With Courtesy Pay, items such as checks, ATM/debit card transactions and automatic drafts may clear your checking account — even if you don't have enough funds when the items clear.
The Convenience of Courtesy Pay
This is a great convenience for thousands of BrightStar members — helping you avoid the embarrassment of insufficient funds when you're making a purchase — and helping you when you need cash from an ATM in an emergency.
The Enrollment Process
You have the right to affirmatively consent, or opt into payment of overdrafts for ATM and one-time debit card transactions. Without your affirmative consent, ATM and everyday debit card transactions that would overdraw your account will not be paid by the Credit Union.
What You Need to Know about Overdrafts and Overdraft Fees
What is an overdraft?
An overdraft occurs when you do not have enough money in your account to cover a transaction, but we pay it anyway. The Credit Union can decide whether an overdraft occurs based on your available balance or your actual balance as determined by the Credit Union in its sole discretion from time to time.
Holds on your account — including holds for pending electronic transactions (such as hotel or rental car deposits), holds on deposits, holds for delinquent loans or lines of credit, holds based on pledges, and minimum balance requirements — may reduce your available balance and cause your account to become overdrawn regardless of your actual balance.
We can cover your overdrafts in two different ways:
- We have standard overdraft practices that come with your account.
- We also offer overdraft protection plans, such as a link to a savings or loan account, which may be less expensive than our standard overdraft practices. To learn more, ask us about these plans.
This notice explains our standard overdraft practices.
What are the standard overdraft practices that come with my account?
We do authorize and pay overdrafts for the following types of transactions:
- Checks and other transactions made using your checking account number
- Automatic bill payments
We do not authorize and pay overdrafts for the following types of transactions unless you ask us to (opt in):
- ATM transactions
- Recurring debit card transactions
- Everyday debit card transactions
We pay overdrafts at our discretion, which means we do not guarantee that we will always authorize and pay any type of transaction. If we do not authorize and pay an overdraft, your transaction will be declined.
What fees will I be charged if BrightStar Credit Union pays my overdraft?
Under our standard overdraft practices:
- We will charge you a fee of $34 each time we pay an overdraft.
- There is no maximum number of overdraft fees that may be incurred per day.
Members with the Educator Interest Checking account are excluded from Courtesy Pay fees.
What if I want to revoke my opt-in decision?
If you opt in and decide later that you want to revoke your decision to have BrightStar authorize and pay overdrafts on ATM and everyday debit card transactions, you can:
- Call us at 954-486-2728
- Send a written request (including your name, address, date of request, and account number) to:
BrightStar Credit Union
PO Box 8966
Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33310
Opt In to Courtesy Pay Online
By submitting the form below, you authorize BrightStar Credit Union to pay overdrafts on ATM and everyday debit card transactions from your checking account.
Courtesy Pay Online Opt-In
Thank You!
Your application has been submitted. A member of our team will contact you shortly.
Confirmation Number
*Please provide an email address to receive a confirmation number for your courtesy pay request. This email will not be shared or used for any other purposes. The information you provide is private and secured when it is sent through this site.
Terms and Disclosures
*Courtesy Pay service overdrafts your checking account ("Account") to pay checks, ATM/Visa debit card transactions, ACH debits, automatic bill payments including "recurring" debit card transactions and other transactions presented for payment from your Account which would otherwise be rejected and returned unpaid due to an insufficient actual or available balance. To pay these items, your Account will be overdrawn (taken into the negative).
In order to be eligible for Courtesy Pay, a member must have: a) a checking account for at least 60 days; b) be at least 18 years of age; c) be no more than 11 days past due on any Credit Union loans. Courtesy Pay service will automatically be activated on your Account for checks, ACH, share draft, and recurring debit card transactions subject to the qualifications mentioned above.
You have the right to affirmatively consent, or opt into payment of overdrafts for ATM and one-time debit card transactions. Without your affirmative consent, payment of ATM and everyday debit card transactions that would overdraw your Account will not be paid by the Credit Union.
The maximum permitted negative balance may vary. The Credit Union may reject any transaction which would exceed the maximum negative balance. All negative balance amounts must be immediately paid to the Credit Union upon demand. Courtesy Pay fees will be posted automatically to your Account at the time overdraft transactions are paid. Members with the Educator Interest Checking account are excluded from Courtesy Pay fees.
Notwithstanding anything else in this document to the contrary, the Credit Union has no duty to pay any transaction which could otherwise be rejected and returned unpaid due to insufficient actual or available balance and may reject any such transaction in the Credit Union's sole discretion without notice to you. Courtesy Pay service may be cancelled by contacting us at 800-637-BSCU (2728).
Courtesy Pay Questions, Answered
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Questions About Courtesy Pay?
Contact us to learn more about Courtesy Pay or to opt in to ATM and debit card overdraft coverage.