Retail

Business

Merger Information

• How will the merger be structured?
  

  After approval by the NCUA and Bellco’s membership, First Commonwealth will assume the assets (loans, investments, equipment, etc.), share deposits and liabilities of Bellco. The Bellco legal entity will be sunset after the merger integration. First Commonwealth’s charter will be amended to include the select employee groups served by Bellco. Additionally, all of Bellco’s staff will be retained, along with its offices in Wyomissing and Sinking Spring, PA, which will be known as the First Commonwealth Wyomissing and Sinking Spring Financial Centers.

• What will happen to my favorite people at Bellco?
  

  Bellco’s Board of Directors was insistent that a merger be good for all stakeholders - members, employees, and the communities we serve. That means your favorite people at Bellco will remain an integral part of your banking experience. Rest assured that the same dedicated individuals you've come to know and trust will continue to serve our members, delivering the exceptional service that both credit unions are renowned for. As of June 1, 2024, all Bellco employees will seamlessly transition to become First Commonwealth employees. Importantly, this merger brings not only stability but also additional career opportunities for Bellco employees, reflecting our commitment to the well-being of our valued team members.

• How will this merger benefit Bellco & First Commonwealth members?
  

  The merger is a pivotal step towards strengthening both Bellco and First Commonwealth, creating a more robust financial institution for our members. As the largest credit union with a significant presence in the Lehigh Valley, Warren County, NJ, and Berks County, PA, First Commonwealth is at the forefront of inclusive banking. This joining of forces allows us to combine strengths, offering enhanced services, expanded access to financial centers, and a continued commitment to our members and the communities we serve.

  The merged credit union will offer its combined 92,000+ members an enhanced experience by bringing together best practices of both credit unions, including optimizing and expanding member convenience through the latest in digital banking, contact center, financial center, and ITM technology, as well as diversification of consumer and business product and service offerings. The credit unions will continue doing business as First Commonwealth Federal Credit Union, with combined total assets of more than $1.3 Billion.

• Is this a buy-out?
  

  No, it's important to clarify that this is not a conventional buy-out or acquisition. The merger between Bellco and First Commonwealth is truly a collaborative partnership between two financially strong credit unions. Both institutions are deeply committed to their employees, members, and the communities we serve.

• Why are Bellco and First Commonwealth planning to merge?
  

  The decision to merge Bellco and First Commonwealth stems from a shared commitment to enhance the overall well-being of our members. By joining forces, we aim to extend our reach and amplify the positive impact we have on the communities we serve. This strategic move allows us to provide an even more exceptional member experience, all while prioritizing the safety and security of your financial relationship and associated data.

• What will happen to Bellco’s Wyomissing and Sinking Spring branches?
  

  The Wyomissing and Sinking Spring branches of Bellco will become First Commonwealth Financial Centers in 2024. 

• Will Bellco members have to re-apply for membership?
  

  No. Your membership will continue seamlessly with First Commonwealth. As a member you will be able to take advantage of additional products and services that will be available as an outcome of the merger.

• When is the merger expected to take place?
  

  The merger will be complete on June 1, 2024.

Branch/Retail

• Will there be any changes to Youth Accounts?
  

  As of May 31, 2024, 60-month Student Certificates will no longer be offered. At maturity, existing 60-month Student Certificates will mature into 60-month Certificates.

  Deposit Reward Stamp Cards will no longer be accepted after May 31, 2024. All completed Stamp Cards will need to be submitted before that date.

  Report Card Rewards will remain available to anyone 18 years of age or younger after May 31, 2024. Rewards will change from per year to per quarter and can be redeemed quarterly in the amount of $1.00 per “A” up to a maximum of $5.00 per quarter.

• Where can I find rolling 12-month eStatements post merger?
  

  Current history of eStatements should be saved as they will not be accessible post merger. Members will be able to contact member services to obtain copies of previous statement history if necessary.

• Will there be changes to Club Accounts?
  

  Yes – Vacation Club accounts will now mature. Funds will be moved to the current transfer record setup annually in May.

• Will fees remain the same?
  

  Please note the following changes in fees:

  • 5x10 Safety Deposit Box fee will increase to $65.00
  • 10x10 Safety Deposit Box fee will increase to $105.00
  • International Wire Transfer will increase to $60.00
  • Returned Mail fee will increase to $5.00
  • Stop Payment fee will increase to $22.00
  • Cashier Checks will increase to $7.00
  • Money Orders will increase to $4.00
  • Domestic Wire Transfer fee will decrease to $25.00
  • NSF, Overdraft, and Courtesy Pay fee will decrease to $25.00
  • Return Check fee will decrease to $15.00
• Will Bellco Members still have access to coin machines?
  

  Coin machines will remain at both Bellco locations and are free for members. A 5% charge will be implemented for non-members.

