Winter Member Connection

Member Connection

Dear Member,

As we start the new year, your Credit Union continues to focus on important enhancements to improve our products and services. Beginning on February 27th, we will start renovating the Middletown Branch to provide a better in-branch member experience. You can view the rendering of the design here. Based on your survey feedback, we are excited to share that we will launch a new People’s Credit Card in the first half of 2023. Finally, we continue to enhance our online and mobile banking for you and your businesses.

We continue to have an impact on our community. In 2022, our entire Credit Union team volunteered over 1,000 hours helping our neighbors with basic needs, coaching sports, and assisting other nonprofit causes. We recently created a position solely focused on community engagement as we are passionate about improving our community.

The financial industry remains challenged by fraudsters who want to steal your hard-earned money. As we identify and mitigate one avenue for fraud, the fraudsters adapt, which is why we need your help and diligence. In 2022, we stopped almost $1 million of fraudulent transactions because of the effort of our team and the timely communication of you, our members. Please read the fraud education provided in this month’s letter and get in touch with us immediately if you have any questions about the information, future alerts, or activity on your account. This is truly a team effort.

If you have any other financial needs, we are here for you. Thank you for being a member of People’s Credit Union.

Sean Daly, President & CEO

Locations

Bristol

50 Gooding Avenue

401.253.6500

Middletown

858 West Main Road

401.846.8930

Newport

43 Memorial Boulevard

401.846.1965

North Kingstown

7490 Post Road

401.885.9660

Portsmouth

2537 East Main Road

401.683.3166

Wakefield

150 Old Tower Hill Road 401.789.5551

Community Events

A Community Coat Drive Delivers over 100 Coats and Accessories to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center

People’s Credit Union partnered with the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center (MLKCC) on our Centennial Coat Drive at the end of 2022. Coats and winter accessories were donated at each of our branch locations. When the donation period ended, Pier Cleaners of Wakefield generously donated their dry cleaning services to ensure each donated coat was clean and in top condition for the eventual wearer. Over 100 coats and accessory items were donated to the MLKCC.

“When we heard that People’s Credit Union was holding a community coat drive, we knew that Pier could also lend a hand so that each donation was in perfect condition,” stated Phyllis Fish, Owner of Pier Cleaners. “Helping in the community is very important to everyone at Pier Cleaners, so the coat drive is a natural fit for us to offer our skills and assistance," she added. Our Credit Union President & CEO, Sean Daly, was also able to present the MLKCC’s Executive Director, Heather Strout, with a $10,000 donation raised through the Credit Union’s Fill It Forward campaign

promoting hydration and reduced plastic water bottle usage. This donation will help to fund their programs that promote health, fight hunger, supports families, educates kids, and engages seniors. Heather Strout, Executive Director of the MLKCC, expressed gratitude for the credit union’s efforts. “We are so grateful to People’s Credit Union and its members for caring deeply for our community. Providing warm clothing to the most vulnerable members of our community is just one of many ways that People’s Credit Union gives back. With winter weather quickly approaching, the need is great. These donations are appreciated.”

People’s Credit Union Seals Time Capsule for the Next 100 Years

As part of People’s Credit Union’s year-long centennial celebration, People’s created a Centennial Time Capsule to commemorate our milestone of serving the community for over 100 years. The time capsule was sealed in January of 2023. People’s Credit Union invited the community to be a part of this history by contributing items to the capsule. Objects

donated represented a snapshot of what is loved about either People’s Credit Union or the community you live in for future generations to discover. Items include photos, promotional items, invitations, local menus, newspaper clippings, advertisements, coins, recipes, and personal messages from local schools

People’s Credit Union Members & Employees Donate 100s of Gifts to the Salvation Army’s Angel Tree Program

People’s Credit Union once again partnered with the Salvation Army on their Angel Tree program, providing new gifts for children in need during the holiday season. Each People’s branch collected donations of unwrapped new gifts and clothing during December.

“The holiday period should be a joyous time for everyone, especially children. During these times, some families need assistance in fulfilling their little ones’ wishes, so we are more than happy to help wherever possible,” offered Jane McDurman, Vice President of Retail Administration at People’s Credit Union. “By teaming up with the Salvation Army’s Angel Tree program, everyone at People’s Credit Union and our members can make the dreams of these families come true,” McDurman further commented.

Together with our members, we made a huge difference over the holiday season. The Salvation Army noted that People’s:

• Helped to serve 90 people a traditional Thanksgiving dinner the Sunday before Thanksgiving. People’s employees gave up their time with family, at home, watching football, or just getting a respite from the "labors of the season" so that others could partake in a meal together.

