FAQs

BFSOnline Frequently Asked Questions

If you have a question and cannot find the answer below, please phone us on 1300 650 542 during office hours for further assistance.

Q1. Can my internet browser access BFSOnline?
A1. Our software provider has advised that the browsers they recommend to use to access BFSOnline are as follows:

Internet Explorer
Internet Explorer version 5.0 or later releases is required as a minimum.
Prior to accessing a secure site it is necessary to ensure your Security Settings can support it. Click the Tools menu, and then click Internet Options. On the Advanced Tab, scroll to the Security section and check settings for SSL 2.0, SSL 3.0, TLS 1.0, PCT 1.0.

Netscape
Netscape version 6.1 is required as a minimum.

Other browsers, such as Mozilla Firefox (may work as it basically operates by sharing the Netscape engine), Chrome, Safari, Opera (works in a limited fashion but downloads do not work with this browser) etc - may or may not work perfectly with BFSOnline, however the software is not designed specifically to support them.

Q2. What do I do if the Login Screen flashes and then disappears from my Computer Screen?
A2. This problem is common to users of Windows XP (Service pack 2) or Windows Vista installed. The procedure to overcome this problem is as follows:

Open INTERNET EXPLORER then click on TOOLS, then INTERNET OPTIONS, then SECURITY, then TRUSTED SITES, then access SITES. In “Add this website to the zone” type https://*.bif.com.au, click ADD, click OK & then OK again. You should then be able to access the BFSOnline login screen.

If you continue to experience difficulty accessing BFSOnline after following these instructions, you may have a “pop-up stopper” enabled, such as the `pop-up' blocker from Internet Explorer version 7. If you have a “pop-up stopper” program it will prevent the logon screen from opening and you will need to disable the “pop-up stopper” (Internet Exporer version 7 - under `Tools") or configure it to accept the BFSOnline login. For information on how to do this, you will need to contact your program vendor.

Q3. What do I do when logged on to BFSOnline and I click on `Select’ to `Download’ transactions and a pop-up box flashes and then disappears from my Computer Screen?
A3. This problem is common to users of Microsoft Internet Explorer version 7.

To overcome this problem hold down the `Ctrl’ and `Alt’ keys together whilst clicking on the `Select” key and continue to hold these 2 keys down until you have either `Run’ or `Saved’ the transactions to a file.

Q4. How do I access BFSOnline?
A4. Send in your signed application for BFSOnline or your registration for BFSOnline Business and we will confirm your registration and set up a login and a temporary password.

The first time you access BFSOnline you will be asked to change your temporary password to one of your own choice.

Your password must be between 6 and 12 characters, at least 2 of which must be numbers.

This will then become your secure password, which should be changed regularly as required by our terms and conditions.

You may also change your login at any time. Your login must be at least 5 characters comprising any alpha characters or numbers or any combination of alpha characters/numbers.

To subsequently change your login or password, click on Other from the menu and select Customise from the drop down box or Change Password.

Officers and staff of Business clients registered for BFSOnline Business and requiring access should contact their nominated Administrator/s.

Q5. How would I know when my login was last used?
A5. The screen will display the last time your login was accessed. You should take note of this security feature and advise us of any unauthorised login.

Q6. What if I make a mistake in entering my password?
A6. If you enter your password incorrectly 3 times in any day you will not be able to access BFSOnline for the rest of that day. You can either wait until the next day and try again, or you can phone us on the number/s listed at the top of this page during office hours and we will verify your identity and re-set your temporary password.

Officers and staff of Business clients registered for BFSOnline Business should contact their nominated Administrator/s

Q7. What if I forget my password?
A7. If you forget your password, or believe the security of your password has been compromised in any way, please phone us on the number/s listed at the top of this page during office hours. We will need to verify your identity before resetting your password with a temporary password.

If you have a problem out of office hours please phone and leave a message – we will call you back as soon as we are able.

Officers and staff of Business clients registered for BFSOnline Business should contact their nominated Administrator/s

Q8. Can I allow other people to access my accounts using BFSOnline?
A8. Yes. Anyone you have already authorised to operate on your account can apply by completing a BFSOnline application form.

However, your personal codes to access and use BFSOnline are not to be given to any other person.

Q9. Can I use BFSOnline for both my BFS personal accounts and BFS business accounts?
A9. Yes. You can access both your personal accounts and business accounts on which you are a signatory or nominated user.

