Introducing Our Mobile Banking App

Our number one goal at St. Cloud Federal Credit Union is to help our members stay be financially fit. Many of our members requested a mobile banking app to help keep track of their finances, and we listened. We are now offering a St. Cloud Federal Credit Union Mobile Banking app for both the iPhone and Android devices! The app is named “SCFCU Banking”.

The free app allows you to conveniently manage your accounts from your mobile device, with the following features:

• Check account balances
• See recent activity
• View transaction history
• Transfer money between accounts
• Locate and get directions to ATM and brand locations using GPS

In order to use our app, you must be an Online Banking user with St. Cloud Federal Credit Union (you will use the same username and password as your Online Banking account). We would be happy to help you set up your Online Banking account. If you are interested, please call member services at the credit union at 320.252.2634 or 1.888.252.2634.

To download our Mobile Banking app, go to your app store and search “SCFCU Banking”. We are always open to new ideas to help you handle your finances more efficiently, conveniently and strategically. At St. Cloud Federal Credit Union, we are people helping people and we listen to our members!

Data Breach with U.S. Retailer Target Corporation

The Target Corporation has announced the "unauthorized access to Target payment card data. The unauthorized access may impact guests who made credit or debit card purchases in our U.S. stores from Nov. 27 to Dec. 15, 2013. ... We have determined that the information involved in this incident included customer name, credit or debit card number, and the card's expiration date and CVV."

Cards include VISA debit cards and MasterCard credit cards, which are issued by St. Cloud Federal Credit Union. However, at this time we do not know if any cards issued by the credit union were included in the "unauthorized access". If there are any SCFCU cards included, we will receive a list of the affected cards, and we will notify those members to let them know how we are handling the situation. At the credit union, we are taking all necessary steps to mitigate any potential fraud losses.  In the meantime, we highly recommend that our members who have personal checking accounts at St. Cloud Federal Credit Union immediately sign up for our FREE credit monitoring service. All members with personal checking accounts ALREADY qualify for the service. All they have to do is contact the credit union to obtain a promotional code, and then they register for the service online. In addition to credit monitoring, members with personal checking accounts ALREADY having our I.D. Theft Recovery service installed on their checking account. For information about that service, go to  https://stcloudfcu.coop/checking-benefits/.

Last but not least, keep tabs on your accounts daily! Check to see if any transactions show up that you did not make. The best way to keep tabs on your account is through Online or Mobile Banking. From there your account can be automated by using Account Alerts in Online Banking. This way you will be notified automatically by text or email about all transactions. Using free Account Alerts is a great way to keep track of your accounts now and throughout the year. 

How To Stay Financially Fit During The Holidays

Hi everyone it’s Financially Fit Phoebe here! With all the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. I am here give you the tools you need to be financially fit this holiday season, so you can celebrate the holidays with ease!

Allow Time

The holiday season always tends to fly by! Can you believe that there are only 14 more days until Christmas? I can’t! To avoid impulse holiday shopping, make a holiday calendar. This calendar will include what days you will buy gifts for each person, when you will cook & bake holiday treats, and when you want to have your holiday decorations up by. When making your holiday calendar compare it to your paydays and when bills are due.

Decide How Much You Can Spend

The first step to being financially fit during the holiday is creating a budget. The first thing I like to do is come up with a holiday budget (this will include everything). Next I take my holiday budget and divide it into four categories: gifts, food, decorations and other. Here is how you can make sure you follow your budget for each category:

Gifts: First, make a list of all the people you plan to give gifts to. Then, next to each person’s name write the amount of money you will spend on their gift. Lastly add up the numbers next to each person’s name to make sure it does not exceed your allotted gift budget.

Food: Many of us look forward to holiday treats and food; I know I do! To avoid getting a bad taste in your mouths (because you spent too much on holiday foods) I recommend you make a list of all the holiday treats and foods you plan to make. Next to each holiday treat or food write how much it will cost to make. Don’t forget to add ingredients up like sugar and sprinkles! Lastly, add up how much money it will cost to make everything and make sure it fits in your budget.

