Frequently Asked Questions

Find helpful answers to frequently asked questions

When you need information quickly, start here 

Filter by

About Us

For contact information, including phone numbers, email addresses, and online inquiries, please visit our "Contact Us" page. You can also call us at 833-275-2228, or visit us at one of our locations. To find a location click here.

Account Information

Our routing number is 051403957.  The routing number is also called an ABA number or routing transit number. You can find it in the lower left-hand corner of your checks. Financial institutions use routing numbers to send and receive money from other financial institutions. Routing numbers are essential in many transactions that Carter Bank provides such as wire transfers, check ordering and more. You can also locate our routing numbers in the footer and search functions of our website.

Each depositor is insured through the FDIC (Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation) coverage up to $250,000.

Additional services are offered to extend the coverage of deposits beyond $250,000 based on account classification and ownership type.

You may order your checks online herevisit a local branch or contact us. Products that offer free checks must be ordered at a local branch or by contacting us in order for the checks to incur no charge to the customer. Online ordering will charge the customer for the checks.  

Yes. Notary services are available at most branches for both customers and non-customers. Call any of our locations to confirm they provide notary services before stopping by the branch. To utilize our notary services, please bring a photo ID. There may be notary service fees for non-customers.

Carter Bank & Trust is a safe place for more than just your money. Branches with safe deposit boxes are a convenient place to store important personal items that would be difficult or impossible to replace. Call your closest branch to determine safe deposit box availability and schedule an appointment.

Here are the details of the Telephone Banking Setup:

  1. Open Your Account
    • When you open a new account with us, an agreement for Voice Response Unit (VRU) access is automatically created.
  2. Call VRU
  3. Listen to Prompts
    • Pay close attention to the prompts provided during the call.
  4. Select Account Information
    • Press 1 to get account information.
  5. Enter Your Account Number
    • The VRU will prompt you to enter your account number followed by the pound (#) sign.
  6. Specify Account Type
    • Indicate whether your account is a checking or savings account by following the prompts.
  7. Enter Your PIN
    • Enter the default PIN when prompted.
  8. Set a New PIN
    • The VRU will then ask you to create a new PIN.

Once your new PIN is set, you can use the VRU to access your account information anytime.

ATM

MoneyPass® is an ATM Network that allows Carter Bank customers to access their money with no surcharge fees, across the country. Find a MoneyPass® ATM.

Business Checking

Our Business 250 and 500 Checking accounts are best suited for small and mid-sized businesses, such as cleaning companies, lawn services, hairdressers, restaurants or body shops. The Analysis Checking account is utilized by larger businesses that have a high volume of transactions per month. Please visit our Business Checking page to learn more, contact your local branch, or email us at [email protected]available Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. 

You will need the following information:

  1. The legal business name
  2. The legal address
  3. The business tax ID number
  4. The date the business was established
  5. Supplemental documents, based on business type
  6. Applicant's social security number
  7. Applicant's date of birth
  8. Applicant's mailing address/email address 

Open your new business account today!

Apply Online for a Business Account | Visit Us

For Business 250 Checking, there is no monthly fee and no minimum balance fee. For Business 500 Checking, a $25 fee will be assessed monthly, if one of the following requirements is not met:  

  1. $10,000 minimum daily balance  
  2. $15,000 combined deposit balance
  3. $50,000 in outstanding business loan balance  

Please visit our Business Checking page to learn more, contact your local branch, or email us at [email protected]available Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. 

Transaction fees vary based on the type of business checking account. Please use the links below to view the current transaction fees on our Business Checking page. Open your new business account.

