P.O. Box 23267
Washington, D.C. 20026-3267
703.934.8300 | 800.491.2328
Fax: 703.934.8319
www.CongressionalFCU.org

VISA CLASSIC/VISA GOLD/VISA PLATINUM
CONSUMER CREDIT CARD AGREEMENT

In this Agreement, “Agreement” means this Consumer Credit Card Agreement. “Disclosure” means the Credit Card Account Opening 
Disclosure. The Account Opening Disclosure is incorporated into this Consumer Credit Card Agreement and is part of the Agreement. 
In this Agreement the words “you,” “your,” and “yours” mean each and all of those who agree to be bound by this Agreement; “card” 
means the Visa credit card and any duplicates, renewals, or substitutions the Credit Union issues to you; “account” means your Visa 
credit card line-of-credit account with the Credit Union; and “Credit Union” means the Credit Union whose name appears on this 
Agreement or anyone to whom the Credit Union transfers this Agreement.

1. USING YOUR ACCOUNT — If you are approved for an account, the Credit Union will establish a line of credit for you. You agree 
that your credit limit is the maximum amount (purchases, cash advances, finance charges, plus “other charges”) which you will have 
outstanding on your account at any time. Unless disclosed otherwise, the Credit Union will not allow advances over the credit limit. If the 
Credit Union has a program whereby it allows payment of advances that exceed your credit limit, subject to a fee, the Credit Union will 
provide you with notice, either orally, in writing, or electronically (notwithstanding the requirements of the paragraph entitled “Statements 
and Notices”) explaining your right to opt in to the Credit Union’s program whereby it will honor advance requests over the credit limit. In 
the event you opt in to such a program, you agree to the terms of such a program. You may request an increase in your credit limit only 
by a method acceptable to the Credit Union. The Credit Union may increase or decrease your credit limit, refuse to make an advance 
and/or terminate your account at any time for any reason not prohibited by law. If you are permitted to obtain cash advances on your 
account, we may, from time to time, issue convenience checks to you that may be drawn on your account. Convenience checks may 
not be used to make a payment on your account balance. If you use a convenience check, it will be posted to your account as a cash 
advance. We reserve the right to refuse to pay a convenience check drawn on your account for any reason and such refusal shall not 
constitute wrongful dishonor. 

You may request that we stop the payment of a convenience check drawn on your account. You agree to pay any fee imposed to stop a 
payment on a convenience check issued on your account. You may make a stop payment request orally, if permitted, or in writing. Your 
request must be made with sufficient time in advance of the presentment of the check for payment to give us a reasonable opportunity 
to act on your request. In addition, your request must accurately describe the check including the exact account number, the payee, 
any check number that may be applicable, and the exact amount of the check. If permitted, you may make a stop payment request 
orally but such a request will expire after 14 days unless you confirm your request in writing within that time. Written stop payment 
orders are effective only for six (6) months and may be renewed for additional six month periods by requesting in writing that the stop 
payment order be renewed. We are not required to notify you when a stop payment order expires. If we re-credit your account after 
paying a check or draft over a valid and timely stop payment order, you agree to sign a statement describing the dispute with the payee, 
to assign to us all of your rights against the payee or other holders of the check or draft and to assist us in any legal action. You agree 
to indemnify and hold us harmless from all costs and expenses, including attorney’s fees, damages, or claims, related to our honoring 
your stop payment request or in failing to stop payment of an item as a result of incorrect information provided to us or the giving of 
inadequate time to act upon a stop payment request.

