Payment of Dues

Forms of Payment

Electronic forms of payment are recommended since they are safer, quicker and in some cases, the cheapest for families to process payment. Some forms of electronic payment may charge families additional fees and these methods of payment are discouraged. The account information below can be used to submit electronic payment. This information should not be used to submit payment in-person, attempting to do so, could lead to a deposit into an incorrect account.

Account Type: Business
Account contact: Misbahuddin Qidwai
Account name: The Crescent Academy
Address: 1112 Broad St., Endicott, NY 13760
Type of account: Checking
Bank: Citizens Bank
Routing Number: 021052053
Account Number: 74575710

Families can submit payments using one of the several methods listed below.

1. Automated Clearing House (ACH) via Bill Pay (Recommended)

Most banks offer free bill pay services that allow electronic payments to TCA. Families may also set up recurring payments through their bank.  To set up an ACH bill pay with your Visions Federal Credit Union (VFCU) account, follow the steps outlined below. Other banks may have similar processes.

1. Log into your VFCU account. Select Transfer/Payments>Bill Pay from the menu.
2. Click on the “Options” button and select “Add Payee” from the drop down menu.
3. Use the TCA bank account information noted above.
4. Submit payment to the new payee.
5. The bank will likely offer the option to set up recurring bill payment.

2. ACH via External Transfer

Many Banks will allow families to set up an external bank account to transfer funds to. ACH will process overnight and generally banks do not charge any additional fees to process. The bank will require some or all of the TCA bank account information noted above. To set up an ACH external transfer with your Visions Federal Credit Union (VFCU) account, follow the steps outlined below.

1. Log into your VFCU account. Select Transfer/Payments>Manage External Accounts from the menu.
2. Follow the instructions to “Link with instant verification”
3. Keep following the instructions on the screen, when asked to select an account on the “PLAID” portal. Select “Citizens Bank” as the bank. This will take you to a login screen. Close the “PLAID” window to note that you do not have login credentials.
4. You will be presented with a window that has a “Continue with manual entry” option, select this option. Use the TCA account information provided above to add the Account Routing and Number details.
5. Please email bills@thecrescentacademy.org to advise that you have just completed the above step. Please share that you are trying to setup ACH from VCFU and include a screenshot of the window.
6. Within the following hours, TCA staff will provide you with the 3-letter code you need to complete the remaining setup process.
7. If multiple families attempt to set up the same, on the same day, from the same bank, TCA staff may have difficulty identifying your specific code. And it may be necessary to attempt resending the code.
8. Once the external transfer account is set up, the bank will likely offer the option to set up recurring bill payments.

3. Wire transfers

Depending on the Family’s account type, banks will generally charge a fixed fee to perform wire transfers. In other words, the fee does not vary based on the amount (like it does with Credit / Debit cards). The bank will require the same information as noted above for the ACH transfer. Wire transfers occur in hours. Using monthly wire transfers can add up in cost quickly.

4. Credit / Debit card

Using the MySchool portal, families can submit payment.  This form of payment processes within the day, and will charge an additional transaction fee, above the amount submitted.  The transaction fee can be substantial (>$20 to submit $665) and vary depending on the amount submitted.  Please see the stripe fee calculator to determine the actual fee.  TCA discourages this as a regular form of payment due to this higher cost.

5. Cash or Check

Families can bring cash or check to the Services offices at the TCA to submit payment. Families are asked to call (607) 416-4073 or email bursar@thecrescentacademy.org, to schedule an appointment to make their payment. They will receive a google calendar invite to document the appointment to pay dues. For convenience, this method of payment is only recommended if the family is paying for the entire year at the start of the year. It can be time consuming and risky to use this form of payment in the long run for the following reasons:

i. Risk of withdrawing and carrying large sums of cash.
ii. Time to withdraw cash or write a check.
iii. Time before delivery date to mail check.
iv. Risk of check getting lost in the mail.