• People’s employees and members generously provided gifts and clothing to over 370 children who would not have found anything under a tree on Christmas morning if not for their generosity. “I respect that leading and managing a successful credit union and serving the members is demanding, so, in addition to all of this, your team engaged your members, showed pride in the generosity of each branch, and offered themselves to help with our Angel Tree program,” stated Mary from the Salvation Army.

The Salvation Army also received $500 from People's Credit Union to "backfill" any child whose family had registered for the Angel Tree program but for whom a gift did not come. Thank you for your donations. We could only make this impact with you, our members.

People's Participates in Scholarship Program

People’s Credit Union is proud to be part of the 2023 Cooperative Credit Union Association’s Scholarship Program. The Credit Union College Scholarship Program, an initiative of the Better Values – Better Banking statewide consumer campaign, was designed to support the efforts of Rhode Island Credit Unions in recognizing the outstanding talents of three (3) college-bound students with a $1,500 scholarship. Applicants are evaluated on a variety of criteria including the student’s academic performance, extracurricular activities, and the quality and content of an essay that addresses the applicant’s major field of study and career goals. Students are encouraged to apply and can drop off their applications at any branch location or mail them into our Main Office at 858 West Main Road, Middletown, RI 02842.

Eligibility Requirements for Participation:

1. Eligibility is limited to high school seniors who will be enrolled in an undergraduate college/university/trade school program during the 2023-2024 academic year.

2. Applicant or parent/guardian must be a member of the sponsoring credit union.

3. Each applicant must complete a current Scholarship Application and submit it with the other required material to People’s Credit Union.

To Apply:

Students must submit the following items with their completed applications. All items requested must be received for the application to qualify for consideration. All applications are due to the Credit Union by Friday, April 7th.

1. Completed printed Application.

2. An academic transcript of grades.

3. A typewritten essay of at least 250 words describing what career you wish to pursue when you complete your education and why.

4. A detailed list of extracurricular/community and/or volunteer activities.

All scholarship applications are due to the Credit Union by Friday, April 7th. Applications can be dropped off at any branch location or mailed to: People’s Credit Union, 858 West Main Road, Middletown, RI 02842

The Scholarship Application is available HERE.

People’s

Supports the CU Championship for High School Basketball

Each year, the Credit Unions of Rhode Island, through the Cooperative Credit Union Association (CCUA), actively support the High School Basketball Championships. The Cooperative Credit Union Association (CCUA) represents credit unions in Delaware, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island, empowering them, individually and collectively, to provide consumers with outstanding financial services.

The support of the tournament highlights the importance that the Credit Unions of Rhode Island place on helping the youth develop leadership and other life skills through sports within the state. The championships will take place at the Ryan Center on March 11th and 12th.

FEDERALLY INSURED BY NCUA

Education Center

Our Online and Mobile Banking Have the Tools You Need

Our Online and Mobile Banking allows you to handle your finances from anywhere. We are reminding you of a few options to enhance your experience.

Mobile Check Deposit: Deposits made before 4:00 p.m. on a business day will be deposited in your account, and the funds available that day. You can also select the Activity screen, which shows 90 days history of mobile check deposits, including images and the deposit status.

Manage Debit Cards: In Online and Mobile Banking, a member can go into “Services & Tools” and then “Manage Debit Card,” from there, you can turn your debit card off if you think that you have misplaced it before canceling it. If you find the card, you can go back in and turn it back on! You can also create alerts and rules to manage your debit card transactions.

Alerts: In Online Banking, under “Profile” and then “Alerts,” and in the app, under More> Settings> Alerts, you can be alerted of balances, transactions, insufficient funds charges, checks that clear, loan payments due, automatic deposits, and more

Savvy Money

Did you know that within our online and mobile banking, you can access your Credit Score and ways to improve it for FREE?

Your credit score and credit report are crucial to your financial well-being.

You will also have access to credit education and tips where you can manage your credit score and report with confidence.

Benefits of Savvy Money

•Daily Access to your Credit Score

•Real Time Credit Monitoring Alerts

• Credit Score Simulator

•Personalized Credit Report

•And more

Card Updater: In Online Banking and Mobile Banking, under “Services and Tools,” look for Card Updater. Card Updater is the fastest way to securely update your People’s Credit Union Debit Card with your favorite online subscriptions and retailers.

Since each subscription service handles these updates differently, you may receive an email confirming your card update from some sites.

Update your People’s Credit Union Debit Card online in 3 easy steps.

1. Select the sites where you want to update your debit card.

2. Enter your debit card and billing information.

3. Enter your login information for the selected sites. Let Card Updater handle the rest.

The benefits are substantial, so there is no need to wait. Get your free credit score today by registering through your online banking.

• On your “Dashboard” screen, you will see the link to myCredit Health, where you can register.

• You will read and acknowledge the disclosure before hitting the “Continue” button.

