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BILLPAY BY CHECKFREE

How do I enroll for BillPay?

Simply complete the online enrollment procedures.

How much does BillPay cost?

BillPay is FREE to all First State Bank customers with a checking account.

Will my money be safe?

CheckFree, the provider of our BillPay service, establishes a secure connection between your browser and the Bill Payment Processing Center. Everything you transmit to Web BillPay is encrypted using 128-bit Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) technology.

Is using CheckFree safe?

Our BillPay service is operated by CheckFree, the largest and most respected bill payment service provider in the country. CheckFree's Bill Payment Processing Center supports a 24 hour a day/7 days a week non-stop operation with state-of-the-art monitoring. It is equipped with the latest in firewall and security technology, and is supported by a combination of reliable, fault-tolerant, and redundant servers that provide optimal system availability.

Do I need any special software or hardware to use the BillPay service?

To use the BillPay service, you only need a browser capable of 128-bit U.S. Security Encryption installed on your PC, e.g., the latest version of either Microsoft's Internet Explorer or Netscape's Navigator. If you do not have sufficient browser encryption, you will receive an "Insufficient Browser Encryption" error message when you try to log on to the BillPay service. In addition to the error message, you will be provided with links to sites where you can obtain the required encryption upgrades for your browser.

Who can I pay using the BillPay service?

You can pay any individual or entity, except as listed below, as long as the individual or entity has an address in the United States or its possessions/territories (i.e., American Samoa, Guam, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, N. Mariana Islands, Palau, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands) or be receiving mail at an FPO or APO address (APO - Abroad, APO - America or APO - Pacific). Payee examples include but are not limited to: your monthly telephone bill, rent, credit card bills, day care, or sending a check to your son/daughter who's away at college. The following payment types are not available through this Service: Tax Payments, Court Ordered Payments and Payments to Payees outside of the United States or its possessions/territories as detailed above.

What happens if someone gets into my bill payment account and schedules unauthorized transactions?

Through the CheckFree Guarantee, as long as you notify CheckFree within two (2) business days of when you first suspect fraud, your liability for unauthorized transactions is limited to only $50. This is similar to the protection provided by most major credit cards.

What happens if my payment is not made on time?

With the CheckFree Guarantee, if the Service does not properly complete a bill payment on time, they will pay any late fees or finance charges (up to $50 per transaction) and resolve any credit issues, as long as your account is in good standing with the merchant. They will also be liable to you if they fail to stop a payment based on your timely order to do so. However, you are responsible for scheduling your bill payment sufficiently in advance of its due date, not its late date, to avoid the imposition of late fees and excess finance charges, in accordance with the Service Terms and Conditions.

The CheckFree screen is very small. Is there a way to make it larger?

Yes. Use your F11 key to enhance the size of the page.

When is the money for my payments taken out of my account?

Your account will be debited on your scheduled payment date. If a payment is sent via laser draft, funds will be debited similar to a personal check (when the check is presented for payment).

How is the payment sent to my Payee?

You will not always know if your payment is sent electronically or by paper check. While many payments will be made electronically, some payees cannot receive electronic payments (such as individuals). Those payees will be sent payments by paper check. For other payments, the Service will choose one of three payment methods to process your payments. Which method is used will depend on many variables; however, all transactions will be itemized on your monthly statement.

The three payment methods are:

1. Electronic - Funds are electronically paid to the payee on the payment date you specify. An electronic credit is sent to your payee, and an electronic debit is made to your account.

2. Electronic to check or Corporate check- A check is drawn on a CheckFree account and mailed to your payee several days prior to the payment date you specify. Funds are transferred electronically from your account to a CheckFree account on the payment date you specify.

3. Laser-printed check - A check drawn on your account. The check is printed on safety paper with a pre-assigned check number. When the payee cashes the check, your account will be debited.

What happens to my canceled checks from CheckFree? Will they be included in my statement?

