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!

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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!