Got a question about PC Online Banking? Here are a few answers that should help make your online banking session go a little smoother.
- What is Online Banking?
- How do I get a Personal Identification Number (PIN) to access Bay Cities Credit Union’s Online Banking?
- Can I pay my bills using Online Banking?
- How much does Online Banking cost?
- What type of computer do I need to use Online Banking?
- Why can I only use certain web browsers?
- Is Online Banking safe? Are my accounts secure?
- Can anyone else see my account information? Is my information publicly available?
- How current is the information I obtain through Online Banking?
- Having trouble getting your Online Banking password to work?
- I’ve logged into Online Banking. What do I do now?
- I get an error message trying to use Bay Cities Credit Union’s Online Banking. What’s the deal?
- Can I download Quicken or MS Money Active Statement files?
- Why are there all of these *s on my statement copies?
- When I click on the deposit button, why doesn’t it show deposits I made to my account?
- I’m all through with my Online Banking session. What do I do now?
Have a question that didn’t make our list, but should? Let us know by writing to us at info@baycities.org. We’ll not only write back promptly with an answer, we’ll also consider your question as one of the most frequently asked.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Online Banking is an electronic service providing members virtually 24-hour access to their accounts through the Internet using a personal computer with no fee. Online Banking provides account information similar to that currently offered through our BayLineTM 24/7 automated phone system. With both Online Banking and BayLineTM 24/7, members can obtain account histories, make transfers and loan payments, verify the status of new loan requests and much more.
How do I get a Personal Identification Number (PIN) to access Online Banking?
Sign up online using this form, or Contact us and we will send you a temporary PIN. You will need to complete and fax or mail the Member Release letter back to us. Once the acknowledgement has been received, we will mail you confirmation that the account has been activated for Online banking. Use the temporary PIN to sign on to Online Banking and you will be prompted to enter a different, more permanent and private PIN. From there you can access your account online.
Can I pay my bills using Online Banking?
Yes. Bill Payer Plus allows you to schedule payments, use multiple checking accounts, review payment histories and much more. To view information about Bill Payer Plus please click here!
How much does Online Banking cost?
We do not assess any fees for using Online Banking. However, all general account fees apply to Online Banking.
What type of computer do I need to use Online Banking?
To connect to Online Banking, you will need a personal computer with:
- Internet access (28.8 Kb or higher recommended)
- Monitor resolution of 800×600 or higher
- One of the following web browsers* installed:
- MS Internet Explorer version 4.01 or higher
- Netscape Navigator version 4.5 or higher
- America Online version 4.0 or higher
* We do not recommend using non-general release versions of these products.
If your computer system meets the above requirements, you will need your member number and PIN to access your Bay Cities account(s) from the comfort and convenience of your Online, office or other location.
Why can I only use certain web browsers?
For security purposes, Bay Cities Online Banking system requires that your web browser support Secure Sockets Layer (SSL). Browsers that are SSL enabled contain the necessary encryption algorithms to “scramble” the information that is transmitted between you and Bay Cities’ computer system. This ensures the confidentiality of information you submit electronically. Additionally, non-general release versions typically have “issues” that can cause problems during your online banking session.
Is Online Banking safe? Are my accounts secure?
We have taken many steps to ensure that your financial transactions are secure when you are conducting Online Banking through the Internet. The two most important security features of Online Banking are your PIN and your SSL (secure socket layer) enabled browser.
Online Banking PIN:
Your PIN is known only to you. Without it, you cannot access your account through Online Banking. For your protection, we recommend that you memorize your PIN and do not write it down. You should never give your PIN to anyone or let anyone see you enter your PIN when you are logging into Online Banking. In addition, we recommend that you periodically change and do not use easily identifiable PINs.
To enhance the security of your PIN, when you enter the Online Banking system, you will have only a limited number of times to input your PIN. If you exceed the limit, Online Banking will deny you entry into the system, even if you enter the PIN correctly. If you accidentally become blocked from entering Online Banking, give us a call at (510) 690-6100.
If you think your PIN may have been compromised or you notice any unusual activity on your account, contact us immediately at (510) 690-6100. Keep all documents that include your account information in a secure place, so that confidential information cannot be obtained by others. These documents include ATM receipts, account statements, your ATM PIN, and your BayLineTM 24/7 PIN.
SSL Enabled Browsers:
Your SSL enabled browser contains the necessary encryption algorithms to “scramble” the information that is transmitted between you and Bay Cities’ computer system. This ensures the confidentiality of information you submit electronically.
Can anyone else see my account information? Is my information publicly available?
Online Banking requires a correct account number and PIN to access confidential account information stored on our computer system. Unless you share your PIN with someone else, no one other than you will be able to access your account information through Online Banking. For security purposes, we recommend that you memorize your PIN and do not write it down. In addition, to enhance security over your account information we recommend that you periodically change your PIN.
If you think your PIN may have been compromised or you notice any unusual activity on your account, contact us immediately at (510) 690-6100. Keep all documents that include your account information in a secure place, so that confidential information cannot be obtained by others. These documents include ATM receipts, account statements, your ATM PIN, and your BayLineTM 24/7 PIN.
