OPENING AN ACCOUNT

• How do I get a TCF Golden Gopher Rewards Card?
• Does my campus issued ID card earn points in the TCF Golden Gopher Rewards Program?

EARNING POINTS

• How many points do I earn for each Qualifying Purchase with my TCF Golden Gopher Rewards Card?
• Do I earn points every time I use my card - even when I make an ATM transaction?
• How soon after I open my account do I earn points?
• I have a joint account with two cards. Do both cards earn points separately or are they combined into one total?
• I have two different TCF checking accounts. Can I combine the points from both accounts?
• Is there a limit or "cap" to the number of points I can earn?
• Will my points expire?

DETERMINING YOUR POINT BALANCE

• How are point totals calculated?
• How do I find out how many points I have?
• If I return merchandise that I purchased with my card, will I lose the points associated with this Qualifying Purchase?
• I just received my monthly checking account statement and my points do not appear on the website. Why not?
• If I close my TCF checking account, will I lose my points?
• How does a point balance become negative?
• I think I have earned more points than shown on my TCF Golden Gopher Rewards Account. Who do I contact regarding the difference?
• I cannot access the TCF Golden Gopher Rewards program.
• I lost my card. Will my points transfer?

REDEEMING POINTS

• How do I redeem my points?
• Can I redeem my points for University of Minnesota merchandise?
• Can I donate my points to the University of Minnesota?
• Can I turn in my points for cash?
• I do not have enough points for the merchandise I want. Can I pay the difference in cash?
• Can I give or transfer my points to someone else?

USING POINTS FOR TRAVEL PURCHASES

• Can I use my points for any airline?
• Can I use my points for a First Class ticket?
• Why do I need more than 25,000 points for some airline tickets? My other program did not require that.
• Can I book a rental car or a hotel?
• When I use my TCF Golden Gopher Rewards points for an airline ticket, can I also get frequent flier points from that airline?

OPENING AN ACCOUNT

• How do I get a TCF Golden Gopher Rewards Card?
  A TCF Golden Gopher Rewards Card is available to any customer who opens and maintains a TCF Golden Gopher Checking^SM or a U Card Faculty and Staff Checking account. To open an account, visit a TCF Bank location.

• Does my campus issued ID card earn points in the TCF Golden Gopher Rewards Program?
  No, only Qualifying Purchases made with a TCF Golden Gopher Rewards Card can earn points.

EARNING POINTS

• How many points do I earn for each Qualifying Purchase with my TCF Golden Gopher Rewards Card?
  You will earn 1 point for every $1 of the Qualifying Purchase made with your TCF Golden Gopher Rewards Card. For example, a $50 purchase earns 50 TCF Golden Gopher Rewards points.

• Do I earn points every time I use my card - even when I make an ATM transaction?
  Points are earned for Qualifying Purchases, which are signature-based, Internet, phone or mail order merchant purchases processed through the Visa® transaction processing system, or automatic bill payments (such as monthly utility bills) made with your TCF Golden Gopher Rewards Card. ATM transactions, teller line transactions, cash advances made with your card, or POS purchases made with a U card do not earn any points.

• How soon after I open my account do I earn points?
  Qualifying Purchases made with your TCF Golden Gopher Rewards Card immediately after you open your TCF checking account earn TCF Golden Gopher Rewards points.

• I have a joint account with two cards. Do both cards earn points separately, or are they combined into one total?
  With the TCF Golden Gopher Rewards program, all cards issued to an account contribute to one Rewards Account total.

• I have two different TCF checking accounts. Can I combine the points from both accounts?
  No. Point totals for different TCF checking accounts are separate and cannot be combined.

• Is there a limit or 'cap' to the number of points I can earn?
  Currently there are no monthly, annual or lifetime 'caps' on the number of points you can earn. Use your TCF Golden Gopher Rewards Card at every opportunity to maximize your rewards!

• Will my points expire?
  Points currently have no scheduled expiration; however, this is subject to change by TCF. If you close your TCF Checking account or do not have a minimum of 1 Qualifying Purchase for 24 consecutive months, your points will be forfeited.

DETERMINING YOUR POINT BALANCE

• How are point totals calculated?
  You earn points with every Qualifying Purchase made with your TCF Golden Gopher Rewards Card. Qualifying Purchases are signature-based, Internet, phone or mail order merchant purchases processed through the Visa® transaction processing system, or automatic bill payments (such as monthly utility bills) made with your TCF Golden Gopher Rewards Card. See a complete definition of a Qualifying Purchase in the program rules (Terms and Conditions). Points are added to your Rewards Account on a monthly basis.

