AOD Visa Siggy Discussion Thread

[Otto77]

---

@ficobuilder923 wrote:

---

@Duke_Nukem wrote:

---

@ficobuilder923 wrote:

Anyone know if AOD only reports your statement balance or current balance to Credit Agencies? For example, my statement balance is $3 but current balance is $1000. Would the $1000 balance report or $0 if I paid off the statement balance? Trying to keep my utilization low but don't want to pay more than I should because I'm trying to pay off some other debts.

I'm trying to call them b/c credit card services said to call them locally because they don't know. I try calling the local number and they say they're closed (which is odd because many of their branches are open on Fridays). 

---

AOD will report whatever balance is on your account the day of statement closing, minus the 3% rewards earned from that statement closing.

---

Ok so they are reporting the current balance then? Thanks.

BTW it appears they are open at 10am because of the time change.

---

I think you misread. Statement balance, but less the cashback/rewards that are automatically applied.

[Aim_High]

---

@Duke_Nukem wrote:

---

@ficobuilder923 wrote:

Anyone know if AOD only reports your statement balance or current balance to Credit Agencies? For example, my statement balance is $3 but current balance is $1000. Would the $1000 balance report or $0 if I paid off the statement balance? Trying to keep my utilization low but don't want to pay more than I should because I'm trying to pay off some other debts.

I'm trying to call them b/c credit card services said to call them locally because they don't know. I try calling the local number and they say they're closed (which is odd because many of their branches are open on Fridays). 

---

AOD will report whatever balance is on your account the day of statement closing, minus the 3% rewards earned from that statement closing.

---

To clarify, and this isn't specific to AOD FCU, the Statement Balance is the balance due as of the last statement closing date. It has already been reported to the CRB.  The Current Balance is the total payoff amount on the account, plus any trailing interest charges that may be accruing. It may change daily throughout the month. The statement balance only changes once per month.  The Current Balance, less any mid-cycle payments or credits (such as the automatic 3% cash back credits,) will become the new Statement Balance at the next statement closing date.  So the full $1,000 (less mid-cycle payments and 3% credit on new charges) will report. 

If you always pay-in-full, that $1000 isn't due before it reports on the statement and won't accrue new interest charges unless you don't pay it all by the due date. But if you're trying to minimize what reports, you need to make early mid-cycle payments before the statement cuts. 

[ficobuilder923]

@Aim_High thanks for the awesome explanation. That was exactly what I was looking for. Basically I'm trying to minimize balances that are reported to the CRA's so it sounds like the best thing to do would be to just pay it all in full either mid cycle and right before the statement date (or just before the statement due date which I usually do). That would eliminate trying to track and time when the balance is reported to CRA's. Whereas if I wanted to minimize interest and didn't care about CRA reporting, I would just pay only the statement balance every month. Got it.

[digitek]

What does the web interface and web app look like? Are they outdated and jinky or more modern?

I am asking because I went to pay my SDFCU card today and their website integration is all messed up. They outsource the card to another company and the way they are tied together has always been shaky, but now it is all messed up. Haven't been able to redeem rewards for about a month now. It has always been strange when paying from an outside account and can't set up true auto-payment.

Can you setup autopay from an outside checking account for the AOD card? If you were to rate the CC website/phone app, where would it land?

Thanks for any feedback. Looking for something a little more consistent, not outsourced.

[Anonymous]

---

@Aim_High wrote:

---

@Duke_Nukem wrote:

---

@ficobuilder923 wrote:

Anyone know if AOD only reports your statement balance or current balance to Credit Agencies? For example, my statement balance is $3 but current balance is $1000. Would the $1000 balance report or $0 if I paid off the statement balance? Trying to keep my utilization low but don't want to pay more than I should because I'm trying to pay off some other debts.

I'm trying to call them b/c credit card services said to call them locally because they don't know. I try calling the local number and they say they're closed (which is odd because many of their branches are open on Fridays). 

---

AOD will report whatever balance is on your account the day of statement closing, minus the 3% rewards earned from that statement closing.

