Frequently Asked Questions
What are the major advantages of Electronic Giving?
Electronic giving is all about convenience for you and consistency for the church. Electronic giving eliminates frequent check writing and helps you stay on track with pledges even when you are unable to attend services. The church benefits from much-needed donation consistency and a reduction in the volume of check and cash contributions that must be handled and manually processed in the church office.
How does Online Giving work?
Contributions are transferred automatically from your checking or savings account, or from your credit or debit card, to the church bank account. Your contributions can be set up as a one-time or recurring donation. You select a payment method, start date, frequency and contribution amount. On the scheduled date(s), donations will be processed and deposited into the church bank account.
What is a One Time or Recurring donation?.
A one-time donation occurs only once on the date you specify. A recurring donation is an ongoing scheduled contribution, such as weekly or monthly.
When will my contributions be processed?
Your contributions will be processed on the date(s) you authorize.
How will I keep track of contributions in my check register or credit/debit card account?
Since your contribution is made at a pre-established time, you simply record it in your check register or watch for it on your credit card statement on the appropriate date. Electronic contributions will appear on your bank statement and also on your Oakwood giving statement and in your Church Community Builder (CCB) account.
Will I receive a receipt?
Yes. You will receive a receipt via email, and you will also be able to view transactions in your giving history. Guest donors will receive a receipt only if they choose to enter their email address when completing a donation.
Q. Is giving by direct debit risky?
Information which you put into any payment form on the mobile app or on the website will not be saved on our servers. We use a secure website hosted by Vanco Services, an industry leader that processes transactions for thousands of clients. Vanco was chosen by Oakwood to process your online transactions. It is a service endorsed by the United Methodist Church Finance and Administration.
The information Vanco receives from you will only be used to process your transactions and will never be shared with any other party, except as required by law. Your information will be safeguarded in strict compliance with federal standards for nonpublic personal information. The password you select is important in protection your information; keep it secure.
How much does Electronic Giving cost?
It costs you nothing and it costs the church very little. The lowest cost method to the church is giving directly from your checking or savings account. The church is charged 1% plus $.45 for payments from a bank checking or savings account. When using a credit or debit card, the church is charged 2.75% plus $.45 of the contribution. If you use a credit or debit card, you can pay the transaction fee instead of the church. In processing your transaction, when you click to give by debit or credit card, there will be a line that allows you to click that you want to pay these fees.
What if I try electronic giving and don’t like it?
You can cancel your authorization at any time by logging in online and canceling all future contributions.
Can I place a hold on my donations?
Yes, you can suspend donations by going online and signing into your account.
How can I sign up for Online Giving?
The church encourages you to sign up for Online Giving so you can easily monitor and view your online donation history, change your donation plan, and make one time electronic donations. You must have an active email account to use Online Giving. Just visit our website at www.oakwoodlife.org and click on the Online Giving link at the top of the page. You may also go to your Apple or android app store and search for VANCO, download the Giving + app, then follow the prompts.
What if I need help setting up Electronic Giving online?
Contact the church office any time you may have questions concerning Online Giving or contributions.
Can I be specific about where my Electronic Giving payment is used?
Oakwood offers different categories for you to choose where your contribution is used for God's work. For example, you can always contribute to the general fund, the building fund, or missions. At appropriate times of the year other fund accounts will be added such as Miracle Sunday or the Spaghetti Dinner Fund.
What are the major advantages of Electronic Giving?
Electronic giving is all about convenience for you and consistency for the church. Electronic giving eliminates frequent check writing and helps you stay on track with pledges even when you are unable to attend services. The church benefits from much-needed donation consistency and a reduction in the volume of check and cash contributions that must be handled and manually processed in the church office.
How does Online Giving work?
Contributions are transferred automatically from your checking or savings account, or from your credit or debit card, to the church bank account. Your contributions can be set up as a one-time or recurring donation. You select a payment method, start date, frequency and contribution amount. On the scheduled date(s), donations will be processed and deposited into the church bank account.
What is a One Time or Recurring donation?.
A one-time donation occurs only once on the date you specify. A recurring donation is an ongoing scheduled contribution, such as weekly or monthly.
When will my contributions be processed?
Your contributions will be processed on the date(s) you authorize.
How will I keep track of contributions in my check register or credit/debit card account?
Since your contribution is made at a pre-established time, you simply record it in your check register or watch for it on your credit card statement on the appropriate date. Electronic contributions will appear on your bank statement and also on your Oakwood giving statement and in your Church Community Builder (CCB) account.
Will I receive a receipt?
Yes. You will receive a receipt via email, and you will also be able to view transactions in your giving history. Guest donors will receive a receipt only if they choose to enter their email address when completing a donation.
Q. Is giving by direct debit risky?
Information which you put into any payment form on the mobile app or on the website will not be saved on our servers. We use a secure website hosted by Vanco Services, an industry leader that processes transactions for thousands of clients. Vanco was chosen by Oakwood to process your online transactions. It is a service endorsed by the United Methodist Church Finance and Administration.
The information Vanco receives from you will only be used to process your transactions and will never be shared with any other party, except as required by law. Your information will be safeguarded in strict compliance with federal standards for nonpublic personal information. The password you select is important in protection your information; keep it secure.
How much does Electronic Giving cost?
It costs you nothing and it costs the church very little. The lowest cost method to the church is giving directly from your checking or savings account. The church is charged 1% plus $.45 for payments from a bank checking or savings account. When using a credit or debit card, the church is charged 2.75% plus $.45 of the contribution. If you use a credit or debit card, you can pay the transaction fee instead of the church. In processing your transaction, when you click to give by debit or credit card, there will be a line that allows you to click that you want to pay these fees.
What if I try electronic giving and don’t like it?
You can cancel your authorization at any time by logging in online and canceling all future contributions.
Can I place a hold on my donations?
Yes, you can suspend donations by going online and signing into your account.
How can I sign up for Online Giving?
The church encourages you to sign up for Online Giving so you can easily monitor and view your online donation history, change your donation plan, and make one time electronic donations. You must have an active email account to use Online Giving. Just visit our website at www.oakwoodlife.org and click on the Online Giving link at the top of the page. You may also go to your Apple or android app store and search for VANCO, download the Giving + app, then follow the prompts.
What if I need help setting up Electronic Giving online?
Contact the church office any time you may have questions concerning Online Giving or contributions.
Can I be specific about where my Electronic Giving payment is used?
Oakwood offers different categories for you to choose where your contribution is used for God's work. For example, you can always contribute to the general fund, the building fund, or missions. At appropriate times of the year other fund accounts will be added such as Miracle Sunday or the Spaghetti Dinner Fund.