NEFCU VISA CARDHOLDER AGREEMENT 

DISCLOSURE STATEMENT 

454_050112 

In this contract, the word “Agreement” refers to this Visa Cardholder Agreement - Disclosure Statement. The 
words “you” and “your” mean all persons of legally binding age who sign an application and/or signs the Card. 
NEFCU refers to New England Federal Credit Union. “Card” means any Visa Card we issue to you. 

This Agreement sets out your rights and duties as well as ours. This Agreement also governs the issuance and 
use of “Cash Advance Checks” (herein “Checks”), “Cash Advance Request” (herein “Requests”), and “Balance 
Transfers”. By using your Card you acknowledge the terms and agree to be bound by the terms and 
requirements.  

Important Details: 

• Membership Requirement: You and all joint cardholders must be a Member in good standing with us 
to be eligible for a Card. We may suspend Card privileges at any time, without notice, including closing 
the Account, if you do not maintain your Membership with us. 

• Variable Rate: This document contains provisions for a variable annual percentage rate (APR). 

• Signature Requirement: In order for your Card to be valid, you must sign the back of your credit card 

as soon as you receive it. 

THE AGREEMENT - YOUR RESPONSIBILITY 

Promise to Pay: You agree to repay all charges made on this Card, along with any finance, or any other 
charges arising from the use of the Card. 

• Your obligation to pay the account balance continues even though an agreement, divorce decree, or other 
court order to which we are not a party may direct you, or one of the other persons responsible, to pay 
the account. 

• Joint/Co-signer Liability: Each person who signs an application and/or signs the Card (thus becoming a 

party to this Agreement) will be individually and jointly responsible for paying all charges to this 
account including yours. Each of you authorizes the other(s) to make charges (purchases and cash 
advances) to your Card account. You cannot disclaim responsibility by notifying us, but we will close 
the account for new transactions if you request us to do so. 

• Your obligation to comply with this Agreement is not dependent upon your use of a Card.  

Use of Your Card/Account 

• Activation and Annual Usage: Cards must be activated within 60 days of receipt and used for a 

purchase at least once every 12 months, or the Card will automatically be closed, without additional 
notice.  

New England Federal Credit Union Visa Cardholder Agreement 

1 

 
 
 
• Purchases: You can use your Card to buy or lease goods or services at participating Visa merchants. We 

will add the amount of each purchase to that part of your account we call purchases. 

• Cash Advances: You can use your Card for a cash advance by presenting your Card at any participating 
Visa financial institution or by using a convenience check as payment to a 3rd party. You can also use 
your Card for cash advances at any participating Visa automated teller machines. The use of your 
Personal Identification Number (PIN) will be your legally binding signature for the purpose of 
requesting the advances. We will add the amount of each advance to the cash advance section of your 
account. All cash advances are subject to available Credit Limit and will start to accrue interest 
immediately. 

• Credit Limit: Your Card has an Account limit (Credit Limit) that is established by us. You agree not to 
allow the unpaid balance to exceed the Credit Limit. NEFCU reserves the right to deny purchases that 
would cause you to exceed your limit. Any joint applicant may request a change to your Credit Limit 
orally, in writing, or electronically, but it must be approved by NEFCU and we will verify the request 
with all other cardholders. If your Credit Limit is increased, you are immediately responsible for the new 
Credit Limit.   

• Authorizations: Most transactions require approval of funds, which may result in holding funds against 
your Credit Limit. NEFCU reserves the right to limit transactions on a Card. We may deny transactions 
when we detect unusual or suspicious activity, even if you have sufficient credit available. We are not 
liable if a merchant, financial institution or ATM does not honor your Card. Purchases and Advances are 
subject to daily limits that may restrict the full use of your available Credit Limit. 

• Points and Redemption: If you participate in NEFCU’s Rewards Card program, points are earned at a 

rate of 1 point for every $1 spent. Points are redeemable for cash at the exchange rate of 1 Point = $0.01. 
Minimum redemption for cash is 1,000 points. Points earned in the current year will expire on December 
31 three years in the future. If you close the Card and have not redeemed the points they are forfeited at 
the time of closure.  

