Applying to a bank to participate in their banking products program

If you want to offer your clients Refund Anticipation Loans (RALs) or Refund Transfers (RTs) through ProSeries/Bank Products software, you must first apply to Santa Barbara Bank & Trust or Refund Advantage to participate in their banking products program.


Important:	You can offer bank products through only one bank using ProSeries/Bank Products software.

If your application is accepted, the process is as follows:

▪	If you’re accepted by Santa Barbara Bank & Trust, your clients’ RAL/RT applications are automatically sent to Santa Barbara Bank & Trust when you electronically file their returns with the IRS.

▪	If you’re accepted by Refund Advantage, you use the software you receive from Refund Advantage to send your clients’ RAL/RT applications to Refund Advantage when the IRS accepts the clients’ electronically-filed returns.

The following table summarizes the basic steps apply for participation in a bank products to your clients through Santa Barbara Bank & Trust:


To take this step	Do this
1. Set the ProSeries Bank Products options.	a. Go to the Tools menu, select Options, then select Bank Products. b. Select the Bank Products options that you want. c. Click Enrollment/Registration Information, then enter the requested information in the Bank Products Registration Information dialog box and click OK.
2. Transmit your registration information to Santa Barbara Bank & Trust (any time after 12:00 a.m. PST on December 1).	a. Click the Bank Products tab in HomeBase. b. Go to the E‑File menu, point to Bank Products, then select Transmit Enrollment/Registration Information.
3. Check for the registration acceptance status from Santa Barbara Bank & Trust.	a. Click the Bank Products tab in HomeBase. b. Go to the E‑File menu, select Go to Bank Products, then select Check EF & Bank Product Acknowledgements. The acknowledgements log provides information about the status of your registration and enrollment with SBBT. c. Contact SBBT if you have any questions about the status provided. You will receive an activation letter from SBBT 3 to 5 days after your enrollment record has been activated. Note: Until SBBT approves your enrollment record, it remains in a Pending status. You cannot process returns containing bank products until your enrollment is approved.
5. Receive activation letter	a. Your activation letter includes a copy of your financial services agreement and a PIN that you can use to gain access to the Santa Barbara Bank & Trust Web-based Client Information Support Center (CISC) at https://cisc.sbbtral.com/index.asp. From this Web site, you can download forms and order a variety of reports that will help you keep track of your business. You can also check on the status of a taxpayer's RT or RAL transaction. b. Once your enrollment is activated, SBBT will set up a shipping record. The supplies you requested via your enrollment application will be shipped to you automatically during the last two weeks of December. Additional supplies can be ordered any time during the season by calling SBBT at (800) 779-7228 or by visiting https://cisc.sbbtral.com/index.asp. Note: All supplies are shipped Airborne Ground, unless it is the week before the electronic filing season begins - then they will be shipped overnight.