Welcome to our Online Banking Information Centre!

Below are links to many frequently asked questions (it’s a comprehensive list!).  We also invite you to contact us.  We pledge to respond to all messages within one business day! 

Internet Banking Questions

Online Bill Payment Questions


Internet Banking Questions

Q: What accounts can I access with Internet Banking?
Instantly access your checking, savings, Certificate of Deposit, IRA, Loan and  Line of Credit accounts.

Q: What can I do with Internet Banking?

  • Check your balances and all account transactions
  • Review transaction history
  • Transfer funds between your Midwest BankCentre accounts
  • View and print images of your cleared checks
  • Download account information into money management software such as Quicken and Microsoft Money
  • Place Stop Payments (fee applies)
  • Pay your Midwest BankCentre Loan payment
  • View your Midwest BankCentre account statements (via Adobe Acrobat)
  • Pay your bills online (after a free trial period, a monthly fee applies)

Q: How frequently is account information updated?
Internet Banking operates on a "real-time" basis and is updated to reflect all account activity to date. For example, if you make a deposit at the teller line and go back home to access your account, your balance and account history will reflect the deposit.
 

Q: How do I sign-up?

If you are a current Midwest BankCentre customer, we offer four convenient ways to sign-up for Internet Banking:

  • Call us at 314/631-5500 or 1-800/894-1350 to request your Online Banking Application.  
  • Complete and submit the Internet Banking application for your personal accounts or your business accounts.
  • Send us an email with your name and mailing address and we will send you a sign-up package.
  • Visit your nearest branch location.

If you are not currently a Midwest BankCentre customer, stop in any of our branches to open an account and sign-up for Internet Banking and Bill Payment.

Q: How long does it take to enroll?
You can expect your Internet Banking Username and Password within 7-10 business days after we receive your completed application. 

Q: What happens if I open a new account after I am already signed up for Internet Banking?
New accounts do not automatically appear on the Internet Banking system. If you have Internet Banking and would like access to a newly opened account, let us know at the time of account opening or call 314/631-5500 or 1-800/894-1350 and we will send you the appropriate form. 

Q: How much does Internet Banking cost?
Our Internet Banking service is free to our consumer customers. 

Electronic bill payment is available for free for a 3-month trial period. After this introductory period, electronic bill payment is only $5.95 per month; this includes access to your account and bill payment privileges.  For your convenience, the monthly fee is automatically deducted from your checking account on the account statement cycle date.

Q: How do I access my account?
We’ve made it very easy for you to access your accounts online.  On our home page, simply enter your Online Username and Password.

The first time that you access Internet Banking, you will enter a 12-digit Username and PIN assigned by the bank. For security purposes, the system will ask you to change your Bank-assigned PIN to a new PIN of your choice the first time that you enter. 

Q: Can I change my Username and Password?
Yes, you can change your Username and Password as often as you want. Once you have successfully logged on to Online Banking, simply click on "Account Management" and follow the instructions provided. Your Username is caps-sensitive and must be four to twelve characters long. The Username cannot begin with a number but may include a number. You can also change your four-digit bill payment PIN by clicking on the "Account Management" section of the bill payment screen.

Q: Can you send me my Username and Password through email?
No, email is not a secure means of communication with the bank. Because we want to protect the privacy of your account information, your Internet Banking Username is sent directly to your home address via U.S. mail.

Q: What if I enter the wrong Username or Password?
For security purposes, three consecutive invalid sign-on attempts will "lock you out" of the system for 24 hours. If you are locked-out, please contact the Bank's Contact Centre at 314/631-5500 or 1-800/894-1350 and we will reset your Username and Password.

Q: What if I forget my Password?
We do not have access to your Password once it has been changed. However, we can reset your Password back to your original Password. Contact the Contact Centre at 314/631-5500 or 1-800/894-1350.  

Online Bill Payment Questions

Q: Is there a limit on the number of transfers that I can make?
It depends. For certain checking accounts there is no limit on the number of transfers you can make. However, Money Market and Savings accounts are governed by particular regulations that may restrict the number of transfers. (Please refer to your Deposit Account Agreement and Disclosures for full information regarding account restrictions.)

Q: Will I continue to receive a paper account statement in the mail?
Yes, we will continue to mail a copy of your account statement to you.

Q: Will I have a record of my bill payments and transfers?
Yes, you are given a confirmation number with each bill payment and transfer. The confirmation number screen can be printed and saved. Payments and transfers will appear on your "Account Activity" screen so you can see that they posted.  Payments and transfers will also appear within the History available with Online Banking.  Finally, payments and transfers will appear on your monthly statements.

Q: Who can I pay?
You can pay anyone from your checking account! Pay companies or individuals; if the payee doesn't access electronic payments, they are sent a check. All you need to set-up a bill payment is the payee's name, mailing address, phone number and, if applicable, your account number.

Q.  Who, if anyone, cannot be paid?
A customer cannot send an electronic payment to a payee that is not in the electronic database.  Payees are not verified for check payments so there is no limitation.

Q: Do I have to notify my vendor that I will be sending my payments through Internet Banking?
No, vendors will receive your payment with the information necessary to correctly credit your account.

Q: What determines whether a merchant will be paid electronically or by check?
The payee/merchant decides whether or not to accept electronic payments.  You may access the online database within Bill Pay to determine if a merchant accepts payments electronically.  Don’t see the merchant you want to pay listed?  Try entering the first few letters of the merchant’s name with an asterisk (*) for an easier search.  For example, when searching for Laclede Gas Company, try entering Lacl*.

Q: What date should I enter as the bill payment date?
Remember that the payment date is the date that you want the payment deducted from your account and sent to the payee. The payment date should not be the date that the payment is due. You should allow up to 5 business days for payments made electronically and 10 business days for payments made by check.

