Signal Mountain Bible Church – Online Giving Policy

What types of bank accounts can I give from?

You can give online by personal check from your checking account using your bank routing and account numbers. Or you can give using your personal debit check card from Visa or Mastercard.

Can I give using a credit card?

SMBC encourages practices that promote healthy personal finances, which includes careful consideration of a Christian's offerings as well as the principles of avoiding debt. Because the vendor we use does not distinguish between credit and debit cards, you could technically give via your Visa or Mastercard credit card. However, SMBC discourages using a credit card, which if not handled properly is debt or can become debt. We encourage you to live a debt-free lifestyle. If you use a credit card we ask you not to give to the church beyond the funds in the bank. Please prayerfully consider the method in which you give your offering.

What are the differences in Debit Cards and Credit Cards?

Practically speaking, there’s not much difference between debit and credit cards in how money is transferred. The biggest difference between the two is that debit cards are tied to bank accounts and credit cards are tied to open lines of credit.  In other words, my debit card taps into the money I currently have on hand, while my credit card taps into the money I plan on owing to the credit card company.

So how does this difference affect online giving to your church?  First, gifts via debit card don’t incur any debt on behalf of donors. Second, debit transactions can cost less than credit transactions.  The reason for the difference in fees comes down to one word: risk. The credit card company takes a risk lending money to a consumer.  While most consumers pay their debts, some don’t. The primary way credit card companies mitigate this risk is through their interest rates.  Another way is for credit card companies to charge more per transaction thus spreading out the cost of their risk to every customer and  lessening their own risks.  While debit transactions can be lower than credit card fees, ACH (Automated Clearing House) is still lower than both.  Thus, the church benefits the most when online donors set up ACH donations.

How can I give to SMBC?

In Church (cash or check) – During worship services, bringing to the church office during the week or mailing to the church:

Signal Mountain Bible Church
Shackleford Ridge Road, Signal Mountain, TN 37377

Draft – From your bank you can set up a recurring draft which is normally a free service.

Online – At the SMBC website hover over the the Online Giving option and select the Giving Link.  Give a one time or recurring gift by card or by eCheck/ACH (drafted from your bank account).

Online – At the SMBC Breeze website click on the Give Now button. (You will need to use this method to manage any recurring gifts)

By Text – Text the word “give” and the amount to (423) 888-0480 (ex. “Give $50 general” would donate $50 to the General Fund)

There are no fees associated with any cash or checks that you give directly to SMBC and there are also no fees associated with drafts that you directly initiate through your bank. There are fees associated with the other methods of giving:

Breeze:

• Online eCheck/ACH – 1% plus $0.25 per transaction                                                                                                         

• Online Debit/Credit Card – 2.9% plus $.30 per transaction

Please Note: The above fees are not paid by the giver, but rather are charged to SMBC.  It is the policy of SMBC to give the total amount of your gift to the designated recipient (missions, missionary, youth, other) which will impact the general fund. 

The Generosity Trust:

• Online eCheck/ACH – 1% per transaction

• Online Debit/Credit Card – 3% per transaction

Thanks for considering giving in ways that minimize fees.