they have totally different purposes, it makes the most sense to rely on each to help confirm that you've found the perfect home.
The appraiser will make note of obvious construction problems such as termite damage, dry rot or leaking roofs or basements. Other obvious interior or exterior damage that could affect the salability of the property will also be reported.
However, appraisers are not construction experts and won't find or report items that are not obvious. They won't turn on every light switch, run every faucet or inspect the attic or mechanicals. That's where the home inspector comes in. They generally perform a detailed inspection and can educate you about possible concerns or defects with the home.
Accompany the inspector during the home inspection. This is your opportunity to gain knowledge of major systems, appliances and fixtures, learn maintenance schedules and tips, and to ask questions about the condition of the home.
Federal Law requires all lenders to investigate whether or not each home they finance is in a special flood hazard area as defined by FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The law can't stop floods. Floods happen anytime, anywhere. But the Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973 and the National Flood Insurance Reform Act of 1994 help to ensure that you will be protected from financial losses caused by flooding.
We use a third party company who specializes in the reviewing of flood maps prepared by FEMA to determine if your home is located in a flood area. If it is, then flood insurance coverage will be required, since standard homeowner's insurance doesn't protect you against damages from flooding.
Licensed appraisers who are familiar with home values in your area perform appraisals. We order the appraisal as soon as the application deposit is paid. Generally, it takes 10-14 days before the written report is sent to us. We follow up with the appraiser to insure that it is completed as soon as possible. If you are refinancing, and an interior inspection of the home is necessary, the appraiser should contact you to schedule a viewing appointment. If you don't hear from the appraiser within seven days of the order date, please inform your Loan Officer. If you are purchasing a new home, the appraiser will contact the real estate agent, if you are using one, or the seller to schedule an appointment to view the home. We will promptly give you a copy of any appraisal, even if your loan does not close.
To determine the value of the property you are purchasing or refinancing, an appraisal will be required. An appraisal report is a written description and estimate of the value of the property. National standards govern not only the format for the appraisal; they also specify the appraiser's qualifications and credentials. In addition, most states now have licensing requirements for appraisers evaluating properties located within their states.
The appraiser will create a written report for us and we will promptly give you a copy, even if your loan does not close. If you'd like to review it earlier, your Loan Officer would be happy to provide it to you.
Usually the appraiser will inspect both the interior and exterior of the home. However, in some cases, only an exterior inspection will be necessary based on your financial strength and the location of the home. Exterior-only inspections usually save time and money, but if you're purchasing a new home, your Loan Officer will contact you to determine if you'd be more comfortable with a full inspection.
After the appraiser inspects the property, they will compare the qualities of your home with other homes that have sold recently in the same neighborhood. These homes are called "comparables" and play a significant role in the appraisal process. Using industry guidelines, the appraiser will try to weigh the major components of these properties (i.e., design, square footage, number of rooms, lot size, age, etc.) to the components of your home to come up with an estimated value of your home. The appraiser adjusts the price of each comparable sale (up or down) depending on how it compares (better or worse) with your property.
As an additional check on the value of the property, the appraiser also estimates the replacement cost for the property. Replacement cost is determined by valuing an empty lot and estimating the cost to build a house of similar size and construction. Finally, the appraiser reduces this cost by an age factor to compensate for depreciation and deterioration.
If your home is for investment purposes, or is a multi-unit home, the appraiser will also consider the rental income that will be generated by the property to help determine the value.
Using these three different methods, an appraiser will frequently come up with slightly different values for the property. The appraiser uses judgment and experience to reconcile these differences and then assigns a final appraised value. The comparable sales approach is the most important valuation method in the appraisal because a property is worth only what a buyer is willing to pay and a seller is willing to accept.
It is not uncommon for the appraised value of a property to be exactly the same as the amount stated on your sales contract. This is not a coincidence, nor does it question the competence of the appraiser. Your purchase contract is the most valid sales transaction there is. It represents what a buyer is willing to offer for the property and what the seller is willing to accept. Only when the comparable sales differ greatly from your sales contract will the appraised value be very different.
Your Application
Yes, applying for a mortgage loan before you find a home may be the best thing you could do! If you apply for your mortgage now, we'll issue an approval subject to you finding the perfect home. You can use the pre-approval letter to assure real estate brokers and sellers that you are a qualified buyer. Having a pre-approval for a mortgage may give more weight to any offer to purchase that you make.
When you find the perfect home, you'll simply call your Loan Officer to complete your application. You'll have an opportunity to lock in our great rates and fees then and we'll complete the processing of your request.
A credit score is one of the pieces of information that we'll use to evaluate your application. Financial institutions have been using credit scores to evaluate credit card and auto applications for many years, but only recently have mortgage lenders begun to use credit scoring to assist with their loan decisions.
Credit scores are based on information collected by credit bureaus and information reported each month by your creditors about the balances you owe and the timing of your payments. A credit score is a compilation of all this information converted into a number that helps a lender to determine the likelihood that you will repay the loan on schedule. The credit score is calculated by the credit bureau, not by the lender. Credit scores are calculated by comparing your credit history with millions of other consumers. They have proven to be a very effective way of determining credit worthiness.