Fee Schedule | Business Fee Schedule

Careers

At Carter Bank, we firmly believe in the power of people, including our own. We are committed to providing you with opportunities to succeed and take ownership of your career. If you are interested in exploring professional opportunities with us, please visit our "Careers" page. You can search for available positions and apply online. We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate against qualified employees or applicants for employment based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or status as a covered veteran in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. We are proud to be an EOE/AA/M/F/Veteran/Disability employer. With approximately 700 associates, we operate branches in Virginia and North Carolina

Checking

Transaction fees vary based on the type of personal checking account. Please use the link below to view the current transaction fees on our Personal Checking page. Open your Carter checking account. Reliable checking accounts are a fantastic way to keep your money secure and accessible.

Fee Schedule | Business Checking 

We offer several options for you to open a Carter Bank checking account. You can complete an online application, schedule an appointment with one of our experienced bank associates, or visit a Carter Bank branch near you to open your Checking account. 

  • To be 18 years of age or older as the primary applicant. The primary applicant can add a joint owner to the application who is 15 or older.
  • To be a US Citizen or Permanent Resident
  • Your Social Security Number / Individual Taxpayer Identification Number
  • Government Issued Identification (Driver's License, State ID, or Passport)

If another person will be a joint owner on your accounts, they must enter and validate their personal information.

Christmas Club

Funds can be earmarked for any purpose. Of course, our Christmas Club puts you in a position to save for your holiday spending rather than relying on credit cards with high interest rates to cover holiday purchases but they can also be used for any other end-of-year purchases. New accounts start each year on October 21st and funds can be added at any point before they are paid out on October 20th.

Yes, the maximum deposit is $5,000 per customer and all funds are paid out on October 20th via ACH payment. However, any savings not used in a given year can be used to reopen another Christmas Club account, helping to carry over additional budget to the following year's holiday season. Check out our Christmas Club page for current rates and account details. Ready to start saving for the holidays? Apply now to open an account today.

Christmas Club interest is compounded daily and credited to the Christmas Club quarterly, giving you the flexibility to save the amount you need, up to $5,000. If the Christmas Club is closed before interest is credited, the interest will be forfeited. Christmas Club interest is compounded daily. The daily balance method is used to calculate the account interest. This method applies a daily periodic rate to the principal ledger balance in the account each day. Check out our Christmas Club page for current rates and account details. Ready to start saving for the holidays? Apply now to open an account today.

The Christmas Club account is a great way to save money during the year for holiday or other expenses. You can open your account today with a $10 deposit. A maximum of $5,000 may be deposited into this account and there are no annual fees for active accounts. Payouts are disbursed October 20th of each year via ACH to the account of your choice. Automatic drafts from your Carter Bank checking accounts can also be established. Check out our Christmas Club page for current rates and other account details. 

Click here to open an account today.

Payouts are disbursed on October 20th of each year via ACH to the account of your choice. The new account deposit date starts on October 21st.

Contact Us

Our mailing address is: P.O. Box 1776, Martinsville, VA 24115

Credit Cards

Carter Bank offers both Personal Credit Cards and Business Credit Cards. Choosing the right credit card is easier than ever. Whether you want to pay down balances faster, maximize cash back, earn rewards or begin building your credit history, we have the ideal card for you!

Debit Card

Debit Card Management is an online and mobile banking tool that gives you complete control and visibility over your Debit Card. With this service, you can easily turn your card access on and off, set up custom alerts, view recent transactions, manage your card usage, and do much more. 

Insurance

Carter Bank offers insurance for home, auto, business, and employee benefits through our affiliation with Bankers Insurance. Quotes are always free and have no obligation. Worry less and become Secure Purchasing insurance to cover your most valuable investments is never easy. Through an ownership interest in Bankers Insurance, one of the largest independent insurance agencies in the Mid-Atlantic, Carter Bank can offer you a wide range of insurance products and services to help you streamline your banking and insurance protection process. This process includes mitigating financial risks your family or business may encounter if something were to happen to you, your spouse, or business partners. Any client of Carter Bank can receive a quote by visiting our Insurance page or by calling 800-688-2915. For all other questions about Carter Bank products, please call 833-275-2228 (833-ASK-CBAT). Looking to open an account? Banking with us is easy. To open your account, visit one of our Branch Locations pages or call our Customer Contact Center, 833-ASK-CBAT (833-275-2228), to speak with a banking specialist.