Decorations: One of the easiest ways to cut back on holiday spending is the decorations. Set up all of your old holiday decorations before you buy any new ones. To save some cash have your kids, nieces and nephews make holiday decorations with you. If after doing all this you feel like your home could use a little more holiday cheer, then go buy a few more decorations- but remember, stick to your budget!

Other: This list is one many people forget about. Under this list should be gas money to go to stores, shipping costs, gift-wrap, and any additional things you will need during the holiday season. They might not seem like they cost a lot, but added all together you’d be surprised!

DIY Gifts

I think the best gifts are handmade. Some DIY gifts that I love are mason jars filled with treats, crayon art, letter art, handmade soaps and upcycled art. If you need some more DIY gift ideas take a look at St. Cloud Federal Credit Union’s “DIY Gifts” Pinterest board. 

If you are feeling overwhelmed with all of your holiday expenses do not hesitate to call St. Cloud Federal Credit Union, we’d be happy to help!

xo,

~Phoebe

Pammy’s Sugar Cookies

Our next SCFCU holiday recipe comes from Jackie.  Jackie got this recipe many years ago from a dear friend, Pam, and has been using it ever since.  She claims this recipe is the best, most delicious one out there – and by the looks of the ingredients, she might be right!  With the help of fun and festive cookie cutters, Jackie makes these sugar cookies for all kinds of occasions – Thanksgiving, Christmas, the Superbowl, etc. YUM!

Cookie Ingredients:

2 c. Sugar

1 c. Butter – Really Softened, No Substitutes

2 Eggs

1 c. Sour Cream

1 tsp. Baking Soda

2 tsp. Lemon Extract

½ tsp. Salt

Add flour, enough to make a soft dough roll
(about 4-5 cups total).

Baking:

Roll out dough on floured surface, then cut out shapes with cookie cutters. Bake cookies at 350 degrees for about 10 minutes, or until the bottom is golden brown.

Frosting Ingredients:

½ pint Half & Half Cream

¼ c. butter

2-3 c. Powdered Sugar (adjust to taste preference)

Food Coloring (optional)

Instructions:

Melt half & half with butter, then add 2-3 cups powdered sugar.  Frosting may seem soupy at first, but will set overnight. *Tip: It is easiest to dip the top of cookies into frosting, for less mess.

These cookies are easy to make, and very festive…Jackie’s kids and family love them, and she hopes yours will too.  

- Jackie,  VP of Accounting

Watch for more delicious SCFCU Employee recipes to come this Holiday season!

Stress Less on Holiday Expenses

Headphones, clothing, spiffy shoes, video games… a Christmas list can go on and on!  While it’s true that this season is one of the most wonderful times of the year, it can also be one of the most stressful.  Many of us feel the pressure to find the perfect gift – which may come with a hefty price tag.

How do you pay for all the gadgets, gizmos, and gifts? Do you pull out the plastic and throw caution to the wayside, ignoring the guilt and financial pressure? Well, we’re here to tell you there’s a way to spend this Holiday season without the buyer’s remorse!

Did you know the national average of interest rates on credit cards is a whopping 14.95%? YIKES. This is just one of the reasons we are excited to be offering our annual Holiday Loan with a low 1.99% annual percentage rate!

A few key details about the SCFCU Holiday Loan:
- Available now until December 31st, 2013
- Minimum loan is $500
- Maximum loan is $4,000
- 12 month term
- 1.99% APR (WOW!!!)
- Offer available to qualified borrowers on approved credit
- New money only
- No collateral required

We offer this special financing so you can buy gifts for the Holidays at a lower cost than credit cards or other loans. The term (AKA the loan payback period) may seem short, but this helps us encourage and remind our Members that part of being Financially Fit means not over-extending your debt.  In other words, we don’t want you to still be paying for the Holidays during next year’s Holiday season; after all, next Christmas rolls around just 12 months later!

If you’re looking for a way to stick to your budget, stay Financially Fit, and truly enjoy the Holidays, contact one of our Lenders at (320) 258-2190 today – you’ll be glad you did!

­­

Happy Holidays from all of us at St. Cloud Federal Credit Union, where our Mission is to educate, support and encourage our Members to be Financially Fit.

