The Bulletin Board - A Newsletter for TCT Federal Credit Union Members, January 2022

Bulletin Board A Newsletter for TCT Members JANUARY 2022

Your financial fitness is key to a healthy New Year This year, keeping financially healthy is especially important due to economic uncertainties and the expiration of COVID relief programs. With regular checkups, you can fi x small problems before they become big issues. Your TCT staff and partners at GreenPath are here to help.

Check Your Financial Health Vital Signs Do you have an emergency savings account? How do your credit card balances look? Are you tracking monthly income and expenses? What does your credit score and history look like?

Assess whether your financial goals align with your overall situation: Has there been a significant life change this past year? A change in jobs, a marriage, divorce, home purchase or other big change can affect your overall financial picture.

Understand Options after Relief Programs Expire: Loans that were deferred as part of COVID-related relief programs need your attention. Now that the temporary pause in payments has expired, a checkup is a good opportunity to take a closer look at your entire financial picture.

Manage Income and Expenses: One of the best ways to cope with inflation is to take the time to prioritize a monthly spending

plan. A spending plan helps to ensure that what you spend doesn’t exceed what you make each month, keep your finances on track and start saving for future goals.

TCT donated $250 to the Cambridge Faculty Association’s Operation Santa Claus Fund. Above; Connie Larivee, Mary Laedlein, and Irene Headwell with TCT’s Cambridge Branch Manager, Morgan Keith.

Pay Down Debt: A checkup is a good time to explore options to help you pay down credit card debt as well as options for managing other debts that may be on the horizon such as expiring forbearances on mortgages or student loan payments.

Assess Your Credit: Are you looking to take out a mortgage or make another large purchase in the New Year? A checkup is a great time to review your credit report to see where you stand and get tips to improve your credit score moving forward.

Your Checkup Starts Here. No matter what your goals may be, our partners at GreenPath can help you to take control of your day-to-day financial choices to create more opportunities for achieving your dreams. Connect with GreenPath for your checkup at greenpath.com/TCTFCU

TCT donated $2,000 to the Marine Technology Program at WSWHE BOCES on Dix Ave. in Hudson Falls, to help provide financial aid for adults.

Best wishes from all of us at TCT for a happy, healthy new year!

Thank you for your membership and for being a part of what makes TCT strong. By sharing how TCT has been here for you, you help us help others.

If you know someone who could benefit from TCT’s membership perks, great rates and service, please share this QR code with them or have them visit TCTFCU.ORG/Refer. When they enter your name as the referring member, you’ll earn $5 for each new member you refer, a small token of our thanks.

UPCOMING HOLIDAY CLOSURES Monday, January 17 - Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and Monday, February 21 - Presidents’ Day

TEACHERS AWARDED Teachers and school employees make a tremendous difference in the lives of students and our communities.

Many of you will know that TCT, originally Tri-County Teachers Credit Union, was founded by school employees looking to improve their lives through financial services. TCT is a proud sponsor of the Teacher of the Week program, along with Adirondack Broadcasting. It’s a way to recognize and honor school employees for their amazing efforts and positive impact.

Each week during the school year, one recipient is selected from your nominations and announced on-air. All school employees are eligible to win.

If you know of a school employee who does an extraordinary job and goes above and beyond for you or your child, we want to hear about it.

Email your nomination to teacher@adirondackbroadcasting.com and view more award recipients at tctfcu.org/totw and on our Facebook page.

FOLLOW US AT facebook.com/tctfcu

CAN–U–ARY DONATION DRIVE

Help those in need by donating at TCT.

Through the month

of January, TCT branches will collect non perishable food and personal care items to be donated to local food pantries; including CAPTAIN Community Human Services in Saratoga County, The United Methodist Church in Queensbury, Community Action in Glens Falls, and The Loaves & Fishes Food Pantry in Cambridge. Thank you for your generosity!

Support Project Cameron’s Story via Virtual Bookraiser From Jan. 15th - Feb. 20th, TCT will host a virtual bookraiser to support Project Cameron’s Story. This local organization provides books to families to help them bond with their babies in the NICU. Visit tctfcu.org/cameron to purchase and donate books from their Amazon wish list.

