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Credit card FAQs

Applying for a credit card

Yes. All UNFCU credit cards are compatible with Google Pay™, Apple Pay®, and Samsung Pay.

Apple and Apple Pay are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the US and other countries. Google Pay is a trademark of Google LLC. Samsung and Samsung Pay are trademarks or registered trademarks of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

When using your credit card for purchases, you will be charged interest on any outstanding balance. This is the balance that is not paid by the payment due date on your statement. If you use your credit card for a cash advance, you will be charged daily interest immediately. 

View credit card rates and fees (PDF).

The maximum credit limit available to qualified members working in an eligible country is $50,000 with Elite and $50,000 with Azure.

  • If you are a UN consultant working in an eligible country, you may receive a credit limit of up to $5,000.
  • If you are a UN General Service staff or National Professional Officer eligible for a credit card or a line of credit, you may receive a credit limit of up to $5,000.

Your actual credit limit is subject to your creditworthiness. All other terms and fees (PDF) for UNFCU credit cards apply to all cardholders. 

We evaluate all UNFCU credit card applications based on a number of factors. If your application is declined, the specific reason will be cited in the declination notice that we send. View our guide to see the top reasons a credit card application may be declined.

ATMs

Yes. You can withdraw cash at ATMs worldwide if you have your personal identification number (PIN). You can withdraw up to $1,000 per day with both the Azure card and the Elite card. ATM fees may apply. ATM withdrawals are cash advances, so you will start to accrue daily interest immediately on the amount you withdraw.

Authorized credit card users

You can have up to three authorized users and you can add anyone as an authorized user. Authorized users can use the card but are not responsible for balances on the credit card account. For this reason, it is important that you are careful about who you add to your card.

No, your authorized users do not have to be UNFCU members.

The joint and primary credit cardholders are both responsible for charges on the credit card account. Authorized users can use the card but are not responsible for balances on the credit card account. They do not have access to the card information. If questions arise, authorized users must defer to the primary or joint cardholder.

Cash advances

Yes. View all of our credit card rates and fees (PDF). You will also be charged daily interest that will start to accrue immediately.

No. Your payment is first applied to the principal balance of purchases. It is then applied to the principal balance of cash advances.

When using your credit card for purchases, you will be charged interest on any outstanding balance. This is the balance that is not paid off by the payment due date on your statement. Your due date is at least 25 days after the close of each billing cycle. This period of time is called a grace period. If you use your credit card for a cash advance, you will start to accrue daily interest immediately. There is no grace period for cash advances.

Please contact us to obtain your full balance. Your statement may not include your most recent charges. You receive your statement at least 25 days after the close of each billing cycle. As a result, paying off the full balance on your statement may not cover interest you still owe on your cash advance.

Contactless payment

Contactless cards use short-range proximity technology to complete payments between the card and a contactless terminal. Just tap your contactless card at the payment terminal. There is no need to insert or swipe your card.

Yes. Each contactless card transaction sends a one-time security code between the card and the reader. Your name, card number, and three-digit security code are not shared with the vendor.

Although contactless purchases are one of the most secure types of payment, you should still regularly review your statements. If you notice unusual activity on your statement, view the steps that you should take immediately

Check for this symbol on the front or back of your card:

You can make contactless payments at terminals that display this symbol:

Sometimes the vendor or transaction terminal may require a personal identification number (PIN), even with a contactless card. Your transactions are secure even if you are not asked to enter your PIN.

A contactless card and the digital wallet both use the same contactless enabled payment terminals. With contactless card payments, you tap your card. With digital wallet, you use your mobile device.

Making credit card payments

No, you can choose to make only a minimum payment every month. This minimum amount is indicated on your monthly UNFCU credit card statement. 


The minimum payment will either be 2.00% of the total new balance or $25.00, whichever is greater. If applicable, the minimum will also include: 

  • Any past due amount(s)
  • Any amount over the credit limit exceeding past due amounts 


If you choose to pay only a minimum balance, you will be charged interest on the remaining balance. 

Please refer to the section titled 20xx Totals Year-to-Date on your monthly billing statement. This section will state the amount that is automatically deducted from your account. The amount will be credited as your automatic payment on the scheduled date.

Your payment is applied to your account balance in the following order: 

  1. Miscellaneous charges such as insurance charges or fees
  2. Late charges
  3. Finance charges
  4. Principal balance of purchases
  5. Principal balance of cash advances

No, your payment is due at the same time every month.

Interest is applied to the average balance amount charged to your credit card each day of the billing cycle. This is called the average daily method.

We offer free Credit Life Protection for up to $20,000 of your credit card balance. UNFCU members can also enroll to receive Credit Disability Debt Protection.

No, you should still pay the full amount of your monthly payment. We will credit your account once we receive the merchant credit.

