Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently-Asked Questions about Electronic Giving

Q: Are electronic contributions risky?
A: No, an electronic contribution is safer than writing a check and it can’t be lost, stolen or destroyed in the mail. Electronic transactions are required to have your authorization before any money can be deducted. When you sign up for E-Giving, you are only giving information that is already printed on your check. National laws, rules, and guidelines govern all Electronic Fund Transfer (EFT) transactions. Over four billion EFT transactions are processed annually in the United States.

Q: Is there any charge to me from my bank to give online?
A: No, electronic funds transfers carry no bank fees and this service is free to you.

Q: Why not just give at church?
A: Some of our people are extremely faithful and consistent in their giving at church each week. Some also want their physical act of bringing their offerings to be a part of their worship experience. Others prefer to give online as it helps them give more consistently.

Q: Is it easy to change my amounts or to stop giving online?
A: Yes – simply use the same process you used to sign up for E-Giving. It’s quick and almost instant.

Q: How will I receive a receipt for my E-Giving contributions?
A: Your E-Giving contributions will be included on your annual statement and mailed to you in January of each year. In addition, all givers receive a contribution statement electronically, assuming the email contact information is correct. Once you have set up a profile, you can then access your E-Giving history as well as make other changes to your giving profile.

Q: When would the automatic contribution be taken from my account?
A: If you decide to sign up for an automatic contribution, all contributions are processed immediately confirming the contribution. You can choose to give one-time, weekly, semi-monthly, monthly, or as designated. If a date you have selected falls on a weekend or holiday, the transaction will occur on the next business day.

Q: Can I test E-Giving by giving one time, just to see how it works?
A: Yes! You will need to go to the “Define A Reoccurring Contribution” tab to set up the bank account you would like the amount to draw from. After that, simply enter the one time gift information on the home page. If you decide at a later date that you’d like to set up automatic giving, you can go back into your E-Giving account and change your settings.

Q: Why can’t I give by credit card?
We chose to set up E-Giving through Electronic Funds Transfer rather than credit card because, with electronic transfer, your entire gift goes to the church. When using a credit card, as much as 4% of your gift would go to the credit card company.

Thank you for giving to Jesus and supporting the ministry of Westbrook Church through your financial gifts! Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or concerns.