Jessi’s Cranberry Pear Stuffing

This yummy recipe comes from Jessi's kitchen... it sounds delicious ~ enjoy!

Ingredients:
2 ½ c –  Low Sodium Vegetable Broth
2/3 c –  Raw Wild Rice
1 ½  Tbsp –  Olive Oil
1 Medium Red Onion, Chopped
2 Large Celery Stalks, Diced
2 Medium Firm Pears, Cored and Diced
2 c – Finely Diced Whole Grain Bread
1/3  c – Dried Cranberries
1/4 c – Chopped Pecans
2 tsp – Salt-Free Seasoning (Spike, Mrs. Dash, etc.)
Salt and Freshly ground Pepper to Taste
1/2 c – Apple Cider
  
Directions:
1. Bring the broth to a simmer in a small saucepan.  Stir in the wild rice, then cover and simmer gently until the liquid is absorbed, about 35 minutes.

2. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.

3.  Heat the oil in a medium-sized skillet.  Add the onion and sauté until translucent.  Add the celery and sauté over medium heat until both are golden.

4. Combine the onion-celery mixture with the cooked wild rice and all remaining ingredients, except the apple juice, in a mixing bowl.  Stir well to combine.  Drizzle the apple juice in slowly, stirring all the while, until the mixture is evenly moistened.

5. Transfer the mixture to a lightly oiled, large, shallow baking dish.  Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until the tops beings to get slightly crusty.


Enjoy!

Jessi, SCFCU Lead Teller

Stay tuned for more Employee recipes throughout the Holiday season!

Janelle’s 3 Layer Peanut Butter Bars

This is actually my friend's "secret family recipe" that she wasn't able to get until she married her husband.  Every time she would make it I loved it, but she wouldn't give up the recipe for anything.  Luckily, my Mom gave me their church cookbook for Christmas a few years ago, and I found it in there...  Lucky me! Their secret is no longer safe!  It takes longer than a simple pan of brownies, so I usually make them for special occasions or get-togethers.  I also make it for group gatherings because if the pan isn't gone, I have no problem eating the rest of it by myself! YUM!



First Layer:

1 c white corn syrup
2 c peanut butter (18 oz jar)
1 c brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla
3 c rice krispies
3 c corn flakes

Melt the syrup, peanut butter, and brown sugar.  Add the vanilla after everything is melted and stirred together.  Add rice krispies and corn flakes.  Spread in a 10x15 jellyroll pan and cool.  (I do not have a jelly roll pan, so I use a 9x13 pan and a smaller pan for the rest).

Second Layer:
2 sticks margarine
6 Tbs milk
2 small pkgs instant vanilla pudding (dry)
4 c powdered sugar

Melt 2 sticks of margarine with the milk.  Add 2 packages of vanilla pudding mix and 4 c powdered sugar.  Use a mixer and mix until smooth.  Spread on 1st layer and refrigerate 1 hour.  (I have used 1 1/2 sticks of butter and 1/2 c milk and it still tastes good.  If it has less than 1 1/2 sticks though, it doesn't turn out quite right.)

Third Layer:
1 c chocolate chips
1 stick margarine

Melt chocolate chips and 1 stick margarine.  (I found it works to melt the chocolate chips first and then the margarine so you don't have melted butter and solid chocolate chips.  You can also cut down on the margarine a bit on this layer as well if you want, just not too much.)  Spread on top of the 2nd layer.  Cool and cut into 1 inch squares.

The bars can be frozen as well.  Make sure to keep them in the fridge because of the pudding layer.

Enjoy!

- Janelle, SCFCU Loan Officer

Stay tuned for more Employee recipes throughout the Holiday season!

Five Fall Financial Fitness Tips

Whoa, say that title ten times fast!  Fall is always a fun time of year; colors are changing, leaves are falling, and temps are beginning to drop.  Making the most of autumn while staying Financially Fit may be easier than you think! Check out this list of five money-saving tips we put together...

