How to access your money in a digital world

  • Dec 19, 2022, 11:08 AM
How to access the money in your checking account

 

It might seem like a super basic question. But every day folks ask Google:  

How do I get cash out of my bank account?  

While it might be obvious, accessing your money is not always as intuitive as it might seem.  

We’re here to help! In this article, we’ll lay out the basics of money access so you know how to get your money when you need it. 

Here’s how to access your money 

Often, our members ask us how to access their money fast and with the flexibility to meet their complex needs. 

Whether you want to pay a bill, your best friend, or just have some spending cash handy, you have options for accessing your money on your terms in a digital banking world. 

First things first: Add money to your account 

These are a few of your options to make sure your account is funded: 
Then, get your cash, pay someone, or transfer money 

Once your checking account has sufficient funds, you're ready to access your money: 
  • Use your debit card: If you have a debit card linked to your checking account, you can use the card to make purchases as you would a credit card, either by entering your pin at the checkout or just signing like you would with any credit card purchase. If you’re looking for cash and want to avoid the ATM fee, you can stop by one of the free ATMs in our nationwide network. Click here to find an ATM near you.
  • Use a digital wallet on your smartphone: Use your smart phone to access your money on the go without having to worry about bringing your cards with you. Simply add your credit and debit cards to your Apple, Google, Samsung, and Visa SRC, pull up the credit card in your digital wallet, and place it near the credit card reader to pay. 
  • Stop by a branch near you: Visit your local bank or credit union branch (CAFCU members who aren't near a branch can also visit one of our many credit union partners nationwide) and fill out a withdrawal slip to get cash from your account. If you don’t know your member number, a member service representative (MSR) can look it up with your ID. You can also write yourself a check and give it to an MSR to cash for you.
  • Connect your account to a payment app: When you connect your account to a peer-to-peer (P2P) payment app like Zelle, Venmo, or PayPal, you can quickly split a bill at a restaurant or pay someone you know when you don't have checks or easy ATM access. Credit unions like CAFCU offer members access to Zelle when signed in to our mobile banking app (rather than through the Zelle app itself). Simply connect your checking account to Zelle after you log in to your CAFCU account to get started. To send money by Venmo, you’ll need to download the Venmo app to your smartphone, create an account, go to your settings, and add your account by tapping “add a bank or credit card.” Just remember to ALWAYS verify the people you pay and make sure you know and trust them if you are using a peer-to-peer payment app of any kind. 
Download our free app 

If you're not already using your financial institution’s mobile app, give it a try! Accessing your accounts using an app like CAFCU’s mobile banking app is secure, fast, and easy and lets you move your money with just a few taps. 

After enrolling, you can use your mobile banking app to: 

  • organize and pay your bills (no need to pay each individual payee -- with Bill Pay you can do it all in one place) 
  • deposit checks by simply snapping a couple photos with your phone 
  • check your balances and transactions any time of day or night 
  • and much more! 
You can download CAFCU's free mobile banking app in seconds at your preferred app store. 

Don’t have a CAFCU checking account yet? 

If your only account is a savings or regular share account, you’re missing an opportunity to give yourself the flexibility to access your money in many different ways. 

Here’s how to get started.