Q10. How do I withdraw funds using BFSOnline?
A10. You can transfer funds from any BFS “at-call” account into an account at another financial institution as long as you know the name of the account, BSB & account number.

These transfers can be processed on a nominated business day, or can be set up as a regular or one-off future payment.

Please note that any transfers using BFSOnline must be made before 3.30pm (Sydney time) on any business day for the funds to be transferred on that day. Otherwise they will be processed on the next business day.

Q11. Can I invest money into my account from another financial institution by using BFSOnline?
A11.Yes, if you are an authorised signatory to an external account/s which is/are in an identical name to the BFS account; and a completed Direct Debit Request form/s has been completed authorising the account/s to be used as external predefined account/s.

Q12. How long does it take before transfers take effect?
A12a. When using BFSOnline to transfer funds between BFS accounts, the following timeframe will apply:

• Funds transferred between BFS accounts will be available immediately.

A12b. When using BFSOnline to transfer funds between your BFS account and an account at another financial institution, the following timeframes will apply:

• Transaction processing will occur on Business days.
• Transactions executed after hours will generally be processed on the following business day.
• Requests made before 3.30pm Sydney time, on a business day will be processed by BFS that day and should reach your destination account overnight.
• Requests made after 3.30pm Sydney time on a business day (Monday to Friday), or on weekends or public holidays, will be processed by BFS on the next business day, and should then reach your destination account overnight.

Q13. Can BFSOnline be used to transact on accounts where more than one signatory is required to authorise transactions?
A13. Yes. Authorised signatories may apply for access to BFSOnline for the account or a nominated Administrator of a business account may establish logins for Authorised Signatories.

For an account where 2 must sign, for example, at least 2 authorised signatories must have access to BFSOnline. One signatory will login to BFSOnline and enter the transaction request. This message will display “This account requires 1 more Signatory to authorise a withdrawal”. Another signatory may be present at the same time and enter their own confidential login and password for the transaction to proceed or the transaction may be stored to allow another signatory to remotely approve the transaction.

NOTE: If you schedule a payment for a set date then the 2nd authoriser must authorise the payment by no later than the day before the payment is due, or first due for regular payments. Transactions pending authorisation will be held for 14 days. If the 2nd Authorisation has not occurred within that time the pending transaction will be deleted.

Q14. How do I set up regular or one-off future payments using BFSOnline?
A14. At the Transact button, select the type of payment required. Enter the details of the first payment and click on the ‘Pay Later’ button. On the following screen scroll down to select either Single Future Payment or Regular Future Payment.

For a single payment enter the date required, click OK. For a regular payment, select the frequency and date of the first payment. The payment can then be approved, checked and confirmed by following the instructions on the screen.

NOTE: If you schedule a payment for a set date then the 2nd authoriser must authorise the payment by no later than the day before the payment is due or first due for regular payments. Transactions pending authorisation will be held for 14 days. If the 2nd Authorisation has not occurred within that time the pending transaction will be deleted.

Q15. I am a Church Treasurer and I’d like to allow our pastor to view their benefit/expense account, but not transact on it. Can this be arranged?
A15. Yes. They can apply for Enquiry or View Only access. This will allow them to view their account but not transact on it.

Q16. Can I add or modify periodical payments?
A16. Yes you can add payments, but you can only modify periodical payments which you have set up through BFSOnline. However, a periodical payment cannot be modified where more than one person is required to authorise online - in this case you should delete the periodical payment and set up a new one.

Q17. Can I change the amount I pay on my loan?
A17. Yes. You can vary the amount of your loan repayments as long as the amount is not reduced below the minimum repayment required.

Q18. Will everything I change online change on my BFS account?
A18. No. `Customise' changes to the way your accounts are displayed in BFSOnline do not change you BFS account. However, Client maintenance changes eg address, made online will change your BFS account.

Q19. Can I make payments online using BPAY?
A19. Yes BPAY is available through BFSOnline under the `Transact' drop-down menu.