Carter Bank partners with Bankers Insurance to provide insurance for our customers. If you are already a Bankers Insurance client, Bankers Insurance offers all forms of personal and business insurance, except for individual health insurance.

  1. For personal insurance, this includes home, auto, renters, condo, watercraft, personal umbrella, flood, and all others.
  2. For business insurance, this includes employee benefits, property, flood, liability, workers compensation, business auto/truck, commercial umbrella, directors & officers, cyber liability, and more.

Get better coverage for your most valuable investments. Through an ownership interest in Bankers Insurance, one of the largest independent insurance agencies in the Mid-Atlantic, Carter Bank & Trust is able to offer you a wide range of insurance products and services to help you streamline your banking and insurance protection process. If you are a client of Carter Bank, get your free quote on our Insurance page or by calling 800-688-2915. For all other questions about Carter Bank products, please call 833-275-2228 (833-ASK-CBAT).

Carter Bank partners with Bankers Insurance to provide insurance for our customers. If you are not yet a client of Bankers Insurance, call 800-688-2915 to speak with someone about a quote. If you are already a Bankers Insurance client, you will be assigned an insurance agent who manages your account. Your agent's direct phone number and email address will be provided to you for any questions you may have about your account. Bankers Insurance prides itself on maintaining the same perspective on personal service as Carter Bank. Get better coverage for your most valuable investments. Through an ownership interest in Bankers Insurance, one of the largest independent insurance agencies in the Mid-Atlantic, Carter Bank is able to offer you a wide range of insurance products and services to help you streamline your banking and insurance protection process.

Lifetime Plus Checking

To leverage the full benefits of Lifetime Plus checking, you must make at least 15 debit card transactions per cycle, signature or PIN, in person or online. You must also be enrolled in eStatements and have in place one direct deposit or ACH credit per cycle. 

There are no hidden fees with Lifetime Plus! This is a FREE account with no monthly fee and no minimum balance required.

A qualifying month or qualifying cycle is the 1st thru the end of the month 30th/31st  (28th or 29th for leap year) It is the same as your statement cycle.

Qualifying accounts will receive 5.00% APY¹ on the first $15,000 in the account.  The account will receive 0.50% APY on any amount $15,000.01 and above.  For example, a qualifying account with a $16,000 balance will receive 5.00% APY on $15,000 and then 0.50% APY on $1,000. 

An Automated Clearing House (ACH) credit payment occurs whenever someone instructs the ACH network to “push” money from their account to someone else's. This could be an employer (often via some processing partner) pushing payroll to their employees, or a government agency pushing cash payments to eligible citizens.

Online and Mobile Banking

"Carter on the Go," our free online and mobile banking, gives you quick access to your accounts to see your transactions and balances, transfer funds, pay bills, review your credit score and report, and much more. Plus, you can bank from anywhere, anytime with our “Carter on the Go” mobile app. New to online and mobile banking? To enroll, please provide us with your email address and mobile phone number by calling 833-ASK-CBAT or 833-275-2228 or by visiting your local branch. Once we have your information, you may enroll online to get access to online transfers, bill pay, eStatements and more. Need access to your accounts on-the-go? Once you have enrolled in online banking, download the "Carter on the Go" app from the App Store or Google Play to get access to all the convenient features of mobile banking, plus the ability to deposit a check remotely from your mobile device.

Download on the App Store Get it on Google Play

If you have forgotten your online banking password, you may select the "Forgot Password" link on the login page and follow the instructions to reset your password. If you don't know your account number/User ID, please call our Customer Contact Center at 833-ASK-CBAT (833-275-2228) or visit one of our branches for assistance. Please note: If you enter incorrectly your account number/User ID more than three times, your account will be locked for security reasons. Once your account has been locked, you will need to contact us to reset your account.

