Memberships and Accounts

An online application can be completed in as little as 5 - 10 minutes.

You will need:

• Name
• Address
• Phone number
• Social security number
• Valid U.S. driver's license or state issued I.D.
• Birth date
• Password (used to identify you when you call for assistance)
• Employer information
• The above information for any Joint Owners or Pay on Death beneficiaries
• Existing members will need their membership number
• If you are sponsored by an existing member, please provide the sponsor's name if you do not live, work or attend school in Santa Clara County

The application process works as follows:

1. If you open a new membership, or add a joint owner to an existing membership account, you must print and sign the signature card, and then mail or upload it to Star One, along with a photocopy of a valid U.S. Driver's license or State-issued ID and a check for $50 as an opening deposit for your savings account. The opening deposit for a checking account is an additional $25.

   If adding a Sub-Savings, Checking or Certificate account, existing members do not need to print, sign, or mail the signature card.

   Note: Existing members can log in to Online Banking or Mobile Banking and choose "Additional Services" for a shorter application and real-time account opening and funding of Checking, Initial Certificate, and Sub-Savings accounts.

2. If you provided an e-mail address, we will send you an acknowledgement e-mail.  If not, you will receive an acknowledgement letter via US mail within 2 business days of Star One's receipt of your application.  This process may take longer if your application is not complete or we need to contact you for additional information. For ease of reference, all of our disclosures are available online.

3. If you applied for a savings account only and requested an ATM Card, it will take approximately 3 - 5 business days to receive your card.

4. If you applied for a checking account, one box of free checks will be ordered for you and will arrive in approximately seven to ten business days. If you requested a Visa Debit Card, it will also take approximately 3 - 5 business days to receive your card.

Yes. To access Online Banking and Mobile Banking for the first time, please visit our home page and enroll. If accessing from a mobile device, download our app and enroll on the device.

There are important differences between Accounts for Minors and Uniform Transfers (Gift) to Minor Accounts. It is important that you understand them before you open an account.

Accounts for Minors	Uniform Transfers (Gift) to Minor Accounts
Joint ownership	Irrevocable trust
Must be joint with parent or legal guardian	Requires a custodian
Valid ID for minor recommended*	No ID required for Minor
Must be able to write own name (for withdrawals)	Minor has no access to account
Checking accounts allowed	Checking accounts allowed
If the minor is 13 years of age or older, a checking account and Visa Debit card is permissible	Can only be opened for minors under the age of 17

*Valid ID is required to transact at branches, for issuance of Visa Check or ATM cards, or for placing a check order in the minor's name.

In California, when a person dies and owns real property over $50,000 and personal property over $150,000, their property is tranferred to their heirs through a court-supervised proceeding called "probate" that generally takes at least nine months, or even longer than a year.

A trust is an estate-planning tool used primarily to avoid the delays and costs of the public probate process.

An individual will typically work with an attorney or professional estate planner outside Star One Credit Union, to create a trust agreement.

Upon creating the trust, the individual transfers title of their Credit Union assets to be held under the trust.

A minor account is no different than any other account at Star One, with the exception that the account must be joint with a parent or legal guardian. The minor has access to his or her accounts, but must display a valid ID when visiting a branch in order to transact.

The minor and joint owner control the account.

If the minor is 13 years of age or older, a checking account and Visa Debit card is permissible.

A transfer or gift to minor account is an irrevocable trust for the benefit of a minor. The dividends earned are reported under the minor's social security number. The custodian, who opens the account, controls it and can make withdrawals, and is solely responsible for explaining withdrawals to the Internal Revenue Service, if audited. (All withdrawals must be for the benefit of the minor.)

Transfers or gift to minor accounts may be opened for family members. If the child (beneficiary) and/or custodian are already members of the Credit Union prior to establishing a gift to minor account, the account may be opened with a sponsor. In this case, the custodian may name anyone successor custodian.

If both the child (beneficiary) and the parent/guardian are not members of the Credit Union prior to establishing a gift to minor account, the account must be opened with a sponsor. In this case, the sponsor must be named either the custodian or the successor custodian and the child must be related to the sponsor.

The custodian controls the account until the minor is of adult age. In California, persons eighteen (18) years of age are considered adults.

Conversion

When the minor reaches adult age, the account can be converted into a regular savings account. A new membership application must be completed and signed by the minor when converting the account. When this happens, the minor must present proof of their date of birth (e.g. driver's license, birth certificate or passport). The custodian's signature is required when the account is converted or closed when the minor reaches age 18.

Benefits of a State-issued ID card for minors

Some state Departments of Motor Vehicles (DMV or DOT) issue identification cards. In California, an ID can be issued to a minor and is valid for six years. Star One Credit Union recognizes these ID cards as a valid form of identification. To apply for a California ID card, you will need to do the following:

• Visit a DMV office
• Complete an application
• Provide a thumb print
• Have your picture taken
• Provide the minor's social security number. It will be verified with the Social Security Administration while you are in the office
• Verify the minor birth date and legal presence
• Pay an application fee

ID cards are available to most who do not have a driver's license.