• How do I find out how many points I have?
  Sign in to TCF Online Banking and click on the Rewards tab. Your point balance will appear in the upper right hand corner of the Miles Rewards home page. Points are added to your Rewards Account on a monthly basis. You can also click on Rewards Statement for more detail. For security purposes, you will need your checking account number and the Secret Code you created for your card.

• If I return merchandise that I purchased with my card, do I lose the points associated with this Qualifying Purchase?
  Yes. If you return a purchase that earned points, returning all or a portion of that purchase will reduce your point total by the dollar value of the merchandise returned.

• I just received my monthly checking account statement and my points do not appear on the website. Why not?
  TCF updates your point totals at the end of every calendar month. Generally, your points will be recorded 5 to 8 weeks after a purchase is made with your card.

• If I close my TCF checking account, will I lose my points?
  Yes. All points will be forfeited if you close your TCF checking account.

• How does a point balance become negative?
  If you redeemed points through VIPexpress, Premier Collection or at the TCF Superstore, and then returned a Qualifying Purchase that previously earned points, your account could have a negative point balance.

• I think I have earned more points than shown on my TCF Golden Gopher Rewards Account. Who do I contact regarding the difference?
  Remember that points can take 5 to 8 weeks to be reflected in your Rewards Account. You can also look at the history of all points in the Reward Points history page. If you still have questions, contact TCF.

• I cannot access the TCF Golden Gopher Rewards program.
  There are various reasons for not being able to access the rewards site:

  • If you are a new TCF checking account holder, allow 5 business days from the date your account was opened before attempting to access your Rewards Account.
  • The rewards site may be periodically unavailable for site maintenance.
  • Your point balance may be negative; access is not allowed until your balance is once again positive.
  
  

• I lost my card. Will my points transfer?
  If your TCF Golden Gopher Rewards Card number changes for any reason, your point total will transfer.

REDEEMING POINTS

• How do I redeem my points?
  Sign in to TCF Online Banking and click on the Rewards tab. Click Redeem Points at the left for access to VIPexpress and the TCF SuperStore. You will need your TCF checking account number and the Secret Code you created for your card.

• Can I redeem my points for University of Minnesota merchandise?
  Yes. Sign in to TCF Online Banking and click on the Rewards tab. Click on the U of M Merchandise button on the Golden Gophers Rewards home page and you will be directed to the University of Minnesota merchandise items in the Premier Collection.

• Can I donate my points to the University of Minnesota?
  Yes. Sign in to TCF Online Banking and click on the Rewards tab. Click on the U of M Scholarship Contributions button on the Golden Gophers Rewards home page. Then select U of M Donation from the drop-down list and choose the area to which you would like to donate your points.

• Can I turn in my points for cash?
  No, points are not redeemable for cash. You can redeem your points for merchandise, air travel rewards or donate your points to the University of Minnesota.

• I do not have enough points for the merchandise I want. Can I pay the difference in cash?
  No, but continue to use your card for all your merchant Qualifying Purchases and we will keep adding points to your TCF Golden Gopher Rewards Account. The more you use your card, the faster your Rewards Account total grows!

• Can I give or transfer my points to someone else?
  Points cannot be transferred to another TCF Golden Gopher Rewards Account. You can, however, book travel or redeem merchandise for another party.

USING POINTS FOR TRAVEL PURCHASES

• Can I use my points for any airline?
  The TCF Golden Gopher Rewards travel site, VIPexpress, has access to most major airlines without blackout dates, unlike other miles programs. Select the departure and arrival cities to generate flight information from participating carriers.

• Can I use my points for a First Class ticket?
  Yes. VIPexpress allows you to use your points for Business Class or First Class travel. After you have selected your flight, simply choose the flight class seating option.

• Why do I need more than 25,000 points for some airline tickets? My other program did not require that.
  Unlike other programs, TCF Golden Gopher Rewards has no blackout dates when you cannot use your points, no seat restrictions, and you can select the airline and ticket combination you want. With the TCF Golden Gopher Rewards program, you can often find tickets that require less than 25,000 points. You can also use your points for over 3 million merchandise items in addition to travel rewards.

• Can I book a rental car or a hotel?
  At this time, the TCF Golden Gopher Rewards program does not allow rental car or hotel redemption. You can use your points for over 3 million items at the TCF SuperStore or through our VIPexpress travel center.

• When I use my TCF Golden Gopher Rewards points for an airline ticket, can I also get frequent flier points from that airline?
  Yes, if you have a frequent flier account with that airline and you enter your frequent flier number when you book your flight.