Q20. Can group payments, such as payroll payments to staff, be made online?
A20. Yes. Payments can be set up as follows:
Batch Payments -
1. Select Transact from the menu
2. Click on MultiTrans from the drop down box
3. When you first enter this area you will get a message “You currently have no Transaction Batches set up.” Use the links to add one
4. Select either Internal Transfer or External Transfer
5. Complete the transaction fields following the system prompts

File Upload –
BFSOnline Business users can upload files in CEMTEX (ABA) format containing multiple transaction batches. Full details are contained in the BFSOnline Business Administrator’s Manual. Make sure the name of the file selected for uploading does not contain any spaces.

Q21. Can I stop payment of a cheque/s drawn on my BFS Cheq account online?
A21. Yes. You can enter details by selecting Other from the Menu and clicking on Stop Payment from drop down box.

Q22. Can I print out details of transactions on my account from BFSOnline?
A22. Yes. There are at least 2 ways you can do this.

Firstly, whilst logged on to BFSOnline you can print the account transactions as they appear on your computer screen by selecting the printer button image on the right-hand side of `Logout’ located on the brown bar under the BFS logo.

Secondly, whilst logged on to BFSOnline you can select `Account Number’ to display account transactions and then select `Download Transactions’ to download those transactions for a nominated period from the transactions available (up to a date approximately 2 days prior to the date of your BFSOnline enquiry) into a spreadsheet program eg excel, as Comma Separated Values (CSV), or to directly load into your accounting software package for easy bank reconciliation purposes using Quicken/MYOB (QIF), Moneys (OFC) or Open Financial Exchange (OFX).

Q23. How do I know that BFSOnline is secure?
A23. The security of BFSOnline is certified secure by a Verisign Assurance Certificate. VeriSign Inc is an international organisation which operates digital infrastructure that enables and protects billions of interactions every day across the world's voice and data networks.

The Green Address Bar of High Assurance
Microsoft® Internet Explorer 7 (IE7) is the first browser to use the new standard in its security status bar. When you visit a Web site secured with an Extended Validation SSL Certificate, IE7 will trigger the address bar to turn green and display the name of the organisation listed in the certificate as well as the certificate's security vendor. The browser and the security vendor control the display, making it difficult for phishers and counterfeiters to hijack your brand and your customers.

See additional information - BFSOnline Security: How to See The Green Address Bar in Internet Explorer Version 7.

Clients using IE7 should learn to look for the green bar before they enter sensitive information through BFSOnline.

Q24. How do I access the induemoney website?
A24. The induemoney Cheq website is accessed through the link induemoney Cheq.

Q25. Can I see my induemoney Cheq Account via my BFSOnline internet login?
A25. No, you must have separate login access to view/access an induemoney Cheq Account.

Q26. Can I transfer money through my BFSOnline login with BFS to my induemoney Cheq Account?
A26. Yes, to transfer between a BFS account and an induemoney account please follow these 10 simple steps:

Step 1. Click `Transact'
Step 2. Click `Internal Transfer' - the Transfer screen will come up
Step 3. Select `Transfer from' account from the drop down list
Step 4. At item `3. Enter Another BFS Account' and type your induemoney Cheq 9 digit account number in the `Other Account' box.
Step 5. Where required type details into the `Reference' box (optional)
Step 6. Type in the amount `$XX'
Step 7. Click ‘Pay Now’, the `Confirm Transfer' screen will come up
Step 8. Click ‘OK’, the `Transfer Receipt' screen will come up
Step 9. Click ‘Finish’.

Q27. How do I make payments from my account using BPAY?
A27. Log on to BFSOnline and select BPAY from the drop-down menu under `Transact'.

Q28. Can I order a cheque book or a deposit book for my account through BFSOnline?
A28. You can order a cheque book for your BFS Cheq account at any time by clicking on the heading `Other' and then select `Order Cheque Book' from the drop-down box. Deposit books can be ordered for any savings at call or loan account, but only through a BFS State office.

Q29. When a 2nd authoriser is authorising a future payment we get an error message that the payment has been altered, however we have not altered the payment?
A29. If you schedule a payment for a set date then the 2nd authoriser must authorise the payment by no later than the day before the payment is due, or first due for regular payments. If you want a one-off payment to be made as soon as possible load the payment and click on the ‘Pay Now’ button. The payment will be made at the time the 2nd authoriser authorises the payment. The payment will still be restricted by the normal timeframe as per question 12.
Transactions pending authorisation will be held for 14 days. If the 2nd Authorisation has not occurred within that time the pending transaction will be deleted.