Do you wish there was a more direct and secure way to receive your Billing and Receivables Account (BAR) refund? Such a process does exist and it’s called Bruin Direct.

Bruin Direct is the process that takes the refund from your BAR account and electronically deposits that refund into your personal checking account. A refund is generated on your BAR account when you receive funds, such as scholarships, grants, fellowships, stipends, loans or any non-payroll payments to students or post-doctoral students, which exceed the fees due.

How do I sign up for Bruin Direct?

• STEP 1: Open a checking account in the United States.
• STEP 2: Go to www.sfs.finance.ucla.edu and click on Student Forms.
• STEP 3: Follow the link to the BruinDirect Authorization form and print.
• STEP 4: Fill out the required information and send in the form along with a current voided check.
• STEP 5: Send the completed form and required bank documents to:
  
  Remittance Processing Center
  10920 Wilshire Blvd.
  Suite #107
  Los Angeles, CA 90024-6503

How soon will my direct deposit start?
Your direct deposit will be activated approximately four to six weeks after your authorization form is received. When signing up for Bruin Direct be aware that an incomplete application delays—if not halts—the activation process and may be returned to you. In order to avoid such problems, make certain you have enclosed all necessary documents and filled out all forms legibly. If for any reason the authorization process is delayed and a refund posts to your BAR account before your Bruin Direct is activated, you will receive your refund in the form of a paper check through the U.S. Postal Service.

Will UCLA notify me whenever a refund is made into my account?
All students are sent an electronic message before each and every electronic refund deposit is made. Therefore, it is important that you keep your URSA email address current. Banking institutions vary in the amount of time it takes for electronic deposits to post to their customer accounts. When a refund appears on your BAR account or you receive notice of a refund being electronically transferred to your personal checking account, please contact your bank to verify when the funds will actually be available.

For students who anticipate receiving refunds once their incoming financial aid pays all outstanding charges to BAR, your BAR statement includes a message stating the disbursement start date for the current term. You may check URSA any time after that disbursement date to confirm that your aid has posted to BAR, thereby giving you a good idea when you might have access to your refund. Additionally, this activity will be reflected on your next month’s BAR statement.

What else do I need to know about Bruin Direct?
If you are a continuing student, you are not required to re-authorize every year; however, you must complete a new form if you change your banking institution. In addition, you will remain on Bruin Direct until you cancel your enrollment. You can cancel your Bruin Direct account by submitting a letter to the Administrative Main Cashier Office, 1125 Murphy Hall, Los Angeles, CA, 90095-7089.

Please be aware that you must inform the Administrative Main Cashier Office immediately if you change or close your bank account. If for any reason a refund posts to your BAR account and your Bruin Direct application is still pending authorization or your Bruin Direct authorization is connected to an account that is now closed, you will receive your refund in the form of a paper check through the U.S. Postal Service.

Again, every bank differs when it comes to posting electronic deposits. Verify with your bank as to when your funds will be available for withdrawal.