• Returns and Adjustments: Merchants and others who honor the Card may give credit for returns and 

adjustments, and they will do so by sending a credit to post to your account. If your credits and 
payments exceed what you owe us, we will hold and apply this credit balance against future Card use, or 
if it is one dollar or more, refund it on your written request or automatically after six months. 

 • Merchant Disputes: We are not responsible for the refusal of any merchant or financial institution to 
accept your Card for any reason. If you have a dispute or disagreement with a merchant, you must 
attempt to resolve the dispute directly with the merchant. You can also find information regarding this 
on our website at nefcu.com/dispute. We must hear from you no later than 60 days after we send you the 
first bill on which the charge occurs. 

• Foreign Currency Conversions: When you use your NEFCU Visa Card(s) at a merchant outside the 

United States or at a merchant that processes in a currency different from US Dollars, the charge will be 
converted into the US dollar amount. The currency conversion rate used to determine the transaction 
amount in US dollars is either a rate selected by Visa from the range of rates available in wholesale 
currency markets for the applicable central processing date, which rate may vary from the rate Visa 
itself receives, or the government-mandated rate in effect for the applicable central processing date, plus 
1% (1.15% on cash advances), in each instance. The conversion rate in effect on the processing date 
may differ from the rate in effect on the transaction date or posting date. 

• Lost or Stolen Cards/Account Information: You must notify NEFCU immediately if you believe your 
Account, Card or Personal Identification Number (PIN) has been lost or stolen by calling us at 802-879-

New England Federal Credit Union Visa Cardholder Agreement 

2 

8790 or 800-400-8790, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If you delay in reporting your Card/PIN lost or 
stolen, you could be responsible for the charges or the losses incurred. Your liability may be limited by 
federal law and/or Visa regulations. In the event your Card is used fraudulently, you agree to assist us in 
our investigation and to sign an affidavit of fraud and forgery. Unless you have been grossly negligent or 
have engaged in fraud, you will not be liable for any unauthorized transactions using your lost or stolen 
Visa Card(s). 

• Prohibition Against Illegal Use: You agree not to use your Card(s) for illegal purposes or transactions, 
including but not limited to, illegal and online gambling. In the event that a charge or transaction that is 
deemed illegal is approved and posted, you will still be responsible for such charges. 

• Fraud Activity/Fraud Protection: Your credit card belongs to NEFCU and we may temporarily block 
your Card, without advance notice, if charges appear to be suspicious. To ensure that you retain access 
to your funds while traveling, please call 800-400-8790 or 802-879-8790 and let us know where you are 
traveling, for how long, and how we can reach you. 

RATES - Annual Percentage Rate (APR): 

Annual Percentage 
Rate (APR) for 
Purchases and Cash 
Advances 

Variable Rate 
Information for 
Purchases and  
Cash Advances 

How To Avoid 
Paying Interest 

The Standard Variable APR as of May 01, 2012 is between 
5.15% and 15.15%.  The APR you receive is 
determined based on your creditworthiness and will vary with 
the market based on the Prime Rate plus margin. 
The Annual Percentage Rate (APR) applied on your account 
may increase or decrease during the term of this Agreement. 
Any such change is based on the "Prime Rate" as published in 
The Wall Street Journal on the last Wednesday of each month. 
In the event that the Index ceases to be published, changes in 
your APR will be related to a comparable Index. 
Your due date is the 21st of each month and is at least 25 days 
after the close of each billing cycle. You have 25 days interest 
free on all purchases regardless of the previous month’s balance. 
If you pay all purchases in full within 25 days of the close of 
each billing cycle you will not pay interest. We will begin 
charging interest on cash advances on the transaction date. 