How current is the information I obtain through Online Banking?
The information available to you through Online Banking is the exact information stored on our computer system at the time you sign on to Online Banking. The information you receive through Online Banking is the same account information you would receive if you inquired about your accounts in a service center or through ATM or BayLineTM 24/7. During business hours, any transactions you initiate through Online Banking will be posted to your account immediately on our computer system. During non-business hours, withdrawals and deposits immediately update the “Available” amount in the affected account, but the actual “Balance” is not updated until the start of the next business day. In either case however, if you transferred funds from your savings account to your checking account, the funds would be immediately available in your checking account. After transferring funds, you could immediately initiate a withdrawal at an ATM or through BayLineTM 24/7 or through a teller at a service center.
Having trouble getting your Online Banking password to work?
Here are a couple of tips for signing on to Online Banking:
- To access Online Banking, just enter your account number.
- Next you will enter your temporarily assigned PIN and click to sign on.
- You will automatically be prompted to enter a new PIN. It must be at least 6 to 10 characters long. It can be alpha-numeric and is case sensitive.
If you continue to have difficulties signing on to Online Banking, just give us a call and we will walk you through the process.
I’ve logged into Online Banking. What do I do now?
Most screens in Online Banking have a help button to assist you with questions about using the system. Pressing this button will open another window explaining the screen that you are in. Help windows are designed to guide you through Online Banking so you can find the information you are looking for. It will also guide you through completing transactions such as transfers or requesting a withdrawal from your account to be mailed to you using a credit union share draft. If you have a question about Online Banking that doesn’t seem to be answered in the help screens, please give us a call and we will do our best to assist you.
I get an error message trying to use Bay Cities Credit Union’s Online Banking. What’s the deal?
Bay Cities Credit Union’s Online Banking was designed to deliver immediate, hassle-free access to your accounts — the first time, and every time you sign on. But on rare occasions, the ride isn’t quite as smooth as that — and you’ll encounter an unusual (sometimes cryptic) error message. In some cases you can perform an instant fix that gets you back on track quickly. Other times, though — especially if we’re having challenges on our end — we have to beg your patience. Here is a list of the most common error messages you may have received:
“There has been a problem during transit.” Here’s an error message that, usually, you can do something about. It often occurs when your browser is not set up to store a small, temporary “cookie” on your computer — necessary for proper Online Banking functioning. If you turned down an invitation to “accept cookies” when signing on, go back, sign on again, and choose to “accept cookies.” Other times, though, the error message pops up when you use your browser’s “Back” or “Refresh” buttons, instead of the navigation buttons provided on-screen. In this case, the solution is to click “Log Off” in the Online Banking session to return to the “Log In” screen, sign in again, and proceed to use Online Banking without using your browser’s “Back” or “Refresh” buttons.
“This transaction has either been cancelled or completed.” Don’t be fooled by the misleading language with this one. The real source of the problem? Just like the case above, chances are you used your browser’s “Back” button during the course of a Online Banking transaction. To avoid the message, always use the “Next” and “Prev” navigation buttons provided by the PC Online Banking Application. To recover from the error message, it will be necessary to sign on to PC Online Banking again from scratch. It would be a good idea to confirm that the transaction was not completed before performing it again.
“You are not authorized to access the system at this time.” Your access level to the Online Banking Application has been restricted altogether. Restoring full access to the system will usually require you to contact Bay Cities Credit Union at (510) 690-6100 during business hours to remedy the situation.
“This function is not available to you, for assistance please contact your credit union.” This message is very misleading and happens during a transfer process. After you enter the amount that you want to transfer, if you hit the “Enter” key instead of clicking on the “Next” button, the transaction will not be processed and you will get the above message. Simply repeat the transfer process and click on “Next” to complete the transaction.
“Problem Signing On — Sorry, you are not authorized to access the system at this time. Contact your financial institution for details.” You will need to contact Bay Cities Credit Union to have access turned on to this feature and get a temporary PIN.
Can I download Quicken or MS Money Active Statement files?
Yes. In each account’s “View More” area you will see a “Download” button. You have the option of downloading in Quicken, MS Money, or MS Excel comma-delimited format. When you are prompted to open or save the file you should always save the file to your hard drive. Follow your applications instructions for importing the statement file and reconciling your account.
Why are there all of these *s on my statement copies?
As an additional security measure, Online Banking eliminates certain confidential information from your statement (such as account number, social security number and complete address) before transmitting statement copies from the Bay Cities Credit Union computer system to your personal computer.
I’m all through with my Online Banking session. What do I do now?
Once you’ve completed your session on Online Banking just click on the “Goodbye” icon and the system will log you off. If you forget to click the “Goodbye” icon or you step away from your computer while you are on line, don’t worry. As an additional security measure, if there is no activity for a ten-minute period while you are logged onto Online Banking, the system will automatically log you off. This will prevent other individuals from coming up to your computer and accessing your account information if you forget to log off when you are finished using Online Banking.