Some of the things that affect your credit score include your payment history, your outstanding obligations, the length of time you have had outstanding credit, the types of credit you use, and the number of inquiries that have been made about your credit history in the recent past.
Credit scores used for mortgage loan decisions range from approximately 300 to 900. Generally, the higher your credit score, the lower the risk that your payments won't be paid as agreed.
Using credit scores to evaluate your credit history allows us to quickly and objectively evaluate your credit history when reviewing your loan application. However, there are many other factors when making a loan decision and we never evaluate an application without looking at the total financial picture of a customer.
An abundance of credit inquiries can sometimes affect your credit scores since it may indicate that your use of credit is increasing.
But don't overreact! The data used to calculate your credit score doesn't include any mortgage or auto loan credit inquiries that are made within the 30 days prior to the score being calculated. In addition, all mortgage inquiries made in any 14-day period are always considered one inquiry. Don't limit your mortgage shopping for fear of the effect on your credit score.
There is no charge to you for the credit information we'll access with your permission to evaluate your application online. You will only be charged for a credit report if you decide to complete the application process after your loan is approved.
Whether you're purchasing or refinancing, we're certain you'll find our service amazing!
If you'll be purchasing but haven't found the perfect home yet, complete our application and we'll issue an approval for a mortgage loan now with no obligation!
Yes, you can borrow funds to use as your down payment! However, any loans that you take out must be secured by an asset that you own. If you own something of value that you could borrow funds against such as a car or another home, it's a perfectly acceptable source of funds. If you are planning on obtaining a loan, make sure to include the details of this loan in the Expenses section of the application.
We take full advantage of an automated underwriting system that allows us to request as little information as possible to verify the data you provided during your loan application. Gone are the days when it was necessary to verify every piece of data collected during the application. The automated underwriting system compares your financial situation with statistical data from millions of other homeowners and uses that comparison to determine the level of verification needed. In many cases, a single W-2 or pay stub can be used to verify your income or a single bank statement can be used to verify the assets needed to close your loan.
Generally, the income of self-employed borrowers is verified by obtaining copies of personal (and business, if applicable) federal tax returns for the most recent two-year period. However, based on your entire financial situation, we may not need full copies of your tax returns.
We'll review and average the net income from self-employment that's reported on your tax returns to determine the income that can be used to qualify. We won't be able to consider any income that hasn't been reported as such on your tax returns. Typically, we'll need at least one, and sometimes a full two-year history of self-employment to verify that your self-employment income is stable.
In order for bonus, overtime, or commission income to be considered, you must have a history of receiving it and it must be likely to continue. We'll usually need to obtain copies of W-2 statements for the previous two years and a recent pay stub to verify this type of income. If a major part of your income is commission earnings, we may need to obtain copies of recent tax returns to verify the amount of business-related expenses, if any. We'll average the amounts you have received over the past two years to calculate the amount that can be considered as a regular part of your income.
If you haven't been receiving bonus, overtime, or commission income for at least one year, it probably can't be given full value when your loan is reviewed for approval.
We will ask for copies of your recent pension check stubs, or bank statement if your pension or retirement income is deposited directly in your bank account. Sometimes it will also be necessary to verify that this income will continue for at least three years since some pension or retirement plans do not provide income for life. This can usually be verified with a copy of your award letter. If you don't have an award letter, we can contact the source of this income directly for verification.
If you're receiving tax-free income, such as social security earnings in some cases, we'll consider the fact that taxes will not be deducted from this income when reviewing your request.
Generally, only income that is reported on your tax return can be considered when applying for a mortgage. Unless, of course, the income is legally tax-free and isn't required to be reported.
Some lenders may offer a stated income program, which means that you can be qualified for a loan based on the income you state rather than that which can be verified. Usually these programs require larger down payments and offer interest rates that are substantially higher than regular mortgage rates. We do not offer stated income programs at this time.
If you own rental properties, we'll generally ask for the most recent year's federal tax return to verify your rental income. We'll review the Schedule E of the tax return to verify your rental income, after all expenses except depreciation. Since depreciation is only a paper loss, it won't be counted against your rental income.
If you haven't owned the rental property for a complete tax year, we'll ask for a copy of any leases you've executed and we'll estimate the expenses of ownership.
Generally, two years personal tax returns are required to verify the amount of your dividend and/or interest income so that an average of the amounts you receive can be calculated. In addition, we will need to verify your ownership of the assets that generate the income using copies of statements from your financial institution, brokerage statements, stock certificates or Promissory Notes.
Typically, income from dividends and/or interest must be expected to continue for at least three years to be considered for repayment.
Information about child support, alimony, or separate maintenance income does not need to be provided unless you wish to have it considered for repaying this mortgage loan.
Typically, income from a second job will be considered if a one-year history of secondary employment can be verified
Having changed employers frequently is typically not a hindrance to obtaining a new mortgage loan. This is particularly true if you made employment changes without having periods of time in between without employment. We'll also look at your income advancements as you have changed employment.
If you're paid on a commission basis, a recent job change may be an issue since we'll have a difficult time of predicting your earnings without a history with your new employer.
If you were in school before your current job, enter the name of the school you attended and the length of time you were in school in the "length of employment" fields. You can enter a position of "student" and income of "0."
Unfortunately, if you are purchasing a home, we'll have to use the lower of the appraised value or the sales price to determine your down payment requirement.