• Computing the Account Purchase Balance and Advance Balance upon which Finance Charges are 

charged:   

o Finance Charges are calculated by applying the Monthly Periodic Rate to the Average Daily 

Balance of your Account. Actual Finance Charges will be shown on your statement. 

o The Payment Due Date cut off is 5 PM EST (Monday through Friday, except Holidays) via mail 
at the address on your statement, online, or in person. All payments received after 5 PM EST, or 
which are received on a non-NEFCU business day or at an express box, are applied the next 
NEFCU business day. 

o Interest will start to accrue immediately on Cash Advances. 

New England Federal Credit Union Visa Cardholder Agreement 

3 

 
 
 
Fee 

Fees 

Amount 

Late Payment 

$20 or the Minimum 
Payment, whichever is less 

Statement or  
Receipt Copy 

$5.00 per item requested 

Frequency 

10 days after the due date, 
assessed each month until 
your account is paid current. 

Each requested item that is 
not directly related to a 
billing error as defined under 
Section 226.13 of Regulation 
Z, Truth-in-Lending. 

Rushed Replacement Card 

$60.00 per card 

Upon request 

For Credit Card Tips from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau: To learn more about factors to 
consider when applying for or using a credit card, visit the website of the Conumer Financial Protection Bureau 
at http://www.consumerfinance.gov/learnmore 

Your Billing Rights 

Does not apply to merchant disputes, fraud, or other merchant initiated issues 

This notice contains important information about your rights and our responsibilities under the Fair Credit 
Billing Act. 

Errors or Questions about Your Bill: If you think your bill is wrong, immediately WRITE to us on a separate 
sheet at:  

New England Federal Credit Union 
Attn: Cardholder Services 
PO Box 527 
Williston, VT 05495-0527 
802-879-8790 or 800-400-8790 

We must hear from you no later than 60 days after we send you the first bill on which the suspected error or 
problem appeared. You can telephone or email us, but doing so will not preserve your rights.  

In your letter, give us the following information: 

o Your name and account number. 

o The dollar amount of the suspected error. 

o Describe the error, and explain, if you can, why you believe there is an error. If you need more 

information, describe the item you are not sure about. 

Your Rights and Our Responsibilities After We Receive Your Written Notice 

We must acknowledge your letter within 30 days, unless we have corrected the error by then. Within 90 days, 
we must either correct the error or explain why we believe the bill was correct. 

New England Federal Credit Union Visa Cardholder Agreement 

4 

• Once we receive your letter, we cannot collect any amount you are questioning, or report you as 

delinquent. We may continue to bill you for the amount in question and we can deduct the amount in 
question from your Credit Limit. You do not have to pay the amount in question while we are 
investigating, but you are still required to pay the parts of your bill that are not in question. 

• If we find that we made a mistake on your bill, you will not have to pay any finance charges related to 

the amount in question. In either case, we will send you a statement of the amount you owe and the date 
that it is due. 

• Once our investigation is complete, if we determine the charge(s) are correct and you do not pay the 

amount in question, we may consider you delinquent. If our explanation does not satisfy you, you must 
write to us within ten days telling us that the explanation is unsatisfactory and you refuse to pay the 
amount in question.  

o We must report you as questioning your bill.  

o We must tell you the name of anyone we reported you to.  

o We must tell anyone we report you to that the matter has been settled between us when it finally 

is. 

• If we do not follow these rules, we can’t collect the first $50.00 of the questioned amount, even if your 

bill was correct. 

Statements and Payments 

• Monthly Statements: You will receive a statement at the close of each billing period if there is a transaction or 

balance on your account. The statement will show: 

o All transactions 

o Any unpaid balance in your account (called the new balance) 

o The amount of credit available to you (your credit limit minus the new balance and outstanding 

authorizations) 

o The minimum payment due, the payment due date 

o The late payment fee and the date it will be charged, if applicable 

• Minimum Payments: The minimum payment due on each statement is 3% of the new balance shown on the 
statement rounded up to the next whole dollar or $10.00, whichever is greater. If the new balance is less than 
$10.00, the minimum payment due will be the entire new balance. 