Laser printed drafts will be included in your statement and are processed exactly like a personal check. Copies of Corporate checks (single or consolidated remittance) are maintained by CheckFree and can be provided by request. For Electronic payment, CheckFree maintains the electronic data, which is available by request.

Can I print out a copy of a check?

It is not possible to print the actual check, you can however print the detail page the check is on for reference. Contact CheckFree, they can send you a copy of the check. Reprints of CheckFree checks cannot be requested using the Request Check Reprint option offered on the Online Banking website.

What is the cut-off time for entering payments?

The cut-off time is 8 PM (Eastern Time). Payments scheduled after 5 PM will be processed for the next business day. The earliest possible date to schedule a payment (four business days from today if before 8 PM Eastern Time) will be pre-filled on your payment screen.

How many days does it take for my payment to reach the Payee?

While it is anticipated that most transactions will be processed four (4) Business Days before your selected Scheduled Payment Date, it is understood that, due to circumstances beyond the control of the Service, i.e. delays in handling and posting payments by slow responding companies or financial institutions, some transactions may take a day or even a few days longer to be credited by your Payee to your account with the Payee. For this reason, it is necessary that all Scheduled Payment Dates selected by you be no less than five Business Days before the actual due date, not a late date and/or a date in the grace period. (For example, the payment should be entered no later than Monday before 8 p.m., Eastern Time [ET], for a payment to arrive on Friday.) Payment Instructions entered after the 8:00 p.m. ET Cutoff Time or on a non-Business Day will be considered entered in the Service on the next Business Day. If you properly follow the procedures described herein, and the Service fails to send a payment according to the Payment Instructions received, the Service will bear responsibility for all late charges (up to $50 per late payment). In any other event, including but not limited to choosing a Scheduled Payment Date which is not five Business Days before the due date or on or past the due date stated on your invoice or bill, the risk of incurring and the responsibility for paying any and all late charges or penalties shall be borne by you.

How do I know if a payment has been sent?

A list of all bill payment transactions is listed in the Payment List (under Bills). Payments are either designated as:

"Pending", meaning the payment has not been processed,

"Processing", meaning the payment is in process, or

"Processed" if the payment has already been sent.

If the status is "Processed", the process date is given as well as the check number, if the payment was sent by laser check.

What do I do if my payee never received my payment?

If you have a question regarding a payment, use the Inquire feature within Payment Detail to send a Problem Report to CheckFree. The Problem Report will be sent by e-mail. Please provide a payee contact name (if possible), address, and phone number. CheckFree will respond to your inquiry within 48 hours. Check View Messages on your CheckFree homepage for responses.

Does CheckFree put a hold on funds that will be needed for scheduled payments?

No. BillPay payment processing does not allow CheckFree to secure funds for payments before sending the payment to the payee. CheckFree does however conduct standard credit screening on the Service Providers Customers. CheckFree will not limit Service Accounts based on credit scoring but does set credit limits on the dollar amount and number of electronic payments processed on the subscriber's account per month. All payments will be initiated regardless of risk as long as the account is active and in good standing.

How do I view my scheduled payments?

Your Payment List is found under Payment Activity. The payment list shows all of the payments you have scheduled through the service for the past 30 days and 30 days into the future. The list can be filtered by payee, date range, category, payment account and status.

How long does it take for a payment to appear on the payment list?

By default the bill payment transactions for all payees are listed for the date range 30 days in the past and 30 days in the future. For example if you write a check on 4/5 and request the payment to be paid on 5/11, the payment will not show the pending payment until 4/11, 30 days prior to payment.

How can I find out the term of a recurring payment?

Go into Make Payments then to Repeating Payments. Here you can view a list of your recurring payments.

How do I cancel a payment that I have already scheduled? What if the payment has already been sent?

Select Payment Activity. Click on the Cancel link next to the payment you wish to cancel, then select Yes to confirm your action. Note: if your payment is in process or has already been processed, you will not be able to cancel your payment online. In this case you will need to place a Stop Payment. Call CheckFree Customer Care. They may, in some instances, be able to stop the payment manually.