Q: Do I have to re-enter payee information every month?
No, you need only establish your list of payees once and use that list each month. Of course, if the amount of the payment changes, you should change the payee information accordingly.

Q.  What are the payment types and when are transactions processed?
There are two types of payment – Check and Electronic.  Check payments are physical documents – just like the checks written from your checkbook.  Electronic payments are funds sent through the payment system without the issuance of a physical document..

All Bill Payments are processed twice per day.  The first processing begins at 2:00 a.m. CST, and the second processing begins at 12:00 noon CST.  Any payments entered after the 2:00 a.m. processing, and before the 12:00 noon processing, will be processed the same business day. 

Q.  How are Holidays and weekends handled?
Bills do not get paid on holidays or weekends.  If a scheduled bill payment falls on a holiday or weekend, it will be paid on the Friday before the weekend, or the last working day before the holiday. 

Q.  How long do I have to add, delete, or edit a payment?
You may add, edit, or delete a payment up to 2:00 a.m. CST for the first processing, and up to 12:00 noon CST for the second processing, on the day the payment is sent.

Q.  How far in advance can a payment be set up?
Currently, a recurring scheduled payment can be set up in advance to any date in the future.  A one time payment can be set up to be sent 5 years in the future.  

Q.  How many payees can I set up?
There is no limit to the number of payees. 

Q.   Can an existing payee that is already set up be edited?
The only thing that can be edited on an existing payee is the alias name on the account and the account number.  If anything else needs to be changed, the payee must be deleted and re-entered. 

Q.  How long does it take a payment to reach the payee?
For an electronic payment, allow 3 - 5 business days from when the payment is submitted.

For a check, we guarantee that the check will be in the mail on the same day the payment is submitted, if it is entered before 12 noon CST.  (This is the same as if you wrote the check out of your checkbook and put it in the mail on the same day).  The only difference is that it will be printed and mailed from our service bureau.  Please allow 10 business days for a check payment. (Just a note – we have no control over the U.S. Postal Service.)

Q.  What is the maximum payment amount?
Electronic payments are validated against your account balance prior to processing and check payments settle against your checking account like any other check; therefore, there is no dollar limitation on payments made through the improved Bill Pay system.   You are limited only by the amount of funds in your account.

Q.  Can I place a stop payment for bill pay checks?
Yes.  After the check is printed and mailed, the payment history will show the check number for that payment.  The stop payment would be added in the same manner as for a regular check written out of your checkbook.  There is a fee for all stop payments.

Q.  Can an electronic payment be deleted once it has been submitted?
No.  Once the electronic payment is submitted, it will be processed.  It is important that you review the information you have entered and ensure you have entered the correct date and payment information.  Once an electronic payment has been processed, it cannot be deleted nor can a stop payment be placed on it.

Q.  The electronic payee indicated they did not receive my payment, but my payment history shows the electronic payment was processed.  What can I do?
If an electronic payment did not reach the electronic payee, you should immediately contact the bank (contact us or call our Contact Centre at 314/631-5500 or 800/894-1350).  We will complete with you any necessary paperwork and conduct the appropriate research.  This process will take a minimum of 5 business days.

Q.  When do funds for payments come out of (or debit) my account?
For an electronic payment, funds are debited the same day that the payment is sent, if the payment is sent before 12 noon CST.  Electronic payments submitted after 12 noon CST are debited the next day during bill pay processing.  Check payment funds are debited from the account when the check clears the account.

Q.  Are checks drawn against my account mailed to the payee?
Yes.  All checks issued through Bill Pay are encoded just as if they were a check from your own checkbook!  The signature line on the check is usually printed as ‘Signature on File’ or ‘As Authorized by Accountholder’.

Q.  What will happen if I don’t have sufficient funds for a payment?
Check payments are handled in the same manner as a check written out of your checkbook against an insufficient balance, meaning the bank will determine if the check should be paid or returned.  If the check is returned or paid as an insufficient item, the account is subject to the appropriate fee.

Electronic payments are verified for funds availability during normal processing. If the funds are available, your account is debited for the payment.  If the funds are not available with the 2AM processing, we will try again at the 12:00 Noon processing.  You will receive a message after processing informing you that the payment could not be processed due to insufficient funds.  The electronic payment will continue to be attempted until you either have the funds to let it go through or you delete the payment.

Q.  How long will payment history be viewable online?
Payment history for active and deleted payees is retained and viewable indefinitely.

Q: Where can I get additional instructions about how to set-up bill payments?
There is a helpful Bill Payment "User's Guide" conveniently located on the Bill Payment options screen. This guide provides step-by-step instructions for setting up and maintaining payees & payments.

Q: What do I do if I have a problem with my bill payment?
Contact our Contact Centre at 314/631-5500 or 1-800/894-1350. Please be ready to tell us the name of the payee in question, along with the scheduled payment date, and payment amount.

Q: What do I do if I get an error message?
If you get an error message while using Internet Banking, please make a note of the message, the error number and the time, and contact the Bank's Contact Centre at 314/631-5500 or 1-800/894-1350.   We will make every effort to resolve the issue as soon as possible.

Q: Who do I call for help?
If you have questions or need assistance with Internet Banking, we invite you to visit any Midwest BankCentre locations or call our Customer Service Specialists at (314) 631-5500 or (800) 894-1350.  Contact Center representatives are available Monday through Thursday from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM; Friday from 8:30 AM to 6:00 PM and Saturday from 8:30 AM to 12:00 Noon.

Q: Can I use email to contact the bank?
If you have specific questions regarding your account or transactions, please contact us and we pledge to respond to your request within one business day. 

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