Deployment Checklist
When you’re deployed, you deserve the peace of mind that comes with knowing your finances are organized, secure, and available to your family or other loved ones who may need access. The following resources can help you arrange for your financial details to be taken care of while you’re gone.
Checking Accounts. To give a loved one at home access to your account while you’re away, you can either open a new checking account or add a joint owner to an existing account. Adding someone to an existing account simply requires signatures from the member and the new joint owner.
Automatic Transfer of Funds. Use online bill pay to set up automatic transfers or payments from your checking to accounts at ACU and other financial institutions.
Charge Account Transfer Request. To consolidate debt before you deploy, consider transferring existing credit card balances from other financial institutions to your ACU Visa credit card account. Transferred balances plus existing credit union balances must not exceed your credit limit. You may apply for a credit limit increase to transfer a greater amount.
Automatic Credit Card Payment Deduction. You can set up transfers from any of your ACU accounts to make payments on your ACU Visa card.
Loan Applications. These applications are needed if you want to borrow funds or refinance your higher-interest loans from other financial institutions with ACU. Refinancing can make bookkeeping more convenient by allowing you to make all your payments in one place.
Department of Defense Pay Information. To make changes to your pay or find related information, visit the Defense Finance and Accounting Service website.
Family Resource Center. Your family resource center provides workshops, briefings, training checklists, and brochures for military personnel and dependents. Information on relocation, employment, and financial and family counseling are also available. Contact the JBLM resource center at 253.967.9496.
Power of Attorney (POA) Documents. A POA enables someone other than a member account owner or joint owner to access your accounts as well as conduct other personal business. The POA forms are available from your legal assistance officer. ACU will honor POA terms as soon as we receive a certified copy of the original document.
General Financial Questions. Contact your legal assistance officer for details and forms regarding any financial matters not covered elsewhere in this deployment checklist.
Personal Financial Documents. Select a family member or trusted friend and let them know where your financial documents are kept and what financial obligations you have.
Medical Power of Attorney. This document allows a family member, friend, or other third party to sign medical treatment consent forms for an injured child when neither parent is available to give consent. To learn more, contact your legal assistance officer.
Insurance Coverage. Confirm your coverage for disability or loss of life before you deploy, including updating your insurance to allow for cost of living increases. Contact your insurance agent for details about your policy.
Wills. Creating a will is important because it gives instructions on where your money should go in the event of your death. Having a will can also help can reduce estate taxes and other expenses.