It's still a great benefit for your financial situation if you are able to purchase a home for less than the appraised value, but our investors don't allow us to use this "instant equity" when making our loan decision.
Gifts are an acceptable source of down payment, if the gift giver is related to you or your co-borrower. We'll ask you for the name, address, and phone number of the gift giver, as well as the donor's relationship to you.
If your loan request is for more than 80% of the purchase price, we'll need to verify that you have at least 5% of the property's value in your own assets.
Prior to closing, we'll verify that the gift funds have been transferred to you by obtaining a copy of your bank receipt or deposit slip to verify that you have deposited the gift funds into your account.
If you're selling your current home to purchase your new home, we'll ask you to provide a copy of the settlement or closing statement you'll receive at the closing to verify that your current mortgage has been paid in full and that you'll have sufficient funds for our closing. Often the closing of your current home is scheduled for the same day as the closing of your new home. If that's the case, we'll just ask you to bring your settlement statement with you to your new mortgage closing.
Congratulations on your new job! If you will be working for the same employer, complete the application as such but enter the income you anticipate you'll be receiving at your new location.
If your employment is with a new employer, complete the application as if this were your current employer and indicate that you have been there for one month. The information about the employment you'll be leaving should be entered as a previous employer. We'll sort out the details after you submit your loan for approval.
Generally, a co-signed debt is considered when determining your qualifications for a mortgage. If the co-signed debt doesn't affect your ability to obtain a new mortgage we'll leave it at that. However, if it does make a difference, we can ignore the monthly payment of the co-signed debt if you can provide verification that the other person responsible for the debt has made the required payments, by obtaining copies of their cancelled checks for the last six months.
Any student loan that will go into repayment within the next six months should be included in the application. If you are not sure exactly what the monthly payment will be at this time, enter an estimated amount.
If other student loans are reflected on your final credit report, which will not go into repayment in the next six months, we may need to ask you for verification that repayment will not be required during this time period
If you've had a bankruptcy or foreclosure in the past, it may affect your ability to get a new mortgage. Unless the bankruptcy or foreclosure was caused by situations beyond your control, we will generally require that two to four years have passed since the bankruptcy or foreclosure. It is also important that you've re-established an acceptable credit history with new loans or credit cards.
An installment debt is a loan that you make payments on, such as an auto loan, a student loan or a debt consolidation loan. Do not include payments on other living expenses, such as insurance costs or medical bill payments. We'll include any installment debts that have more than 10 months remaining when determining your qualifications for this mortgage.
Loan Programs, Rates & Fees
Interest rates fluctuate based on a variety of factors, including inflation, the pace of economic growth, and Federal Reserve policy. Over time, inflation has the largest influence on the level of interest rates. A modest rate of inflation will almost always lead to low interest rates, while concerns about rising inflation normally cause interest rates to increase. Our nation's central bank, the Federal Reserve, implements policies designed to keep inflation and interest rates relatively low and stable.
An adjustable rate mortgage, or an "ARM" as they are commonly called, is a loan type that offers a lower initial interest rate than most fixed rate loans. The trade off is that the interest rate can change periodically, usually in relation to an index, and the monthly payment will go up or down accordingly.
Against the advantage of the lower payment at the beginning of the loan, you should weigh the risk that an increase in interest rates would lead to higher monthly payments in the future. It's a trade-off. You get a lower rate with an ARM in exchange for assuming more risk.
For many people in a variety of situations, an ARM is the right mortgage choice, particularly if your income is likely to increase in the future or if you only plan on being in the home for three to five years.
Here's some detailed information explaining how ARM's work.
Adjustment Period
With most ARMs, the interest rate and monthly payment are fixed for an initial time period such as one year, three years, five years, or seven years. After the initial fixed period, the interest rate can change every year. For example, one of our most popular adjustable rate mortgages is a five-year ARM. The interest rate will not change for the first five years (the initial adjustment period) but can change every year after the first five years.
Index
Our ARM interest rate changes are tied to changes in an index rate. Using an index to determine future rate adjustments provides you with the assurance that rate adjustments will be based on actual market conditions at the time of the adjustment. The current value of most indices is published weekly in the Wall Street Journal. If the index rate moves up so does your mortgage interest rate, and you will probably have to make a higher monthly payment. On the other hand, if the index rate goes down your monthly payment may decrease.
Margin
To determine the interest rate on an ARM, we'll add a pre-disclosed amount to the index called the "margin." If you're still shopping, comparing one lender's margin to another's can be more important than comparing the initial interest rate, since it will be used to calculate the interest rate you will pay in the future.
Interest-Rate Caps
An interest-rate cap places a limit on the amount your interest rate can increase or decrease. There are two types of caps:
Periodic or adjustment caps, which limit the interest rate increase or decrease from one adjustment period to the next.
Overall or lifetime caps, which limit the interest rate increase over the life of the loan.
As you can imagine, interest rate caps are very important since no one knows what can happen in the future. All of the ARMs we offer have both adjustment and lifetime caps. Please see each product description for full details.
Negative Amortization
"Negative Amortization" occurs when your monthly payment changes to an amount less than the amount required to pay the interest due. If a loan has negative amortization, you might end up owing more than you originally borrowed. None of the ARMs we offer allow for negative amortization.
