Contact Information
Message
Chat
Application Status
Relationship Banker
Frequently Asked Questions
To make a payment to your Direct Federal Loan from a Direct Federal Account, navigate to the “Transfers” feature. For the most payment options, including Principal only payments, click on the “Classic” tab. From there you will be able to select which account you want the payment to come from, which loan it should go to, how much you want to pay, and other payment options.
There are no application fees, no closing costs, and no annual fees associated with a Direct Federal Home Equity Loan or Line. If the line is closed within the first two years of being opened an early termination fee of $395 would be applied.
Requested Lines $400,000 and above require an appraisal. Also, if you believe your home value is higher than our assessed value, an appraisal may be required in order for us to approve the amount requested.
Appraisal cost estimates:
Single-family unit - Approximately $500
Multi-unit -Approximately $650.00
If you are an existing member, the easiest way to check the status of an application is through the Application Center within Digital Banking.
If you are not a member, please visit our Application Status Center.
You can borrow 120% of the value of your car (subject to our maximum auto loan limit of $100,000). This allows you to finance the entire purchase price, plus GAP insurance and the sales tax.
Yes! The Joint account holder can create their own user login.
We currently do not offer FHA loans.
Yes, you will need to submit a HELOC application and select "Home Equity Increase (Refinance)" as the purpose.
Home Equity Line Refinances/Increases have a $295 fee.
Click here to apply to refinance/increase your existing Home Equity Line >
With Direct Federal, you can open a Home Equity Loan or Line for:
Primary Residences: Any amount between $20,000 and $500,000.
Second Homes and Investment Properties: Any amount between $20,000 and $200,000.
Your card may be blocked for use and future transactions would be declined until the fraud alert is cleared.
The following must be done if you have lost or misplaced your title after the vehicle loan is paid in full and our lien is released:
Bring the paid loan letter, which includes the lien release statement, to your RMV to request a new title.
You will be responsible for all fees. The RMVs does not allow Direct Federal to apply for a duplicate title on your behalf since we are no longer a lienholder.
1. You can opt out of text alerts by replying “STOP” to the text message
2. You can opt out of phone calls when the alert system calls you.
3. Click on the Unsubscribe link in the email to stop the emails.
4. Contact our Call Center to ask to stop receiving fraud alerts.
5. Visit a branch to ask to stop receiving fraud alerts.
If you are moving to a different state within the U.S., a state change request should first be submitted through Online Banking or by calling our Contact Center at 888.2DIRECT.
IMPORTANT: Direct Federal cannot process the state change for you. You must complete this process with the applicable RMV.
This request allows us to print/prepare the title so you can process the state change at the RMV. We will mail the title to you at the address we have on file. Then bring it to the RMV to complete the title and registration in your new state. We cannot do this for you.
IMPORTANT: The process is different for owner retained states. If you live in an owner retained state, you do not have to file a state change with us. Simply go to your new RMV to title and register there. Please make sure all Direct Federal’s information is correct on all documentation so that we get notified of the state change.
Going to the RMV before filing a request with us will result in delayed processing of your forms. The RMV will contact us to request that the title be mailed to them, resulting in a higher chance of title loss. In this case, we will not be able to provide you with a duplicate title unless Direct Federal is listed as lienholder.
The notification will disappear once your payment has posted to the Loan. Please allow 4-5 days for your payment to process before queuing another payment.
Submit an application online or call to speak with Mortgage Loan Officer.
We currently do not offer land loans but please check back in with us in the future!
Yes. In the application, please select "Refinance Home Loan" as the "Loan Purpose".
If you accidentally opted of out text alerts from a mobile phone, when the digital system calls to verify activity, the system will provide the opportunity to opt back into text alerts for the mobile phone. For all fraud alert types, please call the number on the back of your card to re-enable fraud alerts to an email address, a mobile phone or landline phone number. You can also visit a branch for assistance.
As part of your loan agreement with Direct Federal, and because your car is serving as the collateral for the loan, you are required to provide the title to us within 90 days of opening the loan. The title must display your name as the owner and list Direct Federal as a lienholder. Being a lienholder means we have an interest in the property that is on the title until the loan is paid in full.
If we receive a title for your vehicle that does not have “Direct FCU” listed as lienholder, forms to add lienholder will be mailed to you. Please complete the highlighted sections and return them in the envelope provided along with a check made payable to the applicable RMV so we can file for lien placement on your behalf.