---

To clarify, and this isn't specific to AOD FCU, the Statement Balance is the balance due as of the last statement closing date. It has already been reported to the CRB.  The Current Balance is the total payoff amount on the account, plus any trailing interest charges that may be accruing. It may change daily throughout the month. The statement balance only changes once per month.  The Current Balance, less any mid-cycle payments or credits (such as the automatic 3% cash back credits,) will become the new Statement Balance at the next statement closing date.  So the full $1,000 (less mid-cycle payments and 3% credit on new charges) will report. 

If you always pay-in-full, that $1000 isn't due before it reports on the statement and won't accrue new interest charges unless you don't pay it all by the due date. But if you're trying to minimize what reports, you need to make early mid-cycle payments before the statement cuts. 

---

@Aim_High Great breakdown! I think I'll put a link to that post in the Scoring Primer!

[Otto77]

---

@digitek wrote:

What does the web interface and web app look like? Are they outdated and jinky or more modern?

I am asking because I went to pay my SDFCU card today and their website integration is all messed up. They outsource the card to another company and the way they are tied together has always been shaky, but now it is all messed up. Haven't been able to redeem rewards for about a month now. It has always been strange when paying from an outside account and can't set up true auto-payment.

Can you setup autopay from an outside checking account for the AOD card? If you were to rate the CC website/phone app, where would it land?

Thanks for any feedback. Looking for something a little more consistent, not outsourced.

---

The direct AOD website looks fairly updated/modern to me. The deposit accounts are self-serviced from there. However the credit card self-servicing is outsourced to PSCU, a separate website. To access statements, transactions, pay bill, etc. for the credit card, you have to go to this external website. There is a single sign on, so you can click through from your direct AOD login to get to the credit card servicing without re-logging in, but it is a completely different website. The PSCU website is a bit more dated and clunky, but I would still call it functional. I am able to setup an external checking account to autopay the statement every month. Since rewards are automatically applied, I rarely actually login to my account.

Likewise for mobile apps, there is an app for deposit accounts and a separate app for the credit cards, kinda annoying. Though my only deposit account is the required savings account which just has the $25 minimum sitting in it, so I don't really use the deposit account app. I would call the credit card app more modern than the outsourced card website, there is more functionality in the app with alerts and disabling types of transactions, etc. The one thing I don't like is that you can only setup mobile app notifications for transactions, whereas I prefer emails. Fortunately, Visa offers something on their network called Visa Purchase Alerts as a third-party alert system, so I setup email transactions notifications from Visa directly.

If you're looking for a clean, big bank type experience with integration, user interface, etc., I don't think you'll quite get it here. But I personally haven't had any issues, but I'm also not logged in very often since I have autopay setup and the rewards are automatic. The customer service has been good in my few interactions, so even if you have an issue, I believe the customer service to be reliable.

[Aim_High]

---

@digitek wrote:

What does the web interface and web app look like? Are they outdated and jinky or more modern?

I am asking because I went to pay my SDFCU card today and their website integration is all messed up. They outsource the card to another company and the way they are tied together has always been shaky, but now it is all messed up. Haven't been able to redeem rewards for about a month now. It has always been strange when paying from an outside account and can't set up true auto-payment.

Can you setup autopay from an outside checking account for the AOD card? If you were to rate the CC website/phone app, where would it land?

Thanks for any feedback. Looking for something a little more consistent, not outsourced.

---

I'm no tech expert, @digitek, but I'll give you my comments and feedback.  The AOD website and phone app have been overall very stable and dependable for me with no major issues.  It's not super-modern and flashy like you might get with the big banks, but I don't expect that from a small credit union.  Still, it's relatively modern, IMO.  It doesn't reek of 1995 technology. 

When you log in, you get the account home page that shows your banking accounts and cards.  Clicking on the account buttons across the top opens that account for more details.  The credit card account page just shows a summary.  For more details or to make payments, click on the AOD Visa Credit button.  That automatically opens a page to an outside website; you're already logged in.  (See bottom two images.)  With a little research, I learned something.  There is an organization called PSCU which stands for Payment Systems for Credit Unions.  It was founded in 1977 in Florida and is the largest credit union service organization in the US, servicing financial processing for more than 1500 credit unions.   AOD FCU apparently uses PSCU for their services.  Again, as a smaller credit union, I don't look down on them for outsourcing this function.  Like the AOD website, it's not flashy or ultra-modern but it's stable and works just fine.  This is the website where you can set up one-time or automatic payments, or access other card controls or functions. 