How can I contact CheckFree?

CheckFree, the provider of our BillPay service was established in 1981 and provides electronic processing to around 2.6 million consumers. For expedient customer care, you can contact CheckFree using the BillPay Messages feature or through regular Internet mail at payinfo@checkfree.com.

You can also write or fax CheckFree at:

CheckFree Payment Services
P.O. Box 182477
Columbus, Ohio 43218-2477
Fax: 614-564-3444

For payment inquires you may also call CheckFree Customer Care at: 1-800-268-5652

What if I do not have an account number for one of my Payees?

Sometimes you will want to set up a Payee with whom you do not have an actual account number. In these cases, simply type in an appropriate annotation (e.g., if paying the dentist for your child's orthodontic work, you could type in "Pat's orthodontic work" or "Pat's 10/15 appointment"; if sending money as a birthday gift, you could type in "Happy Birthday") Note: The maximum length for this account number field is 25 alphanumeric characters.

Do I need to contact each of my Payees and let them know that I am going to be using an automated bill pay system to pay them?

No, this is not necessary.

What do I do if one of my Payees address changes?

Click on the Payee Setup button on the main menu, then select the View/Change Payees option next to the payee you would like to change. Here you will be able to change the address for any Payee you select. Use the system online help for additional assistance, if needed.

Can I schedule a payment in advance? How far in advance can I schedule a payment?

Yes. You can schedule a payment up to one year in advance of the payment due date. Do not forget to allow five business days between the scheduled payment date and the due date. A good example of when you might use a payment that far in advance could be to pay annual dues to an organization or association, or to send a "birthday or anniversary" check to someone special. To state "Happy Birthday" on the check simply type this in the account number field. The Account Number field cannot be left blank.

What about payments I make every month for the same amount? How can I do this easily without repeating the payment request every month?

You can establish a recurring payment; a recurring payment must be made at a specified frequency (e.g., weekly, biweekly, monthly, quarterly, tri-annually, semi-annually, or yearly) for the same amount each occurrence. Use the online help for assistance in setting up a recurring payment.

How does the payment post to my checking account and appear on my statement?

The payment may be deducted from your Payment Account by two methods:

1. via an electronic debit through the Automated Clearing House Association (ACH), or

2. via a draft drawn on your account and processed through the Federal Reserve System (as if you had written a check drawn on your checking account.)

The payment deduction method is determined systematically based upon CheckFree's operating procedures. All bill payments debited from your account will appear on your monthly statement. ACH debits will reflect the name of the Payee (e.g., XYZ Utility Company) as well as the date and amount; however, laser drafts will be reflected on your statement with simply a date and check number. All payments can be viewed with the Payee's name, payment amount and payment date by reviewing your recent payment history under the Payment Activity option provided to you as part of the service.

Can I place a stop payment on a BillPay payment?

Yes, at certain times during the payment scheduling period, but only under the following conditions: A bill payment is "In Process," starting at the Cutoff Time on the fifth (5th) Business Day prior to the Scheduled Payment Date and continuing up to the Scheduled Payment Date. A bill payment is a "Pending Payment," starting from the time you enter Payment Instructions until the payment is "In Process." A bill payment is considered "Completed" on the Business Day you selected as the Scheduled Payment Date. You may cancel or edit any Pending Payment (including recurring bill pay payments) by following the directions provided on the system online Help. There is no charge for canceling or editing a Pending Payment. Please note: CheckFree may not have a reasonable opportunity to act on any stop payment or cancellation order given after a payment is "In Process" and it is not possible to stop or cancel a payment which is "Completed." If you desire to cancel or stop any payment which is "In Process" you must call CheckFree Customer Care. Although they will make every effort to accommodate your request, they will have no liability for failing to do so. Stop payment requests sent to CheckFree via electronic mail or in any other manner will not received in time for them to act on your request. Stop payment requests will be accepted only if there is a reasonable opportunity to act on such a stop payment order. If you call, they may also require you to present your request in writing within fourteen (14) days after you call. The charge for each stop payment order will be the current charge for such service as defined in the Fee Schedule.

