YES, Your Money IS Safe at a Credit Union
Fort McClellan Credit Union
July 25, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Curt Sasser
(256) 236-2113; fortmclncu@aol.com
Fort McClellan Credit Union Remains Strong in Unsettling Economic Times
Anniston, AL – With growing apprehension and low consumer confidence in the current market economy, we want you to know that Fort McClellan Credit Union is a very strong Credit Union, with capital and reserves of over $19 million dollars or over 18 % of our total assets.
We’ve all heard the latest news regarding the explicit Federal guarantee of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The two mammoth government sponsored mortgage companies own or guarantee 5.2 trillion in U.S. home mortgages. And the closure of IndyMac Bank recently by the federal regulator, Office of Thrift Supervision, has also made the headlines as of late.
Rest assured Fort McClellan Credit Union hasn’t been making the risky types of mortgages that have caused concerns for other financial institutions, such as IndyMac. Your assets are safe with Fort McClellan Credit Union.
In light of this news we thought you might have some questions or concerns regarding how Fort McClellan Credit Union federally insures your money. Here are some quick points of reference:
● As the NCUA brochure in our lobbies makes clear, the shares in Fort McClellan Credit Union are insured by the National Credit Union Share Insurance Fund (NCUSIF), where not one penny of insured savings has ever been lost by a member of a federally insured credit union. This fund is backed by the full faith and credit of the United States Government. Established by Congress in 1970 to insure member share accounts at federally insured credit unions, the NCUSIF is managed by NCUA under the direction of the three-person NCUA Board. You may read about the details in the lobby brochure “Your Insured Funds” or in an online format at:
http://www.ncua.gov/Publications/brochures/insured_funds/funds.pdf
● Each Fort McClellan Credit Union member is federally insured up to at least $100,000 by the NCUSIF. Many families can increase the amount of share insurance coverage they receive by the appropriate structuring of deposits in various individually and jointly held accounts.
● Traditional and Roth IRA and KEOGH retirement accounts are insured separately up to $250,000 by the NCUSIF. A NCUA Share Insurance Estimator is also available for your convenience at:
http:///webapps.ncua.gov/ins/
We hope these resources serve to answer any questions or concerns, and we hope this information reassures you that even in rough economic times, you can feel confident entrusting us to safeguard your hard-earned savings. Should you have any questions or concerns please feel free to call us directly at 256-237-2113 or if long distance 800-642-1220 or visit any of our locations in Anniston, Jacksonville, Roanoke and Ohatchee.
Credit Union Closing Schedule for 2008
THIS SCHEDULE IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE AT THE DISCRETION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Tuesday January 1, 2008 New Year’s Day
Monday January 21, 2008 Martin Luther King,Jr.’s Birthday
Monday February 18, 2008 Presidents’ Day
Tuesday April 29, 2008 Close at 4:30 p.m. Credit Union Annual Meeting
Monday May 26, 2008 Memorial Day
Friday July 4, 2008 Independence Day
Monday September 1, 2008 Labor Day
Monday October 13, 2008 Columbus Day
Tuesday November 11, 2008 Veterans’ Day
Thursday November 27, 2008 Thanksgiving Day
Wednesday December 24, 2008 Christmas Eve Close at 12:00 Noon
Thursday December 25, 2008 Christmas Day
Wednesday December 31, 2008 New Year’s Eve & Year End Processing Close at 1:00 p.m.
Thursday January 1, 2009 New Year’s Day
Holiday Policy: When some holidays fall on Saturday or Sunday, the preceding Friday and the following Monday are normally Federal Reserve Bank business days. Credit Union offices will be open on these same days unless notice otherwise is given.
eSTATEMENTS ON THE WEB
eStatements Now Available on the Internet
For FMCU members subscribing to the Credit Unions' HFS, Home Financial Services on the Internet, eStatements are now available. With eStatements, FMCU’s electronic version of your regular paper account statement, you opt to receive your account statement in electronic form only, in the same format as those you’ve previously received by mail. These electronic statements will be available to you quicker than the printed one's you receive in the mail.
eStatements will reduce the risk of having your statement lost or stolen and help prevent identity theft. You can print out your eStatement or save it to a computer file for long time storage. You can view your statement online 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. And eStatements are available for you up to 6 months starting from when you first receive the eStatement.
eStatement Signup Instructions--
Once you access your account in HFS, just click on the Services button located along with the other menu selections. Then select the “Change eStatement Options,” review the Electronic Consent Statement Options Change Form and click on “I agree” if you wish to continue. Provide your email address and then click on “Submit Changes.”
Each month you will receive an email notifying you that your statement is available online through the credit union’s secure HFS website.
If any questions concerning eStatements, contact the Credit Union--
This is a Free Service!
