As of Jan. 29, GCC has taken significant steps to provide speed and accuracy in disbursing students’ financial aid through implementing BankMobile direct deposit. Although paper checks are still an option, students can create a BankMobile Vibe checking account or connect direct deposit with BankMobile to an existing account to receive their education funds. 

Concerns about the legitimacy of this new student service have arisen, in view of last fall’s cyber security incident, according to students contacted for this article. However, Christina Tangalakis, associate dean of student financial aid services, clarified that this new method makes financial aid refund deposits a quicker, easier process. Enabling direct deposit to existing accounts can deliver funds in one to two business days, and setting up your disbursements with their BankMobile Vibe checking account can get funds deposited within the same business day, the college said.

Tangalakis explained that many paper checks in the past have gone unopened and returned due to mistakes in address information. The state or federal government then collects these unclaimed funds after 180 days. “These funds should be in students’ hands,” said Tangalakis. “Direct deposit goes a long way to improve refund delivery and reduce the amount of funds we are required to return to aid programs.” She explained the joint project with BankMobile and the tuition office puts effort into decreasing the amount of unclaimed returns and has so far resulted in “over 80% of spring refunds […] safely deposited into students’ bank accounts of choice.”

Students can request their personal code through BankMobile online to start setting up their account. From there, students can select their refund method of choice.

Any questions about the BankMobile service can be answered by contacting financial aid, tuition office, or directly with the program’s server.

Gwenyth Pilon can be reached at [email protected].