2. USING YOUR CARD — You understand that the use of your credit card will constitute acknowledgement of receipt and agreement 
to the terms of the Credit Card Agreement and Credit Card Account Opening Disclosure (Disclosure). You may use your card to make 
purchases from merchants and others who accept your card. The credit union is not responsible for the refusal of any merchant or 
financial institution to honor your card. If you wish to pay for goods or services over the Internet, you may be required to provide card 
number security information before you will be permitted to complete the transaction. In addition, you may obtain cash advances 
from the Credit Union, from other financial institutions that accept your card, and from some automated teller machines (ATMs). (Not 
all ATMs accept your card.) If the credit union authorizes ATM transactions with your card, it will issue you a personal identification 
number (PIN). To obtain cash advances from an ATM, you must use the PIN issued to you for use with your card. You agree that you 
will not use your card for any transaction that is illegal under applicable federal, state, or local law. Even if you use your card for an 
illegal transaction, you will be responsible for all amounts and charges incurred in connection with the transaction. If you are permitted 
to obtain cash advances on your account, you may also use your card to purchase instruments and engage in transactions that we 
consider the equivalent of cash. Such transactions will be posted to your account as cash advances and include, but are not limited to, 
wire transfers, money orders, bets, lottery tickets, and casino gaming chips, as applicable. This paragraph shall not be interpreted as 
permitting or authorizing any transaction that is illegal.

3. PROMISE TO PAY — You promise to pay all charges (purchases, cash advances, balance transfers, use of convenience checks 
or any other charge) made to your account by you or anyone you authorize to use your account. You also promise to pay all finance 
charges and other charges added to your account under the terms of this Agreement or another agreement you made with the Credit 
Union. If this is a joint account, the paragraph on JOINT ACCOUNTS also applies to your account.

4. PERIODIC RATES — The periodic rates applicable to purchases, cash advances, and balance transfers are disclosed on the 
Disclosure that accompanies this Agreement. Any penalty rate that may be imposed for failing to make a payment  by the payment 
due date is also disclosed on the Disclosure. Any rate change will be made pursuant to applicable law. If the rate for your account is 
variable, as indicated on the accompanying Disclosure, the rate charged on purchases, cash advances, balance transfers and any 
penalty rate will vary periodically as disclosed in the Disclosure accompanying this Agreement. The initial rate on your account for 
certain types of transactions may be an introductory discounted rate (Introductory Rate) that is lower than the rate that would ordinarily 
apply for that type of transaction. If an Introductory Rate applies to your account, the rates and the period of time it will be effective is 

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shown on the Disclosure accompanying this Agreement. After the Introductory Rate period expires, the periodic rate will automatically 
increase to the rates that would ordinarily apply for that type of transaction based on the terms of this Agreement. 

5. FINANCE CHARGES — New purchases posted to your account during a billing cycle will not incur a finance charge for that billing 
cycle. Finance charge begins to accrue on those purchases from the first day of the next billing cycle, unless you paid the entire new 
balance on the previous cycle’s billing statement by the payment due date of that statement. To avoid an additional finance charge on 
the balance of purchases, you must pay the entire new balance on the billing statement by the payment due date of that statement. A 
finance charge begins to accrue on cash advances from the date you get the cash advance or from the first day of the billing cycle in 
which the cash advance is posted to your account, whichever is later.

The finance charge is calculated separately for purchases and cash advances. For purchases, the finance charge is computed by 
applying the periodic rate to the average daily balance of purchases. To get the average daily balance of purchases, we take the 
beginning outstanding balance of purchases each day and subtract any payments and/or credits that we apply to the purchase balance. 
(We do not add in any purchases posted during the billing cycle.) This gives us the daily balance of purchases. Then, we add all the 
daily balances of purchases for the billing cycle together and divide the total by the number of days in the billing cycle. This gives us the 
average daily balance of purchases.

For cash advances, the finance charge is computed by applying the periodic rate to the average daily balance of cash advances. To get 
the average daily balance of cash advances, we take the beginning outstanding balance of cash advances each day, add in any new 
cash advances, and subtract any payments and/or credits that we apply to the cash advance balance. This gives us the daily balance 
of cash advances. Then, we add all the daily balances of cash advances for the billing cycle together and divide the total by the number 
of days in the billing cycle. This gives us the average daily balance of cash advances. Balance transfers are calculated in the same 
manner as cash advances.