Credit card rewards

Yes. Joint cardholders and authorized users earn points when they make purchases using their card. Your point balance is the total number of points accumulated by you, your joint cardholder, and any authorized users.

Points expire 36 months after they were earned. The expiration dates of your points are posted on Digital Banking and on your monthly statement.

ShopSPOT rewards allow you to use your UNFCU credit card to shop online and in person to receive bonus points. You can view the current list of eligible merchants on the credit card rewards site accessible through Digital Banking.

Fraud alerts

If you received an alert, it is because we identified suspicious transactions on your UNFCU card. We continuously monitor your account for suspicious activity and send you alerts to help assure your account is not compromised.

This free service is included with all UNFCU debit and credit cards.

If you received the alert via email, check that the email is sent by cardservicesfalcon@unfcu.com. It is safe and secure to click on links from this email address. This allows us to take immediate action. 

For further verification, the contact number on the alert should be 1-855-341-4646 (within the US) or +1 515-224-7380 (outside the US). You can also call the number on the back of your card if you need to contact us about an alert.

If you received a text or email, confirm whether you recognize the transaction(s).

  • If you do not recognize the transaction(s), we will block the use of your card until you contact us.
  • If you do recognize the transaction(s), we won’t make any changes to your card. 

You will receive a fraud alert if a transaction appears to be outside of your normal spending behavior. This may include unusually expensive purchases, or purchases made in different cities or countries. If you plan to travel, please complete a travel notice in Digital Banking. 

If you have a US mobile phone number, fraud alerts are automatically sent to that number. You may opt out by following the directions in the fraud alert. You will then receive the alerts via email. For your continued security, emails do not offer an opt-out option. We can only send alerts to the phone number and email on your UNFCU profile.

Fraud alerts do not stop the transaction. It will still be processed and posted to your account. If you do not recognize the transaction, respond to the alert to let us know. We will block the use of your card for future transactions.

You should then submit a fraud report. If your fraud report is approved, you will not be responsible for the charge. 

Text alerts are only sent to US mobile numbers and there is no charge from UNFCU. However, please check with your mobile phone carrier for possible charges.

Members who do not have a US number or have opted out of text alerts will receive an email.

Once you confirm that you do not recognize the charge, we will immediately block your card. You should then submit a fraud report to begin the fraud investigation process.

Priority Pass™ Select

If you are the primary cardholder, you will receive an enrollment email from Priority Pass. You should receive this email within three weeks of your Elite application being approved.

Once you enroll, Priority Pass will send you the Priority Pass Select card. You can also download the Priority Pass app to access your digital card.

Remember to update your Priority Pass information if you receive an Elite replacement card with a new number. Visit the Priority Pass website to log in or for ways to contact them. 

Elite primary cardholders receive five free airport lounge passes every 12 months from the date they enroll in the program. Any passes you do not use within the 12-month period will expire. They will not carry over to the next year.  
To receive a free pass, you must:  

  • Purchase your airline ticket(s) with your UNFCU Elite credit card, and  
  • Present your Priority Pass Select card at the lounge. If you have the app, you can show the digital card.

Passes purchased with another credit card will not count towards your five free Elite passes. If you need more than five airport lounge passes, the additional passes will be charged to your Elite credit card. 

Yes, you can contact us to request that other cardholders on your account receive a Priority Pass card. If you are present when they use their card, it will count towards your five free Elite passes. If you are not present, your Elite credit card will be charged.

If you are the primary cardholder, you will receive an enrollment email from Priority Pass. You should receive this email within three weeks of your Elite application being approved.

Once you enroll, Priority Pass will send you the Priority Pass Select card. You can also download the Priority Pass app to access your digital card.

Remember to update your Priority Pass information if you receive an Elite replacement card with a new number. Visit the Priority Pass website to log in or for ways to contact them.

Using your credit card globally

Elite cardholders do not pay foreign transaction fees. Azure cardholders pay foreign transaction fees according to our schedule of rates and fees (PDF).

If you conduct a transaction in a non-US dollar currency, Visa™ will convert the amount to US dollars. Visa uses either a wholesale market rate or the government-mandated rate in effect on the day the transaction is processed. This rate may differ from the rate in effect on the sale date or billing statement date. Visa rates are non-negotiable.

If you live outside the US and intend to make credit card purchases online, please contact us for billing information.

When you travel, we encourage you to set a travel notice at least 48 hours before your trip. Doing so tells us that you are using your card away from home, and we will not lock it. If you purchased your airline ticket with a UNFCU card, we have all your details. You do not need to add a travel notice.

  • Carry only the identification, payment cards, and documents needed.  
  • Shred unwanted documents containing personal/financial information. 

Yes, you can use your credit card for recurring payments of a fixed amount. Simply provide your service provider with the credit card information they require. Your card will automatically be charged when the payment is due. If your credit card is replaced, you will need to give your new card information to the service providers.