City of Cedar Rapids Launches New Secure, Convenient, Online Utility Payment System

The City of Cedar Rapids announces a new partnership with vendor Paymentus to provide an updated secure and user-friendly online municipal utilities bill payment system with cost-free payment options. An improved online Customer Portal interface will enhance customers’ payment experience by allowing users to pay faster, more conveniently, and with more options.

“We are excited about this update. The changes reflect our continued commitment to providing a great customer service experience,” said Kathy Foley, finance operations manager for the City of Cedar Rapids. “Paymentus offers an improved experience without sacrificing security. We think our customers will be delighted by the new system.”

Paymentus will launch within the Utilities Department, with additional City departments planning to implement the new system for payments in future months. Customers can find payment options online at www.cedar-rapids.org/water

New features of the online payment portal include: an improved user experience, a “Pay Now” feature that allows for quick payment without having to register an account, and registered account enhancements including the ability to view and pay multiple accounts at once. Payments can be made via credit, debit, ACH/eCheck or PayPal via either the one-time payment option or registered customer portal. New with this partnership, ACH/eCheck payments can be made without a convenience fee. An additional benefit of the Paymentus platform is the ability for customers to make in-person, cash and debit card payments at the Money Services counter in local Walmart locations. While not implemented at launch, in the future the new system will allow Utilities customers the option to select paperless billing. While the Utilities Department has offered automatic bill payment in the past, the new online customer portal will provide customers the option to create and manage their automatic payments effortlessly.

The Paymentus partnership also provides customers an updated automated phone payment experience. Features include quick account balance review and payment with a credit card, debit card, or eCheck. Customers can call the Utilities Department at 319-286-5900 or 1-888-821-2215 and navigate to the pay by phone option.

Kevin Kirchner, business manager for the City’s Utilities Department said, “We recognize that our customers wanted more flexibility, accessibility, convenience and a user-friendly experience. We have heard from customers looking for additional payment options for their Utilities bills. We are pleased to now offer many of the additional forms of payments our customers have been requesting.”

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About Paymentus
Paymentus is the premier provider of innovative, reliable, and secure electronic bill presentment and payment services for more than 1500 clients leading the Utility, Government, Telecom, Insurance, Consumer Finance, Healthcare, and Higher Education industries. Our comprehensive eBilling and Payment Platform allows our clients to provide a unified customer bill-pay experience that includes online, mobile, IVR, text, kiosk, and agent-assisted channels, as well as a full range of customer communication options. For more information, please visit www.paymentus.com.