FAQ's (Frequently Asked Questions) About Electronic Giving
Q. What is electronic giving?
A. Electronic giving is a direct payment program whereby your contribution is debited automatically from your checking or savings account or credit card.
Q. What are the advantages of electronic giving?
A. It makes it easy to fulfill stewardship commitments, even when you can’t attend church. You never have to bring cash or checks to church. Giving electronically also helps the church save money and improve its budget!
Q. How are my contributions automatically deducted?
A. First you must authorize the deduction. Complete the authorization form found on our secure web page Powered By e.service®. Once the authorization is made, the contribution amount you specify will automatically be transferred from your bank account or credit card to the church’s bank account.
Q. When will my contribution be deducted from my account?
A. Your electronic contribution will be debited on the date you specify in the online profile that you complete. You will receive an email or text verification of your gift.
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. Electronic contributions are recorded for you on your bank or credit card statement.
Q. Without a canceled check, how can I prove I made my contribution?
A. Your bank or credit card statement gives you an itemized list of electronic transactions. It is your proof of contributing. You may also log into your account at ParishSoft Family Suite to view your giving history (except for DSA contributions which are acknowledged directly by the diocese).
Q. What if I change bank accounts or my credit card has expired?
A. You may log in to your account at our secure web page and make changes to your profile.
Q. Is electronic giving risky?
A. It’s less risky than writing checks or bringing cash to church. Electronic contributions cannot be lost, stolen or destroyed and have an extremely high rate of accuracy.
Q. How much does electronic giving cost?
A. The only cost to you is the amount of the donation.
Q. What if I try electronic giving and don’t like it?
A. You can cancel your authorization by logging in to your account on the secure web page.
Q. Do I have to create an account on the electronic giving site?
A. It is highly recommended, particularly if you choose a recurring donation schedule.
Q. Is my online giving account the same as my saintbarnabasarden.org account?
A. No, the electronic giving account is a separate, secure website that only deals with your electronic donations. Your saintbarnabasarden.org account only deals with our parish news.
Q. What about my church envelopes if I switch to electronic giving?
A. Please contact the church office to have your offertory envelopes stopped if you are on a recurring electronic giving schedule. This saves money and helps the church be good stewards of your donations!
Q. What if I need to cancel or temporarily place my donation on hold?
A. You can cancel or suspend donations by logging in to your online profile at the donation site to make changes to your schedule.
Q. I am interested, but I need help signing up, or I am signed up but need help making a change!
A. We are here to help! Simply stop by the church office and we can help you sign up or make changes for you.
Q. How do I calculate how much to give if I want to switch from weekly to monthly?
Multiply your usual weekly offering by 52 and divide by 12.
Example for a usual weekly offering of $40:
($40 X 52) / 12 = $173.33 per month
Q. Okay, I'm ready... How do I sign up for electronic giving?
Sign up today following the instructions at this link