1.  Home-heating costs are not cheap, especially for us Minnesotans.  Before the Temperature cools way down, consider taking another look at how 'weatherproof' your home is.  It may cost you a bit up front, but it will save you a lot in heating and maintenance costs in the upcoming winter months!

2. Fresh foods are plentiful and inexpensive during this time of year.  You can still grab summer favorites like tomatoes, peppers, corn, and cucumbers AND add in fall favorites like butternut squash, grapes, and sweet potatoes for tasty, nutritious, and affordable meals.  And remember, as herbs and summer annuals start to seed, take a few minutes to collect seeds for next year. This can be an easy way to keep your garden going from year to year, without making it a huge investment!

3. Cooking with a crock pot rather than a stove can save you money in energy costs.  You can make a lot of yummy, healthy meals with a crock pot, and it will save you time too.  Simply throw ingredients in and let the crock pot do the work!

4. Fall is a great time of year to use nature for seasonal decorations.  While the goodies at home decor stores can be tempting, you can have a festive home for a lot less!  Gather acorns, twigs, leaves, or corn stalks for a fun Thanksgiving table, or snag leftover Halloween pumpkins to create a harvest scene!

5.  The Thanksgiving season triggers sales on all sorts of baking supplies – flour, sugar, chocolate chips, spices, nuts and more! Do an inventory of what you have to figure out what you're running low on. Then, stock up! *Tip: Be sure to check for coupons before you head to the store. This time of year you'll find coupons for the ‘staple’ baking items!

Bonus Tip:  If the cost of the Holidays is starting to stress you out, make sure to take some time to set a holiday budget and spending plan. If you haven’t done it yet, November is the best time to plan for spending in the month of December.  If you’re Financially Fit during the Holiday Season, you’re bound to enjoy it even more!

There are always ways you can have fun and enjoy the season while keeping your Financial Fitness in mind… Stay tuned for more tips, tricks, and Financial Fitness ideas!

Our mission is to educate, support, and encourage our Members to become Financially Fit.

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'Call Me Fronk!'

Hi Everyone, Phoebe here! I wanted to introduce you all to my good friend, Frank… or as he says ‘Call me Fronk!’

I first met Frank a few years back when he moved to the United States from Germany – it has been fun to get to know him, and I always love teasing him about his accent… “vat accent?!”, as he would say. Frank and I have stayed in touch over the years and he is a super fun guy... not to mention he has pretty cool hair!

Since moving here, Frank has (admittedly) been captivated by fancy ‘gadgets’ and other luxurious items he didn't have back home, or didn't notice as a younger adult. Now that he has his own place and a job – he is very eager to spend, but spends big.  I've told Frank a lot about my new ‘gig’ at St. Cloud Federal Credit Union – helping Members and the Community learn more about becoming Financially Fit – and we joke that some might call him Not-So-Financially-Fit-Frank.  He cracks me up!

Frank means well, but really does get excited when he sees something new and shiny – which isn't always great for his Credit Cards.  He’s recently asked me to help him work toward becoming more Financially Fit, and I’m so excited!  I know it won’t happen over night, but the fact that Frank knows he’s a spender, and wants help managing expenses is a giant first step. 

I’ll be sure to keep you updated on my and Frank’s Financial Fitness adventures, and might even be asking for your help and advice.  I know that with the help of my friends at St. Cloud Federal Credit Union, we can support each other and make our financial dreams come true!

Here we go!

~Phoebe

Seven Safety Tips for Trick-or-Treating

Halloween is just around the corner, and as always – the safety of our Members and Community is very important to us.  Below are 7 tips for making sure you and your gang Trick-or-Treat safely this year…

1. Plan Your Route

It’s a good idea to decide what neighborhoods and streets you’ll be visiting for Trick-or-Treating ahead of time so you know you aren't wandering too far from home, which may result in some tired little legs.  Make sure it is a familiar neighborhood, in case any one gets separated.

2. Be Seen

When you’re putting the final touches on costumes and treat bags, consider adding a few strips of reflective tape to assure your kiddos can be seen.  Also, remember to carry along a flashlight, for when it gets dark – it’ll be helpful for tying shoes and seeing where you’re going.

