April is Financial Literacy Month. Invite your co-workers and family members to join the credit union.
Quarter
NEWS
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INSIDER TIPS
Join us for Financial
Literacy Month
April is Financial Literacy
Month. Today, a majority of consumers are experiencing some sort
of financial difficulty causing a significant impact on their everyday
lives. Thirty percent of consumers
report the burden of living paycheck to paycheck.
Open your emergency fund
account with ECU and plan to save
up to a minimum of six months of
living expenses. Then as your
income is earned put a name on
each dollar, how it will be saved,
spent or given. Discipline helps all
of us to have meaningful results,
and it is encouraging to all.
This is a great time to invite
your co-workers and other family
members to join the credit union.
See what fellow
members are saying
"I’ve been a member since 1998
and I think this is a
great credit union.
Since joining, I have
had banks try to get
my business, but I
stay with ECU! This
is the only financial
institution I have. I have great experiences with my business. I have had
five car loans and paid them in full.
I know everyone here and everyone
knows me. You have great people
that work here, and I am treated
good! I like doing business here
and will stay here for life. This is my
number one credit union! Continue
to take care of me!"
— Melvin Craddock, Sr.
"I have been a member of
Employees Credit Union for more
than 20 years. Each time I have
visited their offices their people
have greeted me nicely. Their tellers have always been professional,
friendly, courteous, and accurate
in completing my request and
transactions. I have other bank
accounts, but I get the overall best
service from ECU."
— William Johnson
A P u blica t io n o f E m ploy ees C r edit Union
an d K au fman C ou n t y C r ed i t Un i o n ,
A br an ch of Employ ees C r ed i t Un i o n
Serving our Membership for 64 Years — 1952-2016
SPRING 2016
AUTO LOAN RATES
YOU CAN'T PASS UP
GET THE LOW RATE YOU DESERVE — 1.99 % APR*
Getting the low rate you deserve is easy at
ECU/KCCU.
Qualified members with a 700 credit score
or above can still get a 2013 vehicle or newer
model. Under this offer, you can be approved
for the 1.99% APR* loan special with an extended term of 72 months.
You can’t compare this anywhere! Dealerships will try to offer their own financing and
products, but avoid the hassle and get preapproved with ECU/KCCU before you shop.
YOU HAVE OPTIONS!
Buying a car is an easy process when you use
ECU/KCCU. Here's why:
n Rates as low as 1.99% APR*
n Pre-approval for your loan
n Recommended dealerships
n Better pricing on auto warranties, GAP
n Loan officers will assist
And this time of the year is a great opportunity for deals with car dealers. Combine both
pricing and rates to your favor during this
select period.
Trying to decide what car to buy? It's your
choice. You can choose any car you want, regardless of make and model, and act as a cash
buyer, with funds in your account.
Your satisfaction is guaranteed. Our simple
BURLESON RETIRES FROM BOARD
After serving 15 years on the ECU Board of
Directors, Jack E. "Bud" Burleson retired from
the Board at the Annual Meeting on March 30.
In 1986, Bud became a member of our organization through the Thomson Reuters location,
previously referred to as Fast Tax, then CLR, RIA,
etc. As an HR staff member, he was responsible
for helping to grow our membership.
Burleson became a Director in December
2000 and was instrumental in our decision to
place a branch in Kaufman to serve the entire
county.
Burleson is a resident of Kaufman and is a
well-respected business owner (Cal-Tex Com-
Our simple application takes just minutes to
complete. Once you are pre-approved for
your auto loan, buying a car is much easier.
application takes just minutes to complete. We
respond to members quickly.
Pre-approval is the best route to go when
purchasing a vehicle, and we can recommend
the best dealerships to work with and provide
some car buying expertise to get your best
deal. Whether you use an ECU/KCCU recommended dealer or not, we are with you every
step of the way.
*Annual Percentage Rate. Rates as low as 1.99% APR for 72
months. 100% Financing available including Tax, Title and License. Financing for qualified ECU/KCCU members. Not all buyers
will qualify. Actual rate may vary based on credit worthiness.
munications, Inc.). He
has served in various
capacities, including the
Kaufman Independent
School Board.
Burleson continues
to spend more time
enjoying an abundant
travel schedule, but also
confirms he will remain
active in the community.
