Personal

Disclosures

Availability of Funds – Check Clearing Policies

Your Ability to Withdraw Funds

Like most financial institutions, our policy is to delay the availability of funds that you deposit in your account. During the delay, you may not withdraw the funds in cash and we will not use the funds to pay checks that you have written. Please remember that even after we have made funds available to you and you have withdrawn the funds, you are still responsible for checks you deposit that are returned to us unpaid and for any other problems involving your deposit. If you have any questions please call your First Star Bank representative for assistance.

Determining the availability of a deposit

The length of the delay is counted in business days from the day of your deposit. Every day except Saturday, Sunday and a federal holiday is a business day.

The length of the delay varies depending on the type of deposit and is explained below.

Immediate Availability

The following items will be available immediately after deposit into account:

  • Cash
  • ACH credit/Direct Deposit
  • Wire Transfer Deposit

Next Day Availability

Funds from the following deposits are available on the first business day after the day of your deposit:

  • Payroll checks
  • Insurance checks
  • Government checks
  • Cashiers checks
  • Traveler's checks
  • Money orders

First Star Bank Funds Availability Policy

Description of Deposit When Funds Can
be Withdrawn
by Cash or Check
Cash; Direct Deposit; Wire Transfers The day we receive
the deposit.
Cashier’s, Certified, Teller’s, Insurance, Payroll, Traveler’s or Government Checks; Money Orders; Checks Drawn on First Star Bank; $200 of a day’s deposit of other checks. The first business day
after the day of deposit.
Local Checks The second business day
after the day of deposit.
Deposits Greater than $5,000 will be held an Additional Business Day Beyond the Hold Placed According to the Above Schedule.
(7/11)

If your deposit includes local checks, only a total of $200 from the checks will be available on the first business day after the day of your deposit.

Deposits at Automated Teller Machines

Funds from any deposits (cash or checks) made at automated teller machines (ATMs) we do not own or operate will not be available until the 3rd business day after the day of your deposit. We do not accept deposits at our owned and operated ATMs.

Refusal of a Deposit

We reserve the right not a accept deposits. In some circumstances, items unacceptable for deposit may be processed as collection items.

Hold on Other funds (Check Cashing)

If we cash a check for you that is drawn on another bank, we will withhold the availability of a corresponding amount of funds that are already in your account. These funds will be available at the time funds from the check we cashed would have been available if you had deposited it.

Endorsement

It is important that you place your endorsement on the back of all checks you are depositing. A 1-1/2 inch area has been designated for your endorsement.

Please ask a First Star Bank employee about the proper placement of your endorsement. If your endorsement is illegible because you have endorsed the check in the wrong location, you will be liable for any resulting losses.

Your Responsibility

You agree that First Star Bank may deduct the amount of a check deposited to your account from your balance if First Star Bank receives notice that the check has been unpaid. First Star Bank may make this deduction even if the unpaid check has not been returned to the bank. You agree that First Star Bank may charge a unpaid check against your account even if First Star Bank could claim reimbursement for the check from the bank on which the check was drawn or from some other bank.

You agree that First Star Bank may charge a check back even if the charge results in an overdraft.

Longer delays may apply

Funds you deposit by check may be delayed for a longer period under the following circumstances:

  • We believe a check you deposit will not be paid.
  • You deposit checks totaling more than $5,000 on any one day.
  • You redeposit a check that has been returned unpaid.
  • You have overdrawn your account repeatedly in the last six months.
  • There is an emergency, such as failure of communications or computer equipment.

We will notify you if we delay your ability to withdraw funds for any of these reasons, and we will tell you when the funds will be available. They will generally be available no later than the 11th business day after the day of your deposit.

Special rules for new accounts

If you are a new customer, the following special rules will apply during the first 30 days your account is open.
Funds from electronic direct deposits to your account will be available on the day we receive the deposit. Funds from deposits of cash, wire transfers, and the first $5,000 of a day’s total deposits of cashier’s, certified, teller’s, traveler’s, and federal, state and local government checks will be available on the first business day after the day of your deposit. The excess over $5,000 will be available on the ninth business day after the day of your deposit. If your deposit of these checks (other than a U.S. Treasury check) is not made in person to one of our employees, the first $5,000 will not be available until the second business day after the day of your deposit.

If you have any questions, Contact:

First Star Bank
418 W Broad Street
Bethlehem, Pa 18018
610-691-2233