Thursday, February 25, 2010

Shared Branching is a happy surprise for one longtime CU member

This credit union member’s entry in our Share It Contest shares how she discovered the convenience of Shared Branching:

“I have been a member of my credit union for many years, maintaining my account despite attending college in another state, moving to another state for several years, and now settling in Maine for the past 3 1/2 years. Several weeks ago I stopped in to a credit union to ask about being able to use my CU debit card at their ATM without being charged the dreaded ATM fee. I was all too delighted with the outcome of my inquiry. I mentioned to the teller that I was a member of a CU in the state I'd grown up in; she confirmed the CU was on the Shared Branching network, asked for my ID and account number, then asked how much I wanted to withdraw. It took me a moment to register, but I happily walked out the door with cash in hand and no ATM fee charged to my debit card.

I'm so pleased that credit unions are working together to make using credit unions - no matter where they are located - just a little easier for their members! THANK YOU!”

-M.L., Vinalhaven

Spread the word about Shared Branching with your friends, and save them from unnecessary fees!

-Diana D., Maine Credit Union League

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Shared Branching helped one member help a person in need

Mainers love to share, and credit unions are here to help. Here is one members story on how using Shared Branching helped them help someone in need.

“I, like many other hard working citizens, found myself in a rather precarious financial situation. A member of my church encountered an emergency situation that needed immediate attention. The person affected did not have the funds to take care of the emergency. A number of folks were rallying together to assist this person. I desperately wanted to help, but did not have the funds right at that moment. I shared this with my sister, and she understood that I desperately wanted to help, and wanted to help me. We brainstormed the different ways that $$ could be shifted from her to me, so that I could help. All of the brainstorming ideas failed to make funds immediately available. Then, suddenly, she said; “wait…do you use a credit union”? I replied that I did. She said that she remembered seeing something about Shared Branching at her credit union. She did some quick research and sure enough, her credit union and mine both had Shared Branching. She immediately went to her credit union and made arrangements to have $$ transferred from her credit union account to mine. The funds were available almost immediately. I went to my credit union, withdrew the funds and passed them along to the person who was overseeing the effort to assist the person in need.

Without Shared Branching, I wouldn’t have been able to help another person. Shared Branching helped a person, help a person, to help a person. What a wonderful thing!”

- P.W., Augusta

So whether you need money immediately because of an emergency, or just to make a loan payment when you're out of town, Shared Branching is here to make your life a little simpler.

-Jess H., Maine Credit Union League

Monday, February 8, 2010

Shared Branching saves one members weekend

We know that Mainers love to share, and as part of out Share It campaign we are asking you to tell us what you love to share. Here is one members story:

Shared Branching Saves the Day!
“One month ago I was traveling down to Boston to see my brother and my vehicle broke down in southern Maine on New Year’s weekend. The company who came to get my car needed cash for payment and I didn't have any cash on me. I was not sure how I was going to be able to get cash and without a fee at a big bank. The other hold up was that I didn't have much money in my checking account for my debit card to work. I don't have access to my savings account by debit card or ATM card so I was stuck.

I then thought about the Shared Branching. I had been given a paper with all the branches in Maine who participate in SB by the associate at NorState FCU in Presque Isle when I opened my account. I looked on there and found there was a credit union nearby. I then proceeded to plug this credit union name into my cell phone where I got the address. I went inside late on a snowy day when they were just about to close and I took the money out of my own CU savings account.

The days that followed made me really pat myself on the back for switching from another local bank to a credit union. I feel as though I'm part of a little family, but yet with the ability to have access no matter where my travels take me. I'm very glad to be part of Shared Branching and I'm glad I'm a member of two Maine Credit Unions.”
- E.D, Presque Isle

-Jess H., Maine Credit Union League

Monday, February 1, 2010

Say “Hello” to SURF Dude, and “Goodbye” to ATM Fees!


It’s out with the old and in with the new… look that is, the surcharge free ATM network that you know and rely on has a new look. As a credit union member, you have access to over 200 surcharge free ATMs throughout Maine, using these ATMs can save you an average of $300 a year in surcharge fees alone. Who would want to pass up a deal like that? Have you ever been out and needed to use an ATM, but don’t know what ones are on the SURF network. Just look for SURF Dude or visit gosurf.mobi on your smart phone.

If you see SURF Dude on your ATM then you know that you’re in the SURF Zone – and that means no ATM fees! The SURF ATM Network now includes over 90% of the state’s 67 credit unions, so you are never far from a SURF Zone. So next time you are out and need to access an ATM, whether you’re taking out cash or making a deposit, look for SURF Dude and keep your money where it belongs... with you!


-Jess H., Maine Credit Union League