Business Customers will need to reach out to their local branch office to initiate online and mobile banking. If you are wanting to use the Automated Clearing House (ACH) network or wire services, then our Carter Commercial Center may be your best online banking option. Contact us at 833-275-2228 if you have any questions.

To enroll in Credit Sense, log in to your Carter on the Go account, select Accounts from the menu bar, then click Credit Score & Report. Follow the prompts to create your account. Once enrolled, your credit score will appear automatically each time you sign in to Carter on the Go. Carter on the Go is your anytime banking solution. Our free online and mobile banking option offers convenient, everyday banking from your computer or smartphone. Learn more and register for Carter on the Go.

CreditSense is a single place that gives you an overview of your credit scores from all of the major credit bureaus into a single score called a VantageScore 3.0. Credit Sense pulls your credit profile from TransUnion, one of the three major credit reporting bureaus. It uses its credit scoring model, VantageScore, developed collaboratively by the three major credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. This model is monitored daily on your behalf while also giving you a score information more uniform between the three bureaus to provide a comprehensive overview of your credit reports.

eSwich2Carter, powered by ClickSWITCH, is an account-switching solution that makes it easy to quickly and securely switch your recurring direct deposits and automatic payments from your previous financial institution to Carter Bank. To get started you’ll need to gather all of your automatic payment and direct deposit information to get your switches started. A previous statement is a great source of information for the automatic payments and direct deposits tied to an account.

Yes. eSwitch2Carter, powered by ClickSWITCH, uses the latest in online encryption protection to gather and store your switch information. Additionally, our facilities adhere to the highest industry standards with regard to the security of your personal information. eSwitch2Carter, powered by ClickSWITCH, is a secure automated account-switching solution that makes it easy for you to quickly and securely switch your recurring direct deposits and automatic payments from your previous financial institution to Carter Bank. Learn more about the eSwitch2Carter process or start switching today.

Getting started with eSwitch2Carter, powered by ClickSWITCH, is easy. Once you’ve been enrolled, you’ll need the SwitchTRACK code provided to you during enrollment, or you can activate your eSwitch2Carter, powered by ClickSWITCH, account through the Welcome email you received. After enrollment, you can log into eSwitch2Carter account here.

There are 3 ways to fund your account:

  1. Transfer from another Carter Bank
  2. Transfer money from another financial institution, using ACH. To complete this transfer, you must provide the routing number and account number for that account.
  3. Transfer money from a Credit/Debit card (Mastercard/Visa/Discover). To complete this transfer, you are required to provide the card number, expiration date, and CVV code.

Open your new Carter account | Schedule an Appointment for your Carter Account | Visit Us

The easiest way to check the status of a switch is to look at the “Status” column of your eSwitch2Carter, powered by ClickSWITCH, account. Switches that have been completed and confirmed by your biller or depositor will display a “Completed” status. Switches that are still in process will display a “Mailed” status. Log in to your eSwitch2Carter account to check the status of your switches. For switches that have a "Mailed" status for 15 days or more, we recommend contacting the company to confirm the switch is completed or check your account.

You can turn your card access on and off, set up card alerts, control your card usage, and so much more. Get started with Debit Card Management. Enjoy immediate control of your debit card through the Carter on the Go app. Learn more about Debit Card Management.

Get it on Google Play Download on the App Store

Setting Up Account Alerts 
1. From the menu, select PROFILE and ALERTS. <not in profile>
2. You will be prompted with two types of alerts; NOTIFI alerts and NATIVE alerts. You may be required to authenticate your registration.
Select Notifi alerts to receive real-time alert notifications.
Select Native to set up alerts not yet available through the Notifi service, where alerts are sent only at certain times of the day upon activity. These alerts include card alerts, loan payment reminders and secure messages.
3. Select MANAGE ALERTS and follow the prompts to add the alert of your choice. You can choose who receives each type of alert by selecting MANAGE RECIPIENTS and following the prompts.
Select SUBMIT and you'll see your alert successfully added.