Prepayment Penalties
Some lenders may require you to pay special fees or penalties if you pay off the ARM early. We never charge a penalty for prepayment.
Contact a Loan Officer
Selecting a mortgage may be the most important financial decision you will make and you are entitled to all the information you need to make the right decision. Don't hesitate to contact a Loan Officer if you have questions about the features of our adjustable rate mortgages.
Origination points are considered a form of interest. Each point is equal to one percent of the loan amount. You pay them, up front, at your loan closing in exchange for a lower interest rate over the life of your loan. This means more money will be required at closing, however, you will have lower monthly payments over the term of your loan.
To determine whether it makes sense for you to pay origination points, you should compare the cost of the origination points to the monthly payments savings created by the lower interest rate. Divide the total cost of the origination points by the savings in each monthly payment. This calculation provides the number of payments you'll make before you actually begin to save money by paying origination points. If the number of months it will take to recoup the origination points is longer than you plan on having this mortgage, you should consider the loan program option that doesn't require origination points to be paid.
The Federal Truth in Lending law requires that all financial institutions disclose the APR when they advertise a rate. The APR is designed to present the actual cost of obtaining financing, by requiring that some, but not all, closing fees are included in the APR calculation. These fees in addition to the interest rate determine the estimated cost of financing over the full term of the loan. Since most people do not keep the mortgage for the entire loan term, it may be misleading to spread the effect of some of these up front costs over the entire loan term.
Also, unfortunately, the APR doesn't include all the closing fees and lenders are allowed to interpret which fees they include. Fees for things like appraisals, title work, and document preparation are not included even though you'll probably have to pay them.
For adjustable rate mortgages, the APR can be even more confusing. Since no one knows exactly what market conditions will be in the future, assumptions must be made regarding future rate adjustments.
You can use the APR as a guideline to shop for loans but you should not depend solely on the APR in choosing the loan program that's best for you. Look at total fees, possible rate adjustments in the future if you're comparing adjustable rate mortgages, and consider the length of time that you plan on having the mortgage.
Don't forget that the APR is an effective interest rate--not the actual interest rate. Your monthly payments will be based on the actual interest rate, the amount you borrow, and the term of your loan.
Mortgage interest rate movements are as hard to predict as the stock market and no one can really know for certain whether they'll go up or down.
If you have a hunch that rates are on an upward trend then you'll want to consider locking the rate as soon as you are able. Before you decide to lock, make sure that your loan can close within the lock-in period. It won't do any good to lock your rate if you can't close during the rate lock period. If you're purchasing a home, review your contract for the estimated closing date to help you choose the right rate lock period. If you are refinancing, in most cases, your loan could close within 30 days. However, if you have any secondary financing on the home that won't be paid off, allow some extra time since we'll need to contact that lender to get their permission.
If you think rates might drop while your loan is being processed, take a risk and let your rate "float" instead of locking. After you apply, you can lock in by contacting your Loan Officer by telephone.
A 15-year fixed rate mortgage gives you the ability to own your home free and clear in 15 years. And, while the monthly payments are somewhat higher than a 30-year loan, the interest rate on the 15-year mortgage is usually a little lower, and more important - you'll pay less than half the total interest cost of the traditional 30-year mortgage.
However, if you can't afford the higher monthly payment of a 15-year mortgage don't feel alone. Many borrowers find the higher payment out of reach and choose a 30-year mortgage. It still makes sense to use a 30-year mortgage for most people.
None of the loan programs we offer have penalties for prepayment. You can pay off your mortgage any time with no additional charges.
General Statement
The interest rate market is subject to movements without advance notice. Locking in a rate protects you from the time that your lock is confirmed to the day that your lock period expires.
Lock-In Agreement
A lock is an agreement by the borrower and the lender and specifies the number of days for which a loan’s interest rate and origination points are guaranteed. Should interest rates rise during that period, we are obligated to honor the committed rate. Should interest rates fall during that period, the borrower must honor the lock.
When Can I Lock?
On-line rate locks are not available. A loan officer can discuss rate lock options with you.
Fees
We do not charge a fee for locking in your interest rate.
Lock Period
On-line rate locks are not available. A loan officer can discuss rate lock options with you.
Lock Confirmation
On-line rate locks are not available. A loan officer can discuss rate lock options with you.
Lock Changes
Once we accept your lock, your loan is committed into a secondary market transaction. Therefore, we are not able to renegotiate lock commitments.
A home loan often involves many fees, such as the appraisal fee, title charges, closing fees, and state or local taxes. These fees vary from state to state and also from lender to lender. Any lender or broker should be able to give you an estimate of their fees, but it is more difficult to tell which lenders have done their homework and are providing a complete and accurate estimate. We take quotes very seriously. We've completed the research necessary to make sure that our fee quotes are accurate to the city level - and that is no easy task!
To assist you in evaluating our fees, we've grouped them as follows:
Third Party Fees
Fees that we consider third party fees include the appraisal fee, the credit report fee, the settlement or closing fee, the survey fee, tax service fees, title insurance fees, flood certification fees, and courier/mailing fees.
Third party fees are fees that we'll collect and pass on to the person who actually performed the service. For example, an appraiser is paid the appraisal fee, a credit bureau is paid the credit report fee, and a title company or an attorney is paid the title insurance fees.