Doraine Miller, 7th Grade Spanish Teacher at Hudson Falls Middle School

Matthew Heath, 7th Grade Social Studies Teacher at Hudson Falls Middle School

Lisa Tyler, 3rd Grade Teacher at Argyle Elementary School

Mary Weeks, Aide at Moreau Elementary School in South Glens Falls

Coming Soon — New Credit Card We’re excited to offer a new rewards program, enhanced card services and convenience. More information will be available in the coming months. If you’re a current TCT credit card holder, please be on the lookout for instructions and your new card coming in the mail in late February.

416 Rowland Street

LOCATIONS Ballston Spa, NY 12020

17 Gilbert Street Cambridge, NY 12816

520 Vischer Ferry Road Clifton Park, NY 12065

4 Hunter Brook Lane Queensbury, NY 12804

Personal Loan Rates as low a s

Personal Loan Special Available through January 31

1.99 APR*

TCT’s low-rate personal loans with a 12-month repayment period are designed to help you save money by avoiding higher-interest credit card debt. The Personal Loan Special is available for a limited time with a rate as low as 1.99% APR*.

Get the cash you need by applying online for quick or instant approval.

Must apply now – January 31, 2022. *Annual Percentage Rate (APR) for this loan special is as low as 1.99% APR for up to a 12-month term and includes a 0.25% APR discount for automatic payment through a TCT checking account or payroll deduction. Your rate may vary based on individual creditworthiness. Rate is current as of January 1, 2022. Minimum loan amount is $500.

Maximum loan amount is $20,000. A sample payment based on the disclosed rate of 1.99% APR for a 12-month term and $1,000 loan amount, the monthly principal and interest payment would be $84.24. The Personal Loan Special is offered for a limited time: now through January 31, 2022. TCT FCU reserves the right to withdraw the special offer at any time without notice. Financing is available to TCT Federal Credit Union members only, for membership eligibility call for details.

Refinancing can help you reduce your monthly payment or pay off your loan sooner. Plus, we’re currently offering No Closing Costs up to $100,000**

TCTFCU.ORG/MOBILE

Many factors can change after you take out your home loan, and many of them are a good reason to consider home loan refinancing. Our knowledgeable and friendly Refinance Specialists are ready to discuss your goals and guide you through our Rapid Refi process.

APPLY TODAY AT tctfcu.org

Mortgage Refinancing

Debit Card Controls Now in the TCT Mobile Banking app All your card controls are now in the TCT Mobile Banking App. CardValet is no longer needed. Register your card, then turn on real-time alerts for debit card transactions, set controls for card usage, and turn the card ON or OFF. Register your debit card: Log into TCT’s Mobile Banking app, select ‘Debit Card Controls’ from the menu, and enter your cards digits. You will be prompted to download the TCT Card Controls app upon enrollment.

Want to start saving easily and automatically? Enroll in Debit Card Round-Up. Each transaction is rounded up to the next dollar, with the difference deposited into your TCT Savings account. More at tctfcu.org/roundup

**Closing costs including the New York State Mortgage Tax will be paid by TCT Federal Credit Union on behalf of the borrower on Home Equity Loans and Lines of Credit up to $100,000. This special offer may be withdrawn at any time. Existing TCT loans do not qualify for this special offer. All Lines of Credit require a minimum initial advance of $10,000. If the HELOC or Home Equity Loan is paid and closed within 3 years of the closing date, the borrower will be required to reimburse the Credit Union for all closing costs paid on their behalf which will be added to the payoff amount of the loan.

TOP 10 IDENTITY THEFT MYTHS We assembled the top 10 Identity Theft myths and provided a resolution for the new year, to better protect your identity both online and offline.

In today’s world it is more important than ever to focus on the things that we can control to better safeguard our financial future.

Myth #10 - Hackers are mysterious, scary people. Hackers can be hiding in dark places but could also the person next to you at the coffee shop, your co-worker on Zoom, or the car parked next to your house.

Your resolution: Keep a close eye on your devices and the people around you, no matter where you are.

Myth #9 - Phishing scams are easy to spot.

We’ve all seen examples of how phishing scams can camouflage themselves to appear legitimate, but may leave tell-tale signs to spot, such as misspellings, improper use of the English language, or an obvious redirection of the real company’s URL. However, scammers are becoming more careful and sophisticated. It may not be so easy to spot a phishing email.

