![]() Dear Valued Members: I hope this note finds you all safe and sound in these unique and challenging circumstances. It is an unbalanced time for all of us. Our “new norm” will be much different going forward and we are considering how the credit union will be able to best serve its members in the months ahead. For all of us, how we conduct business in the future will be very different. First, I want to express appreciation to each of you who have trusted Shelby County Federal Credit Union as your financial institution. It’s because of you that we have a solid foundation, allowing us to provide the unwavering financial products that you expect from us. Second, and more importantly, we want to say thank you for your membership and for your loyalty. Please know that our entire staff is here for you as we navigate through this uncertainty. Finally, we want to address the concerns you may have about the inability to pay your bills and make your monthly loan payments. Members experiencing financial hardships as a result of COVID-19 are encouraged to contact us to determine how we may be able to assist during this crisis. . Wishing you the very best, Lin Winkler President & CEO To All Members of the Shelby County Federal Credit Union:
In these trying times, we know how difficult and uncertain life can be, so we at Shelby County Federal Credit Union know that access to your finances shouldn’t be that way. Due to the issues we are all facing and our desire and need to keep both you and our employees healthy, we will be closing the interior of our branches on Monday, March 23. To keep access to your finances, Credit Union services and lending opportunities as easy as possible, we are implementing the following steps:
Stay in touch with us for more information through our website www.shelbycountycu.comour Facebook page facebook.com/shelbycountycreditunion, or our Twitter account @ShelbyCountyFCU. Thank you again for being the most important part of Shelby County Federal Credit Union. Lin Winkler President/CEO With kids activities, work and responsibilities, it can be sometimes be a challenge to find time to focus on money saving strategies. Small changes, however, can make a big difference when it comes to your family finances. Here are five simple steps to add more money to your family budget. Get Smart About Groceries Groceries take up a huge chunk of a family budget, especially if you go to the store unprepared! Bring a list and stick to it, take an envelope of coupons and seek out store specials, and always have a targeted budget for each grocery store trip. If you can leave the kids at home, that will likely save you from impulse buys to make the little ones happy. Eliminate One Service Each Year You know that gym membership that you never use? What about those online subscriptions that are piling up? Take a minute to evaluate which services really provide a value to you and which ones that are just draining your budget. Even if you're only spending $20 a month on an app, getting rid of it could translate to hundreds of dollars each year. Sell Your Stuff You know that storage room full of furniture, clothes and appliances you don't use anymore? Consider is a vault of cash in the making! With online communities like eBay, Craigslist and Facebook, selling things that you don't need or want can bring in some good money. It's easier than you may think to start selling your items when it's simply taking a photo and posting it online. Drive Instead of Fly While it's tempting to hop on a flight, if it's feasible to drive to your destination you could potentially save thousands of dollars on family airfare. If you going a few hundred miles away or less. driving is definitely more economical and you may find that getting in the family roadster could make memories that last a lifetime. Get Thrifty About Clothes Imagine what you could save on your kids' clothing if you shopped in a thrift store versus in a retail store. While it does take a little extra effort and digging, you could spend $3 on a pair of pants in a thrift store that would normally cost $30 or more in a retail shop. If thrift stores aren't your thing, head to discount shops to maximize your budget. ![]() It’s a fact of financial life that if you want to borrow money, your lender will look at information about your credit habits before deciding how to price the loan. If you’re a good risk, you won’t have to pay as much interest for the privilege of borrowing. If you’ve been a credit screw-up, expect a lender to charge you more. That’s only fair, not only to the lender but to other borrowers the lender serves. It wouldn’t be right to expect responsible borrowers to subsidize careless borrowers. This is where your credit score comes in. It’s a three-digit grade for your credit behavior to date. It changes all the time, based on your improving or deteriorating credit habits. No surprises here, but it’s worth reviewing habits that will trash your credit score:
Your payment history, combined with your total debt, accounts for two-thirds of your credit score, so these three big factors require serious attention. Not-so-obvious credit errors Even if you clean up your payment act and pay down your total debt, you still can lose cred with other behaviors: Always pay all your bills on time.
Why it matters You know that your credit score influences what you pay for loans and credit cards and affects other significant slices of your life: Jobs, housing, and insurance rates. A potential employer, landlord, or insurer could use information based on your credit history and score to decide whether to hire you, rent to you, or insure you. You can check your credit report—the summary of your credit activity that generates your credit score—from each of the three major credit reporting agencies once a year for free. Always make your requests from the annualcreditreport.com website, the only site sanctioned by the Federal Trade Commission. Or, you can call 877-322-8228. Make one request every four months in rotation among the three credit agencies so you can monitor your credit report year round. While some items should be found in every trunk, not every emergency road kit is built the same. Tailor it to the type and condition of your vehicle, as well as the weather where you typically travel. With the unpredictability of winter weather, even drivers in traditional warm-weather states may want to consider adding safety items for snow and ice. It’s always wise to err on the side of caution and include certain items just in case.
