FAQs

A credit union is a not-for-profit financial cooperative owned by its members. We exist to serve your financial needs with lower fees, competitive rates, and personalized service. To learn more about The Credit Union Difference, visit here.

Membership is open to qualified individuals based on our field of membership guidelines. You can check eligibility on our Join page or contact Member Services.

You can join at any branch or online by opening a Share (savings) account. Once your membership is open, you'll have access to all products and services.

Yes. Opening membership requires a minimum of $5 deposited and maintained in a Share (savings) account. This deposit represents your ownership share in the credit union.

1. Visit the Online Banking Registration page
2. Complete the form (refer to your new account document for your member number)
3. You must read and agree to the Terms & Conditions in order to submit your information.
4. Click Complete Sign up.

1. Download the First Atlantic Mobile Banking app from the iOS App Store for Apple or Google Play for Android.
2. Tap Sign Up at the bottom left of the screen.
3. Complete the form (refer to your new account document for your member number)
4. You must read and agree to the Terms & Conditions in order to submit your information.
5. Click Complete Sign up.

Use the Forgot link on the login page for both online and mobile banking. You'll need to enter your registered phone number to receive a temporary password or your registered email address to receive your username.

Yes. Mobile check deposit is available in our mobile app.

Text Message Banking lets you quickly access basic account information using simple text commands from your mobile phone. When you text our short code, you’ll receive a reply with the requested account details.

To enroll, you must be registered for Online Banking and have your mobile phone available.

To activate your phone number:

1. Log in to Online Banking
2. Go to My Settings
3. Under Login & Security, select Edit next to Security Options
4. Add the mobile number you want to receive text messages
5. Enter your Online Banking password to save your changes

Once your phone number is activated, you can begin using text commands.

After enrolling, you can text the following commands to 454545. This is a free service; standard message and data rates from your mobile carrier may apply.

• BAL – Get the balance of your primary account
• BAL ALL – Get balances for all your FAFCU accounts
• BAL SAV – Get your savings account balance
• BAL CHK – Get your checking account balance
• LAST – View recent transactions on your primary account
• HELP – Receive a list of available commands and instructions
• STOP – Unenroll from Text Message Banking

Text alerts notify you about important account activity in real time, helping you stay informed and in control.

You can receive alerts for:

• Low balances
• Large withdrawals
• Balance updates
• Loan due date reminders
• And more

You can also customize alert thresholds. The default alert amount is $100, but you can set your own. 

To manage your alerts on Desktop:

1. Log in to Online Banking
2. Click Notifications > Settings
3. Select Alerts & Notifications

To manage your alerts on the Mobile App:

1. Tap the gear icon to open Settings
2. Select Push Notifications

For balance alerts, you can choose how often you’d like to receive notifications:

• Weekly
• Every two weeks
• Monthly
• Bi-monthly
• Every three months
• Every six months
• Annually

Alerts begin processing at 9:00 AM, and messages are typically delivered within the hour.

You can update the contact information for your account by visiting a branch or logging into online banking or the mobile app.

In the mobile app, go to More and select the tool gear icon in the upper right. Select My Settings. You will need to choose a verification method either through a text, phone call, or authenticator to proceed and edit your address, phone number, and/or email address.

If you hold a joint account with someone else and you both move to a new location, you both need to update your account information.

In online and mobile banking, select Order Checks under Account Services. You will be prompted to select the account you wish to order checks for. You'll be brought to our check ordering page where you can select from a variety of check options and designs, as well as accessories such as checkbook covers, registers, address labels, and pens.

A $2 fee is charged per statement each month if you are not enrolled in e-statements. To avoid the fee, enroll in e-statements by the 15th of the month. If you enroll between the 1st and 15th, you will not be charged for that month; if you enroll after the 15th, the fee will still be applied at month-end. The fee is waived for members under 19 or over 64 years old.

