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Frequently Asked Questions

Inactivity Fee Frequently Asked Questions.

Fees Icon Questions answered

Overview

First Tech may assess up to a $10 monthly fee for membership savings accounts where the member’s relationship has been inactive for 6 months or more. 

It’s easy to avoid this fee. You can keep your membership active by performing transactions on your existing accounts. 

Please note the inactivity fee will not be charged if any of the following conditions are met:

  • You have initiated transactional activity in the past 6 months on any account in which you are an owner
  • You currently have any open product other than checking or savings
  • Your relationship deposit balances exceed $1,000 
  • You are currently a minor (under the age of 18)

Definitions

Relationship refers to any account where you are an owner. All open product accounts are considered in addition to your checking and savings accounts. 

Transactional activity is defined as any transaction you initiate on your accounts. This includes all deposits, withdrawals, transfers, payments, and advances. 

Transactional activity that does not count would be maintenance activity including, but not limited to, dividends and service fee charges. Additionally, contact outside of transactional activity, such as logging into online banking, updating contact information, or visiting or calling an Experience Center, does not count as transactional activity for the purposes of the Inactivity Fee.  

Examples of open products that are considered are Share Certificates, Individual Retirement Accounts, Health Savings Accounts, Loans (mortgage, personal, automobile, line of credit, credit card, purchased loan), and insurance or investment accounts.

Frequently Asked Questions

At First Tech, we want to help you stay engaged with your membership and avoid unnecessary fees. If your membership savings account has been inactive for 6 months or more, a monthly inactivity fee of up to $10 may apply.

But here’s the good news:

  • If your account balance is $10 or more, the fee will be no more than $10.
  • If your balance is less than $10, the fee will be limited to your current balance—so your account will never be overdrawn due to this fee.

How to avoid the inactivity fee:

  • Make a deposit, withdrawal, or transfer on any account where you're listed as an owner.
  • Maintain a total deposit balance of $1,000 or more across your First Tech accounts.
  • Keep an active product like a loan, credit card, or certificate.
  • If you're under 18, you're automatically exempt.

Helpful Resources

Yes—we’ll always try to notify you in advance.

If your membership savings account is at risk of being charged an inactivity fee, we’ll send you an official notice at least one month before the first potential charge.

Notification Details

Official Notice

1 month before fee may apply

Email or Mail (based on your preferences)

Also available within Online Banking for easy access.

Stay Active, Stay Informed

To avoid the fee, simply make a transaction or maintain an active product. We’re here to help you stay engaged and informed every step of the way.

Helpful Resources

 

We want to help you stay connected to your financial goals—and that includes being transparent about fees.

If your membership savings account has been inactive for 6 months or more, and you don’t meet any of the exclusion criteria, a $10 monthly inactivity fee may apply.

When is the fee charged?

Inactivity fees are assessed on the 15th of the month, starting the month after your account becomes eligible.

Example:

February 7

March 15

If you meet any of the exclusion criteria before the fee date, no fee will be charged.

How to avoid the fee:

  • Make a transaction on any account where you're listed as an owner.
  • Maintain a total deposit balance of $1,000 or more.
  • Keep an active First Tech product (like a loan, credit card, or certificate).
  • If you're under 18, you're automatically exempt.

Helpful Resources

Yes—your account activity and fees matter to us, and we’re committed to keeping you informed.

If your account remains inactive and becomes subject to the monthly inactivity fee, the charge will appear on your periodic statement as a service fee. However, no additional mail or email notifications will be sent after the initial notice.

What happens if you become active again?

If you re-engage with your account and later become eligible for the fee again, we’ll restart the notification process—giving you a heads-up before any future charges.

Proactive Tip:

To avoid future fees, consider setting up a recurring transfer, using your debit card, or exploring other First Tech products that keep your membership active.

Resources

Your membership savings account must maintain a minimum balance of $5, known as the par value, to keep your First Tech membership active.

If an inactivity fee causes your account to drop below this required balance, we’ll notify you and give you the opportunity to restore your account to the $5 minimum.

What happens if the balance isn’t restored?

If the balance remains below $5 for an extended period and no activity occurs, your membership may be subject to closure. This is outlined in our Termination for Nonparticipation policy.

We’re here to help you stay engaged and avoid this outcome—just a small deposit or transfer can bring your account back to good standing.

How to stay active and avoid fees:

  • Make a deposit or transfer—even small amounts count.
  • Use your First Tech debit card or mobile app regularly.
  • Explore other First Tech products like loans, credit cards, or certificates.

Helpful Resources

We want to help you keep your membership active and fee-free. Avoiding the monthly inactivity fee is simple—and we’re here to support you every step of the way.

Ways to stay active and avoid the fee:

  • Make a transaction on any account where you're listed as an owner. Even small deposits, withdrawals, or transfers count.
  • Open another First Tech product like a loan, credit card, or certificate.
  • Maintain a total deposit balance of $1,000 or more across your First Tech accounts.
  • If you’re no longer using your membership, you can also request to close your account to avoid future fees.

 Need help?

Visit your local First Tech Experience Center or contact us online. We’ll walk you through your options and help you stay connected to your financial goals.

Helpful Resources


Great question! Even if you haven’t personally made a transaction, your account may still be considered active due to shared ownership activity.

If you share ownership on any account with another member who has recently made a transaction, that activity can update your account’s status as well. This helps ensure that all owners remain connected to their shared financial relationships.

How shared activity works:

  • If you’re listed as an owner on a joint account (like a shared savings or checking), any transaction made by another owner counts as activity for you too.
  • This shared activity helps prevent unnecessary fees and keeps your membership in good standing.

Want to stay active on your own?

  • Make a deposit, withdrawal, or transfer on any account you own.
  • Use your First Tech debit card or mobile app.
  • Explore other First Tech products to keep your membership engaged.

Helpful Resources

As a member-owned financial cooperative, First Tech is built on shared participation. Every member plays a role in helping us deliver value, keep costs low, and support the financial well-being of our entire community.

The inactivity fee helps ensure fairness across our membership by encouraging ongoing engagement. Members who actively use First Tech products and services contribute to the strength of the cooperative—and in return, they benefit from more personalized support, competitive rates, and innovative tools.

Why engagement matters:

We understand that your financial needs change over time. Whether you're just getting started or planning for retirement, staying connected—even in small ways—helps us serve you better and keeps your membership in good standing.

How to stay engaged and avoid the fee:

  • Make a transaction on any account where you're listed as an owner.
  • Maintain a total deposit balance of $1,000 or more.
  • Keep an active First Tech product (like a loan, credit card, or certificate).
  • If you're no longer using your membership, you can request to close your account.

Helpful Resources

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