Many thanks for your
service in guiding this
credit union. We all wish
you well!
Burleson and his wife,
Susan, plan to spend
more time at their
retirement get-away.
ECU/KCCU Mission Statement: “To improve the financial life of each member while offering affordable, quality services, with a ‘can-do’ attitude.”
Need
to
Your security
Know
MAIN LOCATION
Employees Credit Union
8989 Harry Hines Blvd.
Dallas, TX 75235-1717
MAILING ADDRESS
P.O. Box 542288
Dallas, TX 75354-2288
HOURS OF OPERATION
Lobby Tellers
Monday-Friday
9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Member Services
Monday-Friday
9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Drive-thru Tellers
Monday-Thursday
7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Friday
7:15 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Loan Department
Monday-Friday
9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
(additional hours are available by appointment)
IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERS
Collection/Bankruptcy
Office
Employees Credit Union
214-357-3328 (metro)
P.O. Box 542288
888-344-9994 (toll-free)
Dallas, TX 75354-2288
Member Connection (Audio Response)
ATTN: John Lyon
855-632-0400 (toll-free)
Fax
214-357-3299
INTERNET
E-mail:
[email protected]
[email protected]
Website:
www.ecudallas.org
BRANCH LOCATIONS
Kaufman County Credit Union
A Branch of Employees Credit Union
315 E. Fair St.
Kaufman, TX 75142
MAILING ADDRESS
P.O. Box 988
Kaufman, TX 75142
OFFICE HOURS
Mon-Thurs9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Friday
9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
(additional hours are available
by appointment)
DRIVE-THRU TELLERS
Monday-Friday: 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Saturday: 9:00 a.m. - Noon
IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERS
Office
972-932-8323
Member Connection (Audio Response)
855-632-0400 (toll-free)
Fax
972-932-8393
INTERNET
E-mail and Website:
[email protected]
www.ecudallas.org
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Joe Linville, Chairman
David Knop, Vice
Chairman
Lana McCallie, President/
CEO - ECU
Thomson Reuters Branch
24-hour ATM
2395 Midway Road
Carrollton, TX 75006
OFFICE HOURS
M-F 9:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
2:00-4:45 p.m.
PHONE: 972-250-7997
BEWARE OF TAX SEASON CROOKS
E-mail, Phishing and Malware
Schemes
The IRS has seen an approximate
400% surge in phishing and malware
incidents so far in the 2016 tax season.
The emails are designed to trick
taxpayers into thinking these are official communications from the IRS or
others in the tax industry, including
tax software companies. The phishing schemes can ask taxpayers about
a wide range of topics. E-mails can
seek information related to refunds,
filing status, confirming personal
information, ordering transcripts and
verifying PIN information.
Variations of these scams can be
seen via text messages, and the communications are being reported in
every section of the country.
When people click on these email
links, they are taken to sites designed
to imitate an official-looking website,
such as IRS.gov. The sites ask for
Social Security numbers and other
personal information, which could
be used to help file false tax returns.
The sites also may carry malware,
which can infect people's computers
and allow criminals to access your
files or track your keystrokes to gain
information.
IRS-Impersonation Telephone
Scam
An aggressive and sophisticated
phone scam targeting taxpayers, including recent immigrants, has been
making the rounds throughout the
country. Callers claim to be employees of the IRS, but are not. These
ECUBulletin
April is Youth Month
Ann Kahn,Treasurer/
Secretary
Mary Burgess
Jack (Bud) Burleson
Albert Gomez
April is National Credit Union Youth
Month. A great way to celebrate is to
open an account for your children. Take
advantage of this opportunity to educate
young people about financial awareness.
Signing up your young people is easy.
Visit the Youth Table at your branch
during April. For more information, go to
www.ecudallas.org.
Enjoy super savings!
n Six Flags Over Texas
General Use Ticket: $47.51
Savings/Benefit: $26.00 — Better than
Kid's Price!
Season : $78.83
Combo Pass: $89.63
Six Flags Theme Parks & Hurricane
Harbor-Arlington. Includes "Show Your
Pass" discounts and offers.
QUARTER NEWS
2
SPRING 2016
con artists can sound convincing when they call. They use fake
names and bogus IRS identification
badge numbers. They may know
a lot about their targets, and they
usually alter the caller ID to make it
look like the IRS is calling.
