Bulletin Board - A Newsletter for TCT Federal Credit Union Members | October 2021

BULLETIN BOARD

A NEWSLETTER FOR TCT MEMBERS | OCTOBER 2021 ICU21_Poster.pdf

Get More Value with Your Checking Our new Peace of Mind Checking account provides powerful checking benefits plus identity theft protection services.

nxgPROTECT@merchantsinfo.com.

Don’t have the email? Call us at 800-7218288 for assistance.

TCT Members who have Peace of Mind Checking get access to credit and dark web monitoring with alerts and access to their monthly credit score, plus fully managed recovery services in the event of a fraud incident, Mobile Phone Insurance and online discounts.

In addition to monitoring services, Peace of Mind Checking account holders will also have fully managed recovery services with a professional advocate who will manage your identity theft fraud event and resolve the fraud for you. The combination of both monitoring and recovery services provide the best total solution for you and your family.

Don’t forget to activate: To utilize your entitlement to credit and dark web monitoring and monthly credit score, you will need to activate these services using the Enrollment ID emailed to you from

◀ Sign-up for our Email list!

8/9/21

10:12 AM

CREDIT UNION DAY On October 21, 2021, TCT will join over 56,000 credit unions around the world to celebrate International Credit Union Day. The theme of ICU Day 2021 is “Building financial health for a brighter tomorrow.”

The day highlights the many ways that credit unions across the world help members improve their financial health and well-being.

Mind checking account into your savings account.

Credit unions were built on the principle of “people helping people.” At TCT we’ve put that philosophy in action for more than 62 years by providing access to affordable financial products and striving to meet the needs of our communities. TCT is honored to be a part of this proud tradition.

To Enroll: Call us, or send us a secure message in Online Banking, or submit an Opt-in form available on our website at tctfcu.org/peaceofmind.

Join us Thursday, October 21 as we celebrate in the branches with small gifts for our members.

Or call us to make sure we have the best email address on fi le for you.

Introducing Debit Card Round-Up Reaching your goals just got a little easier with TCT’s Debit Card Round-Up Program.

Simply enroll to start saving with every transaction on your TCT Visa® Debit Card.

How it works: Once enrolled, every transaction on your TCT Debit Card will round up to the nearest dollar and the change will transfer from your Peace of

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Nominate a Special School Employee TCT and Adirondack Broadcasting are proud sponsors of the Teacher of the Week program. Each week one school employee is selected from your nominations and announced on-air. The award includes gift certificates to local businesses, a commemorative plaque, flowers, and gift bag.

View all of the 2020-2021 awarded school employees on our Facebook page or our website at tctfcu.org/totw.

Payment Saver — A HYBRID Auto Loan

OFFERING THE BEST OF CONVENTIONAL FINANCING AND TRADITIONAL LEASING New Mileage Options Offer Even Greater Monthly Payment Savings With recent changes in the market and consumer driving habits, two new lower mileage options have been added that provide even greater monthly payment savings when paired with longer terms. TCT’s Payment Saver Auto Loans now offer 7,500 and 10,000 annual mileage options in addition to the 12,000, 15,000, and 18,000 mile options previously available.

Learn more about our Payment Saver Program and calculate and compare a payment to conventional financing at TCTFCU.ORG/Payment-Saver.

“I like the option of a lower monthly payment, for some vehicles the payment was over $100 a month lower than a conventional loan. Flexible options at the end of the term to trade the vehicle, refinance or even walk away are great features. The vehicle has a guaranteed future value, so you know what the vehicle will be worth and that you won’t be faced with being “upside down” at the end of the loan term, which is also very appealing.” - James S.

Ready for a Rapid REFI? HOME EQUITY SPECIAL *

A Rapid Refi Mortgage at TCT could be a great fit if you have sufficient equity in your home and are looking to take advantage of today’s low rates or change your loan term to better suit your current needs. We’re currently offering No Closing Costs including New York State Mortgage Tax up to $100,000*.

Lower Your Payment - Refinancing may significantly lower your monthly mortgage payment with even just a small reduction of your mortgage interest rate.

Reach your goals

* Closing costs including the New York State Mortgage LEARN MORE 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. 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.

Consolidate Debt - Refinancing your home loan can be a great way to get cash out of your home’s equity to use for other purposes, including to pay off your higher interest debt.

Our Refinance Specialists are ready to discuss your goals and see where we can help you save money. View our competitive rates for both fi xed home equity loans and adjustable home equity line of credit (HELOC) and apply online at tctfcu.org/ home-refi.

Hang-Up on Spoofed Social Security Admin. Calls If you get a call that looks like it’s from the Social Security Administration (SSA), think twice. but the scammers on the phone are spoofing the number to make the call look real.

What can you do if you get one of these calls? Hang up.

Remember: • SSA will not threaten you. Real SSA employees will never threaten you to get personal information. They also won’t promise to increase your benefits in exchange for information.

If they do, it’s a scam.

By: Lisa Weintraub Schifferle, Attorney, FTC, Division of Consumer & Business Education

• If you have any doubt, hang up and call SSA directly. Call

Scammers are spoofing SSA’s 1-800 customer service number to try to get your personal information. Spoofing means that scammers can call from anywhere, but they make your caller ID show a different number – often one that looks legit. Here are few things you should know about these so-called SSA calls.

