Streamline Your Finances with Flagstar Online Banking: A Guide to Zelle®

In today’s fast-paced world, managing your finances digitally is not just a convenience, it’s a necessity. Flagstar Online Banking offers a robust platform to handle your financial needs efficiently. Among its many features, Zelle® stands out as a seamless way to send and receive money. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about using Zelle® with your Flagstar Online Banking account, making digital transactions simpler and faster than ever before.

Understanding Zelle® and Its Benefits for Flagstar Customers

Zelle® has become a popular digital payment network, enabling users to quickly transfer money between bank accounts within the United States. It’s designed for sending money to people you know and trust – friends, family, and others – regardless of where they bank¹. The beauty of Zelle® lies in its speed and simplicity: transactions are typically completed within minutes¹, directly from one bank account to another. No more waiting for checks to clear or dealing with complicated third-party apps; Zelle® is often integrated directly into your bank’s online banking platform, like Flagstar Online Banking.

For Flagstar customers, Zelle® offers a significant upgrade to traditional money transfer methods. Imagine splitting the cost of dinner with friends, paying your share of the rent to your roommate, or sending a gift to a family member instantly. All of this becomes effortlessly manageable within the secure environment of your Flagstar Online Banking or mobile app. Key advantages of using Zelle® through Flagstar include:

Speed: Money arrives in minutes¹, much faster than traditional transfers.
Convenience: Send and receive money directly within your trusted Flagstar Online Banking platform.
Security: Utilizes the same security measures as Flagstar Online Banking to protect your financial information.
Ease of Use: Simple to set up and use, requiring only an email address or U.S. mobile number for transactions.

Getting Started with Zelle® in Flagstar Online Banking

Flagstar makes it straightforward to enroll in and use Zelle®. Whether you prefer managing your finances through your computer or your mobile device, here’s how to get started:

Enrolling in Zelle® via Flagstar Online Banking Website

Log in to Flagstar Online Banking: Access your account through the Flagstar website using your User ID and password.
Navigate to Zelle®: Look for “Send Money with Zelle®” or a similar option, often found within the transfers or payments section of the online banking dashboard.
Get Started with Zelle®: You will likely see a welcome screen explaining Zelle®. Click on “Get Started” to begin the enrollment process.
Review and Accept Terms: Carefully read the Terms and Conditions for using Zelle®. To proceed, you’ll need to accept these terms by clicking “Accept and Continue.”
Choose Enrollment Method: You’ll be prompted to enroll with either an email address or a U.S. mobile number. You may be able to select from a pre-populated list or enroll a new email or phone number.
Verify Your Information: If you choose to enroll with a U.S. mobile number, you may receive a text message with a verification code. Enter this code to verify your number.
Select Primary Account: Choose the Flagstar account you want to use as your primary account for sending and receiving money with Zelle®. Click “Continue” to finalize your enrollment.
Enrollment Complete: Once you see the confirmation screen, you’re ready to start using Zelle®! You can immediately send money, view your activity, or add additional email addresses or U.S. mobile numbers for Zelle® use.

Enrolling in Zelle® via Flagstar Mobile App

Open the Flagstar Mobile App: Launch the Flagstar Mobile app on your smartphone or tablet and log in using your credentials.
Go to Transfer & Pay: Tap on “Transfer & Pay” or a similarly labeled section within the app’s menu.
Select Send Money with Zelle®: Find and tap the “Send Money with Zelle®” option. This will open the Zelle® welcome screen.
Agree to Terms and Conditions: Review the Terms and Conditions and the Notice Regarding Receiving Text Messages. Check the box to indicate your agreement.
Tap Get Started: Proceed with enrollment by tapping “Get Started.”
Choose Primary Account: Select the Flagstar account you wish to link to Zelle® as your primary account for transactions.
Review Information: Confirm your contact information and the selected Flagstar account are correct on the Review Information screen. Note that you might need to update your contact details through Online Banking Settings if changes are needed.
Complete Enrollment: Tap “All Done” to finish the enrollment process. Zelle® is now activated within your Flagstar Mobile app, and you can start sending and receiving money.

