eSpire™ Checking: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. What is eSpire™ Checking?
Bankwell's eSpire™ Checking is a digital checking account designed specifically for small business owners that comes integrated with an SBA 7A loan. After your loan is funded, the proceeds are deposited directly into your eSpire™ account, allowing you to manage your business finances and make loan payments seamlessly, either online or via the mobile app.

2. How do I enroll in an eSpire™ Checkig account?
When your eSpire™ Checking account has been set up, you’ll receive a welcome package with all the information you need to enroll. Just go to spire.mybankwell.com, enter your business account number, Social Security Number (SSN), and date of birth. Then create a username and password, agree to the terms, and you’re all set.

3. Can I add other users to help manage my eSpire™ Checking account?
Yes! As the account owner, you have the option to invite other users—like employees or accountants. Just log in at spire.mybankwell.com, go to ‘Manage Users,’ and follow the prompts to add a new user. They’ll get an invite with instructions to join.

4. What if I forget my username or password?
On the login page, just click “Need Login Help?” and select either:

• Forgot Password: Enter your username and you’ll get a reset link via email.
• Forgot Username: Provide your email, account number, and the last 4 digits of your SSN.

If you forgot your username, please reach out to our Client Support team through chat or phone at 877-553-8556, who can help you retrieve it.

5. How do I make a loan payment?
Loan payments will be automatically withdrawn from your eSpire™ Checking account on the due date. However, you can initiate additional loan payments through your eSpire™ Checking account:

• On the web, click ‘Transfer Money’ and follow the steps to transfer funds to your loan account.
• On mobile, tap your loan account and select ‘Pay Loan,’ then follow the instructions.

6. I got locked out of my account—what should I do?
For security purposes, if you enter your password incorrectly too many times, your account will be locked. Just reach out to our Client Support team through chat or by phone at 877-553-8556, and we’ll help unlock it for you.

7. How do I transfer money between / from accounts?
Transferring money is simple! You can move funds between your Spire accounts or send a wire:

• On the web, go to ‘Transfer Money’ in the navigation bar.
• On mobile, head to ‘My Finance’ and you’ll see transfer options there.
  

You can also utilize other features like Bill Pay or deposit checks to send funds from your Spire account.

To access Bill Pay:

• On the web, go to ‘Transfer Money’ in the navigation bar, and click ‘Pay Bills’
• On mobile, tap the ‘+’ button and ‘Pay Bill’

Your Spire account includes a starter checkbook, which will be sent to you by mail. Be sure to watch for its arrival!

8. Can I customize my dashboard?
Yes! When you log in, your dashboard shows your balances and recent transactions. You can personalize it by clicking the cog icon to rearrange, group, or assign a color to your grouped accounts. On mobile, you can customize your dashboard by tapping ‘Customize Dashboard’ on the main screen.

9. What roles can I assign to my users?
When you add additional users to your eSpire™ Checking account, you can assign them specific roles. You have several role options to select from:

• Business Admin: Administrator with access to initiate Wire, Internal Transfers, Bill Pay; and Add/Manage Users
• Transactor with Bill Pay: Transactor role that allows user to initiate internal transfers between accounts, Wires, and access Bill Pay
• Transactor without Bill Pay: Like Transactor with Bill Pay, but no ability to initiate or send bill payments
• Internal Transfers Only: Can only transfer between internal accounts and view account details.
• View Only: Can view account details but not make any changes.

10. How can I set up alerts for my account?
To set alerts, go to the ‘Alerts’ page or click the ‘+’ option. You can set up notifications for things like balance thresholds or upcoming loan payments. You’ll get notified via email or SMS, depending on your preferences.

11. How do I deposit checks?
You can deposit checks using the mobile app:

• Tap the ‘+’ option, choose ‘Mobile Check Deposit,’ and follow the instructions to upload pictures of your check.

There’s a daily deposit limit of $20,000 and a monthly limit of $20,000 for new customers under 30 days. When your account matures greater than 30 days, you’ll have a monthly limit of $50,000.

12. What fees should I be aware of?

Our fee schedule can be found on our website here.

13. What are the limits for wire transfers?
For existing customers with accounts older than 30 days, you can send up to $100,000 in wire transfers per day, and up to $100,000 per month. 

New business customers (less than 30 days old) can’t send outgoing wires at this time.

14. How can I contact Bankwell for help?
If you need assistance, you can reach Bankwell’s Client Support Center via:

• Chat: Click the ‘Lets Talk’ bubble on the Spire website or tap on mobile to get connected. You can also navigate to ‘More’ – ‘Contact Us’ on the navigation bar to access our chat feature.
• Phone: Call us at 877-553-8556

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