Checking Account

Relax. You’ll love our Checking.

Our Checking Account has all the features you need to manage your money and it’s free with eStatements.1

Become A Member Become A Member

Existing Member Existing Member

Current Founders members can apply for Checking Accounts in Founders Online.

  • No minimum balance.
  • No monthly fees when you receive eStatements.
  • Dividends paid on full balance.
  • Free eStatements.
  • Free Visa Debit Card.
  • Convenient online check ordering with Founders Online.
  • Founders App with Mobile Deposit.2

Switching to Founders is easy!

Switch your accounts in a few easy steps:

  • Step 1: Join Founders! Click the Become a Member button at the top of this page to start the application process.
  • Step 2: Open a Founders Checking Account.
    To open your Checking Account, click the Existing Member button at the top of this page if you are already a member of Founders. You can also visit an office near you to apply for your Checking Account. 
  • Step 3: Fill out our Switch Kit forms.
    Once you open a Checking Account, you can make the switch to Founders. Click here for our Switch Kit which includes our Direct Deposit Form, Automatic Payment Form and Account Closure Form.

Switch Kit

1 Requires credit evaluation. Teens under the age of 18 are required to have an adult sign as joint owner. Accounts without eStatements will be charged $2 for periodic statements by mail.
2 Not all account types are eligible for this service. Only members in good standing that have the option to deposit a check within Founders Mobile App are eligible.

Relax. Worry Free Checking.

We understand there are times your Checking Account may accidentally be out of balance, and that’s why we offer several overdraft protection options:

Savings:

  • Automatically move money from your Savings to Checking to pay for overdrafts, as long as funds are available.
  • Free of charge, however, federal regulations limit this to 6 uses a month in combination with other transfers using Founders Online, Founders Mobile and Call 24.

Personal Line of Credit:

  • Checking Account is covered up to your available Personal Line of Credit limit.
  • Interest is charged only when you use your line of credit.
  • Exact amount is transferred rather than a larger minimum amount.

Money Market Plus:

  • Automatically moves money from your Money Market Plus to Checking to pay for overdrafts, as long as funds are available.
  • Free of charge, however, federal regulations limit this to 6 uses a month in combination with other transfers using Founders Online, Founders Mobile and Call 24.


Financial Education

Finding yourself overdrawing your account too often? Check out all the tools, games and resources available through Money Management International, our free Financial Education service! Available 24/7 and in 30 languages, call 866-664-1734 or click below to see how Money Management International can help you manage your money more efficiently.

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Relax. You're protected.

As an additional form of overdraft protection, Founders Privilege may pay up to $300 in overdrawn transactions on your Checking Account without declining your checks, ACH debits or Founders Visa Debit Card purchases. This benefit may save you from the embarrassment and hassles of returned items. If you have overdraft protection with us already, either by linking your Checking Account to one of your Founders Savings Account(s), Home Equity Line of Credit or Personal Line of Credit, your current overdraft sequence will remain in place, so Founders Privilege may not be needed.

While you could automatically qualify for Founders Privilege, there are fees if it is used. With Founders Privilege, you could incur a $32.00 Overdraft Fee (Paid NSF) per overdraft transaction. Should the overdrawn transaction amount be between $1.01 and $5.00, the Overdraft Fee (Paid NSF) declines to $5.00 per overdraft instance.

We generally cover your items that will not take your available account balance more than $300.00 negative. We then assess the applicable fees even if that takes your account more than $300.00 negative.

Founders Privilege can be used to cover your checks, individually authorized ACH transactions and recurring ACH transactions. It can also be used to pay your one time/every day Debit Card transactions if you have authorized us to pay these transactions in a separate agreement.

ATM and teller transactions like cash withdrawals or the purchase of a negotiable instrument are not covered by Founders Privilege.

Some accounts are not eligible for Founders Privilege. These include share accounts, Money Market Plus accounts, business accounts, trust accounts, UGMA/UTMA accounts, nonprofit accounts, estate accounts, public funded checking accounts, member accounts under 18 years of age and accounts of members with loans greater than 30 days delinquent. Your account would also not be eligible for Founders Privilege if it has been open less than 6 months and your credit score is less than 550.

Founders offers other overdraft protection options and we encourage you to review all before making the decision to use one of these services.

  • Overdraft Protection Transfer
    If you have other accounts with Founders, you can authorize us to set up an automatic transfer to move the funds needed to cover your overdraft. Call 1-800-845-1614 or visit one of our convenient offices to add this to your account.
  • Optional Personal Line of Credit or Home Equity Line of Credit Transfer
    Use your Personal Line of Credit or Home Equity Line of Credit to cover overdrafts. Apply for your Personal Line of Credit or Home Equity Line of Credit within Founders Online or at an office near you. If you already have a Personal Line of Credit or Home Equity Line of Credit, call 1-800-845-1614 or visit an office near you to have this added as Overdraft Protection.

There is no application process for Founders Privilege. Eligibility is decided by Founders and based on you managing your Checking Account in a responsible manner.

Yes, Founders Privilege may be suspended or permanently removed at our discretion. Reasons may include but are not limited to:

  • Your account was not brought to a positive balance within 30 days of becoming overdrawn.
  • Your account type is not eligible.
  • Your Founders Loan is more than 30 days past due or delinquent on any other obligations to the Credit Union. Your account has been modified through troubled debt restructuring.
  • You are subject to any legal or administrative orders or levies, or you are currently a party in a bankruptcy proceeding.
  • You are the primary account owner and under 18 years old.
  • Your account is classified as inactive or dormant.
  • You have an unresolved prior loss with the Credit Union.
  • We believe you are managing your account in an irresponsible manner which may harm you or us.

Please call 1-800-845-1614 or visit a Financial Services Representative at an office near you to Opt-In to Regulation E or click the button below to access our form and submit.

Opt-In to Regulation EOpt-In to Regulation E

Though you may never need to take advantage of Founders Privilege, you may find it useful in the event of a temporary financial shortfall. If you do not want to take advantage of Founders Privilege, please call 1-800-845-1614 or visit a Financial Services Representative at any of our offices to remove this benefit from your account.

With Founders Privilege, you’ll enjoy the added convenience of knowing your checks, ACH debits or Founders Debit Card transactions will clear, even if your account happens to go negative. We understand some things happen outside of your control – maybe a deposit you were expecting was delayed, or you just made an honest mistake in balancing your checkbook – and Founders Privilege pays for transactions if those situations or others occur and your account doesn’t have enough funds to cover your transactions. Founders Privilege can help you at times which you could be left embarrassed at the checkout line and without the items you need.

Founders Privilege Disclosures 

Founders will assess a $32.00 fee for each NSF transaction. This fee will be reduced to $5.00 if the resulting transaction is between $1.01 and $5.00. Your account must have a positive balance within 30 days of initiating Founders Privilege. Must be 18 years or older, have no negative balances or delinquent loans over 30 days, and your account must not be dormant or have been modified through troubled debt restructuring. Founders offers Founders Privilege as a courtesy and is under no obligation to pay items when your account has insufficient funds, even if previous transactions are paid.