Electronic Giving
- make a one-time electronic donation, or
- set up a recurring electronic donation
By setting up a password protected profile, you will be able to log in at any time to make donations, set up or change a recurring donation plan, or view your personal giving history. When you set up an online account, you can make contributions at any time of day or night, 365 days a year and you can use our mobile giving page to make donations.
Frequently Asked Questions About Electronic Contributions
Q. What is electronic contribution?
A. Electronic contribution is an automatic transfer program which allows you to make contributions without writing checks.
Q. How is my electronic contribution automatically deducted from my account?
A. Once you authorize the transfer, your specified contribution is electronically transferred directly from your checking or savings account or credit / debit card to the church’s account.
Q. Does the church have a preference for checking or savings or credit / debit card?
A. We prefer that you use a checking or savings account because our processing costs for those transactions are minimal. If you choose credit / debit card, we provide an option for you to increase your contribution by 2.75% to cover the processing cost. If you choose to cover the processing cost, that extra amount is also tax deductible
Q. What is the advantage of electronic contribution?
A. It saves time! It saves work! It simplifies your life! And, if you make a recurring donation, you also help the church stabilize its budget.
Q. I already use electronic bill pay for my offering, why should I change to electronic funds transfer?
A. When you use electronic bill pay, your bank cuts a check to Asbury and mails the check to Asbury. Asbury stores the check in the safe until Sunday when the counters record it and deposit it to Asbury’s bank account. When you use electronic funds transfer, funds are transferred directly from your bank to Asbury’s bank account and your donation is automatically imported into Servant Keeper to record your offering. No paper check and no required entry or deposit by the counters.
Q. When will my contribution be deducted from my account?
A. On its due date. You never have to worry about forgetting a payment or mailing it on time.
Q. If I do not write checks, how do I keep my checkbook balance straight?
A. Since your contribution is made at a pre-established time, you simply record it in your check register on the appropriate date.
Q. Without a canceled check, how can I prove I made my contribution?
A. Your bank statement gives you an itemized list of electronic transfers. (Your bank statement will show an entry with a description like WITHDRAW / ASBURY UMC CONTRIBUTN. It is your proof of contribution. Electronic contributions will also be included in your regular quarterly giving statement.
Q. Is electronic contribution risky?
A. Electronic contribution is less risky than check contribution. It cannot be lost, stolen or destroyed in the mail.
Q. Who administers the program?
A. The United Methodist Electronic Funds Transfer program is administered by Vanco Services, a payment processor that has been endorsed by General Council on Finance and Administration of the United Methodist Church since 2002. Vanco provides online giving, mobile giving and other convenient services to more than 15,000 churches, schools and nonprofit organizations.
Q. How much does electronic contribution cost me?
A. It costs you nothing.
Q. How do I sign up for electronic contribution?
A. Go to the online site by clicking the Donate button on the Donate tab of the Asbury web site. Create a profile and schedule a recurring donation.
Q. What if I change bank accounts?
A. Sign on to the online site and make the change online yourself.
Q. What if I try electronic contribution and don’t like it?
A. You can cancel your authorization at any time through the online site. But, once you’ve enjoyed the convenience, time and money savings of electronic contribution, we doubt you will want to go back to making contributions the way you did before.
