With Courtesy Pay, SMCU Has You Covered.
In today’s fast-paced world, juggling the many responsibilities of everyday life can pose a challenge. Tasks as simple as making a deposit or balancing a checkbook can easily be forgotten. That’s why SMCU offers Courtesy Pay—a step beyond overdraft protection.
This special service helps safeguard your good credit while offering protection from:
- Non-sufficient funds (NSF) items
- Merchant returned-check charges
- Collection agency fees
COURTESY PAY FAQs
What is Courtesy Pay?
Courtesy Pay is an expanded measure of protection for your SMCU checking account. It may cover insufficient funds created by checks, pre-authorized/automatic debits, point-of-sale transactions made with your Visa® Direct Check Card or ATM Card, or ATM transactions that exceed your approved limit.
Instead of returning a merchant check or declining a transaction due to insufficient funds, SMCU may pay the overdraft—saving you both collection-company charges and non-sufficient funds fees. What’s more, Courtesy Pay eliminates the possible embarrassment of having an item returned.
How does Courtesy Pay work?
SMCU may cover overdrafts on your share draft/checking account up to a limit of $500—including the amount of the overdrawn item(s) and the Courtesy Pay fee(s). A $27 fee will be assessed for each item that takes your account to a negative balance. You then have up to 30 days to make the account current, either through Direct Deposit, transfer of funds, or a deposit at one of our branches.
What if I have overdraft protection?
If you have SMCU’s traditional overdraft protection, it will be activated in the order in which it was established. If no overdraft protection is in place or if it has been depleted, Courtesy Pay may pay your overdraft.
Do I have to apply for this service?
No application or additional signatures are required. As long as you are an SMCU member-owner in good standing*, you may qualify for Courtesy Pay privileges. If you are eligible, you will receive a letter notifying you of $500 in Courtesy Pay coverage on your account.
*You have a share draft/checking account with SMCU for at least 60 days, you make regular deposits to that account, you bring your account to a positive balance whenever necessary, and there are no legal orders against the account.
Will Courtesy Pay cover all my overdrafts?
As long as you maintain your SMCU membership in good standing and have received a letter from us confirming that you have Courtesy Pay coverage, your overdrafts will be covered up to $500. SMCU reserves the right not to pay an overdraft with Courtesy Pay.
How can I get more information?
For additional details on the benefits of Courtesy Pay, call DirectAssist at (650) 363-1725 or (888) 363-1725.
To sign up for free Financial Education seminars or to find out how SMCU can present one for free at your school or organization, call us at 
