Eligibility Requirements | Opening An Account | Guidelines For Check Deposits
Eligibility Requirements
Q: Who is eligible to join Columbus Metro?
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A: Anyone who lives, works, worships or attends school in Franklin County, Ohio, is
eligible to join Columbus Metro. If you don't fit these criteria, you may still be
eligible to join if:
- You volunteer for an organization located in Franklin County;
- You are an immediate family member or live in the same household as someone who is currently a member; or
- Your spouse was eligible to join Columbus Metro at the time of his or her death.
Q. How do I become a member?
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A: To become a member, simply open a share savings account with an initial deposit of $5
or more. This is your primary account at Columbus Metro and represents your share
in the ownership of the credit union. As long as that $5 remains on deposit, you
can take advantage of any of the many products and services Columbus Metro has to
offer.
Q: What if I have a record on Chex Systems?
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A: If you have a record on Chex Systems, you may still open an account at Columbus Metro
in most cases. However, we will place extended holds on any check
deposits to your account, and you may not qualify for all of the products
and services we offer. (This also applies if you have a joint owner on
your account with a Chex Systems record.)
Q: Can I open an account for my business or organization?
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A: Yes, you can open an account for your business or organization, as long as
you qualify for membership according to the guidelines above when
the account is opened.
Opening An Account
Q: How do I open an account?
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You can open an account online or at any of our offices; click here for office locations and hours. At this time, only personal accounts can be opened online. Business and organization accounts must be opened in person.
Q: What do I need to open an account?
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A:The USA Patriot Act requires all financial institutions to implement
security measures to prevent money laundering and fight financial support
of terrorism. In order to meet the requirements of that law, we require
the following in order to open a new account:
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A street address. We will gladly mail your statements
and other account information to a post office box, but you must also
provide us with your street address at the time your account is opened.
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Government-issued photo identification. You may present
a state-issued driver's license or identification card. A military
identification card is also acceptable. If the address on your ID
differs from your current address, you'll also need proof of your current
address (a utility bill, for example).
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Consumer reports. Once your account has been opened, we
will obtain reports from consumer reporting agencies — specifically Chex
Systems and Equifax — as an additional means of verifying your identity.
Guidelines For Check Deposits
Q: What are your check hold policies?
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A: In order to combat check fraud, we have implemented the following guidelines for deposits made by check:
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During the first 30 days of membership, we will automatically place a
five-business-day hold on the entire amount of any check deposit.
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After 30 days of membership, we will provide up to $500 cash back on
payroll and government-issued check deposits. We will cash personal checks up to $100.
Funds in excess of these guidelines will be placed on hold for up to five business days.
We do not accept third-party checks (checks made out to another individual who then
signs it over to you).
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If you have a record on Chex Systems, we will place any amount in
excess of the guidelines stated above on hold for up to 10 business days. These
extended holds will remain in place until your record on Chex Systems is removed or
expires.
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Funds deposited directly to your account (by an electronic means)
are available immediately.