Gloucester County’s Best!
THE SENTINEL
The Newsletter For Members Of Fort Billings Federal Credit Union
October 2015
Utilize Your Greatest Investment
Use A Home Equity Loan For Fall Projects
The fall is the perfect time to take care of your house and lawn before winter arrives. A Home Equity
Loan from Fort Billings FCU can help you aerate your lawn, fertilize and winterize grass/trees/shrubs,
install new windows, paint the exterior of your home, fix a leaky roof, power wash your exterior and
windows, tune up the furnace, clean out the gutters, etc.
Physical Address:
962 Billingsport Road
Gibbstown, NJ 08027
Mailing Address:
PO Box 369
Paulsboro, NJ 08066
Telephone: (856) 423-1469
Fax: (856) 423-1092
Lobby Hours:
Mon., Tues., Wed., & Fri.
8:00 AM to 4:30 PM
Thursday
8:00 AM to 6:30 PM
Drive-Through Hours:
Mon., Tues., Wed., & Fri.
8:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Thursday
8:00 AM to 6:30 PM
Saturday
8:00 AM to Noon
www.fortbillings.org
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Fixed rates start as low as 2.99% APR*
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Maximum term of 15 years
Finance up to 90% of your home’s appraised value minus any first mortgage amount or liens
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No points to pay
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No application fee
Interest paid may be tax-deductible. Please consult your tax advisor.
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Apply via Home Banking at www.fortbillings.org. Or, stop
by or give us a call today!
*APR=Annual Percentage Rate. Rate subject to change without notice and based on creditworthiness of applicant.
Looking For A Dream House
Or To Refinance Your Mortgage?
As a member of Fort Billings FCU, you have access to our partner, State
Financial Network, a mortgage expert providing mortgage services for
nearly 30 years. We offer mortgage products to fit your needs and your
budget including:
•Fixed rate loans
•Adjustable rate loans
•Balloon loans
•Jumbo loans
•Interest only loans
For details or to speak with a Mortgage representative, call State
Financial Network at 800-426-7140.
Contact us to find out
how you can enjoy the
money saving products
and convenient services
your credit union
has to offer.
Christmas Club Accounts
Funds from Christmas Club Accounts were transferred into Share Accounts
on October 1st so members can start holiday shopping early!
If you currently don’t have a Christmas Club Account, opening one couldn’t
be easier. All you need is $1.00 to start earning dividends. Direct deposit,
payroll deduction and in person deposits are easy ways to save up for your
Christmas expenses. Deposits can be made anytime.
Stop by or call for details today!
www.fortbillings.org
International
Credit Union Day
October 15, 2015
This year’s theme is People
Helping People. It is already
a credit union philosophy
Fort Billings FCU puts into
practice every day.
On October 15, credit unions
around the world and their
200 million members will
celebrate the impact that credit unions and its members
have on the financial landscape.
An Employee Milestone
Lynn Cymerman Celebrates
Her 30th Anniversary
An anniversary is a good time for us to look
back on all of the good that Lynn has brought
to Fort Billings FCU. Lynn has always worked
hard to help the credit union, its members and
those in the community. Everyone at FBFCU
sends warm wishes to Lynn as she celebrates
her 30th anniversary.
John Greskiewicz, President, congratulates Lynn Cymerman, Executive Vice President.
Auto Express Loans
The Credit Union Way:
• Service to members
When you want to get in and out of the
dealership, the Auto Express Loan is for
you. Before you even step foot into the
showroom, you will have a check in your
pocket from Fort Billings FCU that will
be good up to a certain amount. Use this
check to negotiate a great price.
• Social responsibility
• Nondiscrimination
• Open and voluntary membership
• Building financial stability
• Cooperation among cooperatives
• Distribution to members
• Democratic control
• On-going education
Not Happy With Your
Current Cell Phone Costs?
Sprint Offers Member Discounts
Sprint may be able to lower your monthly cell phone bill
to help you save money. As a member of a credit union,
you can take advantage of:
10% OFF* select personal
Sprint plans
Once you find your vehicle and you get a price you are happy with, fill in the
amount on the check. You and the salesperson sign the check. The dealer
takes the check and deposits it into his account, and you drive home in your
new vehicle!
When the check arrives back at the credit union, we will contact you with the
amount of your monthly payments. Interest begins with the check clears.
For details or to apply, simply call our Loan Department at (856) 423-1469,
extension 8133 or 8127.
Let Us Finance Your New Or Used
Vehicle Loan
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Fort Billings FCU can finance a car, van,
pickup truck, or SUV.
15% OFF* select business
Sprint plans
•Rates as low as 1.99% APR*
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Waived activation fee on
new activations
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•Terms of 12-72 months on New Vehicle Loans
•Pre-approval available
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Waived upgrade fee
•Terms up to 60 months for Used Vehicle Loans
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For new and existing Sprint customers
•Up to 100% financing on new and used
vehicles available
There are three ways to get your discount.