6. FOREIGN TRANSACTIONS — Purchases and cash advances made in foreign currencies will be debited from your account in U.S. 
dollars. The exchange rate between the transaction currency and the billing currency used for processing international transactions is 
a rate selected by Visa from a 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. 
The exchange rate used on the processing date may differ from the rate that would have been used on the purchase date or cardholder 
statement posting date.

A fee (finance charge), calculated in U.S. dollars, will be imposed on all foreign transactions, including purchases, cash advances and 
credits to your account. A foreign transaction is any transaction that you complete or a merchant completes on your card outside of the 
United States, with the exception of U.S. military bases, U.S. territories, U.S. embassies or U.S. consulates. The Foreign Transaction 
Fee is set forth on the Disclosure accompanying this Agreement.

7. FEES — In addition to the periodic rate, the following additional fees may be imposed on your account. If applicable to your account, 
the fee amounts and explanations are disclosed on the Disclosure accompanying this Agreement. Your account may also be subject to 
additional fees as set forth on the Disclosure accompanying this Agreement.

a. Annual Fee. If your account is subject to an Annual Fee, the fee will be charged to your account upon the issuance of your card. 
Each year following, the annual fee will be charged to your account during the same month that you were first charged the fee. The fee 
will be charged each year until your account is closed and paid in full.

b. Foreign Transaction Fee (Finance Charge). If your account is subject to a Foreign Transaction Fee (finance charge), a fee may be 
charged to your account for transactions made outside of the United States or in a foreign currency.

c. Late Payment Fee. If your account is subject to a Late Payment Fee, the fee will be charged to your account when you do not 
make the required minimum payment by or within the number of days of the statement Payment Due Date set forth on the Disclosure 
accompanying this Agreement.

d. Returned Payment Fee. If your account is subject to a Returned Payment Fee, the fee will be charged to your account when a 
payment is returned to you for any reason.

e. Card Replacement Fee. If your account is subject to a Card Replacement Fee, a fee will be charged for each replacement card that 
is issued to you for any reason.

f. Stop Payment Fee. If your account is subject to the Stop Payment Fee, a fee will be charged to your account as disclosed on the 
Disclosure accompanying this Agreement.

g. Visa Returned Check Fee. If your account is subject to the Visa Returned Check Fee, a fee will be charged to your account as 
disclosed on the Disclosure accompanying this Agreement.

8. PAYMENTS — Each month you must pay at least the minimum payment shown on your statement by the date specified on the 
statement. You may pay more frequently, pay more than the minimum payment or pay the total new balance in full. If you make extra 
or larger payments, you are still required to make at least the minimum payment each month your account has a balance (other than 
a credit balance). The minimum payment is 3.00% of your total new balance, or $15.00, whichever is greater, plus the amount of any 
prior minimum payments that you have not made, and any amount you are over your credit limit. In addition to the minimum payment, 
you must also pay, by the date specified above, the amount of any prior minimum payment(s) that you have not made, all outstanding 
unpaid fees and charges, and any amount you are over your credit limit. The Credit Union also has the right to demand immediate 
payment of any amount  by which you are over your credit limit.

9. PAYMENT ALLOCATION — Subject to applicable law, your payments may be applied to what you owe the Credit Union in any 
manner the Credit Union chooses. However, in every case, in the event you make a payment in excess of the required minimum 
periodic payment, the Credit Union will allocate the excess amount first to the balance with the highest annual percentage rate and any 
remaining portion to the other balances in descending order based on applicable annual percentage rate.

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10. SECURITY INTEREST — You grant the Credit Union a security interest under the Uniform Commercial Code and under any 
common law rights the Credit Union may have in any goods you purchase. If you give the Credit Union a specific pledge of shares by 
signing a separate pledge of shares, your pledged shares will secure your account. You may not withdraw amounts that have been 
specifically pledged to secure your account until the Credit Union agrees to release all or part of the pledged amount.

