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General Information


Declining Balance Accounts



Opening a Declining Balance Account

Brown Card holders may open a Declining Balance Account at any time. To open an account, complete a Brown Card Declining Balance Account Application/Deposit Slip and mail it with a check made payable to Brown University for the intended amount to:

Brown University
Cashier's Office
Box 1911
Providence, RI 02912

Deposits may also be made in person at:

Cashier's Office
Brown Office Building
164 Angell Street - 2nd floor

The minimum deposit required to open an account is $25.00. The maximum amount that may be maintained in a Declining Balance Account is $7,500. Careful consideration should be given to expected usage in order to determine the appropriate amount to maintain in the account.


Using the Declining Balance Account

The Brown Card Declining Balance Account can be used to make food purchases without cash at any Brown University Dining Services (BUDS) location and to make purchases at the Brown Bookstore, Computer Store, Campus Shop, Registrar's Office and the Hour Glass Cafe.

Flex-Plus is a separate account provided by BUDS to students on a meal plan as a service to allow expanded, flexible food buying with the Brown Card at any BUDS location. For details on the use of Flex-Plus see Brown Card Services information, or contact Brown University Dining Services at 401-863-3876.

The Card Value Centers conveniently located on campus may be used to check the balance on the Declining Balance Account, to transfer funds to the vending stripe or to deposit cash directly to the vending stripe.

Up to $20 per day can be transferred from the Declining Balance Account to the vending stripe up to a maximum of $50. The vending stripe can then be used for on-campus vending. Please note: If a Brown Card is lost, stolen or damaged, the cash amount, up to $50 on the vending stripe may be lost.

Only the person to whom it is issued may use the Brown Card. The Brown Card Declining Balance is not transferable. All Declining Balance transactions are final at the time of transaction. Cash withdrawals are prohibited from the Declining Balance Account.


Statement of Declining Balance Activity

The Brown Card Office will issue monthly statements of usage for Declining Balance Accounts.

The cardholder is responsible for monitoring Declining Balance amounts and money transferred to the vending stripe.


Closing a Declining Balance Account

Any balance remaining in the account will be refunded in full following graduation, separation or withdrawal from the University.

If the University is forced to draw from the Declining Balance Account to clear an amount due by the account holder, e.g., the student bill, only the unused balance will be refunded.



Off-Line Vending Program

Up to $20 per day (account maximum of $50) can be added to the vending stripe using a Card Value Center machine. Additions to the vending stripe can be done using cash or by transferring funds from the Declining Balance Account. Cash to card machines located near the copier equipment at the libraries and copy centers may also be used to add value to a vending stripe. The vending stripe can then be used for on-campus vending, laundry and copy machines.

Money applied to the vending stripe is just like cash. It is not controlled on-line, therefore, it cannot be protected if a card is lost, stolen or damaged. The Brown Card should be protected the same way a credit or debit card would be protected.

Card Value Centers (CVC)

Brown Card Value Center (CVC) machines are conveniently located on the Brown campus at Faunce House, Graduate Center, BioMed Building, Rockefeller and Sciences Libraries, Brown Bookstore lobby, at the Brown Card Office in the J. Walter Wilson, and at the CIT Building.

CVC's provide Brown Card holders a convenient point of service to:

  • Check on-line their balance in the Declining Balance Account using the Swipe Card Reader.
  • Check the vending stripe balance by using the insert card reader.
  • Add value to the Brown Card vending stripe by using the card reader to transfer value from the user's Declining Balance Account to the vending stripe.
  • Add value to the Brown Card vending stripe by user inserting Brown Card into the card reader and then inserting the desired amount of currency ($1, $5, $10 and/or $20), up to $20 maximum into the bill acceptor.
  • Vending cards may also be purchased from CVC's for $1.00. University visitors and guests who do not have a Brown Card but who wish the convenience of a card to purchase vending products and services on campus can use these cards. Value can be added to the vending card by inserting it into a CVC card reader, or at cash to card equipment at Brown's libraries and copy centers and then inserting the desired amount of currency, up to a $20 maximum.