We're in Your Corner!

Have you ever lost your checkbook, debit or credit card, or your purse or wallet? Has anyone ever charged something in your name?  We sure hope not!  We work hard to protect our Member’s identity and assets, which is why we offer Fraud and I.D. Theft Recovery as a benefit to our Reward Checking accounts.

St. Cloud Federal Credit Union has partnered with an experienced and trusted company – Merchants Information Solutions to offer this protective service.  With this  benefit, you have a professional Identity Theft Recovery Advocate who is assigned to you, and will work on your behalf to take all the necessary steps to recover your good name – no matter how long it takes.  

You can use this service for any situation where you think your personal information may be at risk or has been compromised – even if something happens to an account you have at another financial institution. 

While some companies offer a service (that you can purchase) which provides you with a packet of forms and phone assistance, you still do all the work.  There is no necessary registration for our Fraud and ID Theft Recovery service – it is automatically in place with your checking account at SCFCU.

To learn more about how to protect your identity, click here!  We’re in your corner and truly care about your well-being.  If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact us, we’re here for you!

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


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Taxing Us Could = Taxing YOU

You may have heard that Congress is considering an overhaul of the federal tax code. That would possibly include the elimination of the tax exempt status for credit unions .

What would that mean to you?

• That action could possibly eliminate credit unions as they now exist. And a tax on credit unions is really just additional taxes on you .
• Without credit unions, banks would have no competition. And that would most likely drive up the cost of financial services for all consumers.

St. Cloud Federal Credit Union is owned and directed by you, through our volunteer board of directors. Unlike banks that maximize profits for a small group of investors, credit unions exist to serve their members, including working families, local small businesses and your community. Since 1937, federal credit unions have been chartered by the federal government as non-for-profit financial cooperatives. Not-for-profit means the members are the owners, and no one is making a personal profit.

Bankers and some politicians in Washington say the federal budget can be balanced by taxing credit unions. But credit unions hold only 6 percent of all financial assets nationwide. Banks hold 94%!

Taxing credit unions won’t make a dent in our federal budget deficit. For every $1 in new taxes on credit unions, the government would take away $10 that credit unions put back in your pockets in the form of better rates and lower fees.

If the tax exemption is ended, it will result in higher taxes for 1.5 million consumers in Minnesota  who are credit union members, as well as 96 million consumers across the country.

Join us, and TAKE ACTION and tell Congress: “Don’t Tax My Credit Union!”  Please visit www.DontTaxMyCreditUnion.org to learn more, and to send a message to your legislators.

If you have any questions, please contact me at 320-252-2634.

Sincerely,
Bill Winter
CEO
St. Cloud Federal Credit Union

Time Flies When You’re Having Fun: Thanks for 38 Years, Bill!

Our beloved CEO, Bill Winter was recently honored by the Minnesota Credit Union Foundation as a Credit Union Builder.  The Foundation created the Credit Union Builder Award in 2008 to allow credit unions and organizations to make contributions in honor of or in memory of a significant individual who has been instrumental in their success – of course Bill was a natural fit.

 

When Bill was hired in 1975, St. Cloud Federal Credit Union had only 1,600 Members, three Employees, and $1 million in assets.  By the time Bill retires as CEO later this year, after 38 years of service, SCFCU will have grown to almost 15,000 Members, 57 Employees, and over $100 million in assets.

His tireless efforts made significant and far-reaching contributions to the credit union movement.  Bill served on the boards of the Minnesota Item Processing Corporation, Minnesota League of Credit Unions, Minnesota Credit Union Network, Minnesota Corporate Federal Credit Union, and Network Service Corporation.  He was a long-standing member of MnCUN’s Political Involvement Committee, and he lobbied at both the state and federal levels for issues that affect the credit union industry.

In February of 2013, Bill was inducted into the Credit Union House Hall of Leaders in Washington, D.C., in recognition of his dedication and leadership.  Bill was also active in the St. Cloud community on the Rotary Club and as a board member, chair and government affairs committee contributor for the St. Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce.  In addition, Bill led countless SCFCU staff and volunteers who will ensure that his passion for Members and his philosophy to “do the right thing” will be his legacy for many years to come.

We can’t thank Bill enough for all he’s done.  He is a great leader and a true inspiration to all of us at SCFCU.  38 years, wow – time flies when you’re having fun! Thanks, Bill.




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

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Deter, Detect, Defend: Enroll in Free Credit Monitoring!

There is no absolute 100% guaranteed way to prevent fraud, but we believe the best way to protect yourself and your assets is to monitor your credit activity.  We offer Credit Monitoring as a benefit with all personal checking accounts at St. Cloud Federal Credit Union.

While this service is automatically included with all our personal checking accounts, you must enroll to activate your Credit Monitoring. 

 

Once enrolled, you will automatically receive alerts by email (or text if you choose) when changes are made to your credit. Our daily monitoring service will notify Members of any new inquires, certain derogatory information, accounts, public records, or change of address that have been added to their credit reports by any of the three major credit reporting agencies. 

Credit Monitoring is a service provided in the form of 3-Bureau Credit Alerts from Merchants Information Solutions.  Through this service, your credit history at all three credit reporting agencies (Equifax, TransUnion, and Experian) is monitored 24/7 for any changes made to your personal records.

Monitoring your Credit is a great step toward becoming more Financially Fit, and we’re here to help in any way we can.  To learn more about our Credit Monitoring services or enroll, stop by or contact us as 320-252-2634.

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


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Summer Fun - For Less {Part 2}

As you may have read, we have a compiled a list of 10 ways you can have fun this summer, without spending 'an arm and a leg' - and below is the second half of that list.  We always strive for Financial Fitness, so this Summer vacation, we encourage you to try some activities that will keep more money in your account and smiles on everyone’s face...

6. Keep Learning

Just because school is out doesn't mean learning needs to stop! Make a calendar with your youngsters and pick a different theme for what you want learn about that week.  Pick fun and interesting topics like stars and constellations, cloud formations, bugs and insects, the environment, animals, and more!

7. Go to the Library

Libraries are a jackpot for afternoons and days of fun, for free! Many local libraries not only offer an endless supply of summer reading, but you can also check out movies and audio tracks as well.  Ask at your local library for any summer activities for the kiddos or book clubs for adults.

8. Plan a game night

Gather a few neighborhood friends and families and host a game night!  Ask each family to bring a snack to share and a game of their choice and make an evening out of it!  You’ll get to know other families and maybe even learn a new game or two!

9. S’more fun

If it’s legal in your neighborhood, pick a night and have a bonfire and camp out!  Grab some hot dogs and s’more ingredients, maybe a game, and some music.  This can be a nice way to spend time with family and friends and enjoy the summer evenings. 

10. Volunteer

There are many places that would love to have extra help during the summer months.  You can volunteer at all kinds of places – an animal shelter, a food shelf, or a recycling center – even an afternoon of picking up littered trash can be a huge help.  You’ll feel better too!

There are hundreds of other ways you can have fun this Summer without spending heaps of money.  Be creative, try new things, and think outside the box!  Whatever you do, make the most of it and have fun – Financial Fitness doesn't have to mean sacrificing a good time!

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


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