Gesa offers other services that help members accomplish their financial goals. These services are offered following our “low or no fee” guidelines.
Services such as Cashier’s Checks, Safe Deposit Boxes, Savings Bond Redemption, and Notary Service are offered at our convenient Gesa branches or online. Contact a Personal Financial Services Representative or call (888) 946-4372 for assistance.
Ordering Checks
If you would like to order checks with us, you can do so by calling a representative, visiting a branch, or through online banking.
If you order checks through online banking, you will need to log in, click into the corresponding account, and click the order checks button within the account details section.
Cashier’s Checks
When you need a secured way to pay for an item you are purchasing from a third party, consider a cashier’s check. Common uses are for escrow purposes when purchasing a house, purchasing a car from a private party, or any other large purchase where the third party requires a secure transaction.
Safe Deposit Boxes
For those items you can’t afford to lose, rent a safe deposit box from Gesa so your valuables are safe from theft, fire, flood, vandalism, and unauthorized access in your home. Your valuables are locked in a Gesa Credit Union vault, accessible only to you.
Size and Cost
Contact the Gesa office nearest you for availability and pricing. Dimensions are given in height by width in inches. All boxes are approximately 22.5 inches deep.
Sizes range from 3×5 to 10×10. Not all sizes are available at all Gesa branches.
How Does It Work?
Annual rental period is from August 1 through July 31. The rental fee is paid at the beginning of the rental period. The fee will be prorated for rentals established during the year. The amount of the yearly fee is automatically withdrawn from your designated account on August 1 of each year.
Savings Bond Redemption
Redemption of savings bonds is available at all Gesa branches for the following series:
- Series E – May 1941 to June 1980
- Series EE – January 1980 and later
- Series I – September 1998 and later
Certain information is needed when redeeming a savings bond. Please contact a Personal Financial Services Representative at your Gesa branch for more information.
U.S. Treasury Bonds may be purchased online by setting up a TreasuryDirect account.
Notary Services
Some documents require a notarized signature, which legally certifies the signature. Select notary services are available at all branches for Gesa members.
Please bring proof of your identity, such as driver’s license or passport when requesting a notary service. Some documents require special attention so contact a Personal Financial Services Representative about your specific notary requirements.
Wire Transfers
A wire transfer is a fast, convenient way for members to transfer funds from their Gesa account to another financial institution.
Incoming Wire Transfers to Gesa
Incoming wire transfer service is available to Gesa members. Funds from incoming wire transfers will be available in your account no later than the next business day.
We cannot anticipate exact arrival times of wire transfers nor can we guarantee that wires will be received on the same day they are sent. Depending on the originator, the wire may need to be sent through an additional (or “intermediary”) bank and thus be delayed, or the information received may not be accurate or complete enough for the wire to be processed immediately.
To receive a wire to your Gesa Credit Union account, the sender will need the following information:
Beneficiary: Your name
Beneficiary’s Account #: Your Gesa Credit Union account number
Beneficiary’s Address: City, State, Zip Code
Receiving Institution: Gesa Credit Union, Richland, WA
Gesa’s ABA routing number (or transit number): 325181248
Gesa’s address (for wires): 51 Gage Blvd., Richland, WA 99352
These instructions also pertain to wires originated from outside the country. We are not a member of SWIFT, nor any other international wire service, but any bank large enough to be a U.S. correspondent for a foreign bank can forward the wire to us through Fed Line.
Sending Domestic Wire Transfers
Gesa can wire funds for you in any amount to any financial institution across the nation or around the world and the service is available for a nominal charge.
You can have funds transferred the same day:
- The cut-off time for same-day, outgoing domestic wires is 1:00 PM Pacific Time, Monday – Friday (except Holidays).
- Domestic wire requests received after 1:00 PM and on Saturdays will be wired the next business day.
Only collected available funds can be transferred from Gesa Credit Union.
Contact a Personal Financial Services Representative at (888) 946-4372 or visit a local branch to fill out a Domestic Wire Transfer Form.
To ensure a successful and timely wire transfer, the following information is required:
- The receiving financial institution’s name
- City and state of the receiving institution
- The receiving institution’s ABA number (routing number)
- Name of Beneficiary (person or company to whom the wire is being sent)
- Account Number of Beneficiary (at receiving institution)
- Address of Beneficiary (city, state, zip code), must be a physical address, no PO Boxes allowed
- Special Instructions – Provide details if the Beneficiary will need additional information to properly apply your wire transfer funds (such as to your escrow or account number with that company).
Foreign Wire Transfers
Visit a local branch to complete the International Wire Transfer Form. Depending on the banking system in the country of receipt, it may take a few days up to a few weeks for your wire to be received. In sending wires to banks in foreign countries, Gesa uses intermediary U.S. banks. Foreign wires require Intermediary Bank information on the wire form.