Typically, you'll see some minor variances in third party fees from lender to lender since a lender may have negotiated a special charge from a provider they use often or chooses a provider that offers nationwide coverage at a flat rate. You may also see that some lenders absorb minor third party fees such as the flood certification fee, the tax service fee, or courier/mailing fees.
Taxes and other unavoidables
Fees that we consider to be taxes and other unavoidables include: State/Local Taxes and recording fees. These fees will most likely have to be paid regardless of the lender you choose. If some lenders don't quote you fees that include taxes and other unavoidable fees, don't assume that you won't have to pay it. It probably means that the lender who doesn't tell you about the fee hasn't done the research necessary to provide accurate closing costs.
Lender Fees
Fees such as origination points, document preparation fees, and loan processing fees are retained by the lender and are used to provide you with the lowest rates possible.
This is the category of fees that you should compare very closely from lender to lender before making a decision.
Required Advances
You may be asked to prepay some items at closing that will actually be due in the future. These fees are sometimes referred to as prepaid items.
One of the more common required advances is called "per diem interest" or "interest due at closing." All of our mortgages have payment due dates of the 1st of the month. If your loan is closed on any day other than the first of the month, you'll pay interest, from the date of closing through the end of the month, at closing. For example, if the loan is closed on June 15, we'll collect interest from June 15 through June 30 at closing. This also means that you won't make your first mortgage payment until August 1. This type of charge should not vary from lender to lender, and does not need to be considered when comparing lenders. All lenders will charge you interest beginning on the day the loan funds are disbursed. It is simply a matter of when it will be collected.
If an escrow or impound account will be established, you will make an initial deposit into the escrow account at closing so that sufficient funds are available to pay the bills when they become due.
If your loan requires mortgage insurance, up to two months of the mortgage insurance will be collected at closing. Whether or not you must purchase mortgage insurance depends on the size of the down payment you make.
If your loan is a purchase, you'll also need to pay for your first year's homeowner's insurance premium prior to closing. We consider this to be a required advance.
If you've ever purchased a home before, you may already be familiar with the benefits and terms of title insurance. But if this is your first home loan or you are refinancing, you may be wondering why you need another insurance policy.
The answer is simple: The purchase of a home is most likely one of the most expensive and important purchases you will ever make. You, and especially your mortgage lender, want to make sure the property is indeed yours: That no individual or government entity has any right, lien, claim, or encumbrance on your property.
The function of a title insurance company is to make sure your rights and interests to the property are clear, that transfer of title takes place efficiently and correctly, and that your interests as a homebuyer are fully protected.
Title insurance companies provide services to buyers, sellers, real estate developers, builders, mortgage lenders, and others who have an interest in real estate transfer. Title companies typically issue two types of title policies:
Owner's Policy. This policy covers you, the homebuyer.
Lender's Policy. This policy covers the lending institution over the life of the loan.
Both types of policies are issued at the time of closing for a one-time premium if the loan is a purchase. If you are refinancing your home, you probably already have an owner's policy that was issued when you purchased the property, so we'll only require that a lender's policy be issued.
Before issuing a policy, the title company performs an in-depth search of the public records to determine if anyone other than you has an interest in the property. The search may be performed by title company personnel using either public records or, more likely, the information contained in the company's own title plant.
After a thorough examination of the records, any title problems are usually found and can be cleared up prior to your purchase of the property. Once a title policy is issued, if any claim covered under your policy is ever filed against your property, the title company will pay the legal fees involved in the defense of your rights. They are also responsible to cover losses arising from a valid claim. This protection remains in effect as long as you or your heirs own the property.
The fact that title companies try to eliminate risks before they develop makes title insurance significantly different from other types of insurance. Most forms of insurance assume risks by providing financial protection through a pooling of risks for losses arising from an unforeseen future event, say a fire, accident or theft. On the other hand, the purpose of title insurance is to eliminate risks and prevent losses caused by defects in title that may have happened in the past.
This risk elimination has benefits to both the homebuyer and the title company. It minimizes the chances that adverse claims might be raised, thereby reducing the number of claims that have to be defended or satisfied. This keeps costs down for the title company and the premiums low for the homebuyer.
Buying a home is a big step emotionally and financially. With title insurance, you are assured that any valid claim against your property will be borne by the title company and that the odds of a claim being filed are slim indeed.
First of all, let's make sure that we mean the same thing when we discuss "mortgage insurance." Mortgage insurance should not be confused with mortgage life insurance, which is designed to pay off a mortgage in the event of a borrower's death. Mortgage insurance makes it possible for you to buy a home with less than a 20% down payment by protecting the lender against the additional risk associated with low down payment lending. Low down payment mortgages are becoming more and more popular, and by purchasing mortgage insurance, lenders are comfortable with down payments as low as 3 - 5% of the home's value. It also provides you with the ability to buy a more expensive home than might be possible if a 20% down payment were required.
The mortgage insurance premium is based on loan to value ratio, type of loan, and amount of coverage required by the lender. Usually, the premium is included in your monthly payment and one to two months of the premium is collected as a required advance at closing.