Note: If the envelope is lost, please send documents to:
Direct Federal Credit Union
Attn: Loan Servicing
50 Cabot Street
Needham, MA 02494
You can reset your password.
Reset Password >
If you are locked out of your account please call us at 888.2DIRECT.
Cash Back rewards applies to purchases posted on your account less credits for returned merchandise. Point cash value of $.01 will be earned for every qualifying dollar. Rewards will be processed annually in November and a check will automatically be mailed to you. Minimum of 5,000 points required for redemption.
Information on your rights to dispute transactions and how to exercise those rights is provided in the Agreement.
With Direct Federal, you can open a Home Equity Loan or Line for:
Primary Residences: Any amount between $20,000 and $500,000.
Second Homes and Investment Properties: Any amount between $20,000 and $200,000.
The title proves that you own the vehicle. The registration is permission from the state to operate it on the road. It will come to you with license plates and/or a sticker to display on the vehicle. In most states, your registration should always be with your vehicle, just like your license plates.
The final step of owning your new vehicle is to register and title it at your state’s Department of Motor Vehicles (RMV). It may also be known as the Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV), the Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV), or the Department of Transportation (DOT), depending on your state. For simplicity here, we will refer to it as the RMV.
Direct Federal only holds onto the title while your auto loan is open if you do not live in an owner retained state. If you live in an owner retained state, the RMV will send you the title to keep safe until your loan is paid in full.
Log in to Online Banking or our Mobile App Hover over Menu item "Tools"Select "Card Management"Select your Visa Credit Card. Select "Balance Transfer", input Card Issuer Details and Submit!
Different Mortgage programs will have varying qualifications. Please contact a mortgage specialist to discuss your options.
Send message to Mortgage Specialist >
An ACH, or Automated Clearing House, transaction is an electronic transaction that allows merchants to access your account. For example, payroll direct deposits are ACH deposits. Additionally, things like gym membership dues can be set up as ACH withdrawals.
Login to Digital Banking and access the transfers widget. After choosing your account and loan from the dropdown menus, you can then specify the frequency for your recurring payments.
Login to Digital Banking >
Navigate to the transfers and pay tab and then click on transfers and loan payments. Please note, that Principal payments CANNOT be made from external accounts. Once you have navigated to the transfers widget, select which accounts you'd like the money to come out of and which loan you will be paying. Once the accounts are selected the "Principal Payment" option will appear. Your loan must be up to date.
You can only cancel a payment if the person you sent money to hasn't yet enrolled with Zelle®. To check whether the payment is still pending because the recipient hasn't yet enrolled, you can go to your activity page, choose the payment you want to cancel, and then select "Cancel This Payment". If you do not see this option available, please contact our customer support team at 7814556500 for assistance with canceling the pending payment.
If the person you sent money to has already enrolled with Zelle®, the money is sent directly to their bank account and cannot be canceled. This is why it's important to only send money to people you trust, and always ensure you've used the correct email address or U.S. mobile number when sending money.
If you sent money to the wrong person, please immediately call our customer support team at 7814556500 so we can help you.
The amount you can borrow depends on the property type and the equity you have in your home.
Primary Residences: Up to 80% Combined Loan-To-Value (CLTV). Any amount between $20,000 and $500,000.
Second Home and Investment Properties: Up to 70% Combined Loan-To-Value (CLTV). Any amount between $20,000 and $200,000.
Within Online Banking, select your Loan and click on the specific payment you would like more information on. Then select "Breakdown" and you will be able to view the Principal and Interest breakdown of your loan payment.
If you'd like to get in touch with us via message, please utilize our secure Message Center in Digital Banking.
Log in to access Message Center >
Our live chat platform supports the talk-to-text (dictation) feature available on your smart device. To use talk-to-text to chat with one of our live associates click on the “live chat” button found on the bottom left of your screen. Upon establishing a connection with a live chat associate, you may initiate the use of the talk-to-text feature.
The method for accessing the talk-to-text feature on your device's keyboard may vary depending on the type of smart device you are using. To assist you in locating the talk-to-text feature on your device, we have provided additional resources below.
Click here for Apple Keyboard
Click here for Google assistant (gboard)
*Other keyboards may support this feature. Contact your phone provider for additional assistance.
