Newsletter
April 2025
Check Out Our Loan Rates
Click here to see our Home Equity & Mini-Mortgage rates
Click here to see our Vehicle Loan rates
Share Certificates 101
Share Certificates are a share account that pays a fixed dividend rate in exchange for a specific term during which you agree to keep your money locked in.
What are the benefits of share certificates?
- Guaranteed Returns: Unlike investments like stocks, share certificates provide a guaranteed fixed interest rate for a specified period.
- Low Risk: They offer higher dividend rates than traditional savings accounts, allowing you to earn more on your money.
- Fixed Interest Rates: The dividend rate you earn is fixed for the duration of the term, providing predictability and helping you plan your finances.
- Security and Insured: Share certificates are insured by NCUA, protecting your deposit up to a certain amount.
- Diversification: Adding share certificates to your investment portfolio can help diversify your investments and provide a stable, low-risk component.
- Disciplined Savings: Share certificates can be a good way to save for specific goals, as the fixed term and interest rates can help you track your progress toward your savings goals.
See our website or contact the Credit Union office for our current rates.
Student Loans
We encourage students and families to consider savings, grants, scholarships, and federal student loans to pay for college.
If you determine that a private student loan is rigth for you, we have partnered with Sallie Mae® to offer our members a student loan solution.
Sallie Mae® student loans are designed for the needs of all types of students. Find out which loan is right for you by clicking the link under the "Partners" section of the Credit Union's website.
We Are Still Terrible At Creating Passwords
Ah, passwords. Those tiny digital keys that can either protect your online kingdom or leave the door wide open for cyber-villains. Unfortunately, 2024 showed us that people are still using shockingly bad passwords. NordPass, who says that 78% of the most common passwords have the potential to be cracked in less than one second, has compiled a list of the 200 most used and worst passwords of last year.
The top seven of the worst passwords are: "123456", "123456789", "12345678", "password", "qwerty123", "qwerty1", and "111111". Some others include: "iloveyou", "lovely", "football", and other sports.
Helpful Password Tips:
- Go Long: Make your passwords at least eight characters. The longer, the better.
- Mix It Up: Use a chaotic blend of uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and symbols. A password like "B3!nG_Cr34t!vE" is far harder to crack than "iloveyou".
- No Sherlock Clues: Avoid personal details like birthdays, pet names, or your favorite band's name. If it's on your social media, it's off-limits for your passwords.
- The One-Pass Wonder? Nope": Don't reuse passwords across multiple sites. If one gets compromised, it's like handing out copies of your house key.
- Get Creative: Combine random words for a quirky, secured password like "BananaRocket$SalsaDance7".
- Password Managers = Lifesavers: These tools generate and remember strong psswords, so you don't have to. But, remember if these get breached, so too do all of your passwords. So, use with caution.
- Two-Factor Authentication: Add an extra layer of defense by enabling MFA wherever possible. Think of it as a double lock on your door.
Remember, your password is your digital superhero cape - make it strong enough to keep those cybercriminals at bay.
Source: Stickley on Security
Start Your Warm Weather Fun!
- Kennywood tickets for only $38.99
- Idlewild & Soak Zone tickets for only $35.99
- Sandcastle tickets for only $29.99
Take the following steps to purchase discounted tickets:
- Visit: www.kennywood.com/promocode, www.idlewild.com/promocode, or www.sandcastlewaterpark.com/promocode
- Enter your "Good Any Day Admission" ticket quantity
- Enter code"summerfun25"* in the "Promotional Code" box, click, "Apply"
- Click "Continue" and complete the remaining steps to purchase your tickets
*Do not capitalize the characters in the promo code. Offers only valid at the purchase links above. Online offer only. Visit each pasrks' webpage for more information.
Protect Your Money With a Trusted Contact
A "Trusted Contact Person" is a person that you designate the IBEW Local 56 FCU to contact if we are concerned that you are experiencing fraud, a health crisis, or another emergency that affects your financial affairs.
Choosing a trusted contact can help you prevent fraud and scams without giving up control of your finances.
Authorizing a trusted contact person is optional. However, many regulatry agencies have recommended that credit unions offer this program to help protect their members. Ultimately, it is your decision whether or not to appoint a trusted contact person.
Debit Card Reminders
24/7 Lost or Stolen Debit Card Contact Number: 800-543-5073
If you need to purchase more than your daily limit, we can temporarily increase your limit. Before you shop, contact the Credit Union office at 814-455-2270.
Online Banking & Bill Pay
We encourage our members to sign up for Online Banking (click the box on our home page). It's an easy way to keep an eye on direct deposits and automatic payments, to transfer funds from one sub-account to another, to look up copies of paid checks, and to transfer credit union loan payments. Sign up for E-Statements and view your statement online the beginning of the month or quarter.
If you have a share draft (checking) account, you can sign up for our Bill Pay service. Schedule your payments from the credit union's website and eliminate the need for checks, stamps, and trips to the post office. We have two Bill Pay options to choose from to fit your needs. Click here to see the options.
Contact the credit union office at 814-455-2270 if you have questions regarding these or any other services.
