AcadiaSTAR
The
Desjardins Receives Prestigious
MaineBiz Small Business Leader of
the Year Award
In an article released in March, David Desjardins, President/
CEO of Acadia Federal Credit Union, was named Maine
Small Business Leader of the Year by Mainebiz Magazine.
Based on his commitment to credit union members and the
community at large, Desjardins was chosen from a
nomination pool of more than 75 top executives in the state.
The award was bestowed upon Desjardins for his passion for
small business in Northern Aroostook County. His focus on
personalized service, commercial lending portfolio growth
and passion for financial literacy made him a standout
among the competition. Desjardins is also credited with
leading the implementation of new and innovative products
and services, such as social networking, a mobile banking
app and the Kasasa Rewards Checking Program.
Desjardins has drawn upon his past experiences to help
Acadia Federal Credit Union grow by sometimes thinking
outside of the box. In less than a decade with Desjardins at
the helm, the credit union has reaped the benefits of his
vision and seen staggering growth from 4,000 members and
$32 million in assets in 2004 to 10,500 members and over
$110 million in assets today.
David Desjardins is recognized as the Maine Small Company Business
Leader of the Year by MaineBiz Magazine.
Member Newsletter · Spring 2013
Celebrating 50 Years
Two-thousand and thirteen marks a very special year for
Acadia Federal Credit Union as we celebrate our semi-centennial
anniversary. As many of you know, Acadia FCU started out as six
separate credit unions spanning from Grand Isle all the way to
St. Francis.
St. Agatha Federal Credit Union was
founded in 1952 to serve the
parishioners and citizens of the town.
1963 saw a tremendous amount of
credit union growth when local
residents of many St. John Valley
communities expressed
interest in more practical financial solutions. Four local credit
unions were established that year: Fort Kent Federal Credit
Union, Frenchville Federal Credit Union, St. Francis Community
Credit Union and Grand Isle Community Credit Union. In 1964,
Madawaska followed suit and opened their own credit union
dedicated to the people of their town.
After years of growth and mergers between the smaller credit
unions, Acadia Federal Credit Union has become a strong
financial institution proud to serve you, our members of
Northern Aroostook County. We look forward to fifty more
successful years and hope you will join us for the ride!
After launching the Kasasa
Cash and Kasasa Saver Accounts
in the summer of 2012,
the popular Free Rewards
Checking program seems to be
enticing more current and new
members. Because there are no monthly fees, no minimum
balance requirements and no penalties, people have been eager
to learn how they can make their money work for them. In
order to earn the 3% Annual Percentage Yield (APY) each
month, members simply have to use their debit card twelve
times, login to online banking, view eStatments, and set up
a direct deposit. Since many people practice these financial
habits already, we are just helping them make the most of their
money! If you are interested in converting to or opening a new
Kasasa account, give us a call or visit our Kasasa website:
www.kasasa.com/acadiafcu.
President’s Message
Dear Member:
Happy Anniversary! May 1 marked the one-year anniversary
of the St. Agatha FCU merger into the operations of Acadia
FCU. A lot of changes have taken place during this past
year and we are really pleased with the support that we’ve
received from the members, community and staff. This year
also marks Acadia FCU’s 50th anniversary! The dedicated
individuals who came together so many years ago to form
the credit unions that make up Acadia today showed an
incredible amount of vision. They wanted to make sure
that the people of the St. John Valley had access to
financial services that would allow them a better standard
of living. After 50 years, I’m proud to say that we still strive
to enhance our member’s lives by offering low or no cost
financial services, above market savings rates and
competitive loan rates. It’s all thanks to you, our member,
that we can continue the great work that was started all
those years ago. Thank you!
Best wishes and a great summer to all,
David Desjardins
President/CEO
[email protected]
Think of Us as Your Home Center
Whether you’re interested in buying a home, refinancing
your current mortgage, or obtaining a home equity loan or
credit line, there’s no better place to start than Acadia FCU.
Affordable home loans are the keystone of our promise to
strengthen the communities we serve.
Give us a call or stop in
to talk with one of our
experienced Loan Officers
to discuss the many loan
options we offer,
including mortgages with
as little as 10% down
payment. Since we value
member service, we will
ask you about your
situation and goals and answer your questions detailing the
pros and cons of each option. Above all, we will make sure
to provide the best options to keep you from getting in over
your head.
David Desjardins, President/CEO, was presented with the National
Desjardins Youth Financial Literacy Award by Susan Streifel, CUNA Awards
Committee Chairperson, at the Governmental Affairs Conference held in
Washington, DC in February
National Desjardins Youth Financial
Literacy Award
After a successful year of collaborating with the University of
Maine at Fort Kent and implementing financial literacy
activities for students throughout the St. John Valley, Acadia
Federal Credit Union was presented with the National Desjardins
Youth Financial Literacy Award at CUNA’s Governmental Affairs
Conference in Washington, DC, in late February. Representatives
from Acadia FCU were in attendance at the Awards Ceremony
and David Desjardins, President/CEO, was on hand to receive
the award.