- If being sent via an Intermediary Bank, the Intermediary Bank’s name, routing number and account number at Intermediary Bank.
- We need a full address for the Intermediary Bank as well as the foreign bank (not a PO Box and not just city, state, and postal code).
All wire transfers are denominated in US Dollars. Gesa Credit Union does send foreign currency wire transfers at prevailing rates. Gesa Credit Union is not responsible for, nor can we predict, fees charged by any intermediary and/or foreign banks (routinely deducted from wire proceeds by the receiving bank). The cut-off time for outgoing foreign wires is 11:00 AM Pacific Time for same-day processing, Monday – Friday (Holidays excepted).
If you have any questions or need more information regarding a wire transfer, please call us at (888) 946-4372 or visit one of our branches.
Overdraft Protection
There are times in life when you need a little extra help. Anyone who has had a check returned or debit card declined knows how quickly a small mistake can turn into big consequences. Returned item fees charged by merchants and creditors add up quickly. At Gesa, we have options to help you.
In those unexpected situations when you are short on funds, Courtesy Pay may save you from merchant NSF fees, interruption of services, and the embarrassment and inconvenience associated with returned or declined items. You can choose one type of account coverage, or all three. Whatever works for you, works for us.
For more information about your overdraft options call (888) 946-4372.
Option 1: Courtesy Pay
Courtesy Pay is offered as a safety net for eligible members. This coverage will provide at least $100 of coverage should you accidentally overdraw your checking.
- It costs you nothing if you never use it
- Courtesy Pay limit may vary based on your checking account history, overdraft transactions, and payments
- It’s easy to enroll via a Gesa branch or by phone: (888) 946-4372.
- No cost to sign up
- 20 days to repay
- $29 per use
Option 2: Automatic Savings Transfer
Before Courtesy Pay or an Overdraft Line of Credit is accessed, your savings account balance will be used to cover your overdraft.
- Transfers are automatic when you overdraw your checking
- Worry-free coverage up to the amount available in your savings
- No enrollment or applications necessary
- $5 transfer fee
- 6 transfers or withdrawals can be made per month
Option 3: Personal Line of Credit
A great option for members who want to use a pre-approved Personal Line of Credit as an overdraft source.
- Competitive rates, higher credit line
- Easy access to funds
- Fast application process—by phone, online, or at a Gesa branch
- Rates as low as APR*
- $5 transfer fee
- $35 annual fee
Notes & Fees
*APR = Annual Percentage Rate. Rates, terms, and fees are subject to change. 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. We do authorize and pay overdrafts for checks and other transactions made using your checking account number and automatic bill payments. Beginning August 15, 2010, we will not authorize and pay overdrafts for ATM transactions and everyday debit card transactions unless you ask us to. Contact Gesa for complete program details, fees and disclosures.
Personal Lines of Credit are loans and are dependent on approval of credit. Rates, terms and fees subject to change. Contact Gesa for full program details.
Courtesy Pay: Funds from your corresponding savings account will be transferred first to cover your overdraft, for a $5 fee. If there is not enough in your savings account to cover the overdraft, your account will be charged the standard NSF fee of $29 for handling each item even if paid by the discretionary Courtesy Pay privilege. There is a limit of five fees per day we can charge you for overdrawing your account. This privilege for consumer checking accounts will generally provide at least $100 of overdraft balance coverage. The Courtesy Pay limit may vary based on your checking account history, overdraft transactions, payments and your use of the service. Any and all fees and charges, including the non-sufficient funds fees for paid items using Courtesy Pay as well as returned items (as set forth in Gesa’s fee schedules and disclosures), will be included as part of the Courtesy Pay limit. Whether your overdrafts will be paid is discretionary and we reserve the right not to pay. For example, we typically do not pay overdrafts if you have met your Courtesy Pay limit; are not in good standing with Gesa; have not maintained the required $5 Primary Savings account deposit; have a Gesa loan that is past due; your Courtesy Pay privileges have been revoked on another Gesa account; or if the amount needed to cover your payment exceeds your Courtesy Pay limit. The total of the discretionary Courtesy Pay (negative) balance, including all fees and charges, is due and payable upon demand, and Depositor and each Authorized Signatory will continue to be liable, jointly and severally, for all such amounts, as described in the Member Account Agreement. Any paid overdrafts are considered an advance on your next deposit. Accounts must be brought positive within 20 days or the Courtesy Pay limit may be reduced to $0. Accounts must be brought positive within 30 days or the service may be suspended or terminated.
Overdraft Fee Transaction Categories – The categories of transactions for which an overdraft fee may be imposed are check, other transactions made using your checking account number, in-person withdrawals, or automatic bill payments. If you have authorized us to pay overdrafts on ATM withdrawals and everyday debit card transactions, an overdraft fee may also be imposed.
