1. How do I open an account?
Opening an account at provident-direct.com is quick and easy. Please feel free to call us at 1-888-TOP-BANK for further information as well.

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1. Tell us about yourself and your joint owner, if there is one. Provide your:
   a) Home address
   b) Social Security number
   c) Driver's license number, issue date, and expiration date
   
2. Choose your initial deposit amount and how you would like to fund your account. You can fund your account by:
   a) Electronically transferring funds from another checking or savings account after providing your account number, bank name, and routing number; or
   b) Mailing a check.
       Provident Bank
       Mailcode 229
       P.O.Box 1661
       Baltimore, MD 21298-9873 
   
3. Review and accept the account agreement and disclosures.

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3. What is a joint owner?
Provident’s online accounts can be set up for either one or two owners. Accounts with two owners are identified as joint accounts – each owner shares in the ownership of the account and either party has the authority to make withdrawals.

To open an account online, both owners must be at least 18. Customers under 18 may open an account with an adult in a branch.

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4.How do I add beneficiary?
Beneficiaries can be added after the account is open by calling 1-866-632-4002.

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5. How do I know my money is secure?

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) provides insurance on deposits in Provident Bank up to $250,000 per depositor per institution, the maximum amount allowable by law.  The coverage level was increased from $100,000 on October 3, 2008 and is effective until December 31, 2009. Visit the FDIC web site for more information.

Provident Bank has over $3 billion in consumer deposits because of the level of trust we've built with our clients. And don't forget, Provident Bank has over 120 years of experience in the banking business.

6. Will my Provident Bank information be secure?
Your money, privacy and security are very important to us. Provident Bank has taken every effort to secure your information. Access to your information and the ability to transfer funds is only available to you.

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7. How soon after I open an account will I receive my debit card and/or checks?
You should receive your debit card and checks within seven to ten business days of opening your account.

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1. View your up-to-date account information online. If you did not complete online banking enrollment as the last step after opening your account, you can enroll in this service for the most convenient way of looking at your accounts at anytime. Just go to www.provident-direct.com, click on "Sign into your account," then “Sign up now!" (Or click here to go directly into online banking enrollment.)
   
   If you do not recall enrolling after completing your account opening, or do not recall your sign-on information, and during your attempt to enroll/re-enroll you are presented with a message telling you that you are already signed up, please call 1-888-217-1264 for assistance. We’ll be able to help you with your sign-on.
   
2. Call our automated account information line, TeleBank, at 1-800-962-9644 or 410-281-7111 (Greater Baltimore Area).

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9. How do I make deposits?
Depositing funds is made most simple and convenient by making a transfer within online banking. Transfers generally take one to three business days to process, depending on the time the transfer instruction was created and whether the transfer is between two Provident accounts or a Provident and a non-Provident account. Please note that there are certain limitations to the number of transfers and withdrawals that can be made from savings and money market accounts. Refer to Provident's Consumer Deposit Account Agreement for complete details.

In order to set up regularly scheduled deposits, first decide on your automated deposit preference. You can:

• Set up a direct deposit with your employer;
  
• Set up automated transfers between accounts using Premium Internet Banking. To request the ability to make transfers between Provident accounts, complete our Transfer Capability Setup form. If you funded a savings or money market account you opened online at Provident using funds from another account (either at Provident or another institution), then you will be able to transfer funds between your original funding account and your new Provident account on an ongoing basis within a week after your account has been opened.

You may also make deposits at any Provident ATM or branch or by mail.

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10. Will you send me statements?
Yes. You can also opt to receive online statements by clicking on the Customize your accounts link in the Customer Service area of Premium Internet Banking. If you prefer to receive statements in the mail, you will receive a monthly statement showing your account activity, including your electronic funds transfers. Your statement may be sent on a quarterly basis if there has been no activity other than interest postings for that time period. CD statements are sent on a semi-annual basis.

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11. What is the maximum initial deposit amount?
The maximum initial deposit amount when opening an account online is $200,000. For online savings accounts and CDs specifically, after the account has been opened and funded, the maximum amount allowed in a single account at any time is $500,000.

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12. Can I open an online savings account or CD for a minor or with a payable-on-death (POD) party specified?
We do not offer the ability to open an account online for minors or POD designees.  You can, however, add them by visiting a branch or calling 1-866-632-4002.

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13. How long does it take for my account to be opened once I complete the small-dollar validation, if I funded with an electronic transfer?
Immediately after you have successfully verified the small-dollar amounts, your account is opened.

From the confirmation screen, you may proceed to enroll in Premium Internet Banking so that you can view your new account and perform other account tasks online.

If you did not proceed to sign up for online banking right after your account was opened, then you can go to www.provident-direct.com, click on Sign into your account, then click on the “Sign up Now”. On that page there is also a “Everything you need to know about signing up.” link that will take you to all of the information you need to get going with online banking at Provident.

Or click here to go directly into online banking enrollment.

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14. What is the minimum balance required for this account?
Minimum balance requirements vary by account type. Please look at our rates for more detail. NOTE: Online savings accounts do not have a minimum balance requirement to avoid a monthly service charge.

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15. What fees are associated with this account?
Fees also vary from account to account. Please see our account documents including the Consumer Fee Schedule for more detail.

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