Zelle® is a great tool that offers convenience when sending and receiving money. Still, whether you are using Zelle® to split a bill when you go out to dinner with friends or to contribute to a birthday gift for a coworker, you should consider a few Zelle® best practices so that you can send and receive money securely.
At Camino Federal Credit Union, we have served the Montebello community since 1941 with financial products tailored to each member’s situation and goals. We are thrilled to now offer you the banking convenience you deserve with the Zelle® feature!
Zelle® Best Practices
To ensure you have a safe and positive experience, it is important to follow some Zelle® best practices. From understanding how to use Zelle® to avoiding scams and fraud, let’s get into it.
How Do I Use Zelle® from My Bank Account?
Learning to use Zelle® is as easy as 1, 2, 3. Here are the three basic steps one needs to take to send money with Zelle®:
- Start by enrolling your email or U.S. mobile number through your mobile banking app or using the Zelle® app.
- Pick a person to pay by entering the preferred email or U.S. mobile number of the person you are sending money to. You can send money to nearly anyone with a bank account in the U.S.
- Choose how much you want to send, enter that amount, review it, add a memo, and hit “confirm.”
If your recipient is already enrolled with Zelle®, the money will go directly into their bank account. If they are not already enrolled in Zelle®, they will be prompted to complete a quick enrollment process to receive the money.
Someone Sent Me Money with Zelle®. How Do I Receive It?
If you are enrolled with Zelle®, you do not need to do anything! The money will be deposited directly into the bank account associated with your profile within minutes.
If you are not enrolled with Zelle®, you must complete a quick enrollment process to receive the money. You can complete this process by following these simple steps on your Camino mobile banking app:
- Log into the Camino Federal Credit Union mobile banking app.
- In the main menu, select “Move Money.” Then “Send with Zelle®.”
- Enroll your email address or U.S. mobile number.
If your bank or credit union is not listed, don’t worry! You can also download the Zelle® app and enroll your Visa® or Mastercard® debit card to receive the money.
You can also request money from other individuals with Zelle®. You can also simply share your enrolled email address or mobile phone number with a friend or person you trust and ask them to send you money with Zelle®.
How Do I Make Sure I Don’t Get Scammed with Zelle®?
You can follow several Zelle® best practices to protect yourself from scams and fraud. When you are using Zelle®, you should:
- Think of Zelle® as cash. Zelle® works like cash, and you cannot get money back once you send it. Think about it this way: you wouldn’t send cash to someone you don’t know, would you? If you make a mistake or a typo and send money to the wrong person or phone number, banks will not refund the money you lost.
- Never send money to yourself. Many scammers text or call Zelle® users pretending to be their bank, whether via fake phone numbers or a message claiming their account has been compromised. Once the scammers get the customers on the phone, they use personal information and ask you to reverse the transaction. While your account is in your name, it is controlled by scammers and goes into their pockets.
- Only use Zelle® to send money to those you know and trust. Do not use Zelle® to make online purchases or send money to anyone you don’t have a personal relationship with. Make sure you have the recipient’s name, number, and email correct before sending money. Only send money to trusted friends and family.
- Be wary of urgent payment requests. Scammers like to create a false sense of urgency, and if you feel rushed to make a payment, this could be a red flag. Someone might claim to be from a company you do business with (e.g., your utilities company) and threaten to shut off your service if you don’t make an immediate payment. Think the situation through, and contact the company to verify this request is from them.
Do You Want to Experience a Convenient Banking Experience? Join Camino Today!
If you are looking for tailored financial products, more attentive customer service, great rates, and a higher level of convenience, then Camino is the credit union for you! Zelle® is just one example of how we go above and beyond to accommodate our members to help them build a bright financial future. If you have more questions about these Zelle® best practices, we are happy to help ensure you have a great, safe experience with the app.
Visit our Open an Account page to apply and experience the joy of better banking.