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All SPARK members experienced a weekend of downtime from January 22-23.
Mobile banking was suspended so that we could update and merge systems.
We have our trusted team on stand-by if you need any support. If you run into any challenges, you can still visit any of our branches or call our Member Connection Centre.
Mobile banking was suspended so that we could update and merge systems.
We have our trusted team on stand-by if you need any support. If you run into any challenges, you can still visit any of our branches or call our Member Connection Centre.
If you are still experiencing an interruption to your banking on or after Jan 24, don't hesitate to reach out - we are here to support. Call our Member Connection Centre, your closest branch, or email us at gethelp@connectfirstcu.com. A team is available to help and getting you access to your banking is our priority.
All SPARK chequing and savings products are now connectFirst chequing and savings products.
Product names have changed but, features and functionality are very similar to SPARK products. Not to worry! All SPARK members are still entitled to a free chequing account.
We'll be reaching out to you with more exciting product news in the coming weeks, and of course, we will work with you to determine best product fit for you.
Product names have changed but, features and functionality are very similar to SPARK products. Not to worry! All SPARK members are still entitled to a free chequing account.
We'll be reaching out to you with more exciting product news in the coming weeks, and of course, we will work with you to determine best product fit for you.
Your account numbers have changed, but don't worry, we'll make sure all authorized fund transfers (AFT’s), direct deposits, cheques, etc., route through your new accounts so there will be no impact.
We can provide a new direct deposit form or order new cheques for you if you need to add any new vendors.
We can provide a new direct deposit form or order new cheques for you if you need to add any new vendors.
Member numbers have changed. Find yours in your digital banking profile under account details or by calling your local branch.
Your current SPARK debit card will no longer work.
It's now time to activate your new connectFirst debit card as your SPARK debit card will no longer work for you.
If you received your new debit card and PIN earlier this month, follow the directions included in the envelope to activate your card. Having trouble activating your card or didn’t receive the card or PIN? No worries, we are here to help. Visit your local connectFirst branch, call us at 1 (866) 923-4778 or email us at gethelp@connectfirstcu.com.
If you aren't happy with your new PIN, visit any of our branches or ATMs to change it to the PIN of your choice.
You may have been issued a 'closure' statement regarding one of your accounts. In preparation for our technical merge, some of the background work has caused 'closure' statements to be issued when they shouldn't have been.
There have been no changes to your accounts or balances. As we're now aware of the issue, we're working to prevent these statements from going to any other members where possible and we apologize for the confusion.
There have been no changes to your accounts or balances. As we're now aware of the issue, we're working to prevent these statements from going to any other members where possible and we apologize for the confusion.
Any credit held with SPARK will show as closed/transferred on your credit bureau report. The existing credit will report under a separate trade line as Connect First Credit Union and will have no material impact on your credit score.
You may notice a new item added to your credit report under connectFirst Credit Union, or receive an alert from credit tracking apps that you subscribe to, notifying you that a new account has been added. This is the result of your existing credit products being transferred from SPARK to connectFirst. This is not a new credit product and the transfer process will have no material impact on your credit score.
You may notice a new item added to your credit report under connectFirst Credit Union, or receive an alert from credit tracking apps that you subscribe to, notifying you that a new account has been added. This is the result of your existing credit products being transferred from SPARK to connectFirst. This is not a new credit product and the transfer process will have no material impact on your credit score.
Your declaration of trust transferred over to a connectFirst Declaration of Trust with Concentra Bank on November 1, 2021. Don't worry — there was no impact on your account or it's functions.
Like in previous years, tax receipts will be generated in mid-January for the 2021 year end. They will now be issued under the connectFirst Credit Union name.
One of the ways we're bringing more flexibility to our members is by giving them more control over how they make payments. The minimum payment will be interest-only for all members. We'll leave it up to you to determine when and how you want to make principal payments.
The branch teams and Member Connection Centre are here to help you set up recurring principal payments and you'll be able to make principal only payments online.
The branch teams and Member Connection Centre are here to help you set up recurring principal payments and you'll be able to make principal only payments online.
Yes, your insurance will be provided by CUMIS.
CUMIS is the current insurance provider for connectFirst Credit Union, so this change is being made to align SPARK with connectFirst's trusted providers.
You'll receive a letter by January 15 from CUMIS which will outline your premiums, provide an explanation of rates and highlight any adjustments to your current coverage.