• Will my Pre-Authorized Transactions still work?
  

  Pre-Authorized ACH transactions will continue to post all Bellco accounts as normal. Pre-Authorized Debit and Credit Card transactions will need to be changed to reflect the newly issued First Commonwealth Debit and/or Credit Card number.

• Will statement cycles change or remain the same?
  

  Member account statements will be provided at the same frequency they currently receive statements, either monthly or quarterly and will be issued on the first day of the month for the prior month or quarter data. Credit Card statement cycles will run from 1st of the calendar month to the last day of the calendar month and will be issued on the first day of the month for the months prior data. Current Bellco credit card holders will receive a final statement from Bellco on May 26th 2024 which will include the statement cycle of April 26th-May 25th and then will receive their next statement from First Commonwealth on July 1st and will include statement cycle data from May26th through June 30th.

• Will the hours of the branches change?
  

  This partnership will allow for Bellco to offer expanded branch hours to our members. The Wyomissing and Sinking Spring financial centers will have updated hours following the completion of the merger.

• What will happen to the ATMs at Wyomissing and Sinking Spring?
  

  Nothing! Both ATMs will remain in place following the merger.

• When will I receive my new First Commonwealth debit card?
  

  Members will receive their new debit cards 2-3 weeks before the June 1 merger date. It is important that members carefully review all mail being received as debit cards are delivered in plain, unmarked white envelopes. Members will receive additional communication regarding cards soon.

• Will my Bellco debit card still work?
  

  No. On June 3, 2024, Bellco Federal Credit Union issued debit cards will no longer work. Members will receive their new First Commonwealth debit card 2-3 weeks before the merger and will need to activate their new card by June 3, 2024.

• Will my PIN number carry over?
  

  No. Members will need to reset their PIN numbers when activating their newly issued First Commonwealth debit card.

• Will there be card stand-in limits during merger weekend?
  

  Yes. Beginning May 31, 2024 through June 3, 2024, there will be card stand-in limits. Members will receive additional communication regarding cards soon.

• What will happen to my direct deposit?
  

  Your direct deposit will carry over to your First Commonwealth account beginning June 1, 2024."

• Will my Bellco checks still work?
  

  Yes! You will be able to use your remaining Bellco checks after the merger is completed on June 1.

• Will my account number change?
  

  There are a small number of Bellco members who will receive a new account number. If you are impacted by this change, you will be notified individually prior to June 1, 2024.

Deposits

• Will I have to change all my ACH/electronic payments to a new account number?
  

  Your electronic payments will post as is for the time being, and we will send your payees notifications of your new routing and transit information and new account numbers on your behalf at the appropriate time.

• Will NCUA still insure my deposits, and at the same levels?
  

  Absolutely. The NCUA insures up to $250,000 per depositor, per institution, per ownership category. In fact, once Bellco member accounts convert to First Commonwealth there is an additional $250,000 of share insurance provided, for a total of $500,000 combined insurance coverage.

• Can I still use my Bellco checks after the merger?
  

  No changes will occur until after Bellco’s membership approves the merger, and after the two credit union’s systems become integrated. Bellco members will continue to conduct business as usual until more information is provided regarding account integration. Until then, you can continue to use your Bellco checks, online banking, mobile app, and all other services as usual.

• Can I get products from First Commonwealth right away?
  

  You will be eligible to establish membership at First Commonwealth Federal Credit Union and have full access to product offerings beginning June 1, 2024.

• What if I am the primary owner on more than one account?
  

  You will log in to the account on which you are a primary owner. You will then be able to view all of your accounts. If you need access to Bill Pay from an account on which you are not a primary owner, please refer to the Bill Pay Information section.

Contact Center

• What it the telephone availability under First Commonwealth?
  

  Telephone support will be available Monday - Friday 8 am- 8 pm and Saturday 9 am- 3 pm.

Lending - Cards

• Does FCFCU offer integration with person-to-person payment apps such as Apple Pay® or Zelle®?
  

  Yes, you can use your First Commonwealth card(s) and account(s) to pay for purchases through Apple Pay®, Samsung® Pay, Google Pay™, Visa® Checkout, and we are working on an integration with Zelle®. Additionally, First Commonwealth’s digital banking offers the ability to pay other people, sending funds using your FCFCU debit card(s) to another individual without having to share account information.

• Will I be able to use FCFCU financial centers and ATMs right away?
  

  Members will not be able to conduct transactions on their existing Bellco accounts at existing First Commonwealth locations until the integration is fully completed, which will be by June 1, 2024.

• Can Bellco members still use their debit/credit cards after the merger?
  

  Members will continue to conduct business as usual for the time being until additional information is provided regarding account integration. Bellco members will receive reissued debit and credit cards with the latest Tap-To-Pay technology. These easy-to-use cards offer our members a touchless, quick, and secure way to pay. We will make the transition as seamless as possible with concierge services to help you with changes.