NEW BRANCH LOCATIONS
CONTINUING TO SERVE YOU BETTER—
NEW BRANCH OFFICE—“at The River”—
Ohatchee, Alabama
Fort McClellan Credit Union recently opened another new branch office in western Calhoun County located in Indian Village Plaza, Highway 77, Ohatchee, Alabama. The Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting Ceremonies were held September 8, 2006. The new branch, just across from the Town of Ohatchee’s municipal complex and post office, opened for member services August 29, 2006.
The Ohatchee community has been without a financial service facility for a few years. We appreciate having the opportunity to provide residents of Ohatchee and members in western Calhoun, Talladega, St. Clair, and Etowah Counties a shorter drive for their credit union services and other financial needs.
The new location provides a wide range of credit union financial services to include a 24-hour ATM machine, easy access, convenient parking and office hours Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. until 5 p.m.
NEW BRANCH OFFICE—Across from CCCTC—
Jacksonville, Alabama
The Credit Union recently relocated the Jacksonville branch office to 1204 Church Avenue SE, Jacksonville (Corner of Church Ave SE and White’s Gap Road SE).
The new branch office, just across from the Calhoun County Career Technical Center (CCCTC), opened for member services June 21, 2006. The new location provides three drive thru lanes, safe deposit boxes, through the wall drive-up ATM and night depository, easy access and convenient parking.
The previous location, which provided the first drive-thru window service and night depository for the credit union, and already equipped for a financial institution, was good for our members when we moved there in 1992.
We enjoyed the fact that the previous branch was a historic site, being the location of one of the original Creek Indian Trading Posts. And we enjoyed being on the Square and being part of historic downtown Jacksonville. But with membership growth, increase in services, increased traffic flow downtown and the physical layout of the building and other changes on the square, the previous office was no longer convenient for credit union members.
We needed additional service capacity in Jacksonville, to include safer accessibility to the office, multi drive-thru’s more lobby space, safe deposit boxes and the long awaited ATM machine!
The new 3,500 square foot facility is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. until 5 p.m., with the drive-thru window open until 6:00 p.m. Fridays.
ONE-STOP-SHOP FINANCING PROGRAM
If you are considering buying a new or used vehicle, you can avoid the extra time it takes going to the dealer and then to your Credit Union for financing. You can now get on the spot financing for your vehicle purchase through your Credit Union at participating dealers.
We are pleased to have the following dealers signed up and ready to put you behind the wheel of the vehicle of your choice:
Anniston Lincoln Mercury Dodge
Buster Miles Chevrolet
Buster Miles Heflin Ford
Cooper Chevrolet-Buick
Dunn Chevrolet Co. Inc., Roanoke, AL
Family Nissan
Lenn Costner Auto Sales
Lipscomb Auto Sales
Mullinax Auto Sales
Pee Wee Turner Motors
P.K. Brooks Used Cars
Classic Pontiac-Cadillac-GMC
Sunny King Ford-Mitsubishi
Sunny King Honda
Sunny King Toyota
Superior Hyundai
Superior Chrysler-Jeep
Fort McClellan Credit Union's One-Stop-Shop Financing Program- Saving you Time and Money with better service, better value and better rates.
Call for more details!
E-mail Fraud Alert
Recently, there have been multiple e-mail fraud attempts, known as Phishing, that were sent to some credit unions members that appeared to be from the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) or Credit Union National Association (CUNA). This false e-mail asked for the recipient to click on a link to verify their credit union account registration. If the recipient proceeded to do so, the link directed them to a false website and asked for their credit union account number and PIN, along with other personal information. The false email indicates that the senders have limited access to your account. No one has limited access to your account.
NCUA, CUNA, nor Fort McClellan Credit Union will ask credit union members for such personal information via e-mail. If you receive an e-mail that purports to be from NCUA, CUNA, or Fort McClellan Credit Union and asks for account information you should consider it to be fraudulent, and you should NOT follow the instructions in the e-mail.
If you responded to such an e-mail and provided any confidential account information, please notify Fort McClellan Credit Union immediately at 1-800-642-1220 or 1-256-237-2113.
CU Service Centers -- 46 States and Overseas
Over 2600 CU Service Center office locations to serve FMCU members. Offices located in 46 states and, through USA Federal Credit Unions' CU Service Center Outlets, services available in Yokota Japan, Seoul Korea, and Osan Korea. We also have offices in Puerto Rico, Germany and Italy.
To check out specific CU Service Center locations, click on our Locations & Hours page then click on the CU Service Centers, Inc. logo near the bottom of the page.
FMCU members may access their account(s) at any CU Service Center location and the service is free. You can check account balances, make deposits, withdrawals, transfer between savings and checking, make loan payments, cash checks, obtain money orders, travelers checks and other services. Service convenience just for credit union members. Check out a CU Service Center office near you.