A $10 monthly inactivity fee is charged if you have not initiated any transactions within a 90-day period. The 90-day timeframe is measured up to the last business day of each month. For example, if no transactions occur during the 90 days leading up to month-end, the fee will be applied. You can avoid the fee by maintaining an aggregate deposit balance of $250 or more, or by having an active loan, credit card, CD, or IRA account. The fee is charged per member, not per account.

A Savings Secured Loan allows you to borrow against your savings, while a Savings Secured Credit Card sets your credit limit based on your deposit. Both options help you build or establish credit when payments are made on time.

We offer auto loans, mortgages, home equity loans, home equity lines of credit, personal loans, and more. Visit our Borrow section for details and rate information.

To make a loan payment, choose the option that works for you.

Online Payment Options:

Log in to Online or Mobile Banking for the options below.

• Transfer from your FAFCU account (no fee, fast, & easy)
• Transfer from another financial institution account (no fee, requires setup)
• Pay with a debit card (fee applies)

Assisted Payment Options:

• Set up ACH - recurring or one-time payment (fee applies, requires form)
• Set up Bill Pay through another financial institution
• Call to transfer from your FAFCU account
• Mail a check
• Visit a branch

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Tranfer from your FAFCU account

1. Go to Transfer > Internal Account Transfer
    

Transfer from another financial institution account

1. Go to Pay > Make Loan Payment
2. Select Pay from bank account

First-Time Set-Up: 

1. Under I want to, select Manage External Accounts
2. Select +Add an account
3. Two micro-deposits will be sent to your external account within 1-3 days, and you will need to verify these amounts through our online banking or mobile app.
    

Pay with a Debit Card

1. Go to Pay > Make Loan Payment
2. Select Pay by debit card

Fee: $25
Limit: $750
 

Set Up ACH

1. Complete the ACH Authorization Form (online or PDF)
2. Submit with a voided check to service@fafcu.com OR mail it to our Eatontown location.

Set-Up Options: Recurring (automatic payments) or one-time (form kept on file for future use; must call during business hours to instruct us to process it)
Fee: $20 per request

Set Up Bill Pay

Set up a Bill Pay with your external bank. Remember to schedule your payment with your external bank early enough so you do not incur a late charge. Bill Pay requests are usually sent by paper check so please allow time for the mail to deliver the payment to us. 

Call to Request an Internal Transfer

Call us at 732-380-3600 during business hours and request an internal transfer of funds from an existing First Atlantic FCU account.
 
 

Mail a Check 

Make a check payable to First Atlantic Federal Credit Union and mail it to:

ATTN: LOAN PAYMENT
FIRST ATLANTIC FCU
468 INDUSTRIAL WAY W
EATONTOWN NJ 07724
 

Visit a Branch

Visit a branch to make your payment in person.

Online and ACH payments are faster, more secure, and more convenient than mailing a check. You can avoid mail delays, reduce the risk of late payments, and even set up automatic payments so your loan is always paid on time without the extra hassle. To get set up with ACH, complete this fillable form or this online form.

Yes, however, any payment received more than 10 days before the due date will be applied to principal and will not be credited toward the current month’s required payment.

If your auto or personal loan payment is less than the full amount due, it may still be applied to your loan, but it won’t count as a full monthly payment. This can affect your due date and may result in additional interest. If the full payment is not received within the grace period, as per the contract, a late charge may apply. To avoid fees and keep your loan on track, we recommend paying the remaining balance as soon as possible.

Partial payments are not accepted for real estate or commercial loans. If a payment is received for less than the full amount due, the funds will be placed in an unapplied account and will not be credited toward your loan. To ensure your payment is applied properly, the full payment amount must be received.

Your payoff amount includes interest that accrues daily. Because of this, payoff quotes are only valid for a specific date. If payment is made after that date, a small remaining balance may exist. We recommend requesting an updated payoff before submitting your final payment.

Please send an email with your request to loanservicing@fafcu.com with the subject line "Payoff".

Titles are released within 14 days of the loan payoff date to the last known address on file in our system.