FOR THE MEMBERS OF COLUMBUS METRO FEDERAL CREDIT … · account that you can access quickly....

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FOR THE MEMBERS OF COLUMBUS METRO FEDERAL CREDIT UNION CREDIT Views FALL 2017 CALL FOR APPLICATIONS Credit unions are member-owned cooperatives, and this is your chance to participate in the democratic process. We are currently accepting nominations to fill three positions on our board of directors. To be considered, you must be, at a minimum, a credit union member in good standing and willing to serve on a volunteer basis. You should be able to dedicate a few hours each month to board activities, including a meeting during regular business hours. To apply, send your résumé or a brief summary of your qualifications to: Nominating Committee Columbus Metro FCU PO Box 13240 Columbus, OH 43213-0240 Applications must be received by November 10, 2017, to be considered. Inside: 2 3 5 4 Your Dream NFL Season Could Come True Know Before You Buy With CARFAX Gift Cards Simple Ways To Fight Fraud www.columbusmetro.org EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED Stuff happens – cars break down, people get sick, appliances stop working at the most inconvenient times. But you can minimize the disruption and financial stress by having a ‘Plan B.’ Build an emergency fund Experts recommend that you keep three to six months’ worth of household expenses in a savings account that you can access quickly. Don’t lock up those funds in a certificate or investment account; a savings or money market account is the ideal place to stash this cash. If you don’t have an emergency fund yet, start by setting aside a little bit every payday. Having just $500 on hand can make a big difference. Opt in to Courtesy Pay If you have a Columbus Metro checking account, Courtesy Pay can be a lifesaver. It allows us to cover your transactions even when your checking account runs a little short. It doesn’t cost anything to have this coverage just in case – you’ll only be charged when and if you use it. We waive the Courtesy Pay fee for any transaction that overdraws your account by less than $10. The fee for transactions that overdraw your account by $10 or more is $25. If you’re not sure if you have Courtesy Pay, we’ll be glad to check your account. Set up a line of credit A line of credit puts extra funds at your disposal whenever you need them. You’re probably already using a line of credit in the form of a credit card. Many members also choose to have our Metro Line instead of – or in addition to – a credit card. You might use your credit card for everyday purchases and keep the Metro Line as a backup in case of an emergency. Whether you choose our Visa Platinum ® card, Metro Line or both, it doesn’t cost anything just to have them. To learn more about any of these, visit www.columbusmetro.org.

Transcript of FOR THE MEMBERS OF COLUMBUS METRO FEDERAL CREDIT … · account that you can access quickly....

Page 1: FOR THE MEMBERS OF COLUMBUS METRO FEDERAL CREDIT … · account that you can access quickly. Don’t lock up those funds in a certificate or investment account; a savings or money

FOR THE MEMBERS OF COLUMBUS METRO FEDERAL CREDIT UNION

CREDITViewsF

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CALL FOR APPLICATIONS

Credit unions are member-owned cooperatives, and this is your chance to participate in the democratic process.

We are currently accepting nominations to fill three positions on our board of directors. To be considered, you must be, at a minimum, a credit union member in good standing and willing to serve on a volunteer basis. You should be able to dedicate a few hours each month to board activities, including a meeting during regular business hours.

To apply, send your résumé or a brief summary of your qualifications to:

Nominating Committee Columbus Metro FCU PO Box 13240 Columbus, OH 43213-0240

Applications must be received by November 10, 2017, to be considered.

Inside:23

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Your Dream NFL Season Could Come True

Know Before You Buy With CARFAX

Gift Cards

Simple Ways To Fight Fraud

www.columbusmetro.org

EXPECT THE UNEXPECTEDStuff happens – cars break down, people get sick, appliances stop working at the most inconvenient times. But you can minimize the disruption and financial stress by having a ‘Plan B.’

Build an emergency fundExperts recommend that you keep three to six months’ worth of household expenses in a savings account that you can access quickly. Don’t lock up those funds in a certificate or investment account; a savings or money market account is the ideal place to stash this cash. If you don’t have an emergency fund yet, start by setting aside a little bit every payday. Having just $500 on hand can make a big difference.

Opt in to Courtesy PayIf you have a Columbus Metro checking account, Courtesy Pay can be a lifesaver. It allows us to cover your transactions even when your checking account runs a little short. It doesn’t cost anything to have this coverage just in case – you’ll only be charged when and if you use it. We waive the Courtesy Pay fee for any transaction that overdraws your account by less than $10. The fee for transactions that overdraw your account by $10 or more is $25. If you’re not sure if you have Courtesy Pay, we’ll be glad to check your account.

Set up a line of credit A line of credit puts extra funds at your disposal whenever you need them. You’re probably already using a line of credit in the form of a credit card. Many members also choose to have our Metro Line instead of – or in addition to – a credit card. You might use your credit card for everyday purchases and keep the Metro Line as a backup in case of an emergency. Whether you choose our Visa Platinum® card, Metro Line or both, it doesn’t cost anything just to have them.

To learn more about any of these, visit www.columbusmetro.org.

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Super Money Market$20,000 minimum ........ 0.25% APY$50,000 or more ..........0.45% APY

6 Month Share or IRA Certificate$1,000 minimum ......... 0.35% APY

12 Month Share or IRA Certificate$500 minimum ............. 0.55% APY

15 Month Share or IRA Certificate$500 minimum ............. 0.55% APYAllows deposits of $250 or more

36 Month Share or IRA Certificate$500 minimum ............. 1.05% APY

60 Month Share or IRA Certificate$500 minimum ............. 1.70% APY

Education Growth Fund Certificate$250 minimum ............. 2.25% APY

Vehicle Loan (2016 to 2017)As low as ...................... 3.99%*Up to 72 months

Vehicle Loan (2012 to 2015)As low as ...................... 4.49%*Up to 66 months

Vehicle Loan (2011 & older)As low as ...................... 5.99%*Up to 60 months

Credit CardsVisa Platinum .... 9.90-13.90% APR*

Home Equity Loan—Fixed RateCall for ratesUp to 180 months

Home Equity Line of CreditRedi-Line ......................3.75% APR

First MortgagesContact Jenniffer McNamee at ext. 3026or [email protected]

Rates current as of 09/08/17 and subject to change without notice. See a Member Services Representative for full details. APY = Annual Percentage Yield. APR = Annual Percentage Rate. Loans made subject to standard loan approval guidelines. *The rate you pay may vary based on your credit history and/or loan-to-value ratio.

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Federally insured by NCUA

YOUR DREAM NFL SEASON COULD COME TRUEThis could be your dream NFL season. When you pay with your Columbus Metro Visa Platinum through December 31, 2017, you’re entered to win these monthly NFL prizes:

October: Trip for two to the 2018 Pro Bowl and VIP Experience in Orlando November: Trip for two to Super Bowl LII in Minneapolis

December: 2018-2019 NFL regular season tickets for two – you choose the team

No matter how you pay, choose Visa. See details at www.Visa.com/NFLdreamseason.

NO PURCHASE OR OBLIGATION NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. Open only to legal US and DC residents, 18 or older as of 9/1/17. Void in PR and where prohibited. For complete details including Non-Purchase Entries, see Official Rules at www.Visa.com/NFLdreamseason. PIN-based and ATM transactions are not eligible. October Prize: Automatic entries must be received by 11:59:59 PM PT 10/31/17. Mail-in entries must be postmarked by 10/31/17 and received by 11/7/17. November Prize: Automatic entries must be received by 11:59:59 PM PT 11/30/17. Mail-in entries must be postmarked by 11/30/17 and received by 12/7/17. December Prize: Automatic entries must be received by 11:59:59 PM PT 12/31/17. Mail-in entries must be postmarked by 12/31/17 and received by 1/8/18. Sweepstakes ends 12/31/17. The NFL Entities have not offered or sponsored this Sweepstakes in any way.

DREAMS THRIVE HEREOn October 19, credit unions around the world celebrate International Credit Union Day

Why do over 231 million people worldwide choose credit unions? Because credit unions have a “people-first” philosophy that impels them to constantly improve the communities and lives of their members.

As cooperative and democratic financial institutions, credit unions’ success depends on the success of their members and their community. Your best interest is in our best interest. This October 19, Columbus Metro will join more than 68,000 credit unions from 109 countries to celebrate International Credit Union Day®.

Credit unions strive to make the world a better place for their members by offering affordable rates and high quality service that simplifies their lives and empowers them to meet their financial goals. Unlike other financial institutions, credit unions are not-for-profit, so their primary purpose isn’t to score record profits in order to cut distant shareholders bigger dividend checks. Rather, the primary purpose of a credit union is – and has always been – to be of service to their members.

This International Credit Union Day, know that we exist to help our members chase and achieve their biggest dreams in life …. Dreams Thrive Here.

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SIMPLE WAYS TO FIGHT FRAUDFraud today comes in many forms. In the past few weeks alone, our members have: • Received fraudulent phone calls or text messages requesting information like

account or debit card numbers; • Used an ATM or paid at a gas pump only to find out that their credit or

debit card information had been captured by a skimmer; and • Paid a bill with a check that was stolen and cashed by someone other

than the original payee.

While fraud – or the potential for it – is everywhere, there are simple, practical things you can do to protect yourself. Here are a few:

1. Do not provide personal or financial account information in response to unsolicited emails, text messages or phone calls. If you think it might be legitimate, call us at 614.239.0210 or 800.986.3876 to verify.

2. Keep your contact information up-to-date. Be sure to let us know when you move or change your phone number or email address so that you always receive important account information in a timely manner.

3. Review your account regularly. MetroWeb and MetroWeb Mobile are the best ways to monitor your account. Log on regularly to check your balance and review your transaction history to be sure that there is no unauthorized activity on your accounts.

4. Sign up for e-statements and direct deposit. Paper statements with your account information can be intercepted in the mail and paper checks can be lost or stolen.

5. Set up alerts through MetroWeb. We can automatically notify you by text or email when an account goes above or below a certain balance, when a transaction over a certain amount clears your account, when someone makes an invalid attempt to log in to your account, and more. Simply log on to the desktop (not mobile) version of MetroWeb, click on the Settings tab and choose Alerts to see what’s available and sign up.

6. Pay bills online or set up automatic debits from your Columbus Metro checking account. Not only is it safer than writing and mailing a check, it’s more convenient and the merchant almost always receives your payment sooner.

If you have any questions or if there is anything we can do to help, stop in any of our offices or give us a call at 614.239.0210 or 800.986.3876.

NEW GUIDELINES FOR CREATING PASSWORDSTurns out passwords that are a string of random letters, numbers and special characters are as easy to crack as they are hard to remember.

Experts at the National Institute of Standards & Technology just released new guidance for strong passwords. The most important factor in password strength is length – NIST recommends at least eight characters and up to 64. But it doesn’t have to be complicated. It can be a series of four or five typical English words mashed together. It’s the combination of words and the length of the password that make it hard to crack.

So, say goodbye to ‘P@s$w0rd1’, hello ‘coyotehousecalculatorsun’.

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BY PHONE614.239.0210800.986.3876

BY FAX614.239.0988

BY [email protected]

BY MAILP.O. Box 13240Columbus, OH 43213-0240

VISIT US4000 E. Broad St.Columbus, OH 43213

6623 E. Main St.Reynoldsburg, OH 43068

5600 N. Hamilton Rd. Gahanna, OH 43230

DSCC Building 20Room B110S

DFAS Building 21Room A132

24-HOUR SERVICESMetroWebwww.columbusmetro.org

Bill Pay Support844.357.5638

Visa® Balance & Payment Inquiries800.442.4757www.gotomycard.com

Lost or Stolen Visa800.442.4757

Lost or Stolen Debit MasterCard®

800.528.2273

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KNOW BEFORE YOU BUY WITH CARFAXCARFAX® reports contain important information that can help you make a more informed decision about a used car.

Accident & Damage History • Service Records • Ownership History Odometer Rollback • Open Recalls

Every CARFAX report checks for:

• Recall information • Accident and damage indicators, including frame or structural damage • Service and repair information • Vehicle usage (taxi, rental, lease, etc.) • Lemon history • Salvaged, Junked or Flood titles • Odometer readings

To order your CARFAX report, call one of our lending professionals at 614.239.0210 or 800.986.3876 and provide them with the VIN(s) of the vehicle(s) you would like to check, or visit www.columbusmetro.org/WhatsNew.

DON’T BUY A NEW CAR ON A WHIMThe new car itch can sneak up on you when you least expect it. A neighbor washes their brand new car in the driveway. A friend picks you up in their shiny new ride. Next thing you know, you’re at the dealer choosing a color.

While it’s tempting to start looking right away, you’re always better off if you do your homework. Visit websites to preview some of the vehicles you’re considering. Check out safety reports, fuel economy ratings and resale values. Read consumer reviews from actual owners, test drive a friend’s vehicle and talk to family and friends. If you go to the dealership prepared, you’ll walk away with a better deal. Popular sites to visit include:

• U.S. Department of Energy: www.fueleconomy.gov • National Highway Traffic Safety Administration: www.nhtsa.gov • NADA Price Guides: www.nadaguides.com • Edmunds: www.edmunds.com • Consumer Reports: www.consumerreports.org

Convenient financing at the dealerWhen you’re ready to shop, be sure to visit one of our Metro Direct dealer partners. When you find a vehicle, let them know you want to finance with Columbus Metro. They do all the paperwork, and you get the same low rate and flexible terms you’d get if you came to our branch.

For a list of Metro Direct participating dealers, visit www.columbusmetro.org/Products/Loans/MetroDirect.

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I M A G I N E T H E P O S S I B I L I T I E S

Any reason is a good reason, because it’s really all about them.

Want to Know More? Visit:

New couples

New homeowners

New parents

And everyone in-between!

Purchase fee of up to $6.95. Monthly inactivity fee of $2.95 after 12 consecutive months of inactivity. Lost/stolen replacement card fee of $5.00. Visa® gift cards and MasterCard gift cards are issued by MetaBank™, Member FDIC. MasterCard is a registered trademark of MasterCard

International Incorporated.

[Logo Here]

GIFT CARDSI M A G I N E T H E P O S S I B I L I T I E S

Any reason is a good reason, because it’s really all about them.

Want to Know More? Visit:

New couples

New homeowners

New parents

And everyone in-between!

Purchase fee of up to $6.95. Monthly inactivity fee of $2.95 after 12 consecutive months of inactivity. Lost/stolen replacement card fee of $5.00. Visa® gift cards and MasterCard gift cards are issued by MetaBank™, Member FDIC. MasterCard is a registered trademark of MasterCard

International Incorporated.

[Logo Here]

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P.O. Box 13240Columbus, OH 43213-0240

Presorted STDU.S. Postage

PAIDWC

VETERANS DAY Saturday, November 11

THANKSGIVING DAY Thursday, November 23

CHRISTMAS DAY Monday, December 25

NEW YEAR’S DAY Monday, January 1

CREDITViews

A GREAT WAY TO SAVE

Make the most of your investment dollars with secure savings at our best rates. Share certificates can be opened with as little as $500, and terms ranging from two to 60 months allow you to customize your certificate to your savings goals.

For your peace of mind, your account is federally insured to $250,000 by the NCUA, a U.S. government agency. We offer an additional $250,000 in coverage through Excess Share Insurance, the nation’s largest private deposit insurer. And, Columbus Metro has been awarded the 5-Star Superior rating for safety and soundness for BauerFinancial, www.bauerfinancial.com.

Stop in any of our offices or call us at 614.239.0210 or 800.986.3876 ext. 3404 to open a share certificate today.

GIFT CARDSI M A G I N E T H E P O S S I B I L I T I E S

Any reason is a good reason, because it’s really all about them.

Want to Know More? Visit:

New couples

New homeowners

New parents

And everyone in-between!

Purchase fee of up to $6.95. Monthly inactivity fee of $2.95 after 12 consecutive months of inactivity. Lost/stolen replacement card fee of $5.00. Visa® gift cards and MasterCard gift cards are issued by MetaBank™, Member FDIC. MasterCard is a registered trademark of MasterCard

International Incorporated.

[Logo Here]

GIFT CARDSI M A G I N E T H E P O S S I B I L I T I E S

Any reason is a good reason, because it’s really all about them.

Want to Know More? Visit:

New couples

New homeowners

New parents

And everyone in-between!

Purchase fee of up to $6.95. Monthly inactivity fee of $2.95 after 12 consecutive months of inactivity. Lost/stolen replacement card fee of $5.00. Visa® gift cards and MasterCard gift cards are issued by MetaBank™, Member FDIC. MasterCard is a registered trademark of MasterCard

International Incorporated.

[Logo Here]