Sending, Requesting, and Receiving Money with Zelle®

Once enrolled, using Zelle® is intuitive:

Sending Money: To send money, select a recipient from your mobile contacts or manually enter their email address or U.S. mobile number. Enter the amount, add an optional note, review the details, and hit “Send.” Recipients enrolled with Zelle® typically receive the money within minutes¹.
Requesting Money: Choose “Request,” select the person you’re requesting from, enter the amount, include a note if needed, review, and tap “Request.” If the recipient isn’t on Zelle®, use their email address for the request.
Receiving Money: Simply share your enrolled email address or U.S. mobile number with the person sending you money. If you’re already enrolled, the money will be deposited directly into your chosen Flagstar account, usually within minutes¹.

If you receive a Zelle® payment notification but haven’t enrolled yet:

Click the link in the payment notification email or text.
Choose Flagstar Bank.
Follow the on-screen instructions to enroll and access your payment. Ensure you enroll using the email address or U.S. mobile number where you received the payment notification.

Security of Zelle® within Flagstar Online Banking

Flagstar Bank prioritizes the security of your financial information. When you use Zelle® through Flagstar Online Banking or the mobile app, your transactions are protected by the same advanced security measures that safeguard your Flagstar account. This includes encryption, fraud monitoring, and secure login protocols, giving you peace of mind when making digital payments.

Who Should You Send Money To with Zelle®?

Zelle® is ideal for sending money to people you know and trust, such as family, friends, or individuals you regularly transact with personally, like a babysitter or tutor¹. It’s designed for these trusted exchanges because money sent through Zelle® is transferred quickly and cannot be easily reversed once the recipient is enrolled.

Important Note: Avoid using Zelle® for transactions with unknown individuals or for purchases from online marketplaces where you are not certain you will receive the goods or services as described. These types of transactions carry risk, similar to sending cash to a stranger. Neither Flagstar nor Zelle® offers a protection program for authorized Zelle® payments if you do not receive what you expected or if there is an issue with a purchase.

Zelle® for Domestic Use Only

Currently, Zelle® is designed for transactions within the United States. Both the sender and recipient’s bank accounts must be based in the U.S. to use Zelle®. International transfers are not supported at this time.

Canceling a Zelle® Payment

You can only cancel a Zelle® payment if the recipient hasn’t yet enrolled in Zelle®. To check the payment status, review your activity page in Flagstar Online Banking or the mobile app. If the payment is pending because the recipient hasn’t enrolled, you should see a “Cancel Payment” option.

Once the recipient has enrolled and the payment has been processed, the transfer is immediate and cannot be canceled. This is why it is crucial to double-check recipient details before sending money and only use Zelle® with people you trust. If you mistakenly send money to the wrong person, contact the recipient directly to request a return of funds.

Fees Associated with Zelle® and Flagstar Online Banking

Flagstar Bank does not typically charge fees for using Zelle® within its Online Banking or Mobile app. However, it’s always wise to confirm Flagstar’s current fee schedule for any potential changes. Standard messaging and data rates from your mobile carrier may apply when using the mobile app.

In Conclusion

Zelle® via Flagstar Online Banking and Mobile App offers a powerful, convenient, and secure way to manage your everyday money transfers. By understanding how to use Zelle® effectively and being mindful of its intended purpose, you can streamline your financial interactions and take full advantage of the digital banking tools available to you at Flagstar. Embrace the speed and simplicity of Zelle® to make managing your finances easier and more efficient than ever before.

¹ Standard transaction times apply and may vary. Transactions typically occur in minutes when the recipient is already enrolled with Zelle®. Zelle® and the Zelle® related marks are wholly owned by Early Warning Services, LLC and are used herein under license. Requires a U.S. checking or savings account to use Zelle®.