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Frequently Asked Questions

Picture Perfect Gift Cards

Personalized Gift Card Questions

General Questions

Image Questions

Personalized Gift Card Questions

Eligibility:
You need to be a member of America First Credit Union, with an active PIN number and your account must be in good standing.

Image Approval
Every submitted image is reviewed for compliance with the Image Guidelines. Each image also must follow the Visa® Issuing Guidelines as set by Visa® International.

Image Denial
When you schedule a payment you specify the date that you want the payment to reach the payee. The payment is processed 4-5 days prior to this date. The funds will be withdrawn from your account on the due date.

Fees
There is a $2.50 per Gift Card charge that will be deducted from either your savings or checking account, per your designation.

General Questions

How will I receive my personalized card?
Your Gift Card will be mailed to you via the US Postal service.

How long will it take to receive my card?
America First Credit Union processes and sends out cards daily. After your card has been submitted to America First, you can expect to receive your card in the mail within 5-7 business days.

Will any financial or personal information be transferred to the design service?
No, we do not transfer or share any of your financial or personal information with the design service.

How will I know if my image is accepted or rejected?
You will receive an e-mail within two business days, telling you if your image was rejected or approved.

How do I design my Gift Card?
Card customization is easy; there are three simple instructions to follow.

  • Upload the photo you would like on your card.
  • Customize the look of your card by enlarging, cropping, rotating or adding a message.
  • Once you are satisfied with the look of your card, hit the submit button.

How do I activate the card once I receive it?
When you receive your gift card in the mail, you will need to follow the activation instructions on it before using it. (The purchaser of the card must be the one to activate it)

Using your gift card at restaurants and other "tip" oriented merchants.
When a restaurant or other "tip" oriented Merchant (e.g., spas, hair salons, etc.) requests approval from us to complete your transaction, the Merchant will often add a fixed percentage (approximately 20%) to the amount reflected on the bill presented to you prior to payment. This additional amount is meant to cover the tip that they expect you will add to the bill. As a result of this increased authorization request, your Gift Card may be declined if you have insufficient Available Funds to cover the amount that the Merchant requested us to approve. TO AVOID A DECLINE OF YOUR GIFT CARD, YOU CAN ASK THE MERCHANT TO AUTHORIZE A SPECIFIC DOLLAR AMOUNT. WE DO NOT GUARANTEE THAT THE MERCHANT WILL FULFILL THIS REQUEST.

Using your gift card at gasoline merchants.
If you use your Gift Card to purchase gasoline, we recommend that you pay inside, not at the pump. If you pay at the pump, the terminal may be pre-programmed to seek a pre-authorization for $75 and this amount could increase from time to time ("Pre-Authorization Request"). The Pre-Authorization Request seeks to confirm that you have sufficient Available Funds on your Gift Card to pay for an average purchase of gas. If you have insufficient Available Funds on your Gift Card to cover the Pre-Authorization Request, your attempt to use your Gift Card at the pump will be declined. If you have sufficient Available Funds on your Gift Card to cover the Pre-Authorization Request, you will be permitted to continue your transaction at the pump. TO AVOID A DECLINE OF YOUR GIFT CARD, WE RECOMMEND THAT YOU PREPAY FOR YOUR GASOLINE INSIDE THE STATION.

Image Questions

What format does the digital photo need to be in?
The photo needs to be a digital photo in .jpeg, or .bmp format. The image needs to be at least 640x480 pixels and at least 50KB in size, not to exceed 2 megabytes.

Where does the digital photo need to be stored?
Your photo needs to be stored somewhere on your hard drive where it can be uploaded to the card designer.

How do I convert my photo into a digital photo?
You will need to convert your physical photo into a digital photo. If you take a regular photo to a photo processing facility, they may be able to scan the photo for you and put it on a disk. Remember, the image needs to be saved in either .jpeg, or .bmp formats.

What size does my digital photo need to be?
Please use an image that is at least 640x480 pixels. Our design service provides a tool to re-size your picture to look how you want it to.

How do I ensure my card looks as good as possible?
Choose a clear, sharply focused image, preferably taken at a high resolution. You can also use photo editing software to enhance your photo prior to uploading it; however, it is not mandatory.