• From there, you will be prompted through information on how your credit score works, review your credit report, try out the score simulator, and check for prequalified offers.

ALERT

Stay Safe From Scammers by Getting to Know Some of the Most Common Scams

Order Confirmation Scams: These unexpected calls/texts/ emails often refer to an unauthorized purchase and ask you to act urgently or cancel the purchase. These scammers try to convince you to provide payment or bank account information, install software on your computer/device, or purchase gift cards.

Tech Support Scams: Scammers create fake websites claiming to provide tech support for your devices. Customers who land on these pages are lured to contact the scammer and fall prey to their schemes.

Remember to be wary of false urgency. Scammers may create a sense of urgency to persuade you to do what they're asking. Be careful whenever someone tries to convince you that you must act immediately. Never pay over the phone. For more information on how to continue to protect yourself

People’s Credit Union will never call to ask you to withdraw funds from your account and send us bitcoin or other digital currencies. If

against fraud, please visit the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) website on fraud and scams.

Avoid Online Shopping Scams:

 Watch for red fags

Pressure to purchase immediately, rude or pushy language, or unusually specific ways to pay, such as gift cards, crypto, or payment apps, are red flags. Pay with a credit card if you don’t know the seller.

 Know who you’re buying from

Check out the seller before making your purchase — remember, anyone can set up an online shop or social ad. Do an online search for information or complaints, and be sure the seller is legitimate.

 Make sure it’s the real deal.

Be wary of hidden costs like shipping, insurance, special handling, fake COVID-related charges, or product shortagerelated fees.

 Pause before you buy

If an online deal seems too good to be true, take a moment to talk to a trusted friend or family member before you decide to buy.

Tips to Protect your Personal In f ormation

For years, we’ve been warned not to share too much personal information with people we meet online. Now you can shop for any product online, manage your finances with online banking services, and chat with friends and strangers on social media platforms. While you enjoy all the conveniences of modern technology, are you paying attention to how it can be used against you? Let’s look at ways that you can protect your personal information.

Guard Your Login Credentials

If cybercriminals steal your login credentials, they can access your accounts and find your personal or professional information. Follow these tips to protect your accounts:

•Do not enter your login credentials unless you know that a website or app is secure.

•Use unique passwords for each of your accounts. A password manager can help you keep track of all your passwords, and multi-factor authentication (MFA) can add another layer of security.

•Use passwords and update the security software for all your

devices. In addition to computers and smartphones, several other devices can connect to the internet. If you don’t protect these devices, they can be vulnerable to hacking, too.

Avoid

Oversharing on Social Media

Social media can be used to update friends and family about your life, but cybercriminals can also use your accounts as an easy source of information. Follow these tips when using social media: •Guard your personal identifiable information (PII) by limiting what information you share online.

•Check your privacy settings to minimize the information that the public can view, mainly use your real name or the same alias across multiple websites. Cybercriminals can scour the internet for any information associated with your name or accounts.

• Watch out for subtle methods of information gathering, such as quizzes that ask for personal details like your mother’s maiden name or your date of birth. Over time, cybercriminals could collect enough details to hack your accounts or steal your identity.

People’s Credit Union will never call to ask you to withdraw funds from your account and send us bitcoin or other digital currencies. If you believe someone has contacted you pretending to be People’s Credit Union, please call Risk Management at 401.619.1708. Thank you!

Branch Renovations

Beginning February 27 th !

We are pleased to share that beginning on Monday, February 27th, we will start significant renovations on our Middletown branch, located at 858 West Main Road. We expect the renovation to be completed by early July.

This renovation will bring a more member-centric branch design, creating more privacy for your daily transactions and financial conversations. We will also be adding new technologies and self-service options within the branch to enhance your experience with us. To see renderings of what the new lobby will look like, please click here.

We have been planning this work with great detail and are excited to build for our next 100 years in Middletown.

While these renovations are taking place, our Middletown lobby will be closed. The Middletown drive-up will remain open. To view the drive-up hours, please click here.

We understand that this may pose an inconvenience to you. With that in mind, we will extend our hours at our Newport and Portsmouth branches to help accommodate your needs.

Beginning February 27th, Newport and Portsmouth Branch hours will be:

Drive up Lobby

Monday – Thursday

7:30 am – 5:00 pm 8:30 am – 4:30 pm

Friday

7:30 am – 6:00 pm 8:30 am – 6:00 pm

Saturday 7:30 am – 1:00 pm 8:30 am – 1:00 pm

If you want to access your safe deposit box, you can schedule an appointment by calling the branch at 401.846.8935.

Once completed, we are confident improvements to the Middletown branch will positively impact your experience.

If you have any questions or want more information, please contact our Member Service Center at 401.846.8930.