More savings and security with paperless billing

Many of us can remember when we looked forward to picking up the mail. From important bills and notices to letters and cards from family and friends, the mailbox was our communications pipeline to the rest of the world. Times have changed. Today, we receive most of our personal messages over the Internet. We also shop, learn, and play on the Web, and many of us pay bills online as well. And as satisfying as it is to mail a paper check, it’s no longer considered the safest way to send payments.

That’s why IMU offers our customers a safe, convenient paperless billing option that saves you money every month.

What is paperless billing?

It’s simple. The term “paperless” refers to when information is provided electronically instead of by paper, so paperless billing is the electronic-only delivery of your monthly utility statement.

Why go paperless?

According to emarketer.com, 3 in 4 American and Canadian households converted at least one bill to paperless in 2021. It’s a fast-growing trend for several good reasons.

Simple savings

IMU saves $1 per month for every paperless statement that doesn’t need to be mailed. We pass the full amount of that savings directly to our customers in the form of a $1 statement credit automatically applied to every paperless statement.

More security

Stolen paper bills and important documents have led to many cases of identity theft; in 2020 alone, over 3,000 Iowans had their identities stolen, according to Consumer Affairs magazine. Electronic bills allow you to better control your information, because they are stored on a secure server and password-protected.

Easy access

Storing your statements electronically means you can view them anytime, anywhere. All of your past statements will be stored in your IMU account online, in your personal billing portal.
Just log into your account and select “Invoices,” then choose the past invoice you’d like to download and view.

Less clutter

Do you find yourself digging through stacks of mail to find bills and other important mail? Paperless billing not only saves you the hassle, but can help you keep that mail pile a little tidier.

Better stewardship

According to New York University’s School of Law, the average American household receives about 850 pieces of junk mail every year, and U.S. junk mail uses paper equivalent to deforesting all of Rocky Mountain National Park every four months. Every sheet of paper we save helps to offset any net loss.

How does paperless billing work?

It’s easy to sign up! Create an account online at indianola.com if you don’t have one, or log in to your existing account. Under “Account,” select “Settings.” Click the “General” tab to set your invoice preferences to Web bill only. That’s it! Beginning with your next statement, you will receive an email when your statement is available each month and start saving $1 on each bill.

And if it turns out you don’t care for paperless billing, just log back into your account and change your invoice preferences any time.

Even more convenience and savings with autopay

Using autopay has advantages. In addition to the peace of mind that comes from knowing your bills are paid, autopay can help improve your credit score by ensuring on-time payments, the number one credit factor. Additionally, checks contain vulnerable personal information that can be stolen right from your mailbox. Think about it. Each check you put in the mail includes:

• Your name
• Address
• Phone number
• Bank name
• Bank account and routing number
• Your Signature

While any payment method comes with risks, online payments have a few distinct security advantages in 2022, according to In Charge Debt Solutions: “(f)inancial institutions use encrypted user data, multi-step verification and require passwords to even begin the process.” If there is a fraudulent transaction, banks must investigate and refund your money within 10 days.

Autopay is considered as safe as or safer than mailing checks. And paying your bills on time with autopay can improve your credit score. But unless you are confident your checking account can withstand variability in your bill or you’ve set up budget billing with IMU to keep your costs consistent, autopay might not be for you.

Sign up for autopay at indianola.com/forms