• What are the Debit and Credit Card changes and reissue process?
  

  Bellco Members should continue to use their Bellco Debit cards as normal until June 3rd, 2024. All current Bellco debit card holders will be issued a new contactless First Commonwealth Debit Card. Cards will be shipped to Bellco members directly and will be received in a non-descript plain white envelope. Cards should be received between May13th and May 17th, 2024, approximately 2 weeks prior to the first operating day as First Commonwealth Federal Credit Union. It is important to keep your newly issued card in a safe place prior to June 3rd, 2024. The morning of June 3rd, 2024, you will be able to call the activation number provided and have your FCFCU debit card activated as well as setup and choose a personal identification number (PIN) for that card. Once the card is activated members can begin using the card as they normally would. Any pre-authorized or recurring debit card transactions will need to be updated to the newly issued card number starting June 3rd, 2024.

Lending - Loans

• What is the maximum advance payment for consumer loans?
  

  For your consumer loan, the maximum advance payment will decrease from 3 months to 2 months

Digital Banking

• Will my online banking change?
  

  No change to online banking will occur until after the merger is effective and our systems become integrated with First Commonwealth Federal Credit Union’s. Bellco members will continue to conduct business as usual through June 1, 2024. 

• Will my Bellco account transfer to digital banking if I’m an existing First Commonwealth member?
  

  If you are already a First Commonwealth member enrolled in digital banking prior to the conversion, you will automatically see your former Bellco accounts in your First Commonwealth digital banking beginning June 3rd.

• Will the credit union services be unavailable for any period of time?
  

  May 31st – June 3rd: No access to online banking, mobile banking or bill pay during this time.

  Future-dated transfers and payments for May 31st – June 3rd MUST BE SCHEDULED BY May 30th.

  Bill Pay bills due between May 31st – June 6th MUST BE SCHEDULED BY May 30th.

• Are there any days where I will not have access to online or mobile banking?
  

  Yes. Be prepared for the system to be unavailable from Friday, May 31st to Monday, June 3rd.

• What devices will be supported when using the app?
  

  Android™ Compatibility Requirements: Android 9.x and later are supported with Android 8.x limited.
  iOS Compatibility Requirements: iOS 15.x and later are supported with iOS 14.x limited.

• Can I use Internet Explorer?
  

  Internet Explorer will NOT be supported. We recommend the most up-to-date versions of Chrome, Firefox or Edge. If you are experiencing issues using the new system and are using Internet Explorer, please try logging in using another supported browser.

• Will my alerts carry over into the new system?
  

  No, your alerts will not carry over. You will need to set up any alerts in the new system.

• Will the new system use MFA (multi-factor authentication)?
  

  Our new digital banking experience will have enhanced security features, including device and browser registration, secure access code (SAC) delivery, inactivity time-outs, 4-digit PIN and biometric login, and security alerts.

• Will any payments I set up be transferred to the new system?
  

  Payments to loans (auto, home equity, credit cards, etc) will be moved into our new system. You will be able to edit, change and delete these yourself.

• Will any transfers I set up be moved to the new system?
  

  Funds transfers between deposit accounts (savings, checking and money markets) will be moved into our new system. You will be able to edit, change and delete these yourself. Please review the next question for any transfers set up to loan accounts.

• How do I know if I am a primary owner or a joint owner?
  

  Log in to your current online banking account; the person whose name appears at the top of the account listing is the primary owner. If you have more than one account, log in to each of them to identify whether you are primary on any account.

• What if I am not a primary owner on any account, only a joint owner?
  

  You will need to enroll as a new user. Please make sure all of your contact information (email and phone number) is up to date on your account. You can do this by logging in to your current account and sending us a secure message.

• What if I am the primary owner on one account and joint owner on another?
  

  You will log in to the account on which you are a primary owner. You will then be able to view all of your accounts. If you need access to Bill Pay from an account on which you are not a primary owner, please refer to the Bill Pay Information section.

• Will I need to share my login with my joint accountholder?
  

  No. In the new system, you will each have your own unique login ID and password. This means you will be able to see ALL of your accounts with one login.

• Will I use the same password?
  

  Users will need to create a password at time of enrollment. You can use your current password (as long as it meets the requirements of the new system) or enter a new one.

• Will I use the same login?
  

  Primary account owners will have the opportunity to keep the same login or change it at time of enrollment. Joint account owners will need to create a new login ID.

• Will I still be able to customize what I see/my accounts when I log in?
  

  The new digital banking experience will allow users to reorder, categorize, view/hide and nickname accounts.

• Will I still be able to access my old online banking account?
  

  No. Online banking will be fully replaced with our new digital banking experience. You will need to delete any old bookmarks as they will no longer work.