1-800-772-1213 – that really is the phone number for the Social Security Administration. If you dial that number, you know who you’re getting. But remember that you can’t trust caller ID. If a call comes in from that number, you can’t be sure it’s really SSA calling.

These scam calls are happening across the nation, according to SSA: Your phone rings. Your caller ID shows that it’s the SSA calling from 1-800-772-1213. The caller says he works for the Social Security Administration and needs your personal information – like your Social Security number – to increase your benefits payments. (Or threatens to cut off your benefits if you don’t give the information.) But it’s not really the Social Security Administration calling. Yes, it is the SSA’s real phone number,

• If you get a spoofed call, report it. If someone calls, claiming to be from SSA and asking for information like your Social Security number, report it to SSA’s Office of Inspector General at 1-800-269-0271 or https://oig.ssa.gov/report.

For more tips, check out the FTC’s How to Stop Unwanted Calls and Government Imposter Scams. If you think someone has misused your personal information, go to IdentityTheft.gov to report identity theft and find out what steps to take.

Are You Cyber Safe?

Test your cyber safety smarts with an interactive simulation designed for teens 13-18, but anyone can play! See if you can spot red flags and dangers online. Learn to vet apps, networks and more at: https://tctfcu.teachbanzai.com/wellness/coaches

Balance Transfer Offer Available through Dec. 31, 2021 A Balance Transfer is a way to move

an existing balance from one credit card, usually with a high interest rate, to another with a lower interest rate. This not only cuts down on your number of monthly payments but can equal big savings in the long run, by reducing the amount that this debt costs you.

Ready to save money and cut down on debt? Transfer a bal-

ance to a new or existing TCT Visa® Platinum credit card and receive a 2.99% APR* Balance Transfer Rate for the first 12 billing cycles, thereafter rate will range from

6.96%—14.96% APR, based on creditworthiness. There is no balance transfer fee and you will even earn Scorecard Rewards on your transferred balance.

With Scorecard Rewards, you have options — you can

redeem your points to erase recent purchases, use them during the PayPal checkout process, or purchase namebrand merchandise, travel, experiences, and other services.

It’s easy to complete a Balance Transfer Form online or apply for a TCT Visa® Platinum credit card at TCTFCU. ORG/credit-card.

*APR = Annual Percentage Rate. 2.99% Annual Percentage Rate for the first 12 billing cycles on balance transfer, after 12 billing cycles card balance will revert back to standard cash advance rates which range from 6.96%—14.96%, based on creditworthiness. We will begin charging interest on balance transfers on the transaction date. Please contact your local credit union representative for specific terms and details. Offer expires 12/31/2021.

TCT MEMBER EXCLUSIVE Smarter Smart Phone Budgets If you’re like most people, you may be spending more on your monthly wireless bill than necessary when all your need is talk, text and data. As your credit union, we want to help you save.

That’s why we’re giving members like you an exclusive 5% discount on no-contract wireless plans with Tracfone.

PLUS, members get an exclusive 10% off devices $99 and up now through 12/31/21 with promo code CUSG10.

When you switch to a no-contract wireless phone plan you can keep your phone, number and network. Visit LoveMyCreditUnion.org and start saving on your wireless today.

Now Accepting College Scholarship Applications TCT Federal Credit Union is offering college-bound high school seniors the opportunity to compete for statewide college scholarships through the New York Credit Union Association’s (NYCUA) College Scholarship Program. Scholarships may be used at a two- or four-year accredited educational institution.

In 2021, TCT awarded $9,000 in college scholarships to 9 TCT Members and the NYCUA awarded $30,750 ranging from $500 to $1,500 scholarships, to 41 students.

Students can take advantage of this opportunity by completing these steps:

1. Visit the TCT FCU website tctfcu.org/scholarship to download an application.

2. The student will need to contact the credit union directly to obtain a credit union verification code to verify eligibility. If the student is not a member of TCT FCU, he/she can request a membership packet as well. (All scholarship applicants are required to be members of a participating New York credit union.)

Upcoming Holiday Closures:

3. Complete the application form and required essay and obtain the required transcripts, along with the signature of a parent or guardian.

4. Upload and submit the completed application and supportive materials online no later than January 7, 2022.

There is no fee for submitting an application, but applicants MUST be:

• members of TCT FCU; • college-bound high school seniors at the time of application; and • attending either a two- or four-year accredited educational institution for the first time in the fall of 2022.

In early spring, applications will be judged against other submissions statewide. Winners will be announced in May. For more information about this scholarship program, contact the credit union by calling 1-800-7218288 or emailing Jeannie Dickinson at jdickinson@ tctfcu.org.

Columbus Day - Monday, October 11 | Veterans’ Day - Thursday, November 11 Thanksgiving - Thurs. & Fri., Nov. 25 & 26 | Christmas - Fri. & Sat., Dec. 24 & 25

CONTACT US Online at tctfcu.org | Call: 1-800-721-8288 | Send a secure message after signing-in to online banking.

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