Your questions — answered.

Find everything you need to get started with Ameris Bank online checking and Internet Banking.

Q: How does Online Bill Pay work?
Online Bill Pay allows you to set up bill payments to businesses and individuals — all online. Once you enter payment instructions in the system, the request is submitted to Bill Payment Services (9:00 p.m. EST Monday - Friday). The following business day, your payment is sent electronically or by check. Within the next two days, those funds are deducted from your account.

Q: If I apply for Online Bill Pay today, when will I be able to schedule and make bill payments?
You may access Internet Banking bill pay as soon as your enrollment is approved — usually the next business day.

Q: Can I use Internet Banking and Online Bill Pay from outside the United States?
Yes, as long as your bank account is in the United States, Guam, Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Q: Which accounts can I use to pay bills online?
Checking Accounts, Money Market Accounts and Savings Accounts may all be used for Online Bill Pay.

Q: How do I add a funding account?
If you would like to use more than one account to make Online Bill Payments, you may set up additional Online Bill Payment accounts on the "Account Preferences" screen. Start by clicking the box under "Bill Pay Account." This setup requires overnight processing before your new account can be used.

Q: Can I set up a payee in another country?
No. Online bill payments may only be made in U.S. dollars to a United States payee (which includes Guam, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, and international U.S. military bases).

Q: Must I contact my payees to tell them I am using an Online Bill Pay service?
No. Online Bill Pay uses the ACH electronic network or a paper check with your payment information clearly indicated.

Q: How do I add a payee (merchant/vendor)?
Use the Payee Search function within the product to find and add your new payee. If the new payee is not listed, simply select "Manually Enter Payees" and enter the required information.

Q: How long does it take to set up a new payee in Online Bill Pay?
Once the new payee is entered, you can use the payee immediately.

Q: How do I know if a payee will receive payments electronically or via paper check?
When you conduct a "Payee Search," electronic payees are indicated by a message under Payee Name that the payee "Provides E-payments." Also, when a bill payment is made electronically, a little "e" is displayed on the "Make Payment" screen. If only the payee's name appears under Payee Name, that payee currently accepts only paper check payments, and a picture of a check is displayed.

Q: Can I make multiple payments to the same payee on the same day?
Yes, as long as the payment amounts are different. For your protection, the system will not pay duplicate items for the same payee on the same day.

Q: How do I change a payee's name and address?
To change any payee from the Payee Summary list, click the pencil icon under the EDIT column. The only fields that may be changed are AMOUNT, ACCOUNT NUMBER, and PAYMENT STATUS. For other changes, delete the payee and re-add it with the correct information.

Q: How do I delete a payee?
Cancel all scheduled payments for the payee by accessing the Pending Payments screen and clicking the scissors icon under the EDIT column. Then, select the payee you want to delete by clicking on the scissors icon.

Q: What does the payee receive with my payment?
Your payee will receive either an ACH electronic payment or a paper check. In either case, the payment is appended with the information you provided, such as your name and account number, so the payee can properly credit your payment.

Q: When should I set up my payments to make sure they are received on time?
Minimum payment "lead times" will be provided based on whether the payee accepts electronic payment (designated by an "e" symbol) or paper check payment (designated by a paper check symbol). Payments to electronic payees should be scheduled a minimum of 3 days before the payment due date. For paper check payments, payments should be scheduled a minimum of 6-10 days before payment due date.

Q: Are there any payments that I cannot make using Online Bill Pay?
Yes. Payments cannot be made in foreign currency or to international payees. For payments to U. S. government agencies, Online Bill Pay has limited ability to research issues that arise because of the government's strict adherence to the Consumer Privacy Act. Online Bill Pay will not be responsible for any late fees or penalties that may be incurred by these types of payments.

Q: How far in advance can I schedule payments?
You may schedule a one-time future payment up to 364 days in advance.

Q: How late in the day can I enter, edit, or delete a payment?
The cut-off time is 9:00 p.m. EST. Any new bill payments entered by that time will be accepted for processing that day, unless they are future-dated, in which case they will remain in the pending queue until 9:00 p.m. EST on that date. Payments entered after this time will be processed on the next business day.

Q: Will the Online Bill Pay activity I perform today reflect "real time" in my bill payment reporting function?
No. Bill payment reporting is not "real-time." Activity reports do not reflect bill payment activity until the day following the activity.

Q: How often does the payment processor make payments?
Payments are processed Monday through Friday, excluding holidays.

Q: Can I make changes to an already scheduled payment?
Yes. If the payment is still pending, changes can be made. However, once the payment has been transmitted, you can no longer make changes or delete payments.

Q: When can I cancel a payment?
You may cancel or modify your payment online at any time before the cutoff time of 9:00 p.m. EST on the payment transaction date.

Q: What date do I put in the TRANSMIT DATE field?
This should be the date you want your payment to be transmitted.

Q: Can I place a stop payment on a bill payment that I have already set up?
Yes. If the payment has been processed and is a paper check that has not yet cleared, you may contact the Personal Banker to request a stop payment.

Q: What if my payee has not received my payment?
Please contact your local Personal Banker. He can assist you with questions regarding your personal Online Bill Pay.

Q: May I get a copy of a canceled check?
Please contact your local Personal Banker. She can assist you with questions regarding your personal online bill payment.