3. Walk on the Sidewalk

This safety tips has two parts; first, make sure you and your goblins and ghosts walk while Trick-or-Treating for everyone’s safety. Second, make sure they stay on the sidewalk or a cleared path.  You never know when a car is going to turn down a street, and you may not be able to see items on the road that could cause a spill.

4. Make Trip-Free Costumes

When you’re getting ready to go, make sure everyone’s costumes are an appropriate length.  This may mean trimming the bottom, or adjusting the height of where a costume is worn, but it will also make for a safe, comfortable, and fun evening.

5. Fuel Up

Make sure you take the time to have a good meal (or snack, depending on the time) before Trick-or-Treating.  Also, have a water bottle along so that everyone stays hydrated.  It’ll help the kids (and you!) enjoy the night without having to substitute Skittles for a sandwich.

6. Lit Houses Only

This rule of thumb is one of the most basic Trick-or-Treating practices, but we wanted to include it in our reminders.  Make sure to only approach houses that are well-lit.  If there’s a light on but no one answers your knock, skip the house – they must like the tricks more than the treats.

7. Check the Candy

Before your kids dive into their bag of goodies, have a look at their candy. No, we don’t suggest this so you can pick out your favorite pieces (although 1 or 2 might not hurt), but so that you can assure that any candy that is not properly wrapped or labeled can be thrown out. Better to be safe than sorry!

We hope you have a fun and safe Halloween night, not-so-full of tricks and abundant in treats!

Our mission is to educate, support, and encourage our Members to become Financially Fit.

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6 Tricks to Make Halloween a Treat

Did you know that in 2013, consumers will spend just under $7 billion on candy corn, costumes, and creepy décor? That’s some serious Halloween dedication! However, more of us must have Financial Fitness on the brain, because spending is down from 2012, when spending peaked at over $8 billion.

Let us help you enjoy the Halloween season, without breaking your budget in the process!  Below are 6 frugal (but festive) tricks to make your Halloween a Treat …

1. Do a Costume Swap

Find a neighbor, relative, or family friend, and swap some costumes for the kids! This will help them have a variety of choices to choose from, and save you from those outrageously-priced costumes.

2. Create Your Own Costume
If your little one has their mind set on what they’d like to dress up as, but you don’t want to drop the cash on ‘the perfect outfit’, create your own costume! Figure out what pieces the costume is made of, and see how you can make it yourself for a lot less.  Inexpensive and unique!

3. Don’t Overstock the Candy Bowl

You never know just how many visitors you’ll have, so don’t spend an arm and a leg filling buckets and buckets of candy to hand out. While buying in bulk can get you more bang for your buck, don’t go overboard!  Set a price you want to spend, and know that it’s OK if you run out – just make sure you switch the porch light off.

4. Think Ahead

When buying your candy supply, plan on buying it ahead of time.  No, we’re not talking clearance Easter candy – but don’t wait until the few days before Halloween; that’s when prices are highest.

5.  Shop Around

If you’re looking for the perfect pumpkin, do a little price comparison.  In some cases, a local pumpkin patch can offer reasonable prices (along with hay rides, free activities, and fun) – but sometimes a nearby supermarket may save you more.  Take the time to shop around and you’ll find the pumpkin and price you want.

6. D.I.Y.

If you want to really get into the spirit, look for ‘DIY’ (do it yourself) projects to make your own Halloween decorations!  Many projects use items you may already have around the house, and can be a fun way to spend an afternoon with friends and kids – head to Pinterest for loads of fun ideas!

Halloween fun doesn't have to be expensive! By spending a little time comparing prices and getting your creative juices flowing, you’ll be able to enjoy the Halloween season, without it taking a toll on your Financial Fitness!

Our mission is to educate, support, and encourage our Members to become Financially Fit.

The Face (and Voice) of Financial Fitness!

Hi! I’m Financially Fit Phoebe - (my friends call me Phoebs). You might recognize my name from our fun and upbeat radio ads, and now you can put a face to the name and voice! I work with the folks at St. Cloud Federal Credit Union to educate, support, and encourage our Members to become Financially Fit.

