The Update
News and Information from your SC National Guard FCU
October 2015
Proudly Serving Those Who Preserve Our Freedom
EMV Cards Are Coming!
By now you have already heard about the new EMV cards – also
referred to as “chip cards.”
We are in the process of converting both our debit and credit cards
to the new chip cards. We will begin issuing our new chip cards in
the coming months.
What is a chip card? A chip card is a
standard-size plastic debit or credit card
that contains an embedded microchip,
as well as the traditional magnetic stripe.
Is a chip card different than a smart card or EMV card? No, you
may hear chip cards referred to as "smart cards" or "EMV™ cards"
– they are all different ways of referring to the same type of card.
Are chip cards safer to use than magnetic stripe cards? All of our
cards are safe and offer protection from unauthorized use of your
card or account information. Chip technology offers another layer
of security when used at a chip-reading terminal.
Easy to use
Chip cards are easy to use. Simply insert the chip card into the slot
at the bottom of a chip-enabled 9198100 terminal. Leave the card
in the terminal until the transaction is approved and completed,
then remove and take the card.
Get ready for the biggest
shopping day of the year:
BLACK FRIDAY!
Stop by the Credit Union
November 23rd – 27th* &
apply for a Holiday Loan.
Get up to $1,200.00 at
12.0% APR for 12 months.^
*All branches will be closed on Thursday, 11-26-15 for Thanksgiving.
^Credit Union underwriting standards will apply. First payment due 01-012016. Monthly payment for $1,200 loan is $107.00 per month.
Scams Targeting Seniors
The elderly are the fastest growing segment of our society
and they are also an important part of our country's
economy. America's growing senior population is uniquely
vulnerable to a broad range of exploitation and abuse.
Financial crimes in 9367700 particular are targeted at seniors
with alarming frequency, and are all too often successful.
Your new chip card will be a more secure way to make purchases at
home and worldwide.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Common Fraud
Schemes webpage provides tips on how you can
protect you and your family from fraud.
Visit us at www.scnationalguardfcu.org for more information about
chip cards.
You can also visit www.mycreditunion.gov
for more information and resources.
Please note our CHANGES for 2015:
Thursday, November 26, 2015 – ALL BRANCHES will be
CLOSED for Thanksgiving Day.
Friday, November 27, 2015 – Our Main Office will be OPEN
the day after Thanksgiving. Eastover and McEntire branches
will be CLOSED.
Thursday, December 24, 2015 – ALL BRANCHES will CLOSE at
1:00 PM on Christmas Eve.
Friday, December 25, 2015 - All branches 550400 will be
CLOSED for Christmas Day.
Thursday, December 31, 2015 – Our Main Office will be
OPEN for normal business hours on New Year’s Eve.*
*Eastover and McEntire hours are subject to change based on Base closings. Please
check our website for the most current Holiday Hours information.
Looking Out for You…
Couples: Credit Score Conversation Is Critical
Couples on the verge of marriage talk about everything from the style of house they'd
like to live in to names of future children, but conversations about finances sometimes
get left by the wayside.
A recent survey from Experian finds that credit scores are the No. 1 financial topic
couples don't discuss before tying the knot. Even though roughly 75% of engaged
couples talk about spending habits and student loan debt, only 43% talk about credit
scores, according to MarketWatch.com.
One in 10 couples doesn’t talk about credit scores even after they've wed. Whether
you're embarrassed about being a shopaholic or the topic just hasn't come up yet, it's
important to share credit score information before settling down:
• Check credit reports. Look at your credit reports together. You can check your credit
report from each of the three major credit reporting agencies once a year for free.
Always make your requests from annualcreditreport.com, the only site sanctioned by
the Federal Trade Commission. Or, you can call 877-322-8228. Make one request every
four months in rotation 503900 among the three credit agencies to monitor your credit
report year-round. Call credit issuers to dispute unauthorized items on your report.
• Boost your scores. Once you've discussed why credit scores are low, make a plan for
boosting them: Create automatic reminders so you remember to pay bills on time, pay
down credit card debt, and talk to each other before opening new credit lines. If you
decide to open a new card, choose one that has a low rate and low fees; make SC
National Guard FCU your first stop. Credit Union credit cards typically have lower rates
and fees than other financial institutions.
• Talk frequently about finances. Now that you've come clean about your finances,
keep communication lines open in the future. Schedule time each week to sit down and
talk about money. If you have kids, plan an inexpensive date night for just you and your
spouse to talk about financial topics.
According to the Experian study, married couples say that financial responsibility means
more (95%) than physical attractiveness (86%). That alone should be good reason for
mutual honesty about credit and other financial matters.
We can help with you and your future spouse's financial well-being. Stop by or call us
today!
Calendar of Events
th
Oct 12
th
Nov. 11
th
Nov. 26
th
Dec. 24
th
Dec. 25
st
Jan. 1
th
Jan. 18
2015 Holidays
Columbus Day – CU Closed
Veteran’s Day – CU Closed
Thanksgiving Day – CU Closed
Christmas Eve – CU Closes at 1PM
Christmas Day – CU Closed
2016 Holidays
New Year’s Day – CU Closed
MLK, Jr. Day – CU Closed
Visit us at
www.SCNationalGuardFCU.org
for the latest Credit Union information.
Win $5.00!!
Every issue of the Update has five hidden
member numbers. Locate your account
number and you too can be $5.00 richer.
When you locate your account number
simply contact us by phone, mail, email, or
visit one of our branches. Reading The
Update not only gives you current Credit
Union information but pays you for it!
Main Office:
McEntire:
October 26th – 30th
December 7th – 11th
Stop by our Main office or McEntire branch
during Shred Week and have your personal,
confidential documents shredded
for
.
Shredding provided by Shred With Us.
Copyright 2014 Credit Union National Association Inc.
Everyone could use some extra spending money during the holidays!
Take a break from your loan payments for a month and use the
money for your holiday vacation, gifts, or other expenses!
For only $20 per loan you can be payment 251800 free for an
entire month!*
To request a Skip-A-Payment call or stop by any of our branch locations.
*Not all borrowers will be eligible. Please contact a loan officer for details.
Board Declares 0.10% APY Dividend
for 3rd Quarter 2015
The annual percentage yield applies to all
share, club, and organizational accounts.
The dividend rate on checking is .05% APY.
Contact the Credit Union at 799-1090 or 1800-922-6310, if outside the Columbia area,
for additional information.
Three Branches to Serve You
Main Branch
1225 Bluff Road, Columbia, SC 29201
PO Box 9366, Columbia, SC 29290
(803) 799-1090 • 800-922-6310
(803) 299-4333 • Fax (803) 254-6315
Eastover Branch
10311 Garners Ferry Rd, Eastover, SC 29044
PO Box 9366, Columbia, SC 29290
(803) 695-2000 • 800-922-6370
(803) 695-6053 • Fax (803) 806-1801
McEntire Branch
1325 SC Road, Eastover, SC 29044
PO Box 9123, Columbia, SC 29290
(803) 647-8212 • 877-504-0898
Fax (803) 783-2099
The Update is published quarterly for the members of SC National Guard FCU. Our mission is to provide the South
Carolina National Guard family financial products in a safe and sound environment in a continuously changing world.