How do I change my CheckFree user name and password?

User name. To change your user name:

1. Click on the My Profile

2. Click on Change under the User Name and Password area

3. Enter your current password in the Current Password box

4. Enter your new user name in the New User Name box and click Save Changes.

Password. To change your password:

1. Click on the My Profile

2. Click on Change under the User Name and Password area

3. Enter your current password in the Current Password box

4. Enter your new password in the New Password and Confirm New Password boxes. Your password can be 4 to 20 characters in any alphabetical and/or numeric combination.

5. Click on Save Changes

Remember: Your user name and password will be case-sensitive, so you must enter both the user name and password exactly as you created them to access the service (i.e. all lower case)

What if I want to change my address or billing account for the Service?

You can change the address on your account by clicking on My Profile. Please contact First State Bank's Internet Banking department at (305) 296-8535 if you wish to change the billing account for the BillPay service.

How do I terminate or discontinue the BillPay service?

In the event you wish to discontinue the Service, please contact First State Bank's Internet Banking department at 305-296-8535.

ELECTRONIC BILLS (E-Bills)

What are E-Bills?

E-Bills are bills sent to you electronically by the payee. You can choose to either to have the BillPay service pay the bills automatically (under a predetermined amount) through E-Bill Auto-Pay, or pay the bills according to your schedule or amount. Note: Not all merchants are set up for the E-Bill service. E-Bill capable merchants are indicated by an asterisk (*) in the pre-defined payee list.

How do I set up my payee for E-Bills?

All payees that can be set up for E-Bills will have a Sign-up link next to their name on the Payee Setup page. To view a list of payees that can send E-Bills, click on the E-Bills option.

What do I do with the part of the invoice or bill that I usually mail back to the Payee with my payment? Doesn't the vendor need that to process my payment?

No. You can simply throw that part away. All of the necessary information is provided by CheckFree to the Payee with each payment.

Should I continue to pay my bill from a particular E-Biller with a check until I receive my first E-Bill from that biller?

Yes. You should continue paying your bill as usual until you receive your bill through your online service. Most billers will use their established billing cycle, so you should receive your E-Bill around the same time of the month that you receive your paper bill now. If you have already paid your bill using a check and your first E-Bill is a duplicate, you can just file it away and pay your next bill using the service.

How do I know when I have new E-Bills to pay?

When you log on into your BillPay account, you'll see the number of new bills, statements, and notices you've received. Also, you receive a reminder e-mail to notify you of new bills in your account mailbox if they have not been viewed within four days of delivery.

Will I still receive a paper bill in the mail from the E-Biller?

It depends on the payee. Some payees stop sending a paper bill and only send an e-bill to your CheckFree account. Other payees continue to send paper bills through U.S. mail in addition to an e-bill to your CheckFree account. You can print out any bill if you would like to keep a paper copy for your records. Your bills, statements, and notices are available online for six months from their arrival date; then they are archived. If you need any of these documents after six months you can obtain them by contacting CheckFree Customer Care.

When will I expect to receive my E-Bill each month?

You can expect to receive your bill at approximately the same time of the month that your paper bill arrives now.

If I don't understand something on my E-bill what should I do?

You have two choices for contacting an E-Biller: you can look in your bill for a telephone number or you can fill out an online support form. To send a support request to the E-Biller, access the appropriate Help location on their website. To find a telephone number, look for a Contacting Us or Customer Service section in the bill.

Without a check stub or a canceled check, how can I prove that I made a payment?

One of the advantages of paying your bills using this service is that your payment cannot get lost in the US mail, and there are generally far fewer opportunities for errors to occur. However, in the event that you do need to provide proof of payment, there are many different tracking systems in place. Your bank statement will reflect debits to your account, showing the payee as the E-Biller. In addition, the service archives previous versions of your e-bills and confirmation numbers for your bill payments.

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