Bulldog Direct Deposit FAQ

What is Bulldog Direct Deposit?
Instead of receiving a check for financial aid, scholarship, or fee refund, a student's money will be transferred electronically to their checking account.

What are the benefits?
Bulldog Direct Deposit eliminates worry about lost or stolen checks. It is free and easy to sign up. It is fast, secure, and friendly to the environment since it is completely paperless. Plus it saves gas and time since there is no need to drive to and from the bank to deposit a check.

What are the requirements?

1. The bank or credit union must be in the United States.
2. Valid bank routing and account numbers must be provided on the sign-up page.

When eligible funds are sent via a check, the student is always listed as the payee on the check. With direct deposit there is no check, and students electing to participate in the Bulldog Direct program must realize that funds will be deposited in the bank account indicated by the student, even when the bank account so indicated is not the student's bank account. For example, the bank account may belong to a parent or spouse. Although not a requirement, it may be in the student's best interest for Bulldog Direct funds to be deposited into an account that bears the student's name.

How does it work?
When financial aid is disbursed or a payment is made, the money posts as a credit to a student's account and is applied automatically to eligible charges due such as registration and course fees. Any refundable balance can then be sent electronically to the student's financial institution and deposited to their checking account.

Fee Refunds and certain Scholarship Refunds are made after a refund application is filed, while most financial aid and some scholarships are refunded automatically.

Direct deposit will be activated one to two days after enrollment. Thereafter, it normally takes one or two days for electronically transferred funds to reach the student's bank account.

Which disbursements and payments are eligible for electronic refund?
Federal and state grants, Stafford, Perkins and Nursing Loans, and most scholarships can be refunded electronically, as well as refundable registration and course fee payments.

How will the university notify a student when a refund is made to their bank account?
Students will be notified of every direct deposit transaction via Fresno State e-mail. Within 48 hours of receiving this email a student should be able to confirm the deposit with his/her financial institution. The student should contact Accounting Services if the deposit cannot be confirmed within 72 hours.

How long will direct deposit authorization remain valid?
A direct deposit enrollment will remain active until the authorization request is canceled on-line. A continuing student is not required to re-authorize each year; however, if they change banking institutions or accounts, they need to provide new banking and/or account information on-line.

What happens if a refund is sent electronically for which a student is not eligible?
If a student receives a refund to which they are not entitled, they will be required to repay it; the amount due will be charged to their Student Account and a Financial Obligation Hold will be placed on the student's records until repayment is made in full. In this situation, funds will not be reversed from a student's checking account after money has been refunded.

How and when can a student sign up for Bulldog Direct Deposit?
After a student has been admitted to the university and is eligible to register they can sign up for Bulldog Direct Deposit through their Student Center or click on the link below. For additional information related to the enrollment process, please follow the attached link to the Bulldog Direct Deposit web site.

Bulldog Direct Deposit