exciting achievements this year included the launch of a new responsive website with better mobile interaction with Centris. The new design includes our blog that is regularly updated with information about ways to help you manage your hard-earned money Please read about Centris members Steve Jackson and Donna Stewart who are featured in this issue’s spotlight section. They are making a difference in the lives of so many in our communities. Steve is currently serving as the President of the Susan G. Komen Great Plains Board of Directors. Many of you know that Centris is a proud sponsor of the Race for the Cure in addition to many other worthwhile causes in the communities we serve. I give you and your family my best wishes for a successful and prosperous 2017! I look forward to sharing many more accomplishments with you in the coming months.
President’s Message Happy New Year! As I think about all of the wonderful opportunities that 2017 brings for Centris I first must share with you some of our successes during 2016. I am very proud of our staff and what they accomplished this past year. Like many employers, we invest time and money into helping our employees be their best. This makes us a better credit union and allows us to offer products and services you need. When our staff is highly engaged in their work, we know they are doing their best to serve you. Recent employee surveys show that our staff is engaged and accountable for their actions. They are consistently thinking of ways to do their job better, and they feel loyal to you, our members. Member surveys support this employee feedback with very high member service scores. On behalf of all of our employees, thank you for your membership and for voting Centris Federal Credit Union the Best Credit Union in Omaha Magazine’s Best of Omaha for the eighth year in a row! We are also making investments in new and improved facilities. In June, we opened our 12th branch at 518 East Broadway in Council Bluffs. It is a beautiful, open space with a technology bar and a modern design. If you have not been to the branch yet, I encourage you to visit. This fall, we began a major remodel of our branch near 114th & W. Dodge Road in Omaha. We are excited about this space and the efficiencies it will bring to our staff so they may serve you better. Finally, in mid-2017, we will break ground on our 13th location near 192nd and Harrison Streets in the Falling Waters subdivision. This new branch will allow us to be more convenient to members who live in southwest Omaha near Millard and Gretna. In addition to our facilities projects, staff have been working behind the scenes to ensure we are meeting all of your financial needs today and into the future. Other
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InTouch / Winter 2017
Sincerely,
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Tips to Help You Avoid Identity Theft
Every two seconds an American becomes a victim of identity theft. If the thought of having to clean up your credit report because someone stole your identity frightens you, and you don’t want to become another statistic; here are some tips to stack the odds in your favor. 1. A winning night, can turn into a nightmare really fast if your wallet is lost, or stolen, especially if personal information like your social security card is in there. Do not carry your social security card. And, just as importantly, make copies of all your cards. That way, if they’re stolen you can report it fast, and accurately. 2. You can bet that if you use easy to guess passwords and PINS—like your house number, or birth date—some hacker will figure it out. Use a mix of symbols and numbers, and upper and lower case letters.
Steve Swanstrom
Together, we’re growing strong!
Annual Business Meeting The 82nd Annual Business Meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 28, 2017, at 6:00 pm, at the Centris Headquarters facility, 11825 Q Street in Omaha. Two positions are up for election in 2017, and the Nomination Committee has selected two candidates for the two three-year terms on the board. See page three for the candidates’ bios. We look forward to seeing you at the Annual Meeting. Voting Procedures If a petition for nomination is submitted, and the Nomination Committee selects a candidate, an election by ballot will take place. Each qualified member of Centris who is at least 18 years of age will receive a ballot mid-February. Ballots will be mailed to the address listed on your account. Complete instructions will be included in each mail ballot packet.
Candidate Bios
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3. Use your instinct. If an overly generic email address doesn’t look legit, don’t reply and don’t click on any links. Go to your account log-ins manually by using a bookmark or typing in the URL. 4. Know that your credit union will never call or email asking for your social security number or birth date. If a business or individual asks for personal information, passwords or credit card numbers--do not give them. Instead, call any financial institution requesting information directly at a number you know is legitimate. 5. Make sure all your electronic devices are as secure as possible by updating your operating systems, software and
Board of Director Candidates Veronika Pinkerton - Incumbent Veronika is employed at First Data as a Manager IT Audits. She has bachelor degrees in computer science and accounting and an MBA f rom Creighton University. Veronika has many years of auditing experience which includes financial, compliance, information technology and cybersecurity audits and fraud investigations. She has three children and has served as a member of the strategic planning team as well as on the improvement team for Millard Public Schools action plan from 2005 to 2010. Veronika has been a Centris member for 15 years.
browsers; being up-to-date will minimize chances of being hacked. Also, password-protect all of your devices, so that if stolen, logging in will be more difficult. 6. Shred. Yes, some of the easiest targets for identity thieves are home trash bins. Shred invoices, financial statements or any other personal type documents. Don’t just toss them out; shred them. 7. Check your online banking accounts and credit reports regularly. There are three credit-reporting bureaus - a trifecta for analyzing your activity. Check a different bureau every four months at www.annualcreditreport.com. If you see anything suspicious, report it. Follow all these steps, and your odds of being a victim of identity theft will drop dramatically. Copyright 2016 Credit Union National Association Inc. Information subject to change without notice. For use with members of a single credit union. All other rights reserved.
Joe Sacco - Incumbent A Centris member since 2000, Joe Sacco is the current Chairman of the Centris Board of Directors and President of The Sacco Group. As an advertising agency owner and corporate marketing consultant for nearly 30 years, Joe has specialized in financial services marketing for banks and credit unions across the U.S. He works daily with First Entertainment Credit Union, a $1.4 billion credit union based in Hollywood, CA. Joe is experienced in budget management and strategic planning, and his creative work has won many local, regional and national awards. Mr. Sacco’s community involvement includes 20+ years coaching youth sports and work for nonprofit organizations such as Easter Seals, Make-A-Wish, American Heart Association and Family Housing Advisory Services. He holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Nebraska-Omaha. Joe and his wife Stephanie have two sons.
www.centrisfcu.org
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