Online Banking and Bill Pay Agreement and Disclosure

This Online Banking Agreement and Disclosure ("Agreement") describes your rights and obligations as a user of the Online Banking service or the Bill Payment service ("Services"). It also describes the rights and obligations of First Federal ("Bank").  Please read this Agreement carefully. By requesting and using one of these Services, you agree to comply with the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

  1. Definitions

    2. The following definitions apply in this Agreement:

    1. "ISP" refers to your Internet Service Provider;
    2. "Online Banking" is the internet-based service providing access to your Bank account(s);
    3. "Online Account" means the Bank account from which you will be conducting transactions using a Service;
    4. "Password" is the customer-generated code selected by you for use during the initial sign-on, or the codes you select after the initial sign-on, that establishes your connection to the Service;
    5. "PC" means your personal computer which enables you, with the Internet browser and ISP, to access your Online Account;
    6. "Bill Payment" is the online service that enables the scheduling of bill payments using a personal
    7. "Time of day" references are to Eastern Standard Time;
    8. "User ID" is the identification code for your connection to the Service;
    9. "We", "us", or "Bank" refer to First Federal which offers the Services and which holds the accounts accessed by the Services; and
    10. "You" or "your" refers to the owner of the account.
  2. Access to Services

    3. The Bank will provide instructions on how to use the Online Banking and Bill payment Services. You will gain access to your Online Accounts through the use of your Internet-enabled device, your ISP, your Password and your User ID. You may access your Online Accounts 24 hours a day, seven (7) days a week.  However, availability of the Services may be suspended for brief periods of time for purposes of maintenance, updating and revising the software.

    For purposes of transactions, the Bank's business days are Monday through Friday, excluding holidays and weekends. All Online Banking transaction requests received after 7:00 p.m. on business days and all transactions which are requested on Saturdays, Sundays, or holidays on which the Bank chooses to remain closed, will be processed on the Bank's next business day. The Bank's business day begins at 8:30 a.m.

  3. Banking Transactions with Online Banking
    1. Account Access. There is no limit to the number of personal accounts that you can access online, but one of these accounts must be a checking account. 
    2. Transfer of Funds.  In addition to viewing account information, you may use Online Banking to conduct the transfer of funds. You may make one-time transfers or schedule future or recurring transfers.  You may transfer funds from any deposit account to any deposit account or loan.

      NOTE: Because regulations require the Bank to limit preauthorized transfers (including Online Banking transfers), the following limitations apply:
      • From Savings accounts - You can make no more than six (6) transfer withdrawals per statement period by preauthorized or automatic transfer or by telephone or Online Banking.
    3. Additional Services.  New services may be introduced for Online Banking from time to time. The Bank will notify you of the existence of these new services. By using these services when they become available, you agree to be bound by the rules that will be made available to you concerning these services.
  4. Schedule of Fees

    5. The Bank offers the benefits and convenience of the Online Banking Service to you free. The Bill Payment Service is also free when you use it to pay at least two (2) bills per calendar month.  A $5.95 insufficient usage fee will be debited at the beginning of the month from your Primary Funding Account if you made less than two online bill payments from any of your checking accounts during the prior month.

  5. Statements

    6. You will receive your account statements either monthly or quarterly, depending on the type of account.   Even though deposit account statements are available online, you will continue to receive these paper statements.

  6. Use of Your Security Password

    7. You are responsible for keeping your password and Online Account information confidential.  In order to protect yourself against fraud, you should adhere to the following guidelines:

    • Do not give out your account information, Password, or User ID;
    • Do not leave your PC unattended while you are in the Bank's Online Banking Site;
    • Never leave your account information within range of others; and
    • Do not send privileged account information (account number, Password, etc.) in any public or general e-mail system.

    If you believe your password has been lost or stolen, or if you suspect any fraudulent activity on your account, call the Bank immediately at (888) 529-2220 or (843) 529-5555 between the hours of 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Telephoning the Bank is the best way of minimizing your losses and liability. (See; Section XI)

    If you believe your Password has been lost or stolen, please use the Change Password feature within the Online Banking section of the Web site to change your Password.

  7. Electronic Mail (E-mail)

    8. If you send the Bank an e-mail message, the Bank will be deemed to have received it on the following business day.  You should not rely on e-mail if you need to report an unauthorized transaction from one of your accounts or if you need to stop a payment that is scheduled to occur.

    • NOTE: E-mail transmissions outside of the Online Banking site are not secure. We advise you not to send us or ask for sensitive information such as account numbers, Password, account information, etc. via any general or public e-mail system. If you wish to contact us electronically, please use the secure email link within our Online Banking site.
  8. Linked Accounts

    9. The only accounts viewable online are accounts for which the person is a primary or secondary owner and are linked by tax identification numbers.

