With April, and the often infamous April Fools’ Day fast approaching, we are reminded how fun spring, and even a friendly joke can be. A prank that’s not so friendly? Phishing. "Phishing" is when criminals use email, phone and online scams to purposefully and maliciously trick people into sharing information, such as your confidential account information. NoPhishing.org has some great advice on how to avoid these all too common scams:
•Never provide confidential information unless you started the conversation. Never answer an email, pop-up, phone call, letter, etc. that asks for personal information. Your credit union, or any other legitimate company, does NOT ask for this information, ever!
•Be suspicious! Because something is written down in an email or in a pop-up does not mean that it is true and legitimate.
•Do not click on a link provided in an email or enter information in a pop-up window. Go to the website yourself and from there navigate to the area of interest.
•Use anti-malware solutions that are updated.
•Do not use public computers or wireless networks to conduct confidential activities.
•Shred all documents that contain personal, sensitive or confidential information.
For more information on avoiding phishing attacks, you can visit: hxxp://www.nophishing.org/.
Friday, March 23, 2012
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
It’s time to get Fiscally Fit
The weather is warming up and it is time for high school students to get fit, fiscally fit that is. April is Financial Literacy Month and Credit Unions across the state are helping high school students learn how to handle their finances. The Financial Fitness Money Management Experience is compared to an interactive ‘game of life,’ that builds awareness for youth education and for credit unions’ dedication to financial literacy in their communities.
There are three Financial Fitness Fairs in the next week that span across the state; starting on Friday, the 23rd at Biddeford High School. The following week fairs are being held across the state spreading from Standish and Norway to Limestone and are being put on through the hard work of 17 credit unions throughout the state and the Maine Credit Union League.
For more information about the Financial Fitness Fairs being held by Maine Credit Unions visit here.
There are three Financial Fitness Fairs in the next week that span across the state; starting on Friday, the 23rd at Biddeford High School. The following week fairs are being held across the state spreading from Standish and Norway to Limestone and are being put on through the hard work of 17 credit unions throughout the state and the Maine Credit Union League.
For more information about the Financial Fitness Fairs being held by Maine Credit Unions visit here.
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Maine’s Credit Unions Prepare for St. Patrick’s Day by Sharing Some Green!
On Friday, March 16, in a ceremony called “The Giving of the Green,” Maine’s Credit Unions, through the Maine Credit Unions’ Campaign for Ending Hunger, will make its largest, one-time donation ever to the Good Shepherd Food-Bank in the amount of $22,000, which represents the 22 years that Maine’s Credit Unions have raised funds for ending hunger. The donation will be given in memory of JoAnn Pike, the Founder of the Good Shepherd Food-Bank.
Pike began the Good Shepherd over 30 years ago and served as its Executive Director until February of 2004. Seven years ago this month, JoAnn passed away of cancer. Two days after Pike passed away, Maine credit unions were the first to make a significant contribution in her memory. Every year since, Maine’s credit unions have made a donation in her memory to mark the anniversary of her death and to remember the long-time hunger pioneer.
Maine’s Credit Unions recently announced that in 2011, the 22nd year of the Campaign, a new record of $446,929.56 was raised, an increase of nearly $45,000 over last year’s record. Since 1990, the Maine Credit Unions’ Campaign for Ending Hunger has raised $4.3 million to help end hunger in Maine!
Every day is a good day to share some green with your credit union’s ending hunger efforts! Stop in to see the many ways they are raising funds for this great cause. Whether it is through automatic account deduction or participating in a raffle or bake sale, you can help make a difference in your community.
Pike began the Good Shepherd over 30 years ago and served as its Executive Director until February of 2004. Seven years ago this month, JoAnn passed away of cancer. Two days after Pike passed away, Maine credit unions were the first to make a significant contribution in her memory. Every year since, Maine’s credit unions have made a donation in her memory to mark the anniversary of her death and to remember the long-time hunger pioneer.
Maine’s Credit Unions recently announced that in 2011, the 22nd year of the Campaign, a new record of $446,929.56 was raised, an increase of nearly $45,000 over last year’s record. Since 1990, the Maine Credit Unions’ Campaign for Ending Hunger has raised $4.3 million to help end hunger in Maine!