1. Just call 877.SAVE.4CU (877.728.3428).
Tell them you are a credit union member. Ask to join
the NACUC_ZZM Corporate ID.
2. Go online to LoveMyCreditUnion.org/Sprint.
3. Stop by any Sprint store.
Get your discount today!
*Application of discount requires 2-year contract extension on existing plans.
Verification of membership is required at time of activation/upgrade. Discount not
available on secondary lines for Family and Business Share plans.
All rights reserved. Sprint, the logo, and other trademarks are the trademarks of
Sprint Nextel. For a complete update on the rules of the Sprint Credit Union Member
Discount program, please visit www.lovemycreditunion.org/Sprint.
Refinance & Save
Refinance the high-rate Vehicle Loan you have with another lender with FBFCU.
We may be able to lower your rate and monthly payment to help you save money.
Apply and/or refinance through Home Banking on www.fortbilling.org. Or, give
us a call or meet with a Loan Officer today.
*APR=Annual Percentage Rate. Rate subject to change without notice and based on creditworthiness of applicant.
What makes credit unions so great?
YOU, the members.
www.fortbillings.org
The History Of Fort Billings
When people first hear the name Fort Billings Federal Credit
Union, they often ask, “Is that a credit union for a military
base”? The answer is “no”; Fort Billings Federal Credit Union
is a full-service $60 million credit union, located in Paulsboro,
New Jersey.
Shredding Event
Join us at Fort Billings FCU’s annual Shredding
Event.
Date: Thursday, October 15, 2015
Place: The Credit Union
Time: 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM
Where did the name Fort Billings come from?
There is much historical significance associated with the
name Fort Billings and it dates all the way back to the year
1776. It was on July 5, 1776 that the Continental Congress, at
the request of George Washington, made the very first land purchase for the United States. They
purchased a 96 acre track along the Delaware River, at Billingsport in Paulsboro, New Jersey.
The site was selected as the ideal location to have a fort built along the Delaware River to keep
the British from sailing up the river and seizing Philadelphia. Under the direction of Thaddeus
Kosciuszko, troops from New Jersey, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Virginia worked on the
construction of the fort. However, Fort Billingsport was never fully constructed, as it fell to a British
attack in 1777, before the Battle of Red Bank.
Who was Thaddeus Kosciuszko?
Thaddeus Kosciuszko was a Lithuanian officer, who finished his education
in France and gained recognition for helping the United States to become
independent from Britain. He was born on February 12, 1746, in the PolishLithuanian Commonwealth. Kosciuszko received his military training at the
Royal Knight School in Warsaw.
In 1769, he received a scholarship for advanced studies in Paris, where
he learned war strategies for building and besieging forts. While in Paris,
he studied architecture and gained knowledge in the construction of bridges, roads, flood gates,
dams, and canals. Kosciuszko was opposed to the use of serf or slave labor. He traveled around
Europe to Holland, England, Switzerland, Saxony, and Rome.
In June 1776, Kosciuszko sailed with a group of foreign officers to America. Upon arrival in
Philadelphia, Kosciuszko went to Benjamin Franklin’s home, where he introduced himself and
he informed Franklin he was offering his services to the new nation. Kosciuszko was given a
geometry exam by David Rittenhouse, an expert mathematician and surveyor, who at the time
was working with Franklin on the defense of the Delaware River.
Franklin recommended Kosciuszko to Congress, and on August 30, 1776, Kosciuszko presented
his credentials to Congress in Independence Hall. Congress was impressed and, under the
direction of Franklin, Kosciuszko was put to work designing fortifications along the Delaware
River. The fortifications were critical in protecting Philadelphia. Most notably, in 1777, the first
of the fortifications Kosciuszko designed and built was located in Paulsboro and named Fort
Billingsport.
The following year in 1778, Kosciuszko
was appointed to build Fort Mercer, in
Red Bank. And, later that same year,
Kosciuszko was commissioned to build
West Point, along the Hudson River. In fact,
the map of Kosciuszko’s works at West
Point was the secret plan that the notorious
Revolutionary War traitor, Benedict Arnold,
tried to sell to the British!
After the Revolutionary War, Kosciuszko
went back to Europe. He later returned to
the United States in 1797 and stayed until
May 4, 1798. Missing his homeland, Kosciuszko returned again to Europe and on October 15,
1817, he died in Switzerland, at the age of 71.
Where does the credit union come in?
The credit union was established back in 1936 by the employees of the Socony Oil Company
refinery in Paulsboro. The credit union was started by the refinery workers to meet their financial
needs, as well as the needs of their family members. In later years, the refinery was sold to Mobil
and the credit union took on the name of Mobil Federal Credit Union.
Continued on back page
www.fortbillings.org
Keep in mind that when you throw something
out, it goes through several stages before
hitting the incinerator or landfill. Many people
could encounter your personal information
leaving you open to identity theft. A great way
to protect your information is to shred it.
