How to use Zelle for online church offerings

You may continue to submit your offering with cash or check in an envelope. However, if you have a computer or smartphone, you may want to consider changing to online giving. You have 2 choices for online giving to Trinity. Please consider using Zelle, which is available at most US Banks. There are currently no fees to transfer funds with Zelle at most banks. Trinity will continue to accept offerings through PayPal, but fees with every transfer have increased, so this decreases the value of your offering.

What is Zelle®?

Zelle® is a fast and convenient way to send and receive money with people or small businesses you know and trust who have a bank account in the U.S. For more information and a list of participating banks, go to Get Started with Zelle® and search for your bank. You can find your bank and enroll in Zelle through this site or enroll directly through your bank as outlined below.

Is It Safe?

Most banks will offer to text or call you with a one-time verification code when you sign in or ask to transfer funds. Always choose this option to enhance security.

Unfortunately, there are Zelle scammers. If you receive a phone call saying there is a problem with your Zelle transfer, hang up and call your bank directly. NEVER give your verification code, account numbers, or online banking access information to anyone. Banks will NEVER call and ask you for account information or ask you to transfer funds to yourself. Scam callers can be very friendly & convincing. It's OK for you to be rude.

To enroll in Zelle online ona computer or smartphone mobile app:

Follow directions on your bank's website for Zelle enrollment or activation. This is an example.

Sign into your bank's website on a computer (e.g. chase.com, wellsfargo.com, etc). Or download the mobile app from your bank onto your smartphone.

Click on the "Pay & Transfer" menu and click on Zelle or choose "Send Money With Zelle".

Accept the service agreement and choose "Next".

Verify your email address by entering the one-time activation code the bank sends you via text, email, or phone call.

Choose "Done" or "Next", and you're ready to use Zelle®. You will need to add Trinity as a Zelle recipient. Proceed as described below.

How to make payments in Zelle after enrollment:

Go to your bank's online site on your computer or mobile app on your smartphone.

Go to "Transfer Funds with Zelle" and follow directions.

Recipient must have Zelle set up in their account using their email or mobile phone number. You will need to enter Trinity as a recipient using Ruth's email: [email protected], which is automatically affiliated with Trinity Lutheran Church of Maricopa. Once entered as a recipient, this will remain in your system as a transfer choice.

Choose your recipient's email or phone number.
Enter the amount you want to send and click on transfer.
Make sure you are sending the right amount to the right place as you cannot reverse the transfer once sent. Spell Ruth's email correction with 2 "o's", 2 "k's" and 2 "e's" back to back to back, as "bookkeeper" is spelt as is. Call your bank if you make a mistake.
You will receive an email verifying the transfer. You can also click on Activity under Zelle in your account to verify that the transfer went through and get reports.

Automatic Payments - Only Available at some banks:

With some banks, you can set up Zelle to automatically transfer money weekly or monthly.

Select "Send Money with Zelle". Under "Enter Amount", select Change, and then choose Frequency to set up your recurring payment. Keep in mind, recurring payments are sent with Standard delivery (1-3 business days).

You will receive an email when money is automatically transferred. Click on Activity under Zelle in your online account to check on how much money you send and when. Should you have any questions or need assistance, Laurie or Mali Schulz can answer those question and help assist you in setting up Zelle. A number of other parishioners also use Zelle.