CHECK CLEARING FOR THE 21ST CENTURY ACT
(AKA Check 21 Act)
CHECKS TO CLEAR FASTER WITH NEW LEGISLATION---
This legislation, passed by congress and signed into law by the president, clears the way to incorporate electronic technology that will streamline the traditional check processing system financial institutions have relied upon for many years. The purpose of the Act is to establish guidelines for truncating original checks and processing substitute checks in an effort to reduce cost, fraud and improve efficiency in the check collection system. Bottom Line? Your checks may clear your checking account from 0 to 1 day rather than the normal 1 to 3 days.
Truncation is the process of physically removing the check from the processing system and replacing that check with a substitute paper check. A substitute check is created from an electronic image of the front and back of the original check. The original check, if captured as an electronic image, may be removed from the system and processed as electronic data quickly and safely using state of the art electronic transmission technology. The processing time will be reduced and delays due to disruptions of our nations transportation system will be reduced. Furthermore, electronic transmission will help eliminate the possibility of checks being lost, stolen or destroyed. It will mean fewer individuals will come into contact with your information during the check clearing process. The minimized need for human contact will greatly reduce your potential exposure for identity theft.
Additionally, the amount of time between when a check is written and when the funds are actually debited from the account will be greatly reduced. This enhancement will reveal fraudulent activity much sooner.
Your account statements at FMCU will not be any different. And if you ever need a copy of your check, it will be available just the same as before Check 21.
SAVINGS OPPORTUNITIES WITH IRA's
Whether you are looking to save money for your secure retirement or set aside funds for education of a child or loved one, the NEW IRA provisions starting tax year 2002 will benefit you.
You already know you will keep more of your hard earned money, but are you aware of the advantage of the NEW exciting financial opportunities with IRA's?
* Annual IRA Contribution Limits increased for Tradition and Roth IRA's:
Tax Year 2002-2004 $3,000 for single and $6,000 for married filing jointly.
Tax Year 2005-2007 $4,000 for single and $8,000 for married filing jointly.
Tax Year 2008 $5,000 for single and $10,000 for married couples filing jointly.
* Additional Catch-up Contributions can be made by individuals age Fifty and over:
Tax Year 2002-2005 Workers 50 and older before the end of the taxable year may contribute and additional $500 per year.
Tax Year 2006 and thereafter, the catch-up
contribution is an additional $1,000 per year.
* A nonrefundable Tax Credit to certain individuals who make IRA contributions (the credit ranges from 0-50% of your contribution depending on your MAGI and the maximum annual contribution eligible for the credit is $2,000:
Applies to single filer with Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) of $25,000 or less; or
Head of household filer with MAGI of $37,500 or less; or
Joint filer with MAGI of $50,000 or less.
* Increased Portability for your retirement savings.
* Increase in the amount of money a beneficiary may receive in their Education IRA:
The new law increases the contribution limit of the Coverdell Education Savings Account, hereafter referred to as Education IRA, to $2,000 per year and increases the income limits to qualify if you are married filing jointly.
* Elementary and Secondary school expenses have been added to the list of qualified expenses that may be paid tax-free from an Education IRA:
Starting in tax year 2002, your Education IRA can be used not only for higher-education expenses, but also for K-12 costs. And qualified primary and secondary education expenses aren't limited to just tuition, fees and room and board. They also include uniforms, transportation, extended day care, and even home computers.
* Increase in phase-out range for married taxpayers filing jointly who wish to contribute to an Education IRA:
The new law increased the phase-out income range for contributions by joint filers from $150,000-$160,000 to $190,000-$220,000.
* Education IRA contribution deadline extended from December 31 to federal income tax filing deadline just like the Traditional and Roth IRA's.
All of this is good news. Come in or call to learn more on how we can help you take advantage of these and other retirement and education savings opportunities now available.
And if you've not made your IRA contributions for 2002 tax year, it's possible you may qualify for a full or partial tax-deduction of your Traditional IRA. You may also consider the Roth IRA that provides the opportunity to build retirement earnings tax free. Call or stop in soon. Your credit union offers a variety of deposit accounts for your IRAs.
VISA DEBIT CHECK CARD - - - FMCU's Green Card!
FMCU's VISA DEBIT CHECK CARD, is now available to Credit Union members.
A VISA DEBIT Check Card works like your ATM card, plus allows you to make purchases wherever VISA DEBIT Cards are accepted, without writing a check.
Your VISA DEBIT Check Card must be activated in an ATM machine before you make purchases.
And don't forget, when you make purchases and pay with your new Check Card, select
Credit and sign for your purchases.
For more information, or to apply for your VISA DEBIT Check Card, visit the nearest branch office or call 256-237-2113 (if long distance, call 800-642-1220).
Don't Wait, Apply Today!
ELECTRONIC BILL PAY
Web Pay Service Now Available--
Enjoy the convenience. Pay your bills electronically whenever you want, day or night! You choose when the funds will be removed from your checking account, as well as how much you pay.
For only $5.95 per month you can pay up to 15 payments per month and only 40 cents each for any additional payments.
Enter the Promo ID number 3671 when you enroll and receive your first month FREE!
MASTERCARD & VISA
No Teaser Rates......
The best deal in town is now even better! There is still no annual fee, no transaction fee on cash advances or balance transfers and the fixed annual percentage rate charged is one of the lowest you will find --- 9.9% A.P.R.
----And the 25 day grace period for repayment of balances for purchases with no finance charge still applies. A real example of where you really do
GET SOMETHING FOR NOTHING!!
-- that is,
NO FINANCE CHARGE
with purchases and repayment as stated above.
For more details or to apply for your card, visit a Fort McClellan Credit Union office or call Mail Phone Services at 256-237-2113 or 800-642-1220.
Build Your Checks Online or by Telephone
Become an architect with online or telephone check reordering
Fort McClellan Credit Union has added a new service that's sure to make your life more convenient: check reordering at your finger tips on the Web or by toll-free telephone. You can build a check to your specifications. Choose a check style and cover, select free typestyle and check enhancements and you'll know your final cost before you submit your reorder.
For your security, this Web-based and telephone platform requires your unique 12 digit member reorder identification number and check start number, located on your current reorder form. These two items are used to access a specific order during a reorder session, and can access only its associated order.
So take advantage of this quick, 24/7, easy and secure online or telephone check reordering method. Remember-you control what you want on your checks and the reorder isn't placed until you are satisfied with your results.
To place your reorder, just click on Check Re-orders with Liberty at the Credit Union Home Page or call 1-877-585-8777, the Credit Union's Check Re-Order System.
INTERNET CREDIT CARD MANAGEMENT PROGRAM
FMCU members now have complete access to one of their most important financial services--their credit cards. From a secure Web site, members may access current and past credit card statements and authorize payment via the Internet.
FMCU VISA and MASTERCARD holders may also obtain Account Summaries that include available credit, payment information, and credit limit at the date and time displayed. The Summary can also provide all recent transactions that have not yet been billed. In addition to their Account Summary, FMCU members can view several months of their credit card account history.
Members may also search for specific transactions, create customized reports, and obtain alert notification by e-mail when certain pre-specified events occur. Members may set alerts for:
* Credit limit being reached or exceeded
* When a new statement is available
* When the balance is within a certain amount of the credit limit
* When the balance exceeds or drops below a certain amount
* When a payment, credit, or return is posted to their account
* A posted item exceeds a certain amount
Once an event occurs and the notification has been sent, the alert is deactivated, but not removed from the list of saved alerts. FMCU members can reset alerts by clicking reset within the alert description section. The Web site will then send members an e-mail notification when the event occurs again. The alert may be deleted by the member at any time.
In addition to the above, members can download credit card information to use with their own money management software.
To enroll and access this free service, FMCU cardholders can visit www.ezcardinfo.com or from Fort McClellan Credit Unions' Web site-- fortmcclellancu.org and click on FMCU Credit Cards or Credit Card Statement.
Home Financial Services (HFS)-
HFS is an Internet based financial service available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, which provides visual access to your account as well as other services. You can check your account balances, transfer funds between checking and savings and make transfers for loan payments. You can also make transfers from your Credit Union Line of Credit Loan to your checking or savings. You can print your account information plus, you can download your account information into Quicken or MS Money for complete personal financial control.
In addition to checking your account balances, you can see history of checks that have cleared your account and verify deposits. You can view your account history for the current and three previous months and view your account statement information on-line--anytime. AND NOW AVAILABLE, eSTATEMENTS! YOUR LAST SIX MONTHS OF STATEMENTS IN THE SAME FORMAT AS THOSE YOU RECEIVE IN THE MAIL AND AVAILABLE SOONER. By signing up for eStatements, you eliminate the statements sent through the US Postal Service, reducing the risk of having your paper statements lost or stolen and helps prevent identity theft. You can view your eStatements on-line, print them out and or save your statement to to a computer file for long-time storage. Other HFS services on-line include calculators for loan payments and accumulated savings or deposits, loan and credit card applications, and applications for HFS access and Credit Union membership.
Register today for HFS. We'll always be there for you. Contact us today for details on how you may apply for Home Financial Services or just apply on line.
This internet account access is provided as a complimentary FREE service available to all members maintaining checking accounts in good standing.