It may be possible to cancel private mortgage insurance at some point, such as when your loan balance is reduced to a certain amount - below 75% to 80% of the property value. Recent Federal Legislation requires automatic termination of mortgage insurance for many borrowers when their loan balance has been amortized down to 78% of the original property value. If you have any questions about when your mortgage insurance could be cancelled, please contact your Loan Officer.
The maximum percentage of your home's value depends on the purpose of your loan, how you use the property, and the loan type you choose, so the best way to determine what loan amount we can offer is to complete our online application!
Closing & Beyond
The closing will take place at the office of a title company or attorney in your area who will act as our agent. If you are purchasing a new home, the seller may also be at the closing to transfer ownership to you, but in some states, these two events actually happen separately.
During the closing you will be reviewing and signing several loan papers. The closing agent or attorney conducting the closing should be able to answer any questions you have or you can feel free to contact your Loan Officer if you prefer.
Just to make sure there are no surprises at closing, your Loan Officer will contact you a few days before closing to review your final fees, loan amount, first payment date, etc.
The most important documents you will be signing at the closing include:
HUD-1 Settlement Statement
This document provides an itemized listing of the final fees charged in connection with your loan. If your loan is a purchase, the settlement statement will also include a listing of any fees related to the transaction between you and the seller. If this loan will be a refinance, the settlement statement will show the pay off amounts of any mortgages that will be paid in full with your new loan. Most items on the statement are numbered according to a standardized system used by all lenders. These numbers will correspond to the numbers listed on the Good Faith Estimate that will be provided in your application package. This document is also commonly known as the closing statement and both the buyer and seller must sign this document.
Truth-in-Lending Statement (TIL)
This document provides full written disclosure of the terms and conditions of a mortgage, including the annual percentage rate (APR) and other fees. It is exactly the same as the TIL that you received immediately after your initial application, except it has been updated to reflect the final rate and fee information. Federal law requires that all lenders provide you with this document at closing.
Note
This is the document you sign to agree to repay your mortgage. The note will provide you with all of the details of your loan including the interest rate and length of time to repay the loan. It also explains the penalties that you may incur if you fall behind in making your payments.
Mortgage / Deed of Trust
This document pledges a property to the lender as security for repayment of a debt. Essentially this means that you will give your property up to the lender in the event that you cannot make the mortgage payments. The Mortgage restates the basic information contained in the note, as well as details the responsibilities of the borrower. In some states, the document is called a Deed of Trust instead of a Mortgage.
If your loan is a refinance, Federal Law requires that you have three days to decide positively that you want a new mortgage after you sign the documents. This means that the loan funds won't be disbursed until three business days have passed. The closing agent will provide more details at the closing.
In some areas of the country it is very customary, and sometimes required by law, to have an attorney represent you at the closing. In other areas, attorneys are not as common at a real estate closing. Please contact the closing agent if you have questions about attorney representation. By all means, we recommend that you have an attorney at the closing if it would make you more comfortable. If your attorney has any questions about your new mortgage, please refer them to your Loan Officer. We'd be happy to provide any information necessary.
The most important documents you will sign at closing are the note and mortgage, sometimes called the deed of trust. Unless there are special circumstances, these documents are usually prepared one to two days before your closing. Other documents are prepared by the closing agent the day before or the day of your closing. If you would like copies of the completed documents to be sent to you after they are prepared, please contact your Loan Officer.
The closing agent acts as our agent and will represent us at the closing. However, your personal Loan Officer will contact you prior to closing to talk about your final documents and to provide a final breakdown of your closing fees. If you have any questions that the closing agent can't answer during the closing, ask them to contact your Loan Officer by phone and we'll get you the answers you need - before the closing is over!
If you won't be able to attend the loan closing, contact your Loan Officer to discuss other options. If someone you trust is able to attend on your behalf, you can execute a Power of Attorney so that this person can sign documents on your behalf. In other cases, we're able to mail you the documents in advance so that you can sign them and forward them to the closing agent. We're sure to have a solution that will work in your circumstances.
We use a nationwide network of closing agents and attorneys to conduct our loan closings. We'll schedule your closing to take place in a location that is located near your home for your convenience.
We'll deliver our loan documents and wire transfer your loan funds to the closing agent or attorney prior to closing so that they'll have plenty of time to prepare for your closing.
Automated monthly payments are available. At the loan closing an automated payment application will be provided. Simply return it at your earliest convenience to enroll in the automated payment program.
NMLS Numbers
As of Aug. 1, 2011, the Secure and Fair Enforcement for Mortgage Licensing Act (SAFE Act) requires all mortgage loan originators of federally regulated lending institutions to register with the Nationwide Mortgage License System and Registry (NMLS Registry). All Southeast Financial mortgage loan officers are registered and have been assigned a unique identification number. This number will stay with them throughout their career.
NMLS Registry Information
View the Southeast Financial Mortgage Loan Originator NMLS numbers in the sidebar on the Mortgage Loans page.
Understanding Reg D
Regulation D limits the number of certain types of transactions on all savings and money market accounts. In other words, all financial institutions are required by regulation to treat all types of transactions differently than a checking account. Savings accounts (non-transaction accounts) are intended to be established for long-term savings with few withdrawals while checking accounts (transaction accounts) are intended to be established for day-to-day use. Checking accounts do not fall under Reg D and there is no monthly limit to automated transfers or withdrawals on them, so this notice does not apply to checking accounts.
