Chequing

It’s easy! If you’re already a member, simply sign-on to your online banking and select the ‘Open New Products’ option. Follow the steps and you’ll be on your way to a brand new chequing account in no time.

Not a member? Drop by an advice centre any time during business hours and we’ll get you signed up for a membership and a chequing account on the spot – no appointment needed. If you know when you’ll be coming by, contact us so we can really roll out the red carpet. Or if you’d rather skip a trip to our advice centre, open an account online, right now, from wherever you are! Visit our Online Membership Opening webpage to open the account that best suits your needs.

When you come in, remember to bring your photo ID and $5 to cover your FIR membership. These are types of ID that’ll work:

• driver’s license
• government-issued provincial ID card
• passport
• certificate of Indian Status or Treaty Card
• any foreign ID equivalent to acceptable Canadian documents

There are a number of places you can locate your account information, including through online banking, with FIR Mobile, and on your cheques.  Learn more about it here.

You’ll be charged a fee for every transaction over the monthly 12-transaction limit. Here’s a breakdown of those fees:

• $1 per electronic transaction
• $1 per processed cheque 
• $1 per staff-assisted debit

If you regularly have these kinds of charges on your statement, you may want to consider an Unlimited chequing account. 

One of the great things about credit unions is that we often work together to deliver better service to our members. Ding free is one great example of this. A bunch of credit unions across Canada signed their ATMs onto the ding free network so the members of all participating credit unions can access those machines without any surcharges. There are about 1,800 ATMs in the network – that’s more than most banks!

If you’re searching for an ATM, turn to the FIR mobile app to find the ding free machine nearest you.

It’s super easy to sign up. Once you’ve logged into online banking, select ‘Monthly Statements’ from the menu on the left side of the screen. You’ll land on a page with a link to sign up for eStatements. Click on that link and follow the directions – once you provide an email address, you’ll be all set. 

Yes. Deposit Anywhere™ lets FIR members safely and conveniently deposit cheques using their mobile phone. Most members will have Deposit Anywhere™ access automatically as long as they’ve set up online banking and downloaded the FIR mobile app on their phone.

Many of us have payments regularly coming out of our account, and it can be easy to let one slip past us causing our balance to dip below zero. By attaching a line of credit to your chequing account, you protect yourself from charges and fees if you become overdrawn. With a line of credit, you don’t need to worry. It works just like a loan, except you only use it when you need it and interest will only be charged on the amount you use. Call our Contact Centre to find out more and to apply. 

If you send money out of the country on a regular basis, you can take control of your transfers and send money online. You’ll need to come into an advice centre to set up your account, but once that’s done, you’ll have complete control over your international transfers. 

If international wire transfers aren’t part of your everyday life, a traditional wire transfer is probably your best option. You’ll need to come into an advice centre each time you send a transfer, so that’s why it’s not a great fit for frequent users. 

To send international wire transfers, you’ll need:

• the recipient’s name
• their address
• the name and address of their bank
• the applicable route and transit number
• Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT) code

Drafts (also known as official orders, certified cheques, bank drafts, cashier’s cheques, money orders or Manager’s Trust cheques) are a secure form of payment and may be useful if you’re purchasing a vehicle or other high-ticket item. Drafts are available for purchase at any of our locations across the province. They’re available in any dollar amount and either Canadian or US currency.

Not sure if you need a draft? Take a look at our Drafts and alternative ways to pay article to learn more.