Every day is a good day to share some green with your credit union’s ending hunger efforts! Stop in to see the many ways they are raising funds for this great cause. Whether it is through automatic account deduction or participating in a raffle or bake sale, you can help make a difference in your community.
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Save at the Pump! Tips for Tackling High Gas Prices
With the cost of gas steadily rising, you may be thinking of ways to stretch your gas mileage; maybe you are combining errands to consolidate your trips, or carpooling with a coworker. Here are some tips from dailyfinance.com on ways you can save at the pump.
1) Keep up with maintenance – getting a regular tune up and oil change can help your car get the best fuel efficiency. Make sure you keep your tires inflated properly since for every three pounds your tires are below the recommended pressure your fuel economy drops 1%. If you don’t know what the recommended tire pressure for your car is look on the side of your driver side door; if you don’t find it there look in your owner’s manual.
2) Don’t be aggressive – or tailgate for that matter; hard acceleration and deceleration eat up fuel at a faster rate. If you take off from lights too quickly, or are forced to break suddenly if you are too close to the car in front of you, you may be wasting up to 50 cents a gallon.
3) Clean out your car – not only will your car look better, getting rid of excess weight can help you save money on gas. For every extra 100 pounds in your vehicle you might be reducing your fuel economy by 2%. And if you are like me, you find 5 pairs of shoes you forgot about. That said, if you have to haul something it is better to have it inside your car than strapped to your roof; that reduces your cars aerodynamics and can reduce its fuel efficiency.
If you are looking for ways to consolidate your car trips, try using a Credit Union that is part of the Shared Branching network. To find a credit union that offers Shared Branching visit www.mycushares.com - you might even find one that is on your daily commute.
1) Keep up with maintenance – getting a regular tune up and oil change can help your car get the best fuel efficiency. Make sure you keep your tires inflated properly since for every three pounds your tires are below the recommended pressure your fuel economy drops 1%. If you don’t know what the recommended tire pressure for your car is look on the side of your driver side door; if you don’t find it there look in your owner’s manual.
2) Don’t be aggressive – or tailgate for that matter; hard acceleration and deceleration eat up fuel at a faster rate. If you take off from lights too quickly, or are forced to break suddenly if you are too close to the car in front of you, you may be wasting up to 50 cents a gallon.
3) Clean out your car – not only will your car look better, getting rid of excess weight can help you save money on gas. For every extra 100 pounds in your vehicle you might be reducing your fuel economy by 2%. And if you are like me, you find 5 pairs of shoes you forgot about. That said, if you have to haul something it is better to have it inside your car than strapped to your roof; that reduces your cars aerodynamics and can reduce its fuel efficiency.
If you are looking for ways to consolidate your car trips, try using a Credit Union that is part of the Shared Branching network. To find a credit union that offers Shared Branching visit www.mycushares.com - you might even find one that is on your daily commute.
Friday, March 2, 2012
Credit Unions Show a Storm of Support at CU Day!
Despite less than ideal weather conditions, an impressive group of nearly 50 credit union representatives from throughout the state made the trip to Augusta to be part of Maine Credit Union Day at the State House on Thursday, March 1. Highlights of the day included watching the Legislature in session, meeting with legislators and being recognized with a Joint Resolution by the Maine House and Senate.
The morning-long event attracted close to 100 legislators who took the time to visit with credit union representatives in the Hall of Flags. One legislator called the opportunity to meet with his local credit union "a chance to touch base on important issues and get feedback on the economy from their point of view. Credit unions are so connected with their communities and members which provides a great perspective and insight into how many of my constituents are doing." Another added, "Maine credit unions are a vital part of helping thousands of Maine people succeed financially. I told the credit unions I spoke with how much I appreciated the benefits and the services they provide to members."
The day showed that whatever the weather, credit unions remain a strong presence at the State House, reinforcing the commitment and involvement that Maine's credit unions have in legislative affairs!