Direct Federal Credit Union
ISAOA/ATIMA
50 Cabot Street
Needham, MA 02494
Yes, we do finance commercial vehicles!
View Business Loans >
HELOC closings take place at our Branch located in Needham, MA.
You can locate your credit card reward points balance on your credit card statement. You can access this statement within Digital Banking.
View credit card statement >
Reminder
Rewards will be processed annually in November and a check will automatically be mailed to you. Minimum of 5,000 points required for redemption.
If you realize you need more money to finance your purchase once you start shopping for your car, simply call us at 781.455.6500.
On the “Payments” tab of the Bill Pay widget, you will see “Payment Activity”. There you will see what Bills are scheduled to be paid in the current month. By clicking “Next” or “Previous” you can see what is scheduled to be paid or has been paid in the previous month. If you need additional information about any payment such as the payment frequency or the check number, click on the individual payment to be brought to the payment details.Alternatively, if you click on the “Manage Payees” tab within the Bill Pay widget and select an individual Payee you can view historical and scheduled payments for each Payee. Please note that payment history is only available from 2/1/21 and on. Please reference your past statements for payments prior to that.
You can ensure that you're on the newest app version available by turning on automatic updates in your device settings
Fraud alerts are sent to cardholders when potentially fraudulent transactions are detected on their accounts. We want to ensure that any questionable transactions were authorized by the cardholder.
Yes, we offer SBA loans!
Once your application has been approved, you can expect your new card in the mail within 1-2 business days.
Once you’ve submitted your application, you will have a personal Mortgage Specialist follow up with you to provide additional help and guidance. Your Mortgage Specialist will be your single point of contact from here. He or she will send you an approval letter, order an appraisal from a licensed appraiser familiar with home values in your area, and prepare your loan for closing. The closing will take place at the office of our attorney in your area, who will act as our agent. Before closing, your Mortgage Specialist will contact you to walk through the final information and answer any questions you might have.
Only new HELOCs are eligible for the introductory rate. Increases/refinances of an existing HELOC at Direct Federal do not qualify.
There is no annual fee.
We do not offer Student loans at this time, but click below to learn more about what personal loans and lines of credit we offer!
View Home Equity >
New Retail Auto:
New Retail Autos are defined as vehicles from the current or previous model year. Also, a vehicle is considered new if it has not been previously titled or has fewer than 7,500 miles (i.e. dealer demonstrators).
Used Retail Auto:
Used Retail Autos are defined as vehicles no more than eight model years removed from the definition of new.
Once you get your title, there may be some changes that need to be made before the title is ready to be given to Direct Federal. Please do not write on your title, as this will void the title. In the Names and Mailing Address of Owners section, it must list you as the owner and your current address. If the title application with the RMV is completed properly, we will be notified that the title has been created with "Direct FCU" as lienholder.
IMPORTANT: The VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) on your Loan Note and Agreement must match the VIN on your title. If you are aware of any discrepancies, please contact us as soon as possible.
If the vehicle you are titling is for your business and you would like it in your business name, you must open a business membership and apply for a commercial loan. If you have started the loan as a personal vehicle loan, the title will need to be in your name.
Direct Federal’s lienholder information:
Direct Federal Credit Union
ISAOA/ATIMA
50 Cabot Street
Needham, MA 02494
Dividends start to accrue on the date the account is funded.
The date that is displayed is the estimated delivery date of the check, not the date the payment is sent from your account.
You can find a full list of participating banks and credit unions live with Zelle® at Zellepay.com.
If your recipient's bank or credit union isn't on the list, don't worry! The list of participating financial institutions is always growing, and your recipient can still use Zelle® by downloading the Zelle® app for Android and iOS.
To enroll with the Zelle® app, your recipient will enter their basic contact information, an email address or U.S. mobile number, and a Visa® or Mastercard® debit card with a U.S. based account (does not include U.S. territories). Zelle® does not accept debit cards associated with international deposit accounts or any credit cards.
In order to use Zelle®, the sender and recipient's bank or credit union accounts must be based in the U.S.
Bill Pay allows you to pay all of your bills, outside of Direct Federal Credit Union, in one place. Your payments will be delivered electronically or by check depending on the recipient. You can schedule one-time or recurring payments.
We currently do not offer Educational Savings Accounts.
View our banking account options >
Money Market dividends are are compounded monthly, and posted monthly.