• Application of Payments: Payments received will be applied to first unpaid Interest and fees, then to the Card 

balance with the highest interest rate, and then to each successive balance bearing the next highest rate of 
interest, until the payment is exhausted. 

• Crediting Payments: All payments received on a NEFCU business day (Monday through Friday, except 

Holidays) will be credited on that day, provided they are received at the address on your statement via mail, 
paid on-line, or in person, before 5 PM EST. All payments received after 5 PM EST, or which are received on 
a non-NEFCU business day or at an express box, are applied the next NEFCU business day. 

• Irregular Payment: We may accept late payments or partial payments without losing our rights under this 

Agreement. 

New England Federal Credit Union Visa Cardholder Agreement 

5 

• Skip-a-Pay: At our option, we may allow you a “skip-a-pay,” which means that you may be allowed to skip 
making the minimum monthly payment for a specific billing cycle (or cycles). If we agree to a “skip-a-pay,” 
we will continue to apply the finance charges disclosed above, but no late payment fees will be imposed. 

• Automatic Payment (AutoPay): AutoPay is available upon request. If we do not receive the full amount of 
the AutoPay due, you will still be liable for the minimum payment due and any fees or finance charges that 
accrue as a result of not satisfying your payment. 

When you request AutoPay, you are responsible for any payments due, and fees or finance charges that 
accrue until AutoPay goes into effect. 

There are 3 options available for AutoPay from NEFCU: 

o Balance in full 

o Minimum payment due as stated on your Statement  

o A flat dollar amount, no less than 3% of your total credit limit 

Default 

You are in “default” if you fail to make your required payment, fail to make your payment on time, break any 
other promise made under this Agreement, die, file for bankruptcy, or become insolvent, make any false or 
misleading statement in any application or update of information, fail to give us immediate notice of any 
unauthorized use of your Card, something happens which we believe may substantially reduce your ability to 
repay what you owe us, you breach any term or condition of any other loan(s) you may have with us, or you fail 
to maintain active membership in NEFCU. 

If any of the above events occur, you will no longer be able to make charges until the default condition is 
resolved. In addition, we have certain rights which are designed to help collect what you owe us.  

• Full Payment Due Immediately:  If you are in “default,” we can demand that you immediately pay us 
the entire amount owed on your account, plus Interest and any other fees. No advance notice is required 
and you lose your right to make monthly payments under the Agreement and you must pay us in full 
right away. 

• Close Account:  If you are in “default”, NEFCU will close your account and we will notify you in 

writing to arrange payment terms, that may not be full payment. 

• Limited Rights to Your Shares and Deposits:  If you have been issued a Card that is secured by a 

specific account or account and you are in “default”, we have certain rights to the shares and deposits in 
those specific accounts. These are explained in the Security Interest section. 

• Lawsuit - Collection Expenses:  When you are in “default,” we can sue you in a Court of Law. We can 
also sue anyone who signs as a “co-signer” or “guarantor” under this Agreement. You agree to pay all of 
our costs and expenses incurred in the collection of your obligations under this agreement, including, but 
not limited to, reasonable attorney’s fees and court costs. You also agree to pay all of our post-judgment 
collection costs and expenses, including reasonable attorney’s fees. 

Miscellaneous Provisions 

• Notices: Any notice we send to you will be considered effective when it is delivered to the cardholder or 
mailed, postage paid, to the address you have indicated in your application or on your account. It is your 
responsibility to notify NEFCU either in writing or via PC Banking of any changes in your address. Notice 

New England Federal Credit Union Visa Cardholder Agreement 

6 

from you will be considered effective when we receive it in writing to: NEFCU, PO Box 527, Williston, VT 
05495. 

If this is a joint account, we can notify one of you and the notice will be effective for both of you. Also, one of 
you can notify us, and we will consider it to be notice from both of you. 

• Transfer or Assignment: Your rights under this Agreement belong to you only and may not be transferred or 

assigned. Your obligations are binding upon your heirs and legal representatives. 

