FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions for Online Giving and Bill Pay

Why is PBC offering online giving now?
Generosity is an important spiritual practice for God’s people. Many people have asked for this way of practicing their giving. Many people indicate that the only checks they write are the ones for church and that they use Bill Pay and online recurring payments for other activities/services. Others don’t use checks at all.

What is the advantage of online giving and Bill Pay through my bank?
Convenience and time savings. Donations can be made 24/7 from anywhere with Internet access—a desktop computer, tablet or smart phone.

How will my online PayPal donations appear on my check/savings/credit card account statement?
All transactions will appear as “PAYPAL *PETERSVILLE“.

If I give online, will it be secure?
Yes. When you click a button to donate on the PBC website site you will be taken directly to PayPal.com which securely processes donations. No credit card numbers or account information is entered on the PBC website. No one at PBC will ever see the bank account or credit card information from anyone donating through PayPal.

Can anyone who works at the church see my bank or credit/debit account numbers?
No. No one at the church ever has access to your account/credit/ debit numbers.

Do I need an account to use the PayPal buttons on the website?
No. However, without your own PayPal account, you can only give single donations (not recurring ones) and only through a credit card (not your bank account).

What types of online giving are available?
Online giving is through our PayPal payment buttons on the website which currently include: Tithes, Offering, and Building Fund. Individual events, such as Homecoming, may also accept online payments.

Can I designate my gift to a particular cause?
Yes, but only when utilizing “Bill Pay”; simply follow the instructions listed on the Bill Pay page.

How do I set up Bill Pay through my bank?
Each bank is a little bit different. Generally after logging into your online bank account, you should see a tab that says “Bill Pay” or something to that effect. Once you click on the tab, it will walk you through how to set up single or recurring donations.

How much does online giving cost through my bank’s Bill Pay?
Bill Pay varies from bank to bank, but is generally free to the donor and costs nothing to PBC. 

How much does online giving cost through PBC’s website using PayPal?
PayPal charges PBC at a lower “non-profit” rate but the church is still charged a per transaction fee of 30 cents plus 2.2% of the donation for all credit and debit donations. Since the church pays that fee, you may want to increase your donation to cover these costs.  Also keep in mind that if you have a PayPal account associated with your bank account, you donate to the PBC PayPal account 100% fee free. 

Do I get full credit for the amount I donate?
Yes, you will receive full credit for the total amount you donate to the church. PBC pays all the fees.

What do I do when I do my taxes?
You will receive an annual contribution statement from PBC which you will use for your taxes. However if you use Bill Pay or PayPal, you also will have your own records for your use.

Without a cancelled check, how can I prove I made my contribution?
You may print out the acknowledgement page at the conclusion of your online donation or you can print the email confirmation you receive when your transaction is processed. You’ll also have an electronic history from your bank’s Bill Pay or your PayPal/credit card account.

What if I try online giving and don’t like it?
Simply don’t use it again. Since there is no need to set up an account, you don’t need to cancel anything (If you did not set up recurring payments – see next FAQ question). 

Can I set up recurring payments for my donations?
Yes. Most Bill Pay methods allow for recurring payments. If you use PayPal, instead of Bill Pay, you have the option of setting up monthly payments of a fixed amount on a particular day of the month.

Is online giving going to be the only way to donate in the future?
No. Our move to online giving reflects an overwhelming desire by many members and friends to move to an all-electronic method of giving and only adds another giving option. It also allows us an opportunity for casual visitors to our website to donate if they are so moved. However, the church will continue to accept donations in the ways it does now.

Is this going to be a big burden on the staff and volunteers who do the accounting/collections?
No, in fact the goal is to reduce the overall workload of our staff and volunteers by offering methods other than handling checks and cash each week.