How to Pay Your First Premier Credit Card Bill
How to pay your First Premier card
First Premier Bank issues the First Premier Credit Card, a secured card that reports to all three credit bureaus. To pay your bill, you have four main routes: online through your account portal, by phone, by mail, or through automatic payments set up in advance.
The fastest method is online. Log into your First Premier account at firstpremierbank.com, find the payment section, and enter the amount you want to pay and your bank account details. The payment posts the same business day if you submit before the cutoff time, usually around 5 p.m. Eastern. By phone, call the customer service number on the back of your card; a representative will walk you through the payment over the phone and take your bank information verbally.
By mail, send a check or money order to the address printed on your statement. Mail payments take 7 to 10 business days to reach the bank and post to your account, so send early if your due date is near. The safest automatic method is to set up autopay through your online account—you choose the amount (minimum payment, statement balance, or a fixed amount) and the date each month, and the bank withdraws it from your checking account on schedule.
Key Takeaways
- Online and phone payments post the same business day; mail payments take 7 to 10 business days, so plan ahead if you pay by check.
- Your due date is printed on your statement, and payments received after that date trigger a late fee and may hurt your credit score.
- Autopay removes the risk of forgetting a payment and can be set to pay your full statement balance, minimum payment, or a fixed amount each month.
- First Premier reports your payment history to Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion, so on-time payments build credit over time.
When your payment is due and what happens if you miss it
Your due date appears on every statement and is usually 21 to 25 days after the statement closes. First Premier considers a payment late if it arrives after 5 p.m. Eastern on the due date. A late payment triggers a late fee (the amount varies but is typically $25 to $35 for the first late payment) and is reported to the credit bureaus, which can lower your credit score.
If you miss a payment by 30 days or more, First Premier may freeze your card, preventing new charges. Your interest rate may also increase. The late payment stays on your credit report for seven years, though its impact on your score weakens over time. If you realize you will miss the due date, call customer service before it passes—some representatives can waive a single late fee if you have a clean payment history, though this is not may provide.
Understanding your statement and minimum payment
Your First Premier statement shows your opening balance, all charges and credits during the billing cycle, your new balance, your minimum payment due, and your due date. The minimum payment is usually 1 to 3 percent of your new balance, plus any fees and interest charges. Paying only the minimum means you carry the rest of the balance forward, and interest accrues on that amount at your card's annual percentage rate (APR).
First Premier's APR varies by applicant and is disclosed in your card agreement and on your statement. If you carry a balance, interest is calculated daily and added to your account. Paying your full statement balance by the due date avoids interest charges entirely. If you cannot pay the full balance, paying more than the minimum reduces the interest you owe and helps you pay off the card faster.
How autopay works and how to set it up
Autopay is an automatic monthly withdrawal from your checking account that you control entirely. Log into your First Premier account, navigate to the payment or account settings section, and select "Set up automatic payment." You will choose a payment amount (full balance, minimum payment, or a custom amount), a payment date (usually between the 1st and 28th of the month), and provide your checking account number and routing number.
Once autopay is active, the bank withdraws the payment on your chosen date each month. You can change or cancel autopay anytime through your account portal—there is no penalty for stopping it. Autopay is useful if you want to may provide an on-time payment every month without having to remember the due date. If your balance varies month to month, set autopay to pay your full statement balance so you never carry interest.
If your checking account does not have enough funds on the autopay date, the payment will fail and you may incur an overdraft fee from your bank. Make sure your checking account has a buffer before the payment date, or set autopay for a date after you typically receive income.
What to do if you cannot pay your full bill
If you cannot pay your full balance by the due date, pay at least the minimum payment to avoid a late fee and credit damage. Even a partial payment is better than no payment. After you pay the minimum, the remaining balance carries forward to the next month and accrues interest at your APR.
If you are struggling with multiple debts or a temporary hardship, contact First Premier's customer service to ask about hardship options. Some card issuers offer temporary payment plans or reduced interest rates for customers facing financial difficulty, though First Premier's specific programs depend on your situation and history. Be honest about your circumstances—the bank cannot help if it does not know you are struggling.
How First Premier reports your payments to credit bureaus
First Premier reports your account activity to Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion every month. This includes your payment history, credit limit, balance, and whether payments were on time or late. On-time payments build your credit score over time; late payments and missed payments damage it. A single late payment can lower your score by 50 to 100 points depending on your current score and credit history.
The positive side is that First Premier's reporting also means that consistent on-time payments help you build credit. If you are using this card specifically to establish or rebuild credit, making every payment on time—even if you pay only the minimum—demonstrates creditworthiness to other lenders. After 6 to 12 months of on-time payments, you may become may be able to access for an unsecured card or a credit limit increase.
Payment methods comparison
| Payment Method | How Long It Takes | When to Use It |
|---|---|---|
| Online portal | Same business day | You have a few days before your due date and want instant confirmation |
| Phone | Same business day | You prefer speaking to a person or have questions about your account |
| Mail (check or money order) | 7 to 10 business days | You do not have online access or prefer not to share bank details electronically |
| Autopay | Same business day on your chosen date | You want to remove the risk of forgetting a payment each month |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I pay my First Premier card with a debit card or another credit card?
First Premier does not accept payment by debit card or credit card through their standard payment channels. You must pay from a checking or savings account (online or by phone), by mail with a check or money order, or through autopay linked to a bank account. Paying a credit card with another credit card typically incurs a cash advance fee and is not recommended.
What time does my payment need to arrive to count as on-time?
Online and phone payments must be submitted by 5 p.m. Eastern on the due date to post the same business day and count as on-time. Mail payments are considered on-time if they are postmarked by the due date, though they take 7 to 10 business days to reach the bank. To be safe with mail, send your payment at least two weeks before the due date.
Will First Premier let me pay early or make extra payments?
Yes. You can pay any amount at any time through online, phone, or autopay. Paying early or paying more than your minimum reduces the interest you owe and helps you pay off the card faster. There is no penalty for early or extra payments.
What happens if I pay late but then catch up?
Paying late incurs a late fee and is reported to the credit bureaus, but catching up on future payments stops additional late fees and prevents your account from going into default. The late payment remains on your credit report for seven years, but its impact on your score decreases over time, especially as you build a record of on-time payments going forward.
Can I change my due date?
First Premier may allow you to request a due date change through your account or by calling customer service. The new due date typically takes effect on your next billing cycle. If your current due date conflicts with your pay schedule, asking for a change can make it easier to pay on time each month.