Your Account is secured by all other shares you have in any individual or joint account with the Credit Union, except for 
shares in an Individual Retirement Account or in any other account that would lose special tax treatment under state or 
federal law if given as security. These other shares may be withdrawn unless you are in default under this agreement. You 
authorize the Credit Union to apply the balance in your individual or joint share accounts to pay any amounts due on your 
Account if you should default. 

Collateral securing other loans you have with the Credit Union may also secure this loan, except that a dwelling will never be 
considered as security for this account, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any other agreement.

11. DEFAULT — You will be in default if you fail to make any minimum payment or other required payment by the date that it is due. 
You will be in default if you break any promise you make under this Agreement. You will be in default if you die, file for bankruptcy 
or become insolvent, that is, unable to pay your obligations when they become due. You will be in default if you make any false or 
misleading statements in any credit application or credit update. You will also be in default if something happens that the Credit Union 
believes may substantially reduce your ability to repay what you owe.

When you are in default, the Credit Union has the right to demand immediate payment of your full account balance without giving you 
notice. If immediate payment is demanded, you agree to continue paying finance charges at the periodic rate charged before default, 
until what you owe has been paid, and any shares that were given as security for your account may be applied towards what you owe.

12. LIABILITY FOR UNAUTHORIZED USE-LOST/STOLEN CARD NOTIFICATION — You agree to notify us immediately, orally or 
in writing, at PO Box 23267, Washington, D.C., 20026-3267 or telephone 800-449-7728 seven (7) days a week, 24 hours a day, of  
the loss, theft, or unauthorized use of your credit card. You may be liable for the unauthorized use of your credit card. You will not be 
liable for unauthorized use that occurs after you notify us of the loss, theft, or possible unauthorized use. You will have no liability for 
unauthorized purchases made with your credit card, unless you are grossly negligent in the handling of your card. In any case, your 
liability will not exceed $50.00.

13. CHANGING OR TERMINATING YOUR ACCOUNT — As permitted by law, the Credit Union may change the terms of this 
Agreement and any attached Disclosure from time to time. Notice of any change will be given in accordance with applicable law. 
If permitted by law and specified in the notice to you, the change will apply to your existing account balance as well as to future 
transactions.

Either you or the Credit Union may terminate this Agreement at any time, but termination by you or the Credit Union will not affect your 
obligation to pay the account balance plus any finance and other charges you owe under this Agreement. Your obligation to pay the 
account balance plus any finance and other charges you owe under this agreement are subject to all applicable laws and regulations 
regarding repayment requirements. You are also responsible for all transactions made to your account after termination, unless the 
transactions were unauthorized.

The card or cards you receive remain the property of the Credit Union and you must recover and surrender to the Credit Union all cards 
upon request or upon termination of this Agreement whether by you or the Credit Union. If this is a joint account, the paragraph on 
JOINT ACCOUNTS of this Agreement also applies to termination of the account.

14. CHANGING OR TERMINATING AUTHORIZED USERS — Upon your request, we may issue additional cards for authorized users 
that you designate. You must notify us in writing of any termination of an authorized user’s right to access your account. Your letter must 
include the name of the authorized user and your account number and/or any subaccount number issued to the authorized user along 
with the authorized user’s card and any convenience or other access checks issued to the authorized user. If you cannot return the 
authorized user’s card or access checks and if you request your account to be closed, we will close your account and you may apply for 
a new account.

15. CREDIT REVIEW AND RELEASE OF INFORMATION — You authorize the Credit Union to investigate your credit standing when 
opening or reviewing your account. You authorize the Credit Union to disclose information regarding your account to credit bureaus and 
creditors who inquire about your credit standing. If your account is eligible for emergency cash and/or emergency card replacement 
services, and you request such services, you agree that we may provide personal information about you and your account that is 
necessary to provide you with the requested service(s).