You can bring up to four boxes of documents
you want shredded free of charge! Start looking
through your documents today!
What Are You
Waiting For?
Refer A Member Today!
You can refer your spouse,
parents, kids, brothers, sisters,
grandparents, and grandchildren. If you work for one of
our Select Employee Groups,
your co-workers can join too.
And, when you refer someone,
you can even get some cash.
This extra money just might
come in handy during the holiday season.
For each new member you refer, FBFCU will
pay the following to the member who did the
referring:
$10 if the new member opens a Share Account
(Savings Account)
$25 if the new member opens a Share Account
(Savings Account) and a Share Draft Checking
Account
$25 if the new member opens a Share Account
(Savings Account) and takes out a new loan
Start talking to your family and co-workers
today!
Changing Your
Address & Protecting
Your Account!
Moving can be a busy time. Sometimes
things get lost in the move. It is important to
remember to properly change your address
at the credit union so that your statements
and other important documents reach you.
After changing your address at the post office,
change it here.
We ask that you give us a call or stop by
the branch.
The History of Fort Billings continued...
As the credit union grew, and as more people were interested in joining, the credit union
decided to move outside of the refinery and allow other businesses and groups to join. Since
the credit union started serving businesses other than Mobil, the credit union decided it needed
to change its name. But, the question became, what name should the credit union now go by?
After much debate, it was decided the fairest thing to do was to hold a contest and let the
members decide on the credit union’s new name. So, a “name the credit union” contest was
held. The winning name was submitted by Mary Keegan. In keeping with the history of the area
and considering the credit union is located just up the road from the site of Fort Billingsport,
now a national historic landmark, Mary submitted the name Fort Billings Federal Credit Union.
And so, on May 1, 2000, the credit union officially became Fort Billings Federal Credit Union.
Holiday Shopping?
Use Your FBFCU VISA Credit Card
If you’re checking the ads for clothes, fitness equipment for your
New Year’s resolution, electronics, computers, decorations, or
hotels deals, reach for your Fort Billings FCU VISA Credit
Card. It is the convenient and easy way to pay for
your holiday purchases.
We offer Classic, Gold and Platinum VISA
Credit Cards. All cards offer:
d Low rates
d No annual fee
d 25-day grace period for purchases
d No balance transfer fee
d No transaction fee for purchases
d No minimum finance charge
Apply sooner than later so that you will have some purchasing power in your wallet this
holiday season. Apply online at www.fortbillings.org or in person today!
Perfect Pumpkin Pie
INGREDIENTS
For the crust:
Buy one pre-made pie crust
For the pie:
1 (15-ounce) can pumpkin purée (not pie mix)
1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon fine salt
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
Whipped cream, for serving (optional)
2015 Holiday Closings
Columbus Day
Monday, October 12, 2015
Veterans’ Day
Wednesday, November 11, 2015
Thanksgiving Day
Thursday, November 26, 2015
Christmas Eve
Thursday, December 24
Closing at Noon
Christmas Day
Friday, December 25, 2015
New Year’s Eve
Thursday, December 31, 2015
Closing at 4:30 PM
Tips for
Snow Shoveling
According to the 2013 US Consumer Product
Safety Commission, about 28,000 people were
treated in ERs for injuries that happened while
shoveling or removing ice and snow.
The most common injuries are soft tissue injuries,
lacerations and fractures. The lower back was
the most frequently injured part of the body.
Here are some tips to keep you safe.
4 Warm-up your muscles with light exercise
before shoveling.
4 Pace yourself. Be sure to take breaks and
stay hydrated. If you experience chest pain,
shortness of breath or other signs of a heart
attack, stop and seek emergency care.
4 Push the snow instead of lifting it. If you
must lift, squat with your legs apart, knees bent
and back straight. Lift with your legs.
4 Do not throw the snow over your shoulder
or to the side.
Protect Yourself From
Skimming ATM Scams
Instructions
1. Heat the oven to 350°F and arrange a rack in the lower third. Place a baking sheet on the rack
while the oven is heating.
2. Place all of the ingredients except the whipped cream in a large bowl and whisk until smooth
and combined. Pour into the chilled pie crust.
3. Place the pie on the hot baking sheet and bake until the top starts to brown and the filling is
set but still jiggles slightly in the center, about 50 minutes. Remove from the oven to a wire rack
and let cool completely before serving. Top slices of the pie with whipped cream, if desired.
www.fortbillings.org
Using a skimmer, a card-swipe device that
reads your ATM card, the fraudster encodes
data from your ATM card and creates a
counterfeit card. A small camera is mounted on
the ATM to obtain your PIN. It’s hard to know
that you’ve been scammed because your card
still works and hasn’t been removed from your
possession.
Tip: Be on the lookout for anything out of the
ordinary at the ATM like extra equipment or
wires. Also, shield the screen when you enter
your PIN. Be sure to examine your accounts
regularly for any unusual activity.
If you’ve been scammed, contact the credit
union immediately!