Here is the essential emergency car kit list: 1. Flares & Lighting The first and most important safety items to include in your auto emergency kit are flares or reflective triangles, which warn other drivers of the roadside hazard. In case of a breakdown they should be spaced out evenly along the roadside behind your vehicle. For a reusable, longer-lasting option, invest in battery-operated LED flares. A flashlight is also a necessity, especially a multi-use version that flashes. 2. Jumper Cables Jumper cables are another essential to include in the car emergency kit. Batteries can die or lose their juice at the least opportune moment; jumper cables, with a jump from another motorist, can at least get you to the next service station. You should also consider carrying a separate battery pack for starting your car when no one else is around to help. 3. First Aid Kit A first-aid kit is an must have item to include in any emergency road kit, indispensable for addressing smaller, everyday injuries and more serious wounds from an accident. You can purchase them pre-packed with all the essentials or assemble one customized to your needs. Families with small children should include medications that are age appropriate. 4. Car Fluids & Tools Flat tires are one of the most common causes of roadside trouble, but it’s not always possible to change a tire. Including a can of tire inflator and sealant in your kit can get you back on the road at least to the next stop. Other items that may help avert a roadside crisis and keep you going: a quart or more of motor oil, a gallon of coolant and a toolkit with screwdrivers, pliers and adjustable wrench. It’s essential your emergency road kit include specific items in case you end up spending several hours or more in your disabled car. Bottled water and long-lasting food items such as granola or energy bars can be rotated out over time. Blankets, a sleeping bag or a heat-retaining emergency survival blanket are critical for making it through a cold night, especially in wintry climates. 5. Winter Items If you know you’ll be driving in snowy weather include an ice scraper, a spray bottle with washer fluid and a set of snow chains for your tires. Store all your items together in a box or carrying case in the trunk, making sure it’s easily accessible in case you need it in a hurry. Cars aren’t the only place you should have an emergency kit ready to go. Learn about what you should have in your home emergency kit to keep you and your family safe.
Shelby County Federal Credit Union has a new convenient and enhanced online bill pay system. Our new system includes features that will make this valuable tool more efficient including:
All current payments will process through August 15, 2018. Any payments scheduled after August 15, 2018 will need to be scheduled using the new bill pay provider. * You must use your Shelby County Federal Credit Union checking account to pay bills using this system* HERE IS WHAT YOU NEED TO DO: Be sure you are set up for on-line banking. Please sign up for online banking after August 15, 2018. SCFCU will need an email address on file. If you need assistance please call 901-930-0757 for additional support. Using Bill Pay
Q. Why did you change to the new Bill Pay service provider? A. We updated our service provider to make access to your account quicker and easier. The new system will deliver an online experience with more flexibility, control and reliability. Q. Will “repeating” or “automated payments” features convert? A. No. You will have to re-enter your Bill Pay data since this will not convert to the new system, so you will need to enter payees and payments that you would like to pay. In advance of the Bill Pay going live, we encourage you to go into our current bill pay system and save or take notes on your payee and payment information. Q. Do I need to re-register for Bill Pay? A. Yes, You will need to register for Online Banking. For first time users please use your account number as your username and the last four digits of your SSN as your password. You will be prompted to change both. Also, you will need to add an email address to your profile. Follow the steps below to get started.
Q. Will I be able to see my payment history? A. No, your bill pay history will no longer be available after August 15, 2018 at 11:59 pm. It will not convert over to the new bill pay provider. Q. Will my payments still process during the upgrade? A. Yes. During the upgrade window, your payments are still expected to process as normal through the end of day August 15,2018. **To avoid scheduling duplicate payments, be sure to document your payments scheduled through the above date (08/15/18) as they will not display within the new system on August 16,2018, however they will still be paid. Q. What is different about the Bill Pay Upgrade? A. There are some exciting changes with this upgrade. Online Banking features a simplified portal where you can review all checking accounts, balances and recent transactions, and pay important bills. Q. Do I need to re-register for Bill Pay? A. Yes, You will need to register for Online Banking. For first time users please use your account number as your username and the last four digits of your SSN as your password. You will be prompted to change both. Also, you will need to add an email address to your profile. Follow the steps below to get started.
Q. Has Bill Pay information converted with Online Banking, or do I now have to re-enter all of my information? A. No, once you sign up/re-sign up for online banking you will have access to the Bill Pay Center. It is a single log in application. Q. How will my payments be processed? A. You will select the day that you want your payment to be processed. The screen will display an estimated delivery date for your convenience. Example: If your payment(s) is due on 8/27/2018; you must login before your 8/27/2018 and schedule your payment. Option #1: Electronic Payment - You must log in and submit your payment request on or before 8/26/2018. Note: Funds will automatically deduct from the account by the end of the business day Option #2: Check Payment - You must log in and submit your payment request on or before the 8/20/2018. See Bill Pay Key Terms Below for more details. Note: Funds are deducted from your account when the check clears with the merchant. Q. How will I receive pay notifications? Email Notification: You will receive an email notification from our bill pay system. The communication will be sent by noreply@billpaycustomerservice.com. We encourage that you add this email address to your address book to ensure that it is correctly delivered to your inbox. Online Banking Notification: You will receive an alert that the money has been withdrawn from your account as long as you have selected to receive the alert that a withdrawal has posted to your account above the selected amount. Bill Pay Key Terms: ELECTRONIC PAYEE: Merchant allows payments to be processed electronically. (Processing Time: 1-2 Business Days) PAPER CHECK PAYEE:Merchant will receive a physical check in the mail delivered by the United States Postal System (USPS). (Processing Time: 5 Business Days) MANAGED PAYEE:The bill pay vendor and the payee have established a relationship to better deliver payments on behalf of the member. The payment address is not displayed to member because the information is considered proprietary information to the vendor. RECURRING PAYMENTS:User-defined request for automatic payments for a specific payee. The member will define the payment amount, frequency, start date, and end date. EBILL:Payment (bill) information will display within your Bill Pay Dashboard. This information will provide you with the important items such as Payment Date, Amount Due, and Available Balance (if applicable). Protect against card fraud and misuse - in real time - via your smartphone. > Turn cards on, off, and back on again, in seconds. > Use GPS to control transactions within a designated location. > Control spending by setting limits to match your budget. > Receive real-time, in-app card-use notifications and spending-limit alerts. Download the app at ITunes or Google Play for free! |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. Archives
May 2020
Categories |