(L-R) Ryan Poulin, President/CEO of New Dimensions FCU, John Murphy, President of the Maine CU League, and Rep. John Picchiotti, who is also Board Chair at KSW FCU, catch up at Maine CU Day in Augusta.
The morning-long event attracted close to 100 legislators who took the time to visit with credit union representatives in the Hall of Flags. One legislator called the opportunity to meet with his local credit union "a chance to touch base on important issues and get feedback on the economy from their point of view. Credit unions are so connected with their communities and members which provides a great perspective and insight into how many of my constituents are doing." Another added, "Maine credit unions are a vital part of helping thousands of Maine people succeed financially. I told the credit unions I spoke with how much I appreciated the benefits and the services they provide to members."
The day showed that whatever the weather, credit unions remain a strong presence at the State House, reinforcing the commitment and involvement that Maine's credit unions have in legislative affairs!
(L-R) Ryan Poulin, President/CEO of New Dimensions FCU, John Murphy, President of the Maine CU League, and Rep. John Picchiotti, who is also Board Chair at KSW FCU, catch up at Maine CU Day in Augusta.
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Don’t let your spring vacation break the bank
Its spring vacation time and whether you are taking a family trip to the Grand Canyon, a cruise to Cancun with your girlfriends, or doing day trips through New England, it’s easy to overspend. If you are going away for more than the day you will need a hotel room; but that doesn’t mean you need the luxury suite with the adjacent living room. Odds are you won’t be spending a lot of time hanging out in your hotel room; you really only need a place to get a good night’s sleep so you can spend the day exploring the area.
That said, don’t spend all your time exploring like a tourist; you have to eat, but do you really want to spend $20 on a burger at a theme restaurant? Instead, ask the locals for restaurant suggestions. Not only will these places likely be cheaper, but you will get an authentic dining experience. Also you can avoid unnecessary spending by avoiding heavy tourist areas; they are called tourist traps for a reason.
If a day trip is on your to-do list during vacation you won’t need to worry about hotels, but sticking to local restaurants is a good idea. Not only are you saving money, but you are helping out local businesses. The best way to save money during day trips is to plan your trip out in advance. It may seem fun to just arrive at your destination and go as you please, but you will probably find yourself spending more time traveling from place to place than you would like. Planning out your trip in advance gives you time to figure out the best way to go from location to location.
It is possible to have an enjoyable vacation without the guilt of reaching for those credit cards. And if you do find yourself needing access to more money while you are there, look for a credit union on the Shared Branch Network. You can find the one closest to you here.
That said, don’t spend all your time exploring like a tourist; you have to eat, but do you really want to spend $20 on a burger at a theme restaurant? Instead, ask the locals for restaurant suggestions. Not only will these places likely be cheaper, but you will get an authentic dining experience. Also you can avoid unnecessary spending by avoiding heavy tourist areas; they are called tourist traps for a reason.
If a day trip is on your to-do list during vacation you won’t need to worry about hotels, but sticking to local restaurants is a good idea. Not only are you saving money, but you are helping out local businesses. The best way to save money during day trips is to plan your trip out in advance. It may seem fun to just arrive at your destination and go as you please, but you will probably find yourself spending more time traveling from place to place than you would like. Planning out your trip in advance gives you time to figure out the best way to go from location to location.
It is possible to have an enjoyable vacation without the guilt of reaching for those credit cards. And if you do find yourself needing access to more money while you are there, look for a credit union on the Shared Branch Network. You can find the one closest to you here.
Monday, February 13, 2012
A ‘Golden’ Moment For Maine Credit Unions’ Efforts To End Hunger
On February 13, at South Portland’s Marriot hotel, Maine’s credit unions made a major announcement on the success of their efforts towards “thawing” out hunger in Maine in 2011 at the Thaw to End Hunger Celebration Event. At this annual event, credit unions were recognized for their success in raising the most funds ever for the Maine Credit Unions’ Campaign for Ending Hunger, and the official, record-breaking total was announced. This year’s total funds raised is $446,929.56, an increase of nearly $45,000 over last year’s record!
Since 1990, the Maine Credit Unions’ Campaign for Ending Hunger has raised more than $4.3 million to help end hunger in Maine.
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