Contact: Maridith Geuder
STARKVILLE, Miss.--A new Mississippi State service being offered this fall will allow students to transfer credit account balances electronically rather than standing in line for checks.
Developed for the university's student account services office, the program dubbed "Bull-e-Buck$" provides a number of new options for transferring credit balances from accounts such as remaining financial aid, said Wayne Bland, interim associate vice president for finance and administration.
"We traditionally have asked students to come personally to our office in Garner Hall and stand in line," he explained. "Our office typically has provided up to 26,000 individual checks each year for credit balances, which sometimes can be a frustrating process.
"Our new secure online system will be much more convenient for students who choose to use it, and it will create much greater efficiencies for the university," Bland added.
While students still may opt to get a paper check, the new electronic fund transfer will allow them to move all or a portion of their credit balance while sitting at a computer.
Those choosing to transfer balances may get immediate access to the funds if they transfer to MoneyMate, the university's prepaid spending account. "Usually, that transaction can be completed in 15 minutes or less," Bland said.
Through the MoneyMate system, a student may use pre-deposited funds to purchase books, meals, supplies, and other goods and services on- and off-campus. Alternatively, students may use Bull-e-Buck$ to transfer funds to their individual banking accounts, an option that will take approximately two business days.
"Or, they may simply leave the funds in the existing account to apply to future charges," Bland explained.
"We believe Bull-e-Buck$ responds to student needs and provides a number of very convenient options while also helping the university control administrative costs," he said.
For more information, visit http://www.controller.msstate.edu/sas/more-beb.htm.
For more information about Mississippi State University, see http://www.msstate.edu/.