Securityplus FCU - Sharing Times
  Summer 2012    

Countries Blocked From Processing Visa® Transactions
As a fraud prevention measure, the following countries are currently
‘blocked’ from allowing transactions on Securityplus FCU Visa Credit Cards, Check Cards and ATM Cards.

If you plan to travel to any of the above countries or conduct transactions through an online retailer located within any of these countries, you will need to fill out a ‘Travel Authorization Form’ so that your card can be excluded from the ‘block’ and you may use your card with confidence.

Securely submit a form electronically through Online Banking by clicking on the ‘Forms’ tab and selecting ‘Travel Authorization Form.’ There’s no need to come into a branch, though you can always stop by a branch or contact the Call Center at 410-965-8908 or 1-866-4SECPLUS to request a form.

Important: Even if the country you plan to visit is not on the ‘blocked’ list, let us know your travel plans. As a protective measure for our members, transactions may be blocked if they appear to be suspicious. This includes use of your card in places that are not ordinary for you, such as in other parts of the country or overseas.

The U.S. Government has placed sanctions on the following countries:
  • Balkans/Bulgaria/Serbia
  • Burma/Myanmar
  • Belarus
  • Cote d’Ivoire
    (Ivory Coast)
  • Cuba
  • Democratic Republic of the Congo
  • Iran
  • Iraq
  • Lebanon
  • Liberia
  • Libya
  • North Korea
  • Somalia
  • Sudan
  • Syria
  • Zimbabwe

Your Visa Credit, Debit and ATM cards cannot be used in these countries.

Open the Door to
Homeownership
Whether you’re a first-time homebuyer or are moving up, sizing down or refinancing an existing mortgage, count on
Securityplus FCU for:
  • Competitive Rates
  • Low Closing Costs
  • Conventional/ First Mortgages
  • FHA Loans
  • Unmatched Personal Service

What are you waiting for? We can save you both time and money. You can expect no surprises. We will inform you upfront of applicable fees and underwriting guidelines. We will also recommend the mortgage program that is right for your individual needs.

Are you a first-time homebuyer? Buying and owning a home is often one of the most rewarding experiences in your life — it can also be overwhelming. We will assist you through every step of the process, from start to finish. Our knowledgeable staff can answer all of your questions, give you important tips and even help you complete all the paperwork necessary to own a home.

Even if you’ve recently started the home buying process with another lender, you could still be pre-approved for a mortgage or refinance from Securityplus FCU, which could mean big savings. Let us help you determine how much you can save.

Mortgage Loan Counselor Toby Green is available by appointment to help you choose the right loan. Contact Toby via:

Email: toby.green@securityplusfcu.org
Office: 410-281-6213
Cell: 410-456-6521

Visit www.securityplusfcu.org to learn more about our mortgage products.

Apply for a Loan Right
at the Dealer

As a member of Securityplus FCU, you can visit over 225 car dealers in Baltimore and D.C., choose a new or used vehicle and finance it through the Credit Union without coming into a branch.

Simply take your CUALN Passport to any participating dealership, choose a vehicle and get on-the-spot financing. The dealer will complete the paperwork and send it to us. It’s that easy!

Visit www.cualn.com to find the nearest dealer and to print a CUALN Passport.

CUALN Passport – Get Started!

Visit www.cualn.com and click on the “Credit union members get started here” link.

Step #1 — Choose Securityplus FCU from the dropdown menu.

Step #2 — Use the interactive DealerMap to find the dealer(s) you would like to visit.

Step #3 — Create and print your CUALN Passport coupon; you must print a separate passport for each dealer you plan to visit.

Turn Everyday Visa Check
Card Purchases Into Cash

Purchase Rewards allows you to get cash back by using your
Securityplus FCU Visa Check Card to take advantage of special offers and discounts from local and national retailers.

Click — to activate an offer at the types of places you like to shop.

Shop — online or in-store to redeem your offer; you must use your Visa Check Card.

Enjoy — cash back; deposited directly into your account at the end of the next month.

Purchase Rewards is a free benefit to our members and is only available within Online Banking. If you currently use Online Banking, simply log in and your rewards will automatically be displayed on the ‘Account Access’ page.*

Don’t currently use Online Banking? Don’t worry. Contact our Call Center at 410-965-8908 or 1-866-4SECPLUS for assistance.

