Payee Updates

IMPORTANT PAYEE CHANGES

Our service provider was recently notified by the following payees that their account and remittance information has changed:

Cellular One has become AT&T Mobility.
Citizens Bank Mortgage has become PHH Mortgage.
Sprint PCS has become Sprint Nextel.

To prevent any delay in the receipt of your payments to the above payees, please create a new payee in Bill Pay with the updated payee name and remittance information. Please contact your payee directly with any questions regarding changes in your account information.

Remember to Update Your Payees
Please be sure to verify payee addresses and account numbers on a regular basis to eliminate payment delays. Please refer to your most recent billing statement for any necessary changes.

Making a payment to another First Tech account?

After the upgrade, payments made to your First Tech Visa, loans, mortgages and accounts through Bill Payer will be paid through the normal bill payment process rather than being treated as an “exception.” What this means is that payments you make to your other First Tech Accounts using Bill Payer could take up to several days to process because the payment is sent “out” through the bill payment process and then “back” to First Tech.

Rather than using Bill Payer, we would like to encourage you to use the transfer feature within Online Banking to make payments or transfers to your First Tech accounts. Payments will post either same day in real time or the next business day in the case of credit cards. You will still have the flexibility of conducting these types of transfers on the day of your choice for the amount you indicate.

In the future, if you would prefer to set up these types of payments to pay on the same day of the month, for the same amount each month, we can set that up for you as an automatic payment. Simply call the credit union at 800.637.0852 and we will be happy to assist you. Or, if you have questions about this change, please let us know.

If you would still like to use the convenience of Bill Pay, please be sure to use these First Tech payees when adding new payees; be sure to enter your new account numbers:

First Tech CU Savings
PO Box 2100
Beaverton, OR 97075-2100

First Tech CU Checking
PO Box 2100
Beaverton, OR 97075-2100

First Tech CU Credit Cards
PO Box 2780
Portland, OR 97208-2780

First Tech CU Loans
PO Box 4317
Portland, OR 97208-4317

First Tech CU Mortgages
PO Box 4201
Beaverton, OR 97076-4201

Mortgage Payments
Before you remit Mortgage payments, please review the following:

New Loans - If you have a new loan with a mortgage company (under 3 Months old), you must not use a bill payment service. Mortgage companies need you to send your first few payments to them manually, using your payment coupon and a paper check. Most mortgage payments are electronic delivery in our bill pay system, but some mortgage companies do not accept electronic payments for new accounts
Additional Principal Payments - Payments greater than your regular monthly payment or payments intended to be principal only require special attention by the payee and may reject if sent to the standard payment address. Please contact the mortgage company to obtain wire and/or alternate payment instructions.
Payoffs - Payoff payments should not be sent to a payee's standard payment address unless indicated by the payee. Please contact your mortgage company to obtain wire and/or loan payoff instructions.

Because the bill payer system cannot distinguish a new loan, additional payments or payoffs, these payments may reject and be refunded to the originating account. In order to avoid payment delays, we recommend that you verify payment instructions with the mortgage company when remitting these types of payments as they may require other forms of payment which the First Tech Bill Pay may not accomplish; such as a certified check or a wire.

Updates to Bill Payer Payees
It is recommended that the following types of payments be sent with a personal check along with the payment coupon/documentation provided by your payee:

Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
all State and local tax authorities
collection agencies
recipients of court-ordered payments such as child support, alimony and speeding tickets.

In accordance with our processors payment guarantee, they have identified payees that may initiate derogatory action against the end user if the payment is late. Derogatory action is considered a response, which may initiate the garnishment of wages etc, if the payment is late or posted improperly. Government agencies generally require the remittance forms that they provided you in order to post a payment promptly. You greatly reduce your risk by paying them directly and using the agency's remittance forms.

For additional assistance please contact billpayer@firsttechcu.com or call 800.637.0852.