Requested Lines $400,000 and above require an appraisal. Also, if you believe your home value is higher than our assessed value, an appraisal may be required in order for us to approve the amount requested.
Appraisal cost estimates:
Single-family unit - Approximately $500
Multi-unit -Approximately $650.00
You can send, request, or receive money with Zelle®. To get started, log into the Direct Federal Credit Union App. In the main menu, select "Transfer and Pay". Then "Send money with Zelle®".
To send money using Zelle®, simply select someone from your mobile device's contacts (or add a trusted recipient's email address or U.S. mobile number), add the amount you'd like to send and an optional note, review, then hit "Send." The recipient will receive an email or text message notification via the method they used to enroll with Zelle®. Money is available to your recipient in minutes if they are already enrolled with Zelle®.
To request money using Zelle®, choose "Request," select the individual from whom you'd like to request money, enter the amount you'd like, include an optional note, review and hit "Request". If the person you are requesting money from is not yet enrolled with Zelle®, you must use their email address to request money. If the person has enrolled their U.S. mobile number, then you can send the request using their mobile number.
To receive money, just share your enrolled email address or U.S. mobile number with a friend and ask them to send you money with Zelle®. If you have already enrolled with Zelle®, you do not need to take any further action. The money will be sent directly into your Direct Federal Credit Union account, typically within minutes.
If someone sent you money with Zelle® and you have not yet enrolled with Zelle®, follow these steps:
- Click on link provided in the payment notification you received via email or text message.
- Select Direct Federal Credit Union.
- Follow the instructions provided on the page to enroll and receive your payment. Pay attention to the email address or U.S. mobile number where you received the payment notification - you should enroll with Zelle® using that email address or U.S. mobile number to ensure you receive your money.
Our Routing & Transit Number is: 211381783
We currently do not offer VA loans.
Rates vary based on your creditworthiness. The rate can vary monthly and is based on the Prime rate published in The Wall Street Journal.
You can request a Home Equity Line of Credit and Credit Card increase through Online Banking.
Depending on the assessed value of your home, and the amount of equity you have in it, you may be eligible to refinance/increase your existing Direct Federal Home Equity Line. Home Equity Line Refinances/Increases have a $295 fee.
Click here to apply to refinance/increase your existing Home Equity Line >
Monthly dividends are available for withdrawal without penalty.
Funds cannot be added to an existing CD Share Certificate.
Yes, you can add GAP insurance to any auto loan for a low flat rate of $395. Learn more about GAP >
The status of your payments is located under “Payment activity” within the “Payments” tab of the Bill Pay widget. Click on each individual payment to obtain details and the status of your payment.
Applicants under 18 require a joint owner on the account.
We do not charge for the coin machine but you must be a member to use it.
The coin machine is available Monday-Friday (8am-3pm) and Saturday (8am-12pm).
Please contact us at 888.2DIRECT if you plan on coming into the Branch to use the coin machine.
You will automatically be enrolled to receive all fraud alerts via the contact methods on your account, ie., email address, cell phone, home phone, work phone, etc.
You can apply for a credit limit of up to $25,000.
There are no balance transfer fees.
Completing your mortgage application online is just like completing one on paper — with the added benefit of being able to complete it anytime, anywhere. Plus, at any time, you may stop and save your application; then return to it later. Expect your application to take about 15 minutes to complete. A series of prompts and helpful tips will guide you through each screen to help you through each stage of the application process, which includes the following steps:
Start App – You’ll be asked to select a username and password to ensure security and privacy. Create and enter your username and password here and make a note of them for your records.
Loan Details – Enter the address, price and other information related to the property.
Personal Info – Provide the name, date of birth and social security number for EACH borrower.
Employment Income – Tell us about your current employment situation, including gross income and any additional income you may receive.
Expenses – What is your current monthly expense for housing?
Asset Info – Provide a list of your financial assets, including bank accounts and investments, in order to verify that you have access to sufficient funds to complete the transaction.
Submit App – After a few final questions, simply submit the application to Direct Federal and a mortgage specialist will follow up with you
Any phone numbers that Direct Federal has in your records may be sent alerts.
We use a method called “average daily balance.” Refer to the section “Finance Charges” within the Agreement for more information on how your balance is calculated.