*Online Banking users with a Visa Check Card will automatically receive offers. You may opt-out of this service at any time.

Tap Into Your Account…
with Mobile Banking

Mobile Banking from
Securityplus FCU offers around-the-clock account access, right when you want it from wherever life takes you.

Simply enter m.securityplusfcu.org into your phone’s web browser. It’s a fast and free* way to:

  • Check your account balance and transaction history
  • Transfer funds between Credit Union accounts
  • Pay bills**
  • Contact the Call Center
  • Quickly locate the nearest branch or ATM
  • And more

Reminder: You must have Online Banking access before you can use Mobile Banking.

Don’t currently use Online Banking? Contact the Call Center at either 410-965-8908 or 1-866-4SECPLUS for assistance.

*While this is a free service from the Credit Union, your carrier may charge for data service and/or messaging.
**You must enable Bill Pay within Online Banking
Looking for a Location on the Go?
Find branches, ATMs and more using these FREE* apps!
  • “Allpoint” Locator App available for iPhone, Blackberry or Android — Allpoint is one of the largest surcharge-free ATM networks in the U.S. Use the mobile app to locate 43,000 surcharge-free ATMs.
  • Credit Union “Shared Branching” Locator App available for iPhone or Android — The CU Service Centers Shared Branch Network allows you to conduct transactions at other credit unions, making Securityplus FCU one of the most convenient financial institutions around. Use the mobile app to locate more than 6,400 locations in 46 states, Puerto Rico, Japan, South Korea, Italy and Germany.
  • “Credit Union Finder” App available for iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad – Once you’ve downloaded this app, simply enter “Securityplus FCU” in the search field and you’ll receive a complete listing of our branches, viewable as a list or on a map. You can also link to our website or call us with the touch of a button.

And have you heard? We are currently working on FREE* SFCU Mobile Banking Apps for your iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad and Android — coming soon!

*While all of these apps are free, your carrier may charge you for data service and/or SMS messaging.
 
 
Securityplus FCU
in the Community
 
 

We have been a proud member of the Baltimore community since 1938. We look to make a positive impact on the community by participating in local events such as:

Artscape 2012
Friday, July 20, & Saturday, July 21:
11 a.m. - 9 p.m.

Sunday, July 22:
11 a.m. - 8 p.m.

North Charles Street, near the
Urbanite Stage
www.artscape.org

Artscape is America’s largest free arts festival and features 150+ artists, designers and craftspeople; visual art exhibits; live concerts; performing arts; family events; and an international menu of food and beverages.

Free
Open to the Public

 
 
Holiday
Closings
 
 
While our branches may be closed, you can still access your accounts online from your mobile phone or by visiting one of our 43,000 surcharge-free ATMs.
  • Independence Day — July 4
  • Labor Day — September 3
  • Columbus Day — October 8

 

  
Summertime’s the Right Time
For Electronic Payments
 
 


Courtesy of: Kathleen D. Browning
Social Security District Manager, Baltimore

When you are away from home, one thing you don’t want to worry about is how you will receive your next monthly Social Security payment. That is why it is important for everyone receiving Social Security or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits to sign up for electronic payments.

These days almost everyone gets benefit payments electronically. Today about 90% of all Social Security and SSI beneficiaries receive their payments electronically. That number is increasing because the law requires that by March 1, 2013, all federal benefit payments, including Social Security and SSI payments, be made electronically. Whether you receive Social Security or SSI, you can depend on your payment arriving in your account on time, every time. If you don’t already receive electronic payments, there are many good reasons to sign up. For one, less money and time spent driving to the Credit Union to cash your check helps you save. Second, fewer paper checks, envelopes, and stamps, and less fuel to deliver the checks means savings for the government.

Hurricane season is here for some areas of the country. Other regions bear the brunt of flooding. Some areas of the nation are plagued by tornadoes, and still others must deal with wildfires, severe thunderstorms or even earthquakes. If you are unfortunate enough to be in the path of a natural disaster, the last thing you want is for your income to be interrupted because of an evacuation or a missing mailbox. With electronic payments, you know your money will be in your account on time no matter what.

When you’re on vacation, an electronic payment ensures payments will be deposited into your account on time, so there’s no reason to worry about the safety of your benefit or to ask a neighbor to look out for your check when you are away.