Victims are told they owe money
to the IRS and it must be paid
promptly through a pre-loaded
debit card or wire transfer. If the
victim refuses to cooperate, they
are then threatened with arrest,
deportation or suspension of a
business or driver’s license. In
many cases, the caller becomes
hostile and insulting.
Or, victims may be told they have
a refund due to try to trick them
into sharing private information.
If the phone isn't answered, the
scammers often leave an “urgent”
callback request.
Note that the IRS will never:
1) Call to demand immediate
payment, nor will the agency call
about taxes owed without first
having mailed you a bill.
2) Demand that you pay taxes
without giving you the opportunity
to question or appeal the amount
they say you owe.
3) Require you to use a specific
payment method for your taxes,
such as a prepaid debit card.
4) Ask for credit or debit card
numbers over the phone.
5) Threaten to bring in local
police or other law-enforcement
groups to have you arrested for
not paying.
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(Children ages 2 and under admitted
free.)
n Six Flags Hurricane Harbor
General Use Ticket: $29.15
Savings/Benefit: $8.00 — Better than
Kid's Price!
Holiday schedule
Memorial Day — Monday, May 30
Independence Day — Monday, July 4
Complaint Notice — If you have a problem
with services provided by this credit union,
please contact us at: Employees Credit Union,
PO Box 542288, Dallas, TX 75354-2288, (214)
357-3328. The credit union is incorporated
under the laws of the State of Texas and under
state law is subject to regulatory oversight
by the Texas Credit Union Department. If any
dispute is not resolved to your satisfaction, you
may also file a complaint against the credit
union by contacting the Texas Credit Union
Department at 914 East Anderson Lane, Austin,
Texas, 78752-1699; Telephone number: (512)
837-9236; Website: www.cud.texas.gov.
IN THE COMMUNITY
ECU “We
make a living by what we get, but we make a
life by what we give.”
1.) Thomson Reuters Credit Union
Day, Jan. 13 — The event was hosted by
Russell Ellis, Charlie Boucher and Mark
Melchor. The next Thomson Reuters event
is scheduled for April 13. The winner of the
Saltgrass Steak House gift card was Sherrie
Johunkin. We have new extended hours
for your convenience. OFFICE HOURS: M-F
9:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m.; 2:00-4:45 p.m.
2.) 5K Form Follows Fitness Walk, Feb.
20 — Gina Rangel (left photo) and Mary
Alonzo participated.
— Winston Churchill
1.
3.
4.
3.) Scout Visit, March 2 — Boy Scout Troop
332 visited the Kaufman Branch. The scouts
were working on their American Business
Merit badges. Branch Manager Russell
Ellis led a tour of the branch. Topics discussed were building credit; the differences
between banks and credit unions; and how
financial institutions obtain money.
Experience Consultant. Wilson
serves as ECU/KCCU's wellness
coordinator.
"It is important to have a
healthy body, mind and spirit
to reach one’s full potential,"
said Lana McCallie, ECU President/CEO. "The better individuals feel about themselves, the
more inclined one would be
to project positives in every
avenue of life."
The goal is to help all staff
members feel better. Reduced
insurance costs are an added benefit. The
HV app is now available to help keep staff
members engaged on steps, sleep, activities,
as well as the rewards through the HV Mall.
Thanks go out to Wilson and our own HR/
Benefits leader, Karen Reed, for the leadership
and inspiration in this race to wellness!
________________________________________________
5.
4.) 5K Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge Event,
March 5 — Gina Rangel (top photo) and
Mary Alonzo participated.
5.) Dallas Trailer Repair, March 16 —
Russell Ellis met with 19 employees and
answered several questions. The winner
of the $25 Home Depot card was Eddie
Hernandez.
6.) Financial Wellness Event, March
12 — Russell Ellis and Lana McCallie were
presenters for the Financial Wellness Event
held for the Kahn Mechanical team.
The purpose was to teach people how to
get out of debt as well as how to stay out
of debt. Information about the importance
of saving, starting early in life, and the impact of how time magnifies the end result.
Planning is a big piece of the puzzle to
successfully maneuver partners through the
income, spending, saving and giving. Equal
input, encouragement from one another to
stay on track and celebrating accomplishments helps all of us to attain our goals.
