Frequently Asked Questions at Advantage FCU.
(Click on a question to view the answer.)
Advantage Routing Number
What is Advantage FCU routing number?
Our routing number is 222382292
Credit Union vs. Bank
What is the difference between a Credit Union and a Bank?
Credit Unions are financial institutions formed by an organized group of people with a common bond. Members of credit unions pool their assets to provide loans and other financial services to each other.
Credit Unions differ from other banks in several ways:
A Credit Union is Not-for-Profit, owned by its members and operated by a volunteer Board of Directors. A bank is owned by outside stockholders and controlled by a paid Board of Directors.
The above factors allow Advantage FCU to pay dividends to their members (not shareholders) and offer them lower loan rates, higher savings rates and fewer service fees.
The National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) is the federal agency that charters and supervises federal credit unions. They also insure savings in federal and most state-chartered credit unions across the country through the National Credit Union Share Insurance Fund (NCUSIF), a federal fund backed by the full faith and credit of the United States government. Their website is www.ncua.gov
Insurance
Are my funds insured? How? To what amount?
Yes. Just like funds on deposit at a bank are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), credit unions are insured by the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA).
No member has lost one cent of NCUA insured funds as a result of credit union failures. Failures are rare, but NCUA would cover your share account dollar for dollar up to the insured limits of $250,000.
To view coverage chart, go to www.ncua.gov
What are Advantage’s Service Fees?
What are Advantage’s Service Fees?
For more information about Advantage’s Service Fees please Click Here!
Telephone Access
What information is provided on it?
You may check account balances, cleared checks, deposit and withdrawals, interest, dividends and loan information. You can also transfer funds, withdraw funds and much more.
How do I enroll to use Telephone Access?
All you need is your Telephone Access PIN Number to use the telephone system to check your account. Please contact an AFCU representative for a PIN. If you have a smartphone you can download our Mobile App available on the Apple App Store and Google Play.
What is the difference between my PIN Number and Password?
Your PIN Number for Telephone Access is separate from the PIN/Password you program for your ATM/Visa Debit Card. Your Online Banking Password is used for access into Online Banking and it is a set of alpha-numeric characters between 8 and 10 characters long. Members may come into one of the branches to program both PIN and Password, request one to be mailed out, or submit a request online. You will need a PIN number before you use Telephone Access. You will need a Password before you enroll in Online Banking.
Online Banking
How can I change my address?
Members must go in-branch to change and/or update their address.
How do I find my pending transactions?
Click on Account History to view all your past and pending transactions. Those transactions labeled with a ‘pending…’ is still awaiting to be cleared.
How can I see what checks have cleared?
Cleared checks will be under ‘Account History’, you can select a time period and it will show the checks that have cleared and images.
How do I download my information to Quicken?
Under ‘Additional Services’, click Download, select the account and time period and hit submit, it will then download into your selected format.
Can I make payments online?
Yes, you can pay your bills online using our Online Bill Pay Service. It’s really easy. Enter in all of your payee information and schedule the payment.
Can I pay my AFCU loans online?
Absolutely. All you have to do is use the Loan Payment tool under the Transfer tab to make the payment.
How can I pay my Visa Credit Card?
You can pay your Visa through the Transfer tool or Loan Payment tool.
How can I set up an Automatic Transfer?
By clicking Scheduled transfer under the Transfer tab you can click Add New Scheduled Transfer. Be sure to select to have recurring transfers.
Can I get statements online?
Yes. No more Paper! Reduce your clutter and gain electronic access to your statements. View, download & organize statements all online. To access your e-Statements: login to Online Banking, click on e-Services tab and access over 7 years of your statement history.
Online Bill Pay
How much will it cost?
There is NO FEE for the standard Bill Payment service. So, why not take advantage of the convenience of paying your bills online?
How long will it take before my bill gets paid?
Once you have used the Bill Payment feature to pay your bills, it will usually take 1-5 business days for your payments to be received and credited to your accounts.
Each bill that you pay is part of a file that is maintained at the Credit Union. Once each day, that file is transmitted to a third party processor. The processor receives the file and makes the payments on your behalf. They attempt to make all payments electronically, but not all companies or individuals can receive electronic payments. In these instances, an actual paper check is generated and mailed to your payee. For this reason, the time between your transaction on the bill payment system and the time the payment is received by each payee will vary.
What if it has been more than 5 business days and the payee has not received my payment?
Call the credit union and a representative will investigate the status of your payment. We will only investigate payments if the 5 business days have passed.
What do I do if I want to verify receipt of my payment by the payee?
Call the payee, but remember that it may take up to 5 business days for them to receive the payment
Who do I call if I have more questions regarding the Bill Payment feature?
Call the credit union at 585.454.5900 or toll free at 888.454.2328 and press 5 for a Member Service Representative.
Loans
How can I apply?
In several ways: online, over the phone, in person or mail in an application.
How long does it take to get a Loan approval?
Depends on the type of loan. Normal response time is end of the next business day or sooner. Auto loans are usually done before the close of business on the day of application.
If I have bad credit or a bankruptcy, can I still apply for a loan?
Yes. All loan applications are reviewed by an underwriter for approval.
Can I Skip-a-Payment?
We allow our members to skip-a-payment, however every loan is different. To find out the best option for you, please call a Member Service Representative, 585.454.5900, Ext. 5.
What is Summer Skip?
Summer Skip is a unique offer that only Advantage FCU has. This is a great service for 10-month employees who don’t get paid in the summer! It allows you to skip summer months payments!
Wire Transfer
What are the Wire Transfer Instructions?
There are two steps that need to be provided to the sender in order to ensure you receive an incoming wire:
- Advantage Federal Credit Union
70 Metro Park
Rochester, NY 14623
ABA#:222382292
SWIFT: AFCUUS33 - Final credit to Member’s name, account number, address and phone number.
Please see the Forms page for a copy of incoming/outgoing wire transfers.
Does Advantage FCU have a SWIFT CODE for International Wires?
Yes, the SWIFT code is: AFCUUS33
Why hasn't my account been credited?
If an incoming wire has not yet been credited to your account:
Wires are posted throughout the day. Please check your account periodically to see if your wire has been posted.
You may want to call the originating financial institution to verify the date and time the wire was sent.
In order to research an international wire, you must obtain a copy of the original SWIFT message from the originating bank.
The last incoming wire is processed at 3:30pm Monday – Friday (ET) Advantage FCU does not send or receive wires on Saturday, Sundays or Federal Reserve holidays.