Each Southeast Financial savings or money market account is allowed no more than six (6) “Reg D” withdrawals per calendar month from a savings/money market account.
Important Notice: On April 24, 2020, the Federal Reserve Board announced an interim final rule to amend Regulation D (Reserve Requirements of Depository Institutions) to delete the six-per-month limit on convenient transfers from savings accounts. The interim final rule allows financial institutions to immediately suspend enforcement of the six transfer limit and to allow their members/customers to make an unlimited number of convenient transfers and withdrawals from their savings accounts at a time when financial events associated with the coronavirus pandemic have made such access more urgent. We have removed the limit and will update you with any changes.
Primary Membership Savings Accounts
Secondary Savings Accounts
Money Market Accounts
Christmas Club Accounts
Important Notice: On April 24, 2020, the Federal Reserve Board announced an interim final rule to amend Regulation D (Reserve Requirements of Depository Institutions) to delete the six-per-month limit on convenient transfers from savings accounts. The interim final rule allows financial institutions to immediately suspend enforcement of the six transfer limit and to allow their members/customers to make an unlimited number of convenient transfers and withdrawals from their savings accounts at a time when financial events associated with the coronavirus pandemic have made such access more urgent. We have removed the limit and will update you with any changes.
Point of Sale (POS) debit card transactions: Transactions made from a savings account using a debit card at a retail merchant.
Audio Response (PAL) Transfers or Online Banking Transfers: Transfers from a savings account to another savings or checking account using PAL or Online Banking.
Overdraft Protection: Transfers made from a savings account to a checking account to cover an item, such as a check, pre-authorized debit, or a transaction initiated at an ATM or POS.
ACH Debits: A pre-authorized payment from a savings account to pay a third-party item (i.e. auto insurance, electric bill).
Employee Assisted Transfers: A phone request by a member to any of our employees to perform a transfer transaction from a savings account.
Important Notice: On April 24, 2020, the Federal Reserve Board announced an interim final rule to amend Regulation D (Reserve Requirements of Depository Institutions) to delete the six-per-month limit on convenient transfers from savings accounts. The interim final rule allows financial institutions to immediately suspend enforcement of the six transfer limit and to allow their members/customers to make an unlimited number of convenient transfers and withdrawals from their savings accounts at a time when financial events associated with the coronavirus pandemic have made such access more urgent. We have removed the limit and will update you with any changes.
Deposits
ATM cash withdrawals & transfers
In-person withdrawals & transfers
Any transaction from a checking account which does not necessitate an overdraft transfer from a savings account
Transfers to make Southeast Financial loan payments
Overdraft protection for a checking account made from a line of credit
Withdrawal or transfer requests made by mail if made payable to and mailed to the member
Important Notice: On April 24, 2020, the Federal Reserve Board announced an interim final rule to amend Regulation D (Reserve Requirements of Depository Institutions) to delete the six-per-month limit on convenient transfers from savings accounts. The interim final rule allows financial institutions to immediately suspend enforcement of the six transfer limit and to allow their members/customers to make an unlimited number of convenient transfers and withdrawals from their savings accounts at a time when financial events associated with the coronavirus pandemic have made such access more urgent. We have removed the limit and will update you with any changes.
Point of Sale (POS) debit card transactions: Additional authorization requests will be rejected.
Audio Response (PAL) Transfers or Online Banking Transfers: Your request will be rejected.
Overdraft Protection: Funds will not be automatically transferred from your savings account to pay an item if there are insufficient funds in your checking account to cover the amount of the item. Your item will be returned unpaid and an NSF fee will be charged to your account.
ACH Debits: Your ACH debit will be returned unpaid and an NSF fee will be charged to your account.
Employee Assisted Transfers: You will be informed that your limit has been reached and your request cannot be processed at that time.
Important Notice: On April 24, 2020, the Federal Reserve Board announced an interim final rule to amend Regulation D (Reserve Requirements of Depository Institutions) to delete the six-per-month limit on convenient transfers from savings accounts. The interim final rule allows financial institutions to immediately suspend enforcement of the six transfer limit and to allow their members/customers to make an unlimited number of convenient transfers and withdrawals from their savings accounts at a time when financial events associated with the coronavirus pandemic have made such access more urgent. We have removed the limit and will update you with any changes.
There are several ways to manage your account such as:
Open a Checking Account (some restrictions may apply).
Have your direct deposits sent to your checking account, which is not subject to Reg D. You can make unlimited transactions from your checking account.
Arrange for all ACH withdrawals and pre-authorized debits to come out of your checking account instead of a savings account.
Plan ahead and make one large transfer from your savings account instead of several small transfers.
Don’t have a Southeast Financial checking account? Learn more about our checking accounts, then visit any branch or call us at 615-743-3700 or 800-521-9653 to apply.
Important Notice: On April 24, 2020, the Federal Reserve Board announced an interim final rule to amend Regulation D (Reserve Requirements of Depository Institutions) to delete the six-per-month limit on convenient transfers from savings accounts. The interim final rule allows financial institutions to immediately suspend enforcement of the six transfer limit and to allow their members/customers to make an unlimited number of convenient transfers and withdrawals from their savings accounts at a time when financial events associated with the coronavirus pandemic have made such access more urgent. We have removed the limit and will update you with any changes.