You will receive three letters notifying you that your title, with Direct Federal listed as lienholder, has not been received. If the title is not received within 90 days of your loan funds being disbursed, your interest rate may be increased to 18.00% APR (Annual Percentage Rate). Once we receive the perfected title, we will revert the rate to the rate on your loan agreement. This will not affect your credit history.
We do not offer RV loans at this time, but click below to learn more about what personal loans and lines of credit we offer!
You can submit a Stop Payment Request through Online Banking via Tools > Check Services.
Go to the Bill Pay widget and click on the “Manage Payees” tab. Then select “Add Payee”. You can add a Payee by searching your Payee within our database. If your payee is there, the information about the Payee will auto-fill. If it is not in our database, you can select “click here to create a Payee manually.” You will need to have your Payees information nearby including Name, Account Number, Email address, and Mailing Address.
Agree to receive your monthly statement through email (e-Statements)
AND
- One direct deposit into your account a month
OR - Five or more debit card transactions per calendar month.
(Excludes ATM + Zelle transactions)
Your account will not be debited until the payment has been either delivered electronically or until the check is cashed.Reminder will be sent at 60 days if the check remains undeposited. Should an undeposited check extend to 90 days, Bill Pay will automatically void the check and refund the money to the member’s account at no charge.
Our fax number is 781-433-2922.
You can get free checks with a Hub or Community checking account. Your initial check order is sent at the time the checking is opened. You can also reorder checks through online banking, our member service center, or in the branch.
$0 unless property is in a trust and/or there are unrecorded discharges that need to be recorded.
Direct Federal lends on properties located in the following locations:
Massachusetts Counties: Norfolk, Middlesex, Suffolk, Plymouth, Essex, Bristol, Worcester, and Barnstable
Rhode Island Counties: All Counties in Rhode Island
New Hampshire Counties: Rockingham, Hillsborough, and Cheshire
Your first payment is due on the 30th of the month following the month you use your auto loan. For example, if you use your loan during September, your first payment will be due on October 30.
It takes about five minutes to apply and you will have an answer within one business day.
We will not transmit sensitive personal information through alerts.
If rates rise from the time you apply until the time you use your loan, you will get the lower rate that was in effect when you applied. If rates fall from the time you apply until the time you use your loan, you will get the lower rate in effect at the time of purchase.
We currently do not offer safety deposit boxes at this time.
You can access Bill Pay by clicking here or you can access Bill Pay from our Mobile App. Bill Pay can be found by selecting More > Transfer & Pay > Bill Pay.
Required documentation will include but is not limited to: an insurance binder or insurance declaration page, income verification, mortgage statement, and valid license or identification.
Unfortunately, you are unable to hide payees. If you have a payee that you do not use or do not use often you can add a “z” in front of the payee nickname to add it to the bottom of the list. Alternatively, when setting up Payees, you can add “tags” to each payee. This will allow you to sort by tag. For example, for Payees you pay each month you could add the tag “Monthly Payment”. You will then be able to sort by all Payees with the tag “Monthly Payment”.
Prepayment is allowed at any time without penalty. If you pay-off the balance and decide to close the line within the first two years, you will be charged a $395 Early Termination Fee.
There is no cash advance fee.
Yes. Our priority is to protect your personal information. When you return a fraud alert message, we will ask for the unique case # to your specific fraud alert.
If you are travelling within the U.S., you will receive phone calls, text messages and emails. If you are travelling internationally, you will receive emails. You will only receive text messages if your mobile phone plan allows you to receive them while traveling outside of the United States.
If you are adding, changing, or removing a name on the title, you can submit a name change request through Online Banking or by calling our Contact Center at 888.2DIRECT.
IMPORTANT: Direct Federal cannot process the name change for you. You must complete this process with the applicable RMV.
This request allows us to print/prepare the title so you can process the name change at the RMV. We will mail the title and permission letter to the address you have on file with us. Then bring those documents to your RMV so they can process the name change and send the title back to us.
Yes. You may pay your Direct Federal Visa bill online using any checking account.
One of the following must be done if you have lost or misplaced the title that was mailed to you while the loan is still open:
Contact Direct Federal at 888.2DIRECT to request a duplicate title. Processing time will depend on the RMV. You will be responsible for the state’s duplicate title fee.
Contact your state’s RMV if you live in an owner retained title state for a duplicate title. You will be responsible for the state’s duplicate title fee.