I wanted to take a minute (in this case, a blog) to introduce myself and tell you a little bit about me!  As I said, my name is Phoebe, and I’ve been on the team at St. Cloud Federal Credit Union for just a couple months now, and I absolutely love it!  The people here are always so friendly and truly do have a passion for helping their Members.  I grew up in Minnesota and just graduated from college a few years back. 

When I first finished college, I wasn't so great at budgeting my money and saving for my future.  When I realized that by getting my finances in shape, my overall well-being would benefit too – I've had Financial Fitness on the brain!  I got myself into shape, and have never been happier.  I have a monthly budget set up, I contribute to my savings regularly, and I’m working on paying off all my loans to be debt-free.  From experience, I know it’s easier said than done – but with the support, patience, and help the folks at SCFCU give – you can become more Financially Fit too!

I’ll be posting blogs from time to time, so be sure to look for my signature.  I’m really excited to hang around at St. Cloud Federal Credit Union and help not just the Members, but the Employees too!  I know that together we can take the steps toward Financial Fitness, and make your financial dreams a reality!

xo,

~Phoebe

Start Saving Now, Thank Yourself Later!

For some of us, retirement might be next month, for others next year, and for others – it may seem a life time away.  Regardless of your age and retirement plan, it’s never too early to start saving.  No matter how old you are, where you work, or what your retirement goals are, there are ways you can start saving… today!

In Your 20’s:

• Starting early is the best way to save for your Retirement.  Consider starting to save where you work by taking advantage of any programs offered to you, such as a 401(k).  If your budget allows, try to contribute so that your employer matches your contribution – it’ll give you a 100% return on your ‘matched’ investment, which you won’t find many places.  If you don’t have the option of saving through work, consider seeing a financial advisor or looking into a Roth IRA.
• Create a do-able budget, and do your best to stick to it! At a young age, it can be hard to manage money with the stress of student loans, first time car purchases, and expenses of living on your own.  Finding a balance between being financially responsible and having fun.  Do your best to outline your expenses and determine how much you can save each month.

In Your 30’s:

• Review your budgeting by reassessing wants and needs– do you still need all those cable options? Can you cut the land-line  Are you spending too much on eating out? Can you get a better rate by refinancing a loan?  Looking at where you’re spending can help you see where you can cut costs.
• If your salary begins to increase, consider also gradually increasing the amount of each paycheck that you put away toward your retirement.  It may be a difficult adjustment at first, but if you ease into it, you’ll be glad you decided to start saving more of your income.

In Your 40’s:

• Now is a good time to review what you have saved for retirement so far, and how much more you need to save to reach your goals.  Even if it seems disheartening, try to calculate of how much money you need to be comfortable in retirement.
• Reassess any debts you have, and work toward getting them paid off as soon as possible! This will help with not only your finances, but your overall well-being.

In Your 50’s:

• Review all of your accounts to learn ‘where you sit’ in savings and with your retirement fund.  If needed, make changes to plans to assure you’re on track with your retirement plan.
• Consider ‘Catching Up’: After you turn 50, you can make “catch-up contributions” (an extra amount, beyond standard limits), or payments to tax-deferred retirement plans.  To learn more, click here.
• Begin to look at how much you may receive from Social Security to determine what age you should apply for these benefits.

In Your 60’s:

• Waiting to retire can sometimes add up to an increased Social Security payout.  Revisit your retirement plan and map out when you should start to receive social security benefits, and what your retirement goals are.
• Look over spending habits, and find ways you can reduce spending if possible.  This will help assure that you will be ready to live within your means during retirement.

Saving and planning for your retirement now, can ease the stress and financial burden later in life, and can help with your overall Financial Fitness!  It may be hard to save now, but someday you’ll be glad you did.

Our mission is to educate, support, and encourage our Members to become Financially Fit.

ID Theft: It Can Happen to Anyone!

Safety of our Members and our Community is always a priority at St. Cloud Federal Credit Union.  In the past, we’ve posted blog about how to stay safe online, and what we can do to help should any sort of identity theft occur. 