EFTPS
The Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS) is a free service from the U.S. Department of the Treasury. EFTPS is a convenient way to make federal tax payments online or by phone, 24/7.
EFTPS is secure and easy to use - enabling you to schedule your payments in minutes.
Businesses can schedule payments once the liability is determined up to 120 days in advance.
Individuals can schedule estimated payments up to 365 days in advance.
1. Gather the following information:
Taxpayer Identification Number (Employer Identification Number or Social Security Number)
Bank account number and routing number
Address and name as they appear on your IRS tax documents
2. Visit www.eftps.gov
Select the Enrollment tab
Select Business or Individual
Enter the requested information and Submit
3. Get your temporary Internet password
After you receive your PIN, call 1-800-982-3526 to get a temporary Internet password.
Payments must be scheduled at least one calendar day prior to the tax due date (before 8:00 p.m. ET). Remember, you can use EFTPS to make all federal tax payments and to review up to sixteen months of your tax payment history.
Online:
Visit www.eftps.gov.
Select "Make a Payment."
Log in with your EIN/SSN/PIN and Internet password.*
Enter the payment information in the step-by-step screens.
When you're finished, save a copy of the payment Confirmation page.**
By Phone:
Call 1-800-555-3453.
Enter your EIN/SSN and PIN.
Press 1 to make a payment.
Follow the prompts to complete your payment.
Record your EFT Acknowledgment Number.
*For your added security, the first time you visit www.eftps.gov, you will be prompted to change this password.
**This contains your EFT Acknowledgment Number that acts as a receipt for your payment instruction.
If a payroll company, accountant, or other third party makes any federal tax payments for you, be sure to review this information with that entity.
EFTPS Customer Service for Individuals 1-800-316-6541
EFTPS Customer Service for Businesses 1-800-555-4477
Wire Transfers
A wire transfer is a type of electronic payment service for transferring funds between financial institutions by wire through the Federal Reserve, the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunications (SWIFT) network, or the Clearing House Interbanks Payment System (CHIPS).
Member Information
Name
Account Number
Phone Number
Purpose of Wire
Financial Institution Information
Name
ABA/Routing Number
SWIFT or Sort Code*
City and State
Intermediary Bank (if applicable)
Payee Information
Name
Address
Account Number
ICAN/CLABE*
Any Additional Instructions
Money Transfer Information
Transfer Amount
Currency*
*Needed for International Wires only
Phone
Call 615-743-3700 or 800-521-9665 to initiate a transfer by phone.
Branch
Visit your nearest branch to initiate a transfer in person.
Domestic
There is a $20 fee for any wire transfers within U.S. states and territories.
International
There is a $55 fee for any funds wired overseas.
Domestic
2:00pm CST
International
10:30am CST
Domestic
Anticipated Receipt: 1-2 business days
International
Anticipated Receipt: 5-7 business days
Southeast Financial does not send wire transfers to Belarus, Cuba, Iran, Sudan, Syria, Yemen or the Crimean Region of Ukraine.
In order to receive a domestic or international wire transfer, provide the following information to the financial institution initiating the transfer:
Name as titled on Southeast Financial account
Account number to which the funds should be credited
Volunteer Corporate Credit Union Routing/ABA Number: 264182395
Southeast Financial's Routing/ABA Number: 264081179
Southeast Financial's address: 220 S Royal Oaks Blvd., Franklin, TN 37064
For international transfers, members should instruct the sending financial institution to use a corresponding bank to facilitate the transfer to your account as Southeast Financial is not part of the SWIFT network. Southeast Financial will only receive transfers in U.S. currency.
There is a $10 fee associated with receiving a wire transfer. Be aware that the financial institution initiating the transfer may charge a fee.
Incoming funds are processed upon receipt and posted to accounts the same day if received prior to 6:30pm.
Funds received after the cutoff will be posted the next business day.
Call us at 800-521-9653 to cancel your transaction. If the wire is still at Southeast Financial, we can cancel it with no fees assessed.
If your wire has already been processed, we can submit a reversal request to the payee's financial institution and attempt to retrieve the funds.
Please note:
Wire transfers are immediate, final, and irrevocable. Reversal attempts may go unanswered.
Fees may be assessed by other financial institutions if the reversal request is successful.
There is no set time frame for receiving a response from the payee's financial institution. Contact Southeast Financial five business days after the initial cancellation to request an update of your inquiry.
Southeast Financial partners with our dedicated correspondent bank to provide exchange rates for converting funds. This rate factors in the cost of exchanging funds in addition to the actual exchange rate. Prior to sending funds to be converted, you'll be quoted an exchange rate. Once agreed to, the rate is "locked" in and will be sent according to the agreed upon rate.
Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunications (SWIFT) and Bank Identifier Codes (BIC) are used to locate and identify financial institutions that are primarily overseas.
An Internationa Bank Account Number (IBAN) is a series of alphanumeric characters that uniquely identifies an account held predominantly by banks in Eurozone countries. Clave Bancaria Esandarizada (CLABE) is a standard 18-digit number for bank accounts in Mexico.
You can obtain any of these numbers by asking the payee for their wiring instructions.