  9. Term and Termination
    1. Term. This Agreement will become effective upon enrollment and shall remain in full force and effect until termination in accordance with the following provisions.
    2. Termination for Cause. We may immediately terminate your electronic banking privileges (including the Bill Payment Service) without notice to you under the following circumstances:
      • you do not pay any fee required by this Agreement when due or
      • you do not comply with the agreement governing your deposit or loan accounts or your accounts are not maintained in good standing.

      We will promptly notify you if we terminate this Agreement or your use of the Services for any other reason.

    3. Termination for Convenience. To terminate this Agreement, you must notify the Bank and provide your name, address, the Service(s) you are discontinuing, and the termination date of the Service(s). You may notify the Bank by one of the following methods:
      • By sending an e-mail to Customer Service using the secure email link within Online Banking.
      • By calling (888) 529-2220 or (843) 529-5555
      • By writing a letter and either giving it to a Financial Service Representative at any of the Bank's locations or by sending it to the address:
        First Federal
        Attention: Internet Banking
        P.O. Box 118068
        Charleston,  SC 29423-8068

      If you are not paying a monthly service charge for the Service, we may terminate your access if you do not sign on to the Service or have any transaction scheduled through the Service during any consecutive 180-day period. If your account is terminated, you will have to re-enroll in our Online Banking service.

  10. Electronic Fund Transfer Provisions For Consumers
    1. Applicability. These provisions are only applicable to online electronic fund transfers that credit or debit a consumer's checking, savings or other asset account and are subject to the Federal Reserve Board's Regulation E (an "EFT").  When applicable, the Bank may rely on any exceptions to these provisions that are contained in Regulation E. All terms that are not defined in this Agreement but which are defined in Regulation E shall have the same meaning when used in this section.
    2. Your Liability. The following determines your liability for any unauthorized EFT or any series of related unauthorized EFTs:
      1. If you notify the Bank within two (2) business days after your password was lost or stolen, your liability will not exceed $50.00 or the amount of the unauthorized EFTs that occur before notification, whichever is less
      2. If you fail to notify the Bank within two (2) business days after your password was lost or stolen, your liability will not exceed the lesser of $500.00 or the total of:
        • $50.00 or the amount of unauthorized EFTs that occur within the two (2) business days; and
        • the total of authorized EFTs which occur during the two (2) days before notification to the Bank, provided the Bank establishes that these EFTs would not have occurred had the Bank been notified within that two-day period.
      3. You must report an unauthorized EFT that appears on your periodic statement, no later than 60 days of transmittal of the statement to avoid liability for subsequent transfers.  Your liability will not exceed the amount of the unauthorized EFTs that occurred with the 60-day period. You may also be liable for the amounts as described in sections 1 and 2 above.
      4. If the report is made orally, we will require that you send the complaint or question in writing within 20 business days. We will notify you with the results of the investigation within 10 business days and will correct any error promptly. If more time is needed, however, we may take up to 45 days to investigate a complaint or question. If this occurs, we will credit your account within 10 business days for the amount you think is in error. This will allow you to use the money during the time it takes us to complete our investigation. If your complaint or question is not received in writing within 10 business days, we may not credit your account until the investigation is completed. If an alleged error involves an electronic fund transfer outside a state or territory or possession of the United States, the applicable time periods for action by us are 20 business days (instead of 10) and 90 calendar days (instead of 45). If we determine that no error occurred, we will send you a written explanation within three business days after the investigation is complete. You may request copies of the documents that were used in the investigation.
      5. You may notify the Bank by telephone, writing, or by email using the secure email link provided in our Online Banking site. Notification by general e-mail to report an unauthorized transaction is not secure and therefore not advised.
    3. Telephone Numbers and Addresses. In case of errors or questions regarding an Online Banking or Bill Payment transaction, call (888) 529-2220 or (843) 529-5555, or write us at
      First Federal
      Attn: Internet Banking
      P.O. Box 118068
      Charleston, SC 29423-8068

      We must hear from you at the telephone number or address listed above, no later than 60 days after we sent you the FIRST statement on which the problem or error appeared. We will need:

      1. Your name and account number
      2. A description of the error or the transfer in question and an explanation concerning why you believe it is an error or need more information
      3. The dollar amount of the suspected error and date on which it occurred.
    4. Liability
      1. Our Liability. This section explains our liability to you only to the extent that any other agreements, notices or disclosures have not separately disclosed our liability. In no event shall we be liable to you for failure to provide access to your Online Banking or Bill Payment services accounts. Unless otherwise required by applicable law, we are only responsible for performing the Online Banking and Bill Payment services as delineated in this Agreement.