16. RETURNS AND ADJUSTMENTS — Merchants and others who honor your card may give credit for returns or adjustments, and 
they will do so by sending the Credit Union a credit slip which will be posted to your account. If your credits and payments exceed what 
you owe the Credit Union, the amount will be applied against future purchases and cash advances. If the credit balance amount is 
$1.00 or more, it will be refunded upon your written request or automatically after six (6) months.

17. ADDITIONAL BENEFITS/CARD ENHANCEMENTS — The Credit Union may from time to time offer additional services to your 
account, such as travel accident insurance, at no additional cost to you. You understand that the Credit Union is not obligated to offer 
such services and may withdraw or change them at any time.

18. MERCHANT DISPUTES — The Credit Union is not responsible for the refusal of any merchant or financial institution to honor your 
card. The Credit Union is subject to claims and defenses (other than tort claims) arising out of goods or services you purchase with the 
card if you have made a good faith attempt but have been unable to obtain satisfaction from the merchant or service provider, and (a) 
your purchase was made in response to an advertisement the Credit Union sent or participated in sending to you; or (b) your purchase 
cost more than $50.00 and was made in your state or within 100 miles of your home.

19. JOINT ACCOUNTS — If this is a joint account, each of you will be individually and jointly responsible for paying all amounts owed 
under this Agreement. This means that the Credit Union can require any one of you individually to repay the entire amount owed under 

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this Agreement. Each of you authorizes the other(s) to make purchases or cash advances individually. Any one of you may terminate 
the account and the termination will be effective as to all of you.

20. EFFECT OF AGREEMENT — This Agreement is the contract which applies to all transactions on your account even though the 
sales, cash advances, credit or other slips you sign or receive may contain different terms.

21. NO WAIVER — The Credit Union can delay enforcing any of its rights any number of times without losing them.
22. STATEMENTS AND NOTICES — Statements and notices will be mailed to you at the appropriate address you have given the 
Credit Union. Notice sent to any one of you will be considered notice to all.

23. SEVERABILITY AND FINAL EXPRESSION — This Agreement and the Disclosure are the final expression of the terms and 
conditions of your account. This written Agreement and Disclosure may not be contradicted by evidence of any alleged oral agreement. 
Should any part of this Agreement or the Disclosure be found to be invalid or unenforceable, all other parts of this Agreement and 
Disclosure shall remain in effect and fully enforceable to the fullest extent possible under this Agreement.

24. COPY RECEIVED — You acknowledge that you have received a copy of this Agreement and Disclosure.
25. INTERNET GAMBLING TRANSACTIONS PROHIBITED — You may not use your card to initiate any type of electronic gambling 
transaction through the Internet.

26. PENALTY RATE DISCLOSURES — If applicable to your account, all rates for your account, including the rates for purchases, cash 
advances, and balance transfers, will increase to the Penalty Rate shown on the Disclosure accompanying this Agreement when you 
meet one or more of the conditions as set forth in the Disclosure. Any rate increases applied to your account are subject to applicable 
notice requirements. Please refer to the Disclosure for additional information regarding the Penalty Rate.

27. VOLUNTARY PAYMENT PROTECTION — We may offer Voluntary Payment Protection to you. Voluntary Payment Protection is 
not necessary to obtain credit. If you purchase Voluntary Payment Protection from us, you authorize us to add the fees or insurance 
charges monthly to your loan balance and charge you interest on the entire balance. At our option we will change your payment or the 
period of time necessary to repay the loan balance. The rate used to determine the fees or insurance charges may change in the future. 
If the rate changes, we will provide any notices required by applicable law.

28. NOTICE TO UTAH BORROWERS — This written agreement is a final expression of the agreement between you and the Credit 
Union. This written agreement may not be contradicted by evidence of any oral agreement.