One final printed statement will be sent to you for each of your SPARK accounts. In the months following, your preference for statements (e-statements or paper) will resume. Personal statements will be produced on the 17th of every month and business statements on the 31st.
For Registered products, you'll receive statements semi-annually, at the end of June and end of December.
Common Share statements are produced annually on November 30.
Service charges will run through your account on the statement dates, unless processed in real time (e.g. stop payment fees, wire fees, chargebacks etc.)
For Registered products, you'll receive statements semi-annually, at the end of June and end of December.
Common Share statements are produced annually on November 30.
Service charges will run through your account on the statement dates, unless processed in real time (e.g. stop payment fees, wire fees, chargebacks etc.)
SPARK Calgary will be known as connectFirst Calgary 4th and 4th and SPARK Fort Saskatchewan will be known as connectFirst Fort Saskatchewan. Both branches will continue with the same hours - Monday to Friday, 8 AM to 3 PM. New exterior signage is scheduled to be installed at both locations in early 2022.
There will also be a secondary location downtown Calgary you can access for banking services temporarily. The connectFirst Downtown Core location will be available
To get started with the new system, you'll need to add your bill payees and set up scheduled bill payments, including CRA payments. Payees and scheduled bill payments will not transfer over to the new online banking system.
Planning is underway to understand the rollout for branded connectFirst credit cards. More information to follow.
You'll need the following to get started:
- New connectFirst debit card
- Valid email address
- Cell phone number
- Date of birth
You'll use your email address or cell number to validate your account.
All details must match those in our system in order for your online banking access to be set up.
Once you have all the details above and you know our system matches, online banking can be accessed on your desktop, laptop or tablet via our website, connectfirstcu.com.
For mobile devices, you can download the connectFirst App in advance. The App is available on both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. If you use an iPad you can still access online banking through our desktop browser at banking.connectfirstcu.com, however, you will be unable to access your digital banking through the App.
Your previous SPARK app will no longer work and can be deleted from your devices.
For mobile devices, you can download the connectFirst App in advance. The App is available on both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. If you use an iPad you can still access online banking through our desktop browser at banking.connectfirstcu.com, however, you will be unable to access your digital banking through the App.
Your previous SPARK app will no longer work and can be deleted from your devices.
When logging in to your digital banking platform, you will notice there are no recent or historical transactions available to view.
The information is not lost - you can view previous transactions in your e-statements moving forward. If these aren’t available on day one, they will be shortly.
If you require historical transaction data in advance of e-statements being available, please reach out to your local branch or call us at 1 (866) 923-4778.
The information is not lost - you can view previous transactions in your e-statements moving forward. If these aren’t available on day one, they will be shortly.
If you require historical transaction data in advance of e-statements being available, please reach out to your local branch or call us at 1 (866) 923-4778.
Your eTransfer recipients, bill payees and CRA account information would not have been carried over from your SPARK digital banking and will need to be set up.
To increase security for our members, we require a code for every recipient and payee that is set up. This additional step helps to protect you and your funds should your password or login become compromised.
You’ll also want to set up your Interac Auto Deposit as well. Need help getting started? Follow the steps in the Digital Banking brochure.
To increase security for our members, we require a code for every recipient and payee that is set up. This additional step helps to protect you and your funds should your password or login become compromised.
You’ll also want to set up your Interac Auto Deposit as well. Need help getting started? Follow the steps in the Digital Banking brochure.
Full access to the Member Connection Centre (MCC) is now available. Call us at 1 (866) 923-4778 for assistance.
Over the last couple of months, we’ve been talking about the legal amalgamation of SPARK and connectFirst Credit Union and sharing key information, impacts and enhancements with our members.
If you haven’t received any communications you can download past letters we've mailed up above in the downloadable resources section. Please also connect with us to ensure we have your up-to-date mailing address on file.
If you haven’t received any communications you can download past letters we've mailed up above in the downloadable resources section. Please also connect with us to ensure we have your up-to-date mailing address on file.
Not immediately. Your local branch team will work with you to merge these for you in the upcoming months, once we've had a conversation with you to determine how the accounts should be merged.
AFT's, cheques and Direct Deposits that were set up under your SPARK account number will be automatically re-routed to your new cFCU account number.
To avoid any confusion in the future, we recommend you change these within the next six months (by July 2022). You can order new cheques with us (at no cost for the first order) and we can provide new Direct Deposit forms. We also have a ClickSwitch service which can help automatically update the account number on your AFT's etc. Please contact us if you'd like to make use of this service.