Over the past months, we’ve been focusing on the Financial Fitness of our Youth Members, in addition to our adult Members.  ID Theft criminals are using children’s social security numbers more frequently for anything from employment, apartment applications, open credit, checking, or phone accounts, and even access government benefits.  Mark Pribish, Merchant’s Info Group Vice President, and ID Theft Practice Leader covers a plethora of ID Theft safety tips for children on the internet, and even their personal information in schools.  We’ve highlighted a few of these below…

Online:

- Discuss the differences between a safe and secure website, and one that is not.

- Consider creating a list of which sites are OK to visit and which ones are definitely not.

- Talk with your children about letting you know when they come across a website they feel is suspicious. 

- Keep virus and malware software up to date and running properly.

- Remind youth of some basic online safety practice like: never give a phone number or address, don’t use full first and last names, don’t post photos without permission, and don’t download or open unknown files or programs.

At School:

 - Ask schools how your child’s information is collected, used, stored, and thrown away each school year.

- Make sure you know how school and extra curricular programs use your child’s date of birth, address, telephone number, and photo.

- If you feel as though information is requested that is not necessary, inquire why such details are needed.

- Thoroughly read privacy policies and make sure you are aware of how information is used and shared.

Some other basic safety tips are to always keep confidential documents (social security cards, passports, birth certificates, etc.) in a safe or locked file, and never give more information that you feel comfortable with.  Go with your gut feeling, and your child will thank you!

Our mission is to educate, support, and encourage our Members to become Financially Fit.


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Our New Look!

We've recently changed the look of our St. Cloud Federal Credit Union website; a makeover of sorts, if you will.  There are a couple of reasons for changing the look of our SCFCU site.

In a quickly digitizing world, we wanted to accommodate all our Members and website visitors who access our site from a mobile device, whether it be a smart phone or tablet.  With this remodel, our website will format to various screens and be much easier to navigate.  Another reason we decided it was time for our site to be re-vamped was to prepare for any future expansion. 

One main feature you’ll notice when you visit our new website is that you can access the Online Banking sign-on directly from our home page!  All our other online services can be found under the ‘E-Branch’ column on the right, or the 'Online Services' tab on the home page.

We are very excited to have a more updated and ‘modern’ site, and hope you like it as much as we do!  A special ‘thanks!’ goes out to our friends at Gaslight Creative in St. Cloud, for their beautiful and crafty work – we certainly couldn't have done the remodel without their help and expertise.

Happy browsing!

Our mission is to educate, support, and encourage our Members to become Financially Fit.


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Service Upgrade: New & Improved Bill Payer

As a Member of St. Cloud Federal Credit Union, you have the opportunity to use our Bill Payer service, free of charge.  For those of you who don’t know, Bill Payer is a safe and secure way to pay your bills online through your checking account at SCFCU.  It’s a convenient alternative to writing out checks each month, or logging onto individual business websites.  An exciting upgrade is coming soon for Bill Payer service.

Effective August 14^th, we are converting to a new Bill Payer provider.  No worries, current users -  all of your Payees, Payment History, and Scheduled Payments will automatically convert to the new provider.  However, there are a few things we’d like to make you aware of.

• Payments that you set up prior to the upgrade, that had a process date after August 13^th, will now have a different ‘Send Date’.  The term ‘Process Date’ will now be used within Bill Payer instead of ‘Send Date’.  It is extremely important that you log in to your Bill Payer account after August 14^th and review your ‘Process Dates’ (The ‘Process Date’ is the date the funds are deducted from your checking account.) to assure things transferred over.
  
  

• All of your Payees will default to ‘Check Payment’ status at the time of the upgrade.  However, those Payees may convert to ‘Electronic Payment’ status when the first payment is processed with our new provider.
  
  

• The most exciting change is that Bill Payer will be available for your mobile device by the end of the first quarter in 2014.

If you have any questions or concerns about our Bill Payer upgrade, please feel free to contact Barb at (320)258-2150, or Karen at (320)258-2169.

To learn more about accessing Bill Payer, click here.  If you’d like help walking through setting up Bill Payer, check out this video.  Happy Bill Paying!

Our mission is to educate, support, and encourage our Members to become Financially Fit.

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