29. THE FOLLOWING IS REQUIRED BY VERMONT LAW — NOTICE TO CO-SIGNER — YOUR SIGNATURE ON THIS NOTE 
MEANS THAT YOU ARE EQUALLY LIABLE FOR REPAYMENT OF THIS LOAN. IF THE BORROWER DOES NOT PAY, THE 
LENDER HAS A LEGAL RIGHT TO COLLECT FROM YOU.

30. NOTICE TO ALABAMA BORROWERS — CAUTION: IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU THOROUGHLY READ THIS AGREEMENT 
BEFORE YOU SIGN IT.

Your Billing Rights: Keep this Document for Future Use
This notice tells you about your rights and our responsibilities under the Fair Credit Billing Act.

What To Do If You Find A Mistake On Your Statement
If you think there is an error on your statement, write to us at:
Congressional Federal Credit Union
PO Box 23267
Washington, DC 20026-3267

In your letter, give us the following information:
•	 Account information: Your name and account number.
•	 Dollar amount: The dollar amount of the suspected error.
•	 Description of problem: If you think there is an error on your bill, describe what you believe is wrong and why you believe it is a 

mistake.

You must contact us:
•	 Within 60 days after the error appeared on your statement.
•	 At least 3 business days before an automated payment is scheduled, if you want to stop payment on the amount you think is 

wrong.

You must notify us of any potential errors in writing [or electronically]. You may call us, but if you do we are not required to
investigate any potential errors and you may have to pay the amount in question.

What Will Happen After We Receive Your Letter
When we receive your letter, we must do two things:
•	 Within 30 days of receiving your letter, we must tell you that we received your letter. We will also tell you if we have already 

corrected the error.

•	 Within 90 days of receiving your letter, we must either correct the error or explain to you why we believe the bill is correct.

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While we investigate whether or not there has been an error:
•	 We cannot try to collect the amount in question, or report you as delinquent on that amount.
•	 The charge in question may remain on your statement, and we may continue to charge you interest on that amount.
•	 While you do not have to pay the amount in question, you are responsible for the remainder of your balance.
•	 We can apply any unpaid amount against your credit limit.

After we finish our investigation, one of two things will happen:
•	
•	

If we made a mistake: You will not have to pay the amount in question or any interest or other fees related to that amount.
If we do not believe there was a mistake: You will have to pay the amount in question, along with applicable interest and fees. We 
will send you a statement of the amount you owe and the date payment is due. We may then report you as delinquent if you do not 
pay the amount we think you owe.

If you receive our explanation but still believe your bill is wrong, you must write to us within 10 days telling us that you still
refuse to pay. If you do so, we cannot report you as delinquent without also reporting that you are questioning your bill. We must tell 
you the name of anyone to whom we reported you as delinquent, and we must let those organizations know when the matter has been 
settled between us.

If we do not follow all of the rules above, you do not have to pay the first $50 of the amount you question even if your bill is
correct.

Your Rights if You Are Dissatisfied With Your Credit Card Purchases
If you are dissatisfied with the goods or services that you have purchased with your credit card, and you have tried in good
faith to correct the problem with the merchant, you may have the right not to pay the remaining amount due on the
purchase.

To use this right, all of the following must be true:
•	 The purchase must have been made in your home state or within 100 miles of your current mailing address, and the purchase 

price must have been more than $50. (Note: Neither of these are necessary if your purchase was based on an advertisement we 
mailed to you, or if we own the company that sold you the goods or services.)

•	 You must have used your credit card for the purchase. Purchases made with cash advances from an ATM or with a check that 

accesses your credit card account do not qualify.
•	 You must not yet have fully paid for the purchase.

If all of the criteria above are met and you are still dissatisfied with the purchase, contact us in writing [or electronically] at:

Congressional Federal Credit Union
PO Box 23267
Washington, DC 20026-3267

While we investigate, the same rules apply to the disputed amount as discussed above. After we finish our investigation, we will tell you 
our decision. At that point, if we think you owe an amount and you do not pay, we may report you as delinquent.

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