Skip the line, save money, get your payment faster, and know you can depend on your payment being in your account no matter what happens or where you are. You can do all of this with electronic payments. Learn more about it at www.socialsecurity.gov/deposit.
  Marrying Your
Finances — Financial
Tips for Couples
 

Many couples may find it difficult to talk openly with each other about their finances. Here are ways to come together and get your financial house in order.

Get Organized
Gather any important finance-related documents in a central location that is accessible to both partners

Track Spending & Pay Yourself First
Write down where you spend your money; reroute some of your spending to a savings account — pay yourself first

Plan to Save
Start a savings account to cover expenses like clothes, holidays and insurance; plan for future expenses throughout the year

Build an Emergency Fund
You never know when you will need additional cash so try to have three to five months of living expenses in a readily accessible savings account

Don’t Go Into Debt — Get Out of Debt
If you must use credit cards, control your spending, pay off any debts you have and pay more than the minimum monthly payment; once you’ve paid off your debt, take the money and put it toward savings — the goal is to simultaneously pay off your debt while still putting money toward savings

Set Goals
Decide what you want to do with your money — Pay off debt? Buy a house? Save for a new car? Write down your goals and your strategy for achieving these goals; write a budget

Ready to make smart money decisions? Visit www.securityplusfcu.org, and click on the “Financial Resources” button on the main page. Learn more about buying a car, buying a home, managing money, protecting your identity, planning for retirement and ordering a FREE credit report.
 

Opt In to
Premium
Overdraft
Protection

  
  Make sure your everyday Visa Check Card and ATM transactions are covered!

Standard overdraft practices that come with a Securityplus FCU Checking account include authorizing and paying overdrafts* for checks and automatic bill payments.

Securityplus FCU also offers Premium Overdraft Protection on everyday Visa Check Card and/or ATM transactions. You must opt in to receive this coverage; this protection is in addition to the Overdraft Service/Courtesy Pay coverage you may already have.

If you would like to take advantage of this coverage:
  • Visit www.securityplusfcu.org, log in to Online Banking, click on the ‘Forms’ tab, and securely complete and submit a form,
  • Call 410-965-8908 or 1-866-4SECPLUS to request an ‘Opt-In’ form, or
  • Visit the nearest branch

You may feel it isn’t necessary to ‘opt in’ because you’ve never had an issue with insufficient funds, but keep in mind that if you ‘opt in’ and never use the service, there is no charge to you! Plus, you have the right to revoke or change your election at any time.

*We will charge a $30 fee each time we pay an overdraft. There is no limit on the total fees we can charge you for overdrawing your account. We pay overdrafts at our discretion, which means we do not guarantee that we will always authorize and pay any type of transaction. If we do not authorize and pay an overdraft, your transaction will be declined.

  

  Message from the Board
“If we build it, they will come!”

The summer months are here and these are exciting times at
Securityplus FCU. In April, SFCU opened its first full-service, public-access branch in Baltimore City. In just a few months, our new state-of-the-art facility on Roland Avenue has already had a positive impact on the surrounding community and our membership. The Board of Directors has been working hard with the Executive staff to fulfill its promise of more convenient service to our growing membership. This is just the beginning. Look for more news in the near future about a second full-service, public-access branch in Baltimore City.

The Board would like to welcome its newest Director, Mr. John Taylor. John, an SFCU member since he was a young child, works as a Regional Executive for the United Way. We look forward to benefiting from his experience in organizational leadership, and his passion for SFCU.

It is also a time for change as we welcome two new members of the SFCU Executive team, Ms. Rebecca Joyner, our new Assistant VP for Human Resources, and Mr. Tariq Khan, our new Chief Information Officer. Both bring years of experience in their respective areas, and have already made a positive impact on SFCU operations. At the same time, we say good-bye and good luck to Mr. Richard Williams (Chief Executive Officer) and Mr. Dave Costello (Chief Financial Officer). For the past two years, Rick and Dave both played a key role in helping SFCU preserve its position as a sound and stable financial institution, as well as our recent expansion into Baltimore City. We wish them both the best as they continue to advance in their careers.

Remember as you make plans for your summer, whether it’s a loan for home, a car or vacation, make SFCU your first choice for all your banking needs. “It’s a great day to Spend Life Wisely!”