FAQ

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General

Who is eligible to join?

All individuals who live, work, worship, or go to school in Washington, D.C. and employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs (including contractors) in Washington D.C., Philadelphia, and New York.

Do I have to be a government employee to join?

If you do not live, work, worship, or go to school in Washington, D.C., you must be an employee, or contractor at one of the locations listed below in order to be eligible for membership.

• VA Central Office, Washington, D.C.
• VA Philadelphia Regional Benefit Office, Philadelphia, VA
• VA Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY
• VA Medical Center, Albany, NY 
• VA Regional Office, Albany, NY

If I am a government contractor, am I eligible to join?

Yes, Department of Veterans Affairs Government contractors may join. Contractors must be employed at one of the VA locations listed above.

Was your name previously DVA FCU?

Over the years, the credit union has had a few name changes. The original name was Veterans Administration Central FCU, followed by, Department of Veterans Affairs FCU, and shortened to, DVA FCU. We are now Advantage Financial Federal Credit Union.

What is your routing number?

Our routing number is 254075470.

Will my funds be insured?

Know your funds are safe and secure, backed by the complete confidence of the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) — an independent United States government agency dedicated to protecting credit unions and our members.

How do I open a new account?

To open an account, submit an application online, or visit the nearest branch.

Where do I mail in my loan payment?

Please mail your payment to address: PO BOX 50480 Washington, D.C. 20091-0480. Please include your loan statement, or account number so we know where to apply the funds.

How to I submit my auto, boat, motorcycle or home equity loan insurance information?

If you have been notified you need to provide proof of insurance for your auto, boat, motorcycle or home, you can upload the policy information here.

How do I change my address?

You may change your address within online banking. Once logged in, select the far, right tab titled “Loan Apps & More”. Then, to the right of ‘Change of Address, Phone Number, ETC’ select the ‘Continue’ button. If you do not have online banking, visit the nearest branch for assistance.

I lost my debit card; how do I order a replacement?

Call (800) 822-6875 Option 2 then Option 1 or (888) 241-2510 or (909) 941-1398 (international) to order a new debit card, or log into the mobile app and select ‘Card Controls’. Then tap the debit card that you wish to replace, followed by ‘Mark Lost and Reorder’. If you do not have the mobile app, visit the nearest branch for assistance.

How do I sign up for direct deposit or payroll deduction?

To sign up for direct deposit, simply complete the Direct Deposit Authorization form, found here on the website under, ‘Forms and Applications’. Complete and turn the form in to your employer’s payroll department (or the source providing the income you wish to deposit).

How do I create an automatic transfer from my checking into savings?

Log into online banking and select ‘Move Money’, followed by ‘Make a Transfer’. Here you may select the frequency of your transfer (weekly, bi-weekly, semi-monthly, or monthly). If you do not have online banking, visit the nearest branch for assistance.

How do I reorder checks?

Log into online banking and select ‘Reorder Checks’. If you do not have online banking, visit the nearest branch for assistance.

How do I dispute a transaction?

Call (800)-822-6875, or visit the nearest branch for assistance.

I’m planning to travel outside of the country. What do I need to do?

Please contact us in advance, if you will be traveling outside of the country. If you do not notify us, your debit card may be blocked from international transactions. Call (800)-822-6875 or, log into the mobile app and select ‘Card Controls’. Then, tap ‘Scheduled Travels’ followed by the red plus sign.

What is the limit for transactions to and from my savings account?

You are limited to a total of six electronic transfers or withdrawals per month from your share savings account. This includes overdraft transfers to your checking account, online and mobile banking transfers, ACH and interbank transfers. Once the limit of six is reached transactions will be declined. A returned item fee may be charged if we are unable to process an ACH item ($33).

Overdraft Protection

What is Courtesy Pay?

Courtesy Pay¹ is an enhancement to our checking accounts that allows us to pay transactions presented against your account when you have inadequate funds. Instead of returning the transaction to the merchant for insufficient funds, we pay it and temporarily overdraw your account (up to a maximum of $700).

What are the benefits of Courtesy Pay?

Courtesy Pay is an added privilege to our checking accounts that benefits members in the following ways:

• Saves money with fewer charges from retailers for returned checks.
• Saves time and embarrassment to redeem unpaid checks.
• Protects credit by allowing merchants to get paid.

Is there a fee?

There are no maintenance fees. Each transaction covered by Courtesy Pay will incur an overdraft fee of $33. The best way to avoid multiple fees is to know your balance.

Can courtesy pay be taken away?

Yes, Courtesy Pay can be temporarily suspended or permanently revoked if your account is no longer in good standing or if you abuse the service. The best way to maintain your Courtesy Pay privilege is to promptly repay any negative balance that results from a Courtesy Pay transaction.

How do I opt-out?

If you choose to remove Courtesy Pay Privilege from your checking account, you can complete and sign an Opt-Out form, which is available here on the website, under 'Forms and Applications'. You can also contact us online, visit a branch, or call one of our representatives at (800) 822-6875.

How do I avoid Courtesy Pay fees?

Avoiding fees from Courtesy Pay is simple when you use the following tips:

• Link your checking account to your share account or a CUCash line of credit so that if you overdraw your checking account, funds can be transferred automatically. Keep in mind, your share account only allows up to 6 transfers per month.
• Review your monthly account statements and keep your account register up-to-date. Don't forget about automatic bill payments you may have set up.
• Check your account balance regularly with online or telephone banking, through the mobile banking app, or visit an ATM.
• When withdrawing money from the ATM, make sure you know your balance. You will still be able to withdraw money from the ATM when your account is in the negative, but each withdrawal will result in an overdraft fee.
• Plan your week in advance. It's better to take out enough money for the entire week than make multiple transactions throughout the week. Remember the fewer transactions you make while using Courtesy Pay, the fewer fees you will incur.

¹Courtesy Pay fees may be imposed for covering overdrafts created by check, in-person withdrawal, ATM withdrawal, or other electronic means. You have 45 days to return your account to a positive balance after using Courtesy Pay. 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 your account is not in good standing, or you are not making regular deposits, or you have too many overdrafts.

Text Concierge

What is text concierge? 

Contact us via text message. Simply send a text to our main phone number (800)-822-6875, to have your general questions answered immediately by a real person. Texting is free*, fast, and an easy way to get your general questions answered.

How quickly will I receive a response?

Within 1-3 minutes you will receive an automated response, followed by a personalized response from an actual staff member. 

Can I text Advantage Financial FCU 24/7?

Texts will be received 24/7 however, our staff members are only available to respond during our business hours, which are Monday-Friday 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM. Should you send a text after hours, an automated response will be sent to notify you that we are closed.

What type of questions will be answered via text message?

General questions pertaining to hours of operation, routing number, and contact information. Also, basic questions regarding our products and services may be resolved via text. Should you have a specific question that requires account or loan information such as, transaction and balance inquiries, please call 800-822-6875, log into online banking or the mobile app, or visit the nearest location for assistance.

Should I include my account number or personal information in the text?

Please do not include any sensitive personal information in a text message. Texting may not be secure and private information may not be protected. If you have an immediate concern that includes personal information, please call us at 800-822-6875 or visit the nearest location for assistance.

I am not a member of Advantage Financial FCU, can I send a text?

Membership is not required to communicate with Advantage Financial FCU via text message.