Refund Disbursement

1. Wade King Rec Center, 1st floor by the check-in counter
2. Old Main, 1st floor by the Old Main Theatre

1. If you know someone at the address where the card was mailed, they can read you the 16-digit card number and the Card Verification Value (CVV) located on the back of the card. You can then log in to the Choice Card web site to make your refund choice.
2. If they are not able to send the card or the card has been destroyed, you need to email Student Accounts and provide your local address. Student Accounts will order a new card at no charge. Expect to receive the new card in 5-7 business days.

No, we simply changed our ACH direct deposit vendor. Students direct deposit information, was transferred to HigherOne. By making a choice, you are verifying data that was already on file and that you want to continue your direct deposit relationship with that banking institution.

Once you've logged on to HigherOne and selected your existing bank for direct deposit, you no longer need the Choice Card to receive refunds. Future logins only require your email address and password that you created in the initial setup. An important note is that if you forget your password, you will need the 16 digit number on the card to reset it.

If you think that at some point in the future, you may want to open a OneAccount, you should keep the card in a safe place to avoid being assessed a $20 replacement card fee.

While you may have decided that you do not want the OneAccount (WWU Choice Card), you will still need the sixteen digit card number to make your refund choice.

When you made your refund selection, you also created a password to get into the site.  This access allows you to monitor the status of your refund.  If you forget your password you will need the 16 digit number on the card to reset it.  Also, if you change your mind later and decide that you want to sign up for the OneAccount you will need that card.  If you throw your card away you will have to order a new one and that will cost you $20.  Don’t throw the card away!

Western Washington University students will receive a WWU Choice Card in the mail at their permanent address on file with WWU. Keep an eye out for the green envelope
from Higher One and Western.

*Note: The cards will NOT be sent from WWU, the return address on the envelope is New Haven, CT. Higher One will receive any returned cards due to invalid addresses.

1. If you know someone at the address, simply have them forward it to you at your current address. Once you receive your card you can log in to the Choice Card web site and make your ACH/direct refund choice. Be sure to update your mailing address.
2. If they are not able to send the card or the card has been destroyed, you need to email Student Accounts and provide your local address. Student Accounts will order a new card at no charge. Expect to receive the new card in 5-7 business days.

1. If you know someone at the address, simply have them forward it to you at your current address. Once you receive your card log in to the Choice Card web site to make your refund choice.
2. If they are not able to send you the physical card, they can read you the 16-digit account number and the Card Verification Value (CVV) located on the back of the card. You can then log in to the Choice Card web site to make your refund choice.
3. If option 1. or 2. are not possible, call Student Accounts (360-650-2865).

You can log on to WWUChoiceCard.com and use the "Where's my Card" self help feature that will provide you with the real time status of your card or you can email Student Accounts and provide your local address. Student Accounts will order a new card at no charge. Expect to receive the new card in 5-7 business days.

All transmissions of information are encrypted. Please visit the HigherOne Security site for additional details.

HigherOne is contractually obligated to protect your information and not share or disclose it with unrelated third parties.

HigherOne is legally obligated to inform WWU and those impacted by any breach. WWU also has policy and procedures to identify, detect and respond to identity theft incidents.

Students determine how refunds are delivered to them. Each registered WWU student will receive a WWU Choice Card. Your card will arrive in the mail at your permanent address on file with WWU. When you receive your card, you must select a refund preference by visiting WWUChoiceCard.com. During card activation, you will choose how to receive your refund money - direct deposit to your own account or open the OneAccount.

Your options include having your refund:

1. Deposited to another bank of your choice with funds available in 2 - 3 business days.
2. Directly deposited to your OneAccount with funds available within 24 hours.

No.

1. Easy Refund (depositing your refund to your OneAccount) is the quickest way to gain access to your money. In order to have your refund directly deposited, you'll want to select a refund preference as soon as you receive your WWU Choice Card.
2. You can use the WWU Choice Card as a Debit MasterCard®, which is NOT A CREDIT CARD, to make purchases at all Debit MasterCard® locations, access cash at an ATM, pay bills, send money electronically and so much more.
3. Parents and friends can easily send you money online with a simple email and a linked bank account.

A notification will be sent to the email address you entered during set up notifying you that your refund has been deposited to your account. For those students who choose a different bank account, funds will hit the account 2-3 days after the email. For those with a OneAccount, funds will be available immediately. Additionally, you can view the details of your OneAccount by accessing your statement online at WWUChoiceCard.com or by signing up to receive text messages sent directly to your cell phone with Mobile Alerts.

There can be. As with any bank, there are fees that customers can incur. HigherOne discloses all of their fees and how to avoid them.  One fee that may seem unusual is the fee incurred when your pin is used.  To avoid this fee use the on campus HigherOne ATM's when you need cash, and “swipe and sign” for any purchases.

Check the Higher One Fee Schedule to get a complete list of services and fees.

Yes.

In order to have your refund deposited to your bank, select your refund preference as soon as you receive the card by visiting WWUChoiceCard.com. During the selection process, choose ACH Transfer to other bank for your refund preference and simply complete, print, and send the required third party form to the designated address. The form will be available online during the activation process.

In order to receive a refund from the school, a student must go online to choose a refund preference.

If you decide not to enroll in Western's refund program and do not select a refund preference, you will be issued a paper check 21 days after funds have been released by the university.  Allow an additional 5-7 days on top of that  for the check to reach your permanent home address.  (Regardless of whether or not you anticipate receiving a refund, it is important to choose a refund preference at WWUChoiceCard.com.)

Western is no longer creating student refund checks. If a student does not want to sign up for direct deposit (by signing up through wwuchoicecard.com for either a Higher One account or another account) a paper check will be issued by Higher One 21 days after funds have been released by the university.  This will happen each time you are expecting a refund until you make your refunding choice.

The WWU Choice Card can be used to make purchases wherever Debit MasterCard® is accepted. It is important to note that the WWU Choice Card is NOT A CREDIT CARD, but rather a DEBIT CARD backed by the purchasing power of the MasterCard® network.

To get money out of the OneAccount, a student can use ATM’s, write a check, and use the debit card function anywhere MasterCard is accepted. Checks can be ordered directly from HigherOne or an independent vendor of your choice.

HigherOne ATM's are located in the Student Rec Center and the first floor of Old Main.

Western outsourced their refund disbursements due to the costs and time associated with generating refund checks, and handling them when students fail to cash them. The new service will provide students with two options for how they receive refunds. Students may choose to open a free checking account and activate the debit card or authorize a direct deposit to another banking institution.

The Higher One program was chosen after checking references with other institutions. This program has been very successful for other universities, students and parents. In short, Higher One is a reputable vendor with a proven track record to provide refund choices to WWU students.

All students will find that they can actually see when a refund is generated and know when to expect it, even receiving email and/or mobile alerts.  Students who choose the OneAccount will also receive their refund faster; unbankable students are guaranteed a bank account of their own; and most students will incur little to nothing in the form of fees.

The OneAccount from Higher One is a fully functioning FDIC insured checking account that allows you to access your student refunds quicker and easier than ever before. The OneAccount has no minimum balance, no monthly fees, and free Internet banking features. With it, you can use your WWU Choice Card to make purchases anywhere Debit MasterCard® is accepted.