• Surrender of Cards and Checks: The Cards and Checks remain the property of NEFCU and must be 

surrendered upon NEFCU’s request or termination of this Account. 

• Changing the Terms of This Agreement: We can change this Agreement at any time with a 45 day advance 
notice for material changes including, but not limited to, changing the rates or margin, fees and the way we 
compute the finance charge or the minimum payment due. 

• Credit Information: At any time, NEFCU can require you to update the credit information you provided and 
you authorize us to investigate your credit standing when opening, renewing, or reviewing your Account. You 
authorize us to disclose information regarding your Account to credit reporting agencies and other creditors 
who inquire of us about your credit standing, Visa and its authorized agents. 

• Credit Reporting Disputes: If you question the accuracy of our reported information to a credit reporting 

agency, write us at the address listed on the statement with a description of your dispute. If available, please 
provide a copy of the credit report in question. 

• Closing Your Account: You or any joint applicant on the Card can close your account at any time, if you 

notify us verbally or in writing. If you do not notify us that you want your account closed, it will remain open 
and subject to any applicable charges and fees. NEFCU can close your account at any time and we will notify 
you in writing. No matter who closes the account, we keep all rights we have and you still have to repay the 
Card’s balance, finance charges and any other Fees. 

• Right To Reject: You may still reject this plan, provided that you have not yet used the Card or paid a fee 
after receiving a billing statement. If you do reject the plan, you are not responsible for any further fees or 
charges. 

If you reject the changes, NEFCU will close your account and you will no longer be able to use it for further 
transactions. If your account is closed, you must pay your balance over an amortized 5 year term. Your rate 
will continue to be Variable, based upon prime, as described above. 

• Opt Out: When NEFCU changes the Cardholder Agreement, you have the right to reject the changes. If you 
do not want the changes to apply to your account, call us at 800-400-8790 or write to us at NEFCU, PO Box 
527, Williston, VT 05495. Your letter must include your name, address, phone number and account number 
and your request to reject the changes. In order to reject changes to your account, you must contact us no later 
than 14 days before they go into effect. If you do not notify us as described above, you are agreeing to these 
changes.  

Federal Equal Credit Opportunity Act Notice 

The Federal Equal Credit Opportunity Act prohibits creditors from discriminating against credit applicants on 
the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, age (provided the applicant has the capacity 
to enter into a binding contract); because all or part of the applicants income derives from any public assistance 
program or because the applicant has in good faith exercised any right under the Consumer Credit Protection 
Act. The Federal Agency that administers compliance with this law concerning NEFCU is the NCUA, 1775 
Duke Street, Alexandria, VA 22314-3428, 1-800-755-1030. 

New England Federal Credit Union Visa Cardholder Agreement 

7 

Grant of Security Interest 

• Grant or “Pledge” of Shares and Deposits in Specific Account(s): If you have been issued a Card that is 
secured by a specific account or accounts, you are giving us a security interest - called a “Pledge”- in all present 
or future shares or deposits in those specific accounts. This means that you are pledging your accounts as 
collateral for any debt you incur by the use of your Card. 

• Security Interest: By giving us this security interest in the pledged accounts, you grant us the right to take the 
Minimum Monthly Payment when you are more than 15 days past due, or the entire Outstanding Balance (if it 
has become due for any reason) from the pledged accounts. 

• Cross Security: Except for your home, all property given as collateral for any other loans with NEFCU, now 
or in the future, will also guarantee your NEFCU Visa account. The security interest language contained in 
those loans, and specific description of property pledged as collateral are incorporated herein as if set out in full. 
In addition, all other loans that you have with the Credit Union are also secured by this collateral. 

• Purchase Money Security Interest: Using your Card means you accept the terms of this Agreement and you 
also grant us purchase money security interest in anything you buy with this Card, pursuant to Title 9A V.S.A. 
Article 9. In other words, we have a lien on such property until you have paid us the money you owe for that 
purchase. 

New England Federal Credit Union Visa Cardholder Agreement 

8