Insurance for life, autos, homes, etc. (all
sold through ECU) is a key factor to eliminate the possibility of negatively impacting
our wealth as well as a necessity to provide
security for our loved ones.
Products and services were discussed to
help protect and reduce costs for our members from what they might pay at other organizations. Car buying tips were offered, as
well as qualifying information on mortgages.
Remember, your credit union offers onestop shopping with great savings advantages. Contact ECU if you would like to host
a similar training event for your group.
Pictured are David Mansour (left), Ann
Kahn, Russell Ellis and Justin Griffin. Justin
2.
6.
was the gift card winner of our drawing.
Member Profile: Grover Sartin
Kaufman Chamber Business Expo, April
19 — KCCU will be participating in the
Kaufman Chamber Business Expo. Debbie
Gray, Ginger Hughey and Russell Ellis are
scheduled to staff the KCCU table.
Grover Sartin is a leading salesman at
Young Chevrolet where he foccuses on new
vehicle inventory. Grover has more than 32
years of experience in the auto industry, with
extensive management expertise. He has been recognized
by co-workers and senior
management for his reputable
customer service, knowledgeable insight and dedication to
providing a seamless buying
Grover Sartin
experience to his clients.
Sartin is a member of ECU
and can say with pride a majority of his
customers are referral based and repeat
buyers. He looks forward to assisting additional members and their families with the
purchase of a new or pre-owned Chevrolet.
Office: (214) 328-9111 ext. 212; Grover@
YoungChevrolet.com or at
[email protected].
Kaufman Chamber Quarterly Membership Luncheon, May 2 — KCCU will be
sponsoring the Kaufman Chamber Luncheon at the Kaufman County Library.
The speaker for the event will be Shawn
McBride, Esq., Managing Member of The R.
Shawn McBride Law Office, P.L.L.C.
NCH Spring 2016 Vendor Fair, April 7 —
The fair will be held in the main lobby.
March Madness means 'March Wellness'
In March, ECU/KCCU staff members began
their march to renewed vitality after meetings
with Jared Wilson, Humana Vitality Consumer
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SPRING 2016
3
QUARTER NEWS
Invividual Retirement
services
E m p l oy e e s C r e d i t U n i o n
SAVINGS:
Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs)
Looney Tunes Savings Club
Money Market Savings Accounts
Share Draft (Checking) Accounts
Share (Savings) Accounts
Secondary Savings Accounts
Term Share Accounts (Certificates)
LENDING SERVICES:
Bill/Credit Consolidation Loans
Enterprise Car Sales (Pre-owned)
Home Equity Loans
Home Improvement Loans
MasterCard Gold with Cash Back
MasterCard Cash Advances
MasterCard: Classic and Secured
MasterCard Balance Transfers
Mortgage/Real Estate Loans
New and Used Vehicle Loans
Preapproved Line-of-Credit
Preferred Dealer Network NEW!
Signature Loans
SPECIALIZED AUTO SERVICES:
Dent Guard NEW!
Extended Service Contracts
Guaranteed Auto Protection
CONVENIENCES:
24-Hour Bilingual Audio Response
Account Alerts via Home Banking
ACH Loan Payment CONVENIENCE!
Check Cashing of Sponsor Checks
Checking Overdraft Protection
Dallas Zoo Discount Tickets
Direct Deposit and Payroll Deduction
Drive-Thru Teller Lanes
Drive-Thru ATM Access
E-Statements
E-Transfer
Family Membership Eligibility
Fort Worth Zoo Discounts
Free VISA Checking Account
Free Home Banking ENHANCEMENTS!
Free Notary Service
Free Online Bill Payment with any
Checking
Free VISA Cash Advances
Insta$ave
MasterCard Gift Card
Members Auto Insurance
Members Homeowners Insurance
Night Depository
Online Loan Application
Online Membership Application
Online Security Authentication
Official Checks
Safe Deposit Boxes
Six Flags/Hurricane Harbor Discounts
SpotPay for small businesses NEW!
TruStage Auto & Home Insurance Program
VISA Check Card (Debit Card)
Western Union/Wire Transfers
Web Site and E-mail
INSURANCE:
Federally Insured Deposits
Loan Protection Insurance
Credit report notice: ECU/KCCU does report
information about your credit union share and
loan accounts to credit bureaus. Payments that
may be late, missed or in default will be reported and reflected in your credit report.