        We will not be liable to you in the following instances:
        1. If through no fault of the Bank, you do not have enough money in your account to make the transfer.
        2. If circumstances beyond our control (such as fire, flood, power outage, equipment or technical failure or breakdown) prevents the transfer despite reasonable precautions that we have taken.
        3. If there is a hold on your account, or if access to your account is blocked, in accordance with banking policy.
        4. If your funds are subject to a legal proceeding or other encumbrance restricting the transfer.
        5. If your transfer authorization terminates by operation of law.
        6. If you believe someone has accessed your accounts without your permission and you fail to notify the Bank immediately.
        7. If you have not properly followed the instructions on how to make a transfer included in this Agreement.
        8. If we have received incomplete or inaccurate information from you or a third party involving the account or transfer.
        9. If we have a reasonable basis for believing that unauthorized use of your Password or account has occurred or may be occurring or if you default under this Agreement, the deposit account agreement, a credit agreement or any other agreement with us, or if we or you terminate this Agreement.
        10. If your bill payment account is frozen due to multiple Non Sufficient Fund (“NSF”) fees.  The NSF fee is $32.00 per item which includes Checks, ATM withdrawals, Check Card Transactions, and ACH debits.

        IN NO EVENT SHALL WE HAVE ANY LIABILITY TO YOU OR ANY THIRD PARTY FOR ANY INDIRECT, SPECIAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES RESULTING FROM OR ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT.

      2. Indemnification. You agree to indemnify, defend and hold us, our affiliate companies, directors, officers, employees and agents harmless against any third party claim, demand, suit, action or other proceeding and any expenses related to an Online Banking or Bill Payment account.
      3. Third Parties.  We are not liable for any loss or liability resulting from any failure of your equipment or software, or that of an internet browser provider such as Netscape (Netscape Navigator browser) or Microsoft (Microsoft Explorer browser), by an internet access provider, or by an online service provider, nor will we be liable for any direct, indirect, special or consequential damages resulting from your access to or failure to access an Online Banking or Bill Payment account.
      4. Virus Protection. The Bank is not responsible for any electronic virus or viruses that you may encounter. We suggest that you routinely scan your PC using a virus protection product. An undetected virus may corrupt and destroy your programs, files, and your hardware.
    5. General Terms and Conditions
      1. Bank Agreements. In addition to this Agreement, you and the Bank agree to be bound by and comply with the requirements of the agreements applicable to each of your Online Accounts. Your use of the Online Banking Service or the Bill Payment Service is your acknowledgment that you have received these agreements and intend to be bound by them. You should review other disclosures including the charges that may be imposed for electronic funds transfers or the right to make transfers listed in the fee schedules accompanying those disclosures and the fee schedule contained in this Agreement. We will automatically deduct the fees related to this Service from your Bill Payment Funding Account each month. 
      2. Changes and Modifications. The Bank may modify the terms and conditions applicable to the Services from time to time. We may send any notice to you via e-mail and you will have to be deemed to have received it three days after it is sent. The revised terms and conditions shall be effective at the earliest date allowed by applicable law. We reserve the right to terminate this Agreement and your use of the Services in whole or in part at any time without prior notice.
      3. Assignment. We may assign this Agreement to an affiliate of the Bank or any successor in interest in the event of a merger, reorganization, change of control, acquisition or sale of all or substantially all assets of the business to which this Agreement is related without the other party's prior written consent.
      4. Notices. Unless otherwise required by applicable law, any notice or written communication given pursuant to this Agreement may be sent to you electronically.
      5. Disclosure of Information. We will only disclose information to third parties about your account or transfers you make under the following circumstances:
        • where it is necessary for the provision of Online Banking and for completing transfers;
        • in order to verify the existence and condition of your account for a third party, such as a credit bureau or merchant;
        • in order to comply with government or court orders, or other reporting requirements;
        • if you give us your permission;
        • to the Bank affiliated companies.
      6. Governing Law. This Agreement is governed by the laws of the State of South Carolina and applicable federal law.
      All of us within the First Financial Holdings family of companies respect your privacy and the personal information you share with us.  Regardless of which of our companies you patronize, your information is shared only with those firms which assist us in our day-to-day operations.  Information on current and former customers is never sold to marketers or any other third party.  In addition, we are committed to maintaining high levels of security to ensure that your information is accessible only by authorized personnel.

      We encourage you to review our policies for Privacy, Internet Privacy and Security as well as our Copyright Notice and Disclosures.  If you have questions, please call our Customer Service Department at (843) 529-5555 or, if dialing long distance, (888) 529-2220.