The Desjardins Youth Financial Literacy Award is awarded to
credit unions who have successfully implemented activities
that support the personal financial education of both members
and nonmembers. More than 130 credit unions from 29 states
submitted applications for their financial education programs
and activities. Acadia Federal Credit Union was among ten
recognized by the Credit Union National Association (CUNA) in
the Youth Financial Education category.
David Desjardins, President/CEO, with Luis Sanclemente, Vice President,
and Kate Dumond, Marketing Manager, pose with the National Desjardins
Youth Financial Literacy Award that was presented to Acadia Federal Credit
Union at the Governmental Affairs Conference in February.
Debit Card Dos and Don’ts
Do you use your debit card on a daily basis? Or maybe
even multiple times per day? It makes sense, since your
card is linked to your checking account so you aren’t being
charged interest on purchases like with a credit card.
A majority of the time, using your debit card is the smart
move; but there are times when you should put down the
debit card and use either cash or a credit card. Below are
some DOs and DON’Ts on using your Acadia FCU debit card.
Easy Ways to $ave Big
1.Start or boost an emergency savings fund.
A general rule of thumb is to save about 10% of every
paycheck. The best way to accomplish this is to set up an
automatic direct deposit from your paycheck to a dedicated
savings account.
2.Take advantage of our FREE Kasasa Rewards Accounts.
These are high interest accounts that pay you without any
fees, penalties or minimum balance requirements. Just
participate in specified financial habits each month to
qualify for 3% Annual Percentage Yield (APY) and
nationwide ATM fee refunds.
3.Pay down credit card debt.
Credit card companies charge high interest rates and annual
fees for using their services. Try to pay down the cards with
the highest interest rates first and then, once they are all
paid off, get into the habit of charging only what you can
pay off at the end of that month.
4.Track monthly spending.
By knowing what you are spending money on, you have
a better foundation to build a budget. Once you create a
budget, stick to it and tweak it if necessary. If you are under
your budget at the end of any given month, add the leftover
to a savings account or make an extra payment on a credit
card, mortgage or vehicle loan.
5.Set up or contribute to an IRA.
If you are under 50, you can contribute up to $5,500
towards your retirement account in 2013. If you are 50 years
or older, you have the ability to contribute up to $6,500
this year. IRAs are a great way to supplement an employersponsored retirement plan, so take advantage!
6.Refinance your mortgage.
With home loans at an all-time low, you could refinance
your mortgage for a shorter term and even lower your
payments. Visit our website for mortgage rates or speak to
one of our loan officers for details.
DO watch how much you spend. It’s very easy to get hit
with overdraft charges when you’re not keeping an eye
on your balance, so make it a habit to check your account
online or via the AcadiaGO mobile banking app.
DON’T use debit cards for large purchases. Debit cards don’t
offer the same protection as with credit cards. Nor do they
allow you to reverse or dispute charges.
DO click on “credit” and sign for payments, instead of using
your PIN. Visa® will insure purchases you sign for if the debit
cards are processed as credit cards. PIN transactions don’t
always have that protection.
DON’T link your debit card to an account with a large
balance. Thieves can empty out your debit-card-linked
checking account in no time, particularly during the
holidays, when there is less oversight.
DO use your credit card if you have no debt burden, but
always try to pay off your monthly balance in full. Stop by
Acadia FCU to learn more about our credit cards and the
low interest rates we offer.
Ending Hunger Campaign
Connect through Social Networking
Acadia Federal Credit Union has improved our social
networking platforms, so that members can connect with us
more conveniently. In recent months, Acadia FCU has been
posting financial tips on Twiiter, videos on YouTube, budget
friendly pins on Pinterest, and pictures, fun facts and events
on Facebook. If you haven’t liked, followed or subscribed to our
social networking pages, please take a minute to add us
to your feed. This way, you will be the first to know about
new products and services, cool contests, and important
announcements!
Fort Kent · Madawaska · St. Agatha · St. Francis
1.855.MY.ACADIA (692.2234)
www.acadiafcu.org
Holiday Closings
Memorial Day
Labor Day
Independence Day
Columbus Day
Monday, May 27
Thursday, July 4
Monday, September 2
Monday, October 14
Reminder: Make sure to update your email address
with one of our staff members or through our website.
Federally Insured by NCUA
9 East Main Street
Fort Kent, ME 04743
The 2012 Maine Credit Unions’ Campaign for Ending Hunger
was a huge success. Acadia FCU was able to raise and donate
over $12,000 for this worthy cause.
As a result, local food banks and pantries
in the St. John Valley will receive
funding and food donations from the
monies raised from this campaign.
Members, local merchants and area
citizens deserve an enthusiastic thank
you for donating their hard earned cash
and making such a huge impact on the
fight against hunger. THANK YOU!
Bangor, ME
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