QUARTER NEWS
4
SPRING 2016
Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs)
NOW is the time to begin
savings for your 2016 tax year!
Which is the correct vehicle for your particular situation? You can decide between the Traditional IRA or
the Roth IRA.
Roth IRA — Always consider a Roth first, then determine if you are eligible based on income limitations
and amount limits based on age. You DO NOT receive
a tax deduction with a Roth account, but you do earn
interest tax free and generally have no requirements on
withdrawals, i.e. Required Minimum Distributions. You
can even pass it on to the next generation of savers!
The normal limits for 2016 are unchanged from
2015, which are: $5,500 for those below age 50 and
have equal or more “earned” income.
If you have reached age 50 or older, you may contribute a total of $6,500 — again if you have earned
a like amount. There is no maximum age limit if
contributing to a Roth, as long as you don’t exceed the
earned income guide. You would also need to take into
consideration your tax filing status. If you are trying
to pass wealth on to your offspring, this is a great opportunity to fund an IRA for each; just remember that
person must have an earned income equal to or greater
than the contribution being made.
You may also make a contribution for your spouse
even though not gainfully employed as long as you file
a joint tax return.
Remember, the amount of your combined contributions can’t be more than the taxable compensation
reported on your joint return. If you have a retirement
account at work, you are still eligible to participate in a
Roth.
We respect your privacy
Recently there has been a lot of talk concerning the privacy of consumer information. We
have never shared non-public personal information and we will continue to protect your privacy.
Our Privacy Disclosure Policy
n We will not disclose your non-public personal
information other than to non-affilliated third parties as permitted by law (for example, to reputable
credit reporting bureaus).
n We only ask for information that we truly need
to complete a transaction or maintain a business
relationship with you.
n We use this information to protect and administer your records, accounts and funds.
Types of Information That We Collect
Identifying Information:
n Name and address
n Social Security number
n Information from consumer reports such as a
consumer's creditworthiness and credit history.
Application Information:
n Assets and income
Transaction Information:
n Account balance
n Payment history
n Parties to the transaction
n Credit card usage
What We Do To Protect the Confidentiality and
Integrity on Non-Public Personal Information
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The most special feature of a Roth is the opportunity to earn interest tax free, and this would be the
main reason you would want such an investment to be
the last you would cash in.
Traditional IRA – A traditional IRA DOES allow
you to have a tax deduction as long as you do not
exceed income limitations. You would also need to
consider your retirement plan through work. You will
be taxed at the time of withdrawal on Traditional IRA
accounts. However, you may have an opportunity to
move funds from a Traditional to a Roth at some point
in your career and pay the taxes when you change the
account to a Roth.
You CANNOT make contributions to a Traditional
IRA once you reach the year of becoming 70-1/2 in
age.
It is troublesome to contribute in excess of the
amount legally allowed in addition to the fact you
would be taxed on making that mistake!
You would be responsible for a 6% tax per year as
long as the excess amounts remain in your IRA.
If you find you have over contributions, you should
withdraw the excess by the due date of your individual
income tax return (including extensions) and withdraw
any income earned on the excess contribution.
You have until the April 15 deadline to contribute
each year as long as you have not already filed your
return.
Be sure to check with your CPA to determine the
amount for which you qualify on a retirement account.
We restrict employee access to personal
information to a "need to know" basis. Only employees who legitimately require your personal
data to complete a business transaction ever see
it. We strictly enforce procedures that prevent
unauthorized access to your data. We require all
organizations to which we provide data as permitted by law to have similar privacy safeguards,
to further ensure your confidentiality.
If you ever have questions or concerns about
the integrity of your account information, please
contact us. Employees Credit Union, 8989 Harry
Hines Blvd., Dallas, TX 75235-1717, (214) 3573328 FAX (214) 357-3299
Did you know?
Members may obtain the most recent version of the items listed below by written
request.
nBalance sheet and income statement
nSummary of the most recent annual audit
nWritten board policy regarding access to:
— Articles of incorporation
— Bylaws
— Rules
— Guidelines
— Board policies
n IRS Form 990
Simply send your request to: Employees
Credit Union, P.O. Box 542288, Dallas, Texas
75354-2288.