I also noted that the overnight mailing address is to PSCU in St Petersburg, FL, where they were founded.  And the regular mailing address goes to Charlotte, NC.  I had never noticed this since I pay electronically. 

Yes, you can set up autopay from outside accounts and it's been very reliable for me. 

Redeeming rewards is automatic with AOD FCU.  Your monthly credits are automatically deducted from balance due, so managing rewards is a no-brainer. 

I've been equally satisfied with AOD's mobile apps.  Basic but reliable mobile apps. 

In summary, while the card payment services are outsourced, they have been dependable and I wouldn't let that prevent you from applying for this card. 

[Aim_High]

---

@Anonymous wrote:

---

@Aim_High wrote:

---

---

To clarify, and this isn't specific to AOD FCU, the Statement Balance is the balance due as of the last statement closing date. It has already been reported to the CRB.  The Current Balance is the total payoff amount on the account, plus any trailing interest charges that may be accruing. It may change daily throughout the month. The statement balance only changes once per month.  The Current Balance, less any mid-cycle payments or credits (such as the automatic 3% cash back credits,) will become the new Statement Balance at the next statement closing date.  So the full $1,000 (less mid-cycle payments and 3% credit on new charges) will report. 

If you always pay-in-full, that $1000 isn't due before it reports on the statement and won't accrue new interest charges unless you don't pay it all by the due date. But if you're trying to minimize what reports, you need to make early mid-cycle payments before the statement cuts. 

---

@Aim_High Great breakdown! I think I'll put a link to that post in the Scoring Primer!

---

Thanks, @Anonymous!  I'm flattered but feel free.    Glad it's helpful!

[blindambition]

In addition to what @Aim_High provided, both apps updated regularly. The main bank app received an overhaul recently, and updates are at least bimonthly. Site and apps are basic, but not clunky. Initial setup was a little wonky, but nothing to gripe about. Just make sure to allow pop ups when using mobile. Some actions bring to separate site. As stated above.

[Mr_Mojo_Risin]

---

@Anonymous wrote:

---

@Aim_High wrote:

---

@Duke_Nukem wrote:

---

@ficobuilder923 wrote:

Anyone know if AOD only reports your statement balance or current balance to Credit Agencies? For example, my statement balance is $3 but current balance is $1000. Would the $1000 balance report or $0 if I paid off the statement balance? Trying to keep my utilization low but don't want to pay more than I should because I'm trying to pay off some other debts.

I'm trying to call them b/c credit card services said to call them locally because they don't know. I try calling the local number and they say they're closed (which is odd because many of their branches are open on Fridays). 

---

AOD will report whatever balance is on your account the day of statement closing, minus the 3% rewards earned from that statement closing.

---

To clarify, and this isn't specific to AOD FCU, the Statement Balance is the balance due as of the last statement closing date. It has already been reported to the CRB.  The Current Balance is the total payoff amount on the account, plus any trailing interest charges that may be accruing. It may change daily throughout the month. The statement balance only changes once per month.  The Current Balance, less any mid-cycle payments or credits (such as the automatic 3% cash back credits,) will become the new Statement Balance at the next statement closing date.  So the full $1,000 (less mid-cycle payments and 3% credit on new charges) will report. 

If you always pay-in-full, that $1000 isn't due before it reports on the statement and won't accrue new interest charges unless you don't pay it all by the due date. But if you're trying to minimize what reports, you need to make early mid-cycle payments before the statement cuts. 

---

@Aim_High Great breakdown! I think I'll put a link to that post in the Scoring Primer!

---

When it comes to explanations and breakdowns, not many can hang with @Aim_High 

This would definitely be a nice addition to the Scoring Primer, many new members and existing have questions about their statements.