Your resolution: Know the most common signs of a phishing email but don’t believe that it will protect you 100%. Even the most sophisticated users can fall victim to sophisticated phishing scams. Start with this article from the Federal Trade Commission to learn how to recognize phishing.

Myth #8 - I know a fake call when I hear one.

While email “phishing” is an attempt to trick a person into giving up personal information, “vishing” is the same except the method is using a telephone call. In particular, vishing calls exploit the fact that we’re more likely to trust a human voice — and may target the elderly and technophobic.

Your resolution: Never give out personal information to someone on the phone, even if you feel pressure to do so. You can always tell the caller that you will call back to a published number for the company that they say they represent.

Myth #7 - Social media is all fun and games with trusted friends. Sadly, your friend or

family member on social media might unknowingly be passing along a scam on Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, or Tik Tok. Your Resolution: Review your social media privacy settings, and in particular what you are sharing publicly. Don’t participate in online games which ask for the month, day or year of your birth, your mother’s maiden name, or the name of your favorite pet. These pieces of information can be used to defeat security measures on your accounts and to guess your passwords.

Myth #6 - If I am a victim of identity theft, I will get an alert. Credit Monitoring and Dark Web Monitoring services are excellent for alerting consumers that their personal information is at risk, sometimes allowing the consumer to get ahead of fraud. However, there are some types of identity theft that even the most sophisticated monitoring can’t detect.

Your Resolution: Make sure that you have Credit Monitoring and Dark Web Monitoring working to help you stay aware of risks and take action early, but don’t get a false sense of security. You still need to review your account statements often to detect any transactions that you do not recognize.

Myth #5 - It’s no big deal if someone breaches my email. “All I have in there are cat pictures!”

For a hacker, email addresses can be priceless.

They can use the address itself in spoofing and phishing scams, or to open fraudulent lines of credit. Further, they can rummage through your email account and, in between the cat pictures, maybe find a tax return or mortgage application that has your Social Security Number, address, and date of birth - a gold mine for hackers!

Your Resolution: Treat your email account like cash, because it can be to a fraudster. Change your password often.

Myth #4: I use antivirus soft ware so I’m fine.

Antivirus soft ware vendors are almost always playing defense against hackers and will never protect you 100%. Plus there are many ways that a fraudster can get your personal information without gaining access to your computer, such as intercepting your signal while you are using an unsecured Wi-Fi connection.

Your Resolution: Don’t open attachments simply because it looks like it is coming from some-

one you know. Don’t fall for offers of “free” things on the internet, such as screen savers, as they can distribute viruses, adware or spyware.

If a window pops up on your computer screen and you are not sure if it is legitimate, close it using the “x” in the upper right corner. Clicking on ANY other button, even “no” or “cancel” may trigger a virus or spyware installation.

Myth #3: I use complex passwords.

Cybercriminals have the ability to run billions of password combinations through sophisticated programs. Breaking into an account can take seconds, instead of weeks or days.

Your Resolution: Complex passwords are good but you still need to change your passwords often.

Myth #2: My personal information is already out there. It doesn’t make any difference if I am careful. It is true that there have been some very large data breach incidents in the past several years, but this is the very reason we must be more careful with our personal information.

Your Resolution: Change your passwords often, don’t use the same username and password combination for all of your accounts, and watch your banking and other transaction statements for suspicious activity.

Myth #1: I don’t have money so I am not a target. Regardless of where you live, whether or not you have credit, or the balance in your bank account, you’re still extremely valuable to criminals.

Your Resolution: Stay vigilant. Share your identity information only when necessary and keep it safe.

We are there for you! While it’s important to know your risks and practice good habits to protect your identity, we want you to remember that TCT has you covered in the event of identity theft. Peace of Mind Checking account holders have Fully Managed Identity Theft Recovery. Should you feel your identity has been compromised, professional Identity Theft Recovery Advocates are standing by to help recover and reverse any damage caused by identity theft.

Contact us or find out more about Peace of Mind Checking by visiting tctfcu.org/ peaceofmind. 

TCTFCU.ORG Email us at: itsgreattocu@tctfcu.org or send a secure message within online banking.