Early Pay:

Get Paid Early with Early Pay

With Early Pay, you may have access to eligible direct deposits before your scheduled payment date—giving you earlier access to your money when you need it. While early availability is not guaranteed, we’ll make your funds available as soon as we receive and process the payment information.

See the FAQs below to learn more about how Early Pay works and what deposits may qualify.

1. What is Early Pay?

👉 Early Pay allows eligible members to receive qualifying direct deposits, such as payroll or certain government benefit payments, up to two days before the scheduled payment date.

2. Do I have to enroll?

👉 No. Enrollment is automatic for eligible members. Members do not need to opt in or complete a separate enrollment process.

3. Is there a fee?

👉  No. There is no fee for Early Pay.

4. How early can I receive my money?

👉 Deposit timing depends on when your employer sends payroll details, so you may receive your funds up to two days early, though this can vary from one deposit to the next. Early availability is not guaranteed.

5. Does every deposit qualify? 

👉 No. Eligible deposits typically include regular deposits such as your paycheck, Social Security, pension, retirement income, or certain government benefits.

👉 Other types of deposits, such as paper checks, mobile deposits, transfers between accounts, one-time transfers, or card refunds, may not qualify for early availability.

6. Why didn't I get paid early this time?

👉  Early Pay depends on when and how the organization sending your payment provides the payment information to us. If the payment information is received later than usual, the payment method changes, a correction is needed, or the deposit does not meet the program requirements, your funds may be available on the regular payment date instead of early.

7. Are new accounts eligible?

👉 The member's account must be open for at least 90 days before the member is eligible for Early Pay. 

8. Is there a deposit limit?

👉 Yes. Early Pay is limited to deposit amounts up to $9,999.99. Any deposit of $10,000.00 or more will not be posted early and will be posted on the scheduled settlement date.

9. What if my deposit is reversed?

👉 If the organization that sent your deposit takes the payment back or corrects it, the amount may be removed from your account. If you have already spent the funds, this could reduce your available balance or cause your account balance to become negative.

Education First Credit Union ("EFCU") may make certain eligible direct deposits available to you up to two business days before we receive the funds from the originating financial institution. Early Pay is provided as a courtesy and is not guaranteed. The timing of Early Pay may vary between deposits and may be changed, suspended, or discontinued by EFCU at any time without notice.

Early Pay depends on when we receive payment instructions from your direct deposit originator. Eligible EFCU accounts are automatically enrolled in Early Pay at no cost.

We do not guarantee that all direct deposits will qualify for Early Pay. Direct deposits that do not qualify will be made available in accordance with our Funds Availability Policy. You are responsible for verifying that funds are available in your account before initiating transactions. Eligible deposits generally include electronic ACH deposits such as payroll, pension, and government benefits. Deposits received through person-to-person payment services (such as Zelle®, Venmo®, or PayPal®), check deposits, mobile check deposits, instant payments, and other electronic transfers are not eligible.

EFCU determines, in its sole discretion, whether a direct deposit is eligible for Early Pay and reserves the right to exclude any deposit or account from the service at any time.

Early availability of funds does not mean that the deposit has been received, paid, or finally settled. If an Early Pay direct deposit is returned, reversed, or otherwise not received for any reason, you authorize EFCU to debit your account for the deposit amount, even if the debit results in an overdraft or a negative account balance.

If Early Pay results in an overdraft or overdrawn account, you are responsible for any applicable overdraft or overdraft privilege fees as disclosed in our Fee Schedule.

New Education First Credit Union accounts are eligible for Early Pay once the account has been open for at least 90 days. Eligible Early Pay direct deposits are limited to $9,999.99 per deposit.

IRA and HSA accounts are ineligible

This disclosure supplements and does not replace the Membership and Account Agreement, Electronic Funds Transfer Agreement, Funds Availability Policy, and Fee Schedule.