METRO's Bill Payment System

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is there a fee for using PC Billpay?
Yes. Each member is able to use the system for up to 90 days, fee-free. Once that period is up, the service will cost $4.50 monthly, for an unlimited number of online bill payments.  However, for any month  which  you maintain an Average Balance of $2,500.00 or more in the Regular or Premier Checking account,  then $4.50 monthly fee is waived.  

Can PC Billpay access my overdraft account?
No.

Why are funds deducted from my account before the payment has been made?
Deducting the payment from a member's account prior to the payment being made allows for a five-business day processing period. Payments are processed ONLY if sufficient funds are available to make the payment; therefore, it is necessary to ensure that adequate funds are available prior to adding the payment.

What constitutes an eligible payee?
You can pay anyone in the United States (including Alaska and Hawaii) for both personal and business reasons. You can pay your babysitter, your VISA bill, or even yourself! You cannot pay businesses outside of the United States, or government agencies, such as the IRS.

What is the maximum number of payees I can have?
The number of allowable payees is unlimited.

How do I set up a payee?
You can set up a payee by going to the Add a Payee screen, and filling in the requested fields. All fields are required, including the name, address, phone, and payee account number. When possible, you may have the option to pay your payee either by ACH or by conventional, mailed check. Payments sent via a conventional check require a five-day processing period, while ACH payments require a 2 day processing period.

What is an ACH payment?
An ACH (Automated Clearinghouse) payment is a payment that is made electronically. Instead of a conventional paper check being cut and sent, ACH payments are made in an electronic file format, in bulk. Common payments that are converted to ACH include credit card and utility companies.

How will I know that my payee has been converted to an ACH?
By going to the Payee Maintenance screen and clicking on Payee Detail, you will see a field at the bottom that indicates the Payment Method. If the payment is being sent via ACH, it will indicate "Electronic ACH (2 working days)." Otherwise, the field will say "Mailed Check (5 working days)." A payee will not be converted to an electronic payee until thirty to sixty days after the addition of the payee.

Why can't I change the payee record?
When the system converts a payee from a mailed check to an ACH, it may change the payee record address to reflect the appropriate address for an ACH. As a result, the user is not allowed to change the payee address or phone number.

Whoops! I entered in the wrong payee address! How can I change it?
You cannot edit the payee address or payee phone number after you have added it. At that point, you can only edit the payee account number, the recurring status and the account from which the money is being withdrawn. If you have entered the wrong payee information, you must delete the payee, and re-add it with a payee record that reflects the correct information.

I want to make a payment to a payee for just once. Why can't I just add the payment information from the Add a Payee screen, instead of having to go to the Add a Payment screen?
The information regarding payment due date and payment amount on the Add a Payee screen is strictly in relation to the recurring payee functionality. Unless you want to setup that payee as a recurring one, you must go to the Add a Payment screen and make a manual payment to that payee.

If my due date falls on December 25th, when will my payment be made?
The system automatically adjusts for Federal Reserve holidays, and weekends; therefore, the payment will be set to be due on the last business day prior to December 25th. The system does not include the due date when considering and calculating the processing date. In actuality, the system says that the payment must be received by December 25th, in which case it would try to have the payment there sometime on or before December 24th.

What is a recurring payee, and how do I set one up?
A recurring payee is one in which the system will automatically generate payments for that payee. The payments will be for the same day of the month, and for the same amount. You do not add payments for a recurring payee; the system does it for you. To add a recurring payee, you simply need to add the payee with the required fields, and then click on the appropriate box to indicate the payee will be recurring. You then must choose the due date and amount of the payment.