Zelle®

Whether it’s saving you a trip to the ATM or taking out the guesswork of divvying up the lunch tab, Zelle® is a fast, safe, and easy way to send and request money.

You can send, request or receive money with Zelle®.

  • To get started, log in to online banking or our mobile banking app and navigate to Zelle®. To enroll, accept terms and conditions, tell us your email address or U.S. mobile number and deposit account and then you will receive a one-time verification code. Enter it and you’re ready to start sending and receiving with Zelle®.
  • To send money using Zelle®, simply add a trusted recipient’s email address or U.S. mobile phone number, enter the amount you’d like to send and an optional note, review, then hit “Send.” In most cases, the money is available to your recipient in minutes if they are already enrolled with Zelle®.
  • To request money using Zelle®, choose “Request,” select the individual from whom you’d like to request money, enter the amount you’d like to request, include an optional note, review and hit “Request.” If the person you are requesting money from is not yet enrolled with Zelle®, you must use their email address to request money. If the person has enrolled their U.S. mobile number, then you can send the request using their mobile number.
  • To receive money, just share your enrolled email address or U.S. mobile number with a friend and ask them to send you money with Zelle®. If you have already enrolled with Zelle®, you do not need to take any further action. The money will be sent directly into your account, typically within five minutes.

If you have already enrolled with Zelle®, you do not need to take any further action. The money will be sent directly into your bank account and will be available typically within minutes.

If you have not yet enrolled with Zelle®, follow these steps:

  1. Click on the link provided in the payment notification you received via email or text message.
  2. Select Carter Bank & Trust.
  3. Follow the instructions provided on the page to enroll and receive your payment. Pay attention to the email address or U.S. mobile number where you received the payment notification – you should enroll with Zelle® using that email address or U.S. mobile number where you received the notification to ensure you receive your money.
     

Your email address or U.S. mobile phone number may already be enrolled with Zelle® at another bank or credit union. Call our Customer Contact Center at 833-ASK-CBAT and ask them to move your email address or U.S. mobile phone number to Carter Bank & Trust so you can use it for Zelle®. Once Customer Contact Center moves your email address or U.S. mobile phone number, it will be connected to your Carter Bank & Trust account so you can start sending and receiving money with Zelle® through the Carter On The Go mobile banking app and online banking. Please call the Customer Contact Center toll-free at 833-ASK-CBAT for help.

Zelle® is a great way to send money to family, friends and people you are familiar with such as your personal trainer, babysitter or neighbor. Since money is sent directly from your bank account to another person’s bank account within minutes,Zelle® should only be used to send money to friends, family and others you know and trust. If you don’t know the person or aren’t sure you will get what you paid for (for example, items bought from an online bidding or sales site), you should not use Zelle®. These transactions are potentially high risk (just like sending cash to a person you don’t know is high risk). Neither Carter Bank & Trust nor Zelle® offers purchase protection for payments made with Zelle®-- for example, if you do not receive the item
you paid for or the item is not as described or as you expected.

You can find a full list of participating banks and credit unions live with Zelle® here. If your recipient’s financial institution isn’t on the list, don’t worry! The list of participating financial institutions is always growing, and your recipient can still use Zelle® by downloading the Zelle® app for Android and iOS. To enroll with the Zelle® app, your recipient will enter their basic contact information, an email address and U.S. mobile number and a Visa® or Mastercard® debit card with a U.S. based account (does not include U.S. territories). Zelle® does not accept debit cards associated with international deposit accounts or any credit cards.

To use Zelle®, the sender and recipient’s bank accounts must be based in the U.S.

You can cancel a payment if the person you sent money to hasn’t yet enrolled in Zelle®. To check whether the payment is still pending because the recipient hasn’t yet enrolled, you can go to your activity page, choose the payment you want to cancel and then select “Cancel This Payment.” If the person you sent money to has already enrolled with Zelle®, the money is sent directly to their bank account and cannot be canceled. This is why it’s important to only send money to people you know and trust, and always ensure you’ve used the correct email address or U.S. mobile number when sending money. If you sent money to the wrong person, please immediately call the Customer Contact Center at 833-ASK-CBAT so we can help you.

We offer you the flexibility to schedule payments to be sent at a later date if you like, or even set up recurring payments for things like regularly sending money to your college student. Scheduled or recurring payments sent directly to your recipient’s account number (instead of an email address or mobile number) are made available by Carter Bank & Trust but are a separate service from Zelle® and can take one to three business days to process. You can cancel a payment that is scheduled in advance if the money has not already been deducted from your account.

No, Carter Bank & Trust does not charge any fees to use Zelle®. Your mobile carrier’s messaging and data rates may apply.

The amount of money you can send, as well as the frequency, is set by each participating financial institution. Send limit can be viewed from the Send Payment screen after selecting contact. There are no limits to the amount of money you can receive with Zelle®. However, remember that the person sending you money will most likely have limits set by their own financial institution on the amount of money they can send you.

Brand Update

Our decision came from a desire to create a fresh and updated brand identity that better aligns with the way our customers already know us and our continued promise to help people live life to the fullest.
The biggest things you'll notice are new colors and a new logo. What won't change is the experience you've come to expect from Carter Bank or our people.
Our updated logo now matches what our customers call us today: Carter Bank. Our name is still legally Carter Bank & Trust. You will still see the "& Trust" on official and legal documents.
No, this is not related to a merger or acquisition. Our rebrand is simply a reflection of our evolution as we continue to grow and make enhancements at Carter Bank.
The management team and Board of Directors spent many months working under the guidance of an experienced and respected branding firm. Research and customer surveys played a role in this process.
You will begin to see elements of the new brand during the week of October 21, 2024. Additional changes will be made on our website, in branches, online, and in the market beginning November 4, 2024.
All of your account information—including your account numbers, usernames, and passwords—will stay the same.
Yes, your existing debit and credit cards will continue to work. As cards expire, you’ll receive new ones with the refreshed Carter Bank branding.
Absolutely. You can keep using your current checks until they run out. When you reorder, the new checks will feature our updated branding.
No, you don’t need to take any action. Your automatic payments and direct deposits will continue as usual, with no changes needed.
Our name is not legally changing, just our logo and the way we refer to ourselves. In most cases, there is no need to update your legal documents. However, if you have any specific questions regarding titles, liens, or insurance, please give us a call.
While the statement format and cycle will remain the same, you’ll notice our new branding on your statements.
Yes, your deposits will remain insured up to $250,000 by the FDIC.
While rates and fees may fluctuate in response to market conditions, the rebrand itself will not impact these.
Yes, email addresses will be updated to reflect our new brand. However, the current addresses will automatically redirect to the new ones. Our mobile banking and card management apps will update automatically through your device’s app store. Our new website address is: carterbank.com.
No, all of our phone numbers will remain the same.
No, our branches will maintain the same operating hours you’re accustomed to.
Please visit one of our branches during business hours, call 833-275-2228, or visit the brand page on our website at carterbank.com/brand for additional details.

¹ APY = Annual Percentage Yield.

2 U.S. checking or savings accounts required to use Zelle®. Transactions between enrolled users typically occur in minutes.

Data charges may apply. Check with your mobile phone carrier for details. App Store is a service mark of Apple Inc. Apple and the Apple logo are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries.

Android, Google Play and the Google Play logo are trademarks of Google Inc.

Copyright © 2024 Carter Bank & Trust.

All rights reserved. Terms and conditions apply. Zelle® and the Zelle® related marks are wholly owned by Early Warning Services, LLC and are used herein under license.