 Refinance & Save
On Your Vehicle Loan!
Refinance your vehicle for the New Year! Chances are good we
can save you money on your current Vehicle Loan. We'll match
the remaining term on your loan from another lender and, best of
all, we'll match or beat their rate!* If we can't match or beat their
rate, we'll pay you $100 just for applying! You can't lose!
Applying Is Easy
Don't Wait -This Offer Ends February 29, 2008!
*Qualified borrowers. Vehicles must be 2005 or newer models. $100 will be given to loan applicant if NE PA Community FCU cannot match or beat
the rate for the remaining term of the existing Vehicle Loan from another lender. Offer runs 1/1/08 - 2/29/08. Offer may be ended at the discretion of
the credit union. See credit union for complete details.
Thank You For Helping Us Celebrate!
Many members joined us to celebrