Member Matters - Tucoemas Federal Credit Union

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Mailing Address
Third Quarter 2012
FOR ALL BRANCHES
P.O. Box 5011
Visalia, CA 93278-5011
To ensure your payments, deposits, and
other correspondence are received by
the credit union on time, please use the
mailing address above. Correspondence
addressed to a physical branch location
(street address) may be returned to you
by the post office.
Member Matters
HELPING HANDS
A newsletter for every stage of your financial life.
VISALIA
With the fall and winter seasons fast approaching, persons experiencing hair loss from chemotherapy or other medical conditions are in need of hats to keep warm. TUCOEMAS Federal Credit Union is proud to sponsor the annual
“Hats for Hope” Open House - where the community is invited to come together to make one-of-a-kind hats that
are comfortable, unique, and celebrate life. We invite you to join us during Breast Cancer Awareness Month as we
acknowledge, honor, and show respect for those facing a particularly challenging time.
5222 W. Cypress Ave.
Visalia, CA 93277
(559) 732-8892
KNITTING / CROCHETING OPEN HOUSE
Saturday - October 6th, 2012 8:00AM - 2:00PM
EVENT LOCATION
LOCATIONS
2300 W. Whitendale Ave.
Visalia, CA 93277
(559) 732-8892
PORTERVILLE
TUCOEMAS Federal Credit Union
2300 West Whitendale Avenue, Visalia, CA 93277
1389 W. Henderson Ave.
Porterville, CA 93257
(559) 784-8892
Have the knack for knitting/crocheting? All experience levels are welcome! Stop by our Whitendale Branch on
October 6th, 2012 to donate your talent and time for a great cause. We encourage participants to bring their own
looms, needles, and yarn. A limited amount of yarn and looms will be provided at the event, along with light refreshments. All “Hats for Hope” hats and blankets will be donated to the American Cancer Society, Sequoia Regional
Cancer Center, Bryson Cancer Treatment Center, Sierra View Hospital, Tulare and other local cancer treatment
centers and charities to benefit those in need. We appreciate your support of this important cause.
TULARE
1233 E. Prosperity Ave.
Tulare, CA 93274
(559) 685-8892
OFFICE HOURS
Mon - Thurs 9:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Friday 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Whitendale Drive-Up:
Mon - Fri 8:30 AM - 6:00 PM
PHONE NUMBERS
TELLERPHONE
Visalia / Tulare: (559) 737-5722
Porterville: (559) 781-8643
HOW YOU CAN HELP
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Make a Hat (all sizes are needed - child, adult, male, & female)
Donate a Hat (all sizes are needed - child, adult, male, & female)
Donate Hat Making Supplies (Yarn, looms, & needles)
Lap Robes are also needed (3 x 5 lap blanket)
Not able to attend the event? Drop off your knitted hats, blankets or donations to any of our branches.
Cash/Check donations to the American Cancer Society.
For more information and to reserve your spot, call Sandy Collins at (559) 737-5920
LOAN RATES
Fall Home Expo - September 22nd & 23rd
(559) 737-5740
CERTIFICATE RATES
(559) 737-5718
TUCOEMAS members are invited to this year’s fall
DEFERRED COMP. RATES
home show to see the latest ideas in home decorating
(559) 737-5719
and remodeling. Whether you’re in the market for a
VISA DIRECT
new home, or want to remodel your existing space,
(559) 737-5746
AMUSEMENT PARK TICKET INFO
TUCOEMAS has a loan program that’s right for you.
(559) 737-5774
Visit our booth at the Visalia Home Expo scheduled for September 22nd & 23rd at the Visalia Convention Center.
ONLINE
Complimentary VIP tickets will be distributed with member statements in early September and additional tickets will be
www.tucoemas.org
EMAIL
HOLIDAYS
[email protected]
OFFICES CLOSED
IN THIS ISSUE
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Rates as low as 1.99%*
Exclusive offer for members!
Credit vs. Debit
Identity Theft Scam
 Smishing - Text Messages
Keeping Important Documents Safe
 Safe Deposit Box
Car Buying Toolkit
Rates as low as
THE
GREATEST
APR*
SUMMER
Make no payments for 90 days!*
SALE!
 Car buying made easier
Protecting Your Vehicle
 Mechanical Breakdown Insurance
Bulletin Board
 Notice of Annual IRA/ESA Admin. Fee
 Funds Availability Policy
 Credit Card Disclosure
Amusement Park Tickets
 Same money on your vacation
Hats for Hope
 Join us October 6th, 2012
The Visalia Home Expo will also host the fun and exciting Kids’ Cook-Off on Saturday, September 22nd. Children ages 6-14
 Home Loan Needs
 Kids’ Cook-Off Competition
com until the September 9th deadline. All submissions will then go to the Institute of Technology’s Culinary Academy
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1.99
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Summer Auto Loan Special
Fall Home Expo - September 2012
Two of Tulare County’s best, TUCOEMAS Federal Credit Union and the Groppetti Automotive
Family, have teamed up for low rates and special offers just for you!
Save green in more ways than one! With high gas prices and the poor air quality in the
valley, it makes sense to purchase an environmentally friendly vehicle. Not only will you
save money on gas, you will be helping clean up the valley air! It gets even better - you
will receive special rates as low as 1.99% APR* rate when you purchase a hybrid vehicle,
Nissan Leaf or a vehicle with 33+ mpg highway or higher.
Purchase a new or used vehicle by July 9th, 2012 and you will receive an exceptionally low
interest rate and have the option to make no payments for 90 days!*
TUCOEMAS Members:
Receive one additional year of complimentary scheduled maintenance1!
This offer is only valid with the submission of this coupon to a Groppetti Automotive Family Dealership prior to the execution
of the Purchase Contract. One extra year per vehicle purchased. Valid only on new vehicles purchased at a Groppetti
Automotive Family Dealership and financed with TUCOEMAS Federal Credit Union;
Offer expires July 9th, 2012.
where the staff will select five finalists in two age groups (6-10 and 11-14).
Be sure to visit our booth for current home loan rates or contact our Real Estate Department at (559) 737-5780.
LABOR DAY
th
available in all branch locations beginning in September.
who reside in Fresno, Kern, Kings and Tulare County are eligible to submit their recipes online at www.VisaliaHomeShows.
TimeOffer
isends
running
out!
July 9 , 2012
*APR = Annual Percentage Rate. Actual rate depends upon credit history and other factors. Rate applies to model years 2011 or newer. Lowest rate shown includes .25% automatic
payment discount, .25% discount for 80% Loan-To-Value (LTV) and .50% discount if your purchase a hybrid vehicle, Nissan Leaf or a vehicle with 33+ mpg highway or higher when
financing up to 60 months. Rates are not available for refinancing existing TUCOEMAS loans. Rates subject to change without notice. Interest will continue to accrue over the 90 days.
Monday, September 3 , 2012
rd
1This offer is only valid with the submission of this coupon to a Groppetti Automotive Family Dealership prior to the execution of the Purchase Contract. One extra year per vehicle
purchased. Valid only on new vehicles purchased at a Groppetti Automotive Family Dealership and financed with TUCOEMAS Federal Credit Union; all previously owned vehicles
are excluded. Offer expires July 9th, 2012.
Federally Insured by NCUA.
www.tucoemas.org
CHOOSING “CREDIT” VS “DEBIT”
“Credit or Debit?” You probably hear that
it. If the money comes from your checking
a lot at the checkout counters of stores
account either way, why should it matter
when you hand them your check card for
which option you choose?
a purchase. You answer “Debit,” right?
Not necessarily. If you answer the wrong
Protect Yourself
way, you may be cheating yourself out of
For all purchases, especially when dealing
important consumer protection and into
with an unfamiliar merchant, you should
unnecessary fees.
choose the “credit” (no-PIN) option. It
provides you with consumer safeguards
Keeping Important Documents Safe
Protect Your Vehicle
Against Mechanical Failures
You Are Probably Thinking, “Why Do I Need a Safe Deposit Box?”
The reasons are fairly easy to come by. Just take a look around your house. Use the handy
checklist below to determine where some of your most valuable items are being kept. If they
aren’t being stored in safe locations, bring them in to the Whitendale branch for peace of mind.
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Birth Certificates
Stock Certificates
Heirloom Jewelry
Military Records
Home Inventory Video
Military Medals
Important Keys
Social Security Cards
Will
Income Tax Returns
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Avoid costly auto repairs that may occur
after your manufacturer’s warranty expires
and increase the resale value of your
vehicle with transferable Mechanical
Passports
Insurance Contracts
Property Deeds
Rare Coins
Your Children’s Artwork
Wedding Photographs
Home Inventory List
Marriage Certificate
Family Photographs
Wedding Video
Breakdown Insurance (MBI).
MBI is very much like the extended
warranties offered by auto dealers, yet
less expensive.
The claims process is
TUCOEMAS Federal Credit Union’s Visa
you don’t get with a “debit” option or
check card (also known as a debit card)
when paying by check or cash. So if the
can be used instead of checks at merchants
new dining room table arrives with a big
who accept Visa debit cards. You can also
gouge in it and the store where you bought
use it for online purchases and at ATMs. In
it refuses to take responsibility, you may be
“How Long Will It Take to Get a Safe Deposit Box?”
all cases, the funds spent are debited, or
able to “charge back” the purchase price
Not long. Actually, it is a very simple process. The longest part will
When you are ready to sell your vehicle, the
subtracted, from your checking account.
if you purchase the table with the “credit”
be the time it takes to gather all your valuable items before coming
coverage may be transferred to a new private owner or you can get a prorated refund. For a
If you choose “debit”, you must punch in
(no-PIN) option.
to the credit union. Once you are ready, visit the Whitendale branch and you will receive your
free quote or to learn more about the Mechanical Breakdown Insurance offered to TUCOEMAS
box and keys. It’s that simple.
Federal Credit Union members, contact a loan representative at the branch nearest you.
your card’s personal identification number
simple - your vehicle may be repaired at
any licensed facility in the United States or
Canada with prior approval.
Size
(PIN) on the keyboard provided and the
Avoid Fees
transaction is processed.
TUCOEMAS doesn’t charge you any fees
“How Much Will a Safe Deposit Box Cost Me?”
for using the “credit” option for your check
The size you choose will depend on what you intend to store in the safe
You could choose to have the purchase
card. When you choose the “debit” option,
Notice of Annual IRA/ESA Administration Fee
not be available until the fifth business day
deposit box. We have various sizes to choose from – the prices are listed to
processed as a “credit” transaction and
even for a small purchase - $30 to top off
A $12 annual fee for IRA/ESA administration
after the day of your deposit. The first $200
you will be asked to sign for purchases
your gas tank or a quick trip to your local
the right.  Availability is on a first come, first serve basis. Ask a teller for details
will be effective September 1st, 2012. Fee
of your deposits must be available on the first
over $25, rather than entering a PIN. Even
grocery store, you will be charged a small
schedules available at any branch location.
business day after your deposit.
though it’s called “credit”, the transaction
pass-thru fee. You may also incur a fee by
is considered an account debit. Your
a merchant or its processor for using your
Funds Availability Policy
California Credit Card Disclosure
purchase will still be deducted from your
check card, and it will appear on your
checking account, and you won’t get
statement. You won’t be hit by such a fee if
a Visa bill. It is only called a “credit”
you use the card’s “credit” (no-PIN) option.
Financial institutions across the country are reporting that their members are receiving unsolicited text
messages.  It’s an attempt at smishing, the latest form of phishing. In smishing, an e-mail tries to lure a
recipient into giving personal information via SMS, the communications protocol used to send text messages
to a wireless device.
In smishing, the members receive a text message via cell phone warning that their account has been closed
due to suspicious activity. It then tells them they need to call a certain phone number to reactivate the
account and when the member calls, they are asked to provide their debit/credit account numbers and PIN.
To reduce your risk of becoming a victim of smishing, follow the tips below:
• Be wary of any message received from an unknown sender.
• Do not open unsolicited e-mails or text messages and do not click on any links provided in those e-mails.
• Contact your wireless or Internet service provider about unwanted messages.
A $15.00 key deposit is required for
a new safe deposit box. Deposit is
refunded upon return of both keys to
the credit union.
or call (559) 732-8892, ext. 5679.
The perfect gift everytime,
VISA Gift Card
®
Make anyone happy with a VISA® Gift Card! Save time and
money and avoid the hassles of looking for the perfect gift.
Our V ISA® g ift card works j ust like cash and can be used
almost anywhere VISA® debit is accepted. When you give a
prepaid gift card, t he r eceiver i s able to r egister the card
online to check balances and monitor transactions. Give the
gift that offers choices and will save you time and money!
transaction because Visa USA processes
Identity Theft Scam - “Smishing”
BULLETIN BOARD
Car buying toolkit
Navigating Your Way to a Successful Vehicle
Purchase
To best prepare yourself, start with a money management
plan to learn what you can afford for a down payment and a
total monthly expense. Next, review your credit and develop
an understanding of how it will affect your financing for the
vehicle. Then, tackle the remaining elements of the vehicle
purchase – decide what exactly you are looking for.
You can find helpful tools on the www.tucoemas.org website to do your research, and how to get the
best deal for you. Follow the steps in the Drive Away Happy module from BalanceTrack, which covers
TUCOEMAS Federal Credit Union will never send an e-mail or text message asking you to provide personal the basic information you need to know to make the best decisions and gets you on your way to owning
or private information. Should you receive any questionable messages, DO NOT reply - please contact a vehicle. You can find more information at: https://www.balancepro.net/carbuying/
the credit union at (559) 732-8892 immediately.
Member Matters
Our policy is to make funds from your
deposited funds available to you on the
first business day after the day we receive
your deposit. Electronic direct deposits will
be available on the day we receive the
deposit. Once the funds are available, you
can withdraw them in cash and we will use
them to pay checks you have written.
For determining the availability of your
Minimum payment warning: Making only
the minimum payment will increase the
interest you pay and the time it takes to
repay your balance.
Member Discounts
Amusement Park Tickets
deposits, every day is a business day, except
• 1-Day Disney Hopper
Saturdays, Sundays, and Federal holidays.
• 2-Day Disney Hopper
If you make a deposit before 3 p.m. on
a business day that we are open, we will
• Magic Mountain
consider that day to be the day of your
• Universal Studios
deposit. However, if you make a deposit
• Wild Water Adventures
after 3 p.m. or on a day we are not open,
we will consider that the deposit was made
on the next business day we are open.
In some cases, we will not make all of the
funds that you deposit by check available
to you on the same business day that you
make your deposit. Depending on the
The above tickets are available to TUCOEMAS FCU
members only. For ticket availability information,
call our Amusement Park Ticket Hot Line at 7375774 or visit our website. TUCOEMAS also offers a
Family Fun Pack that includes a variety of discount
coupons to other attractions. The Fun Packs are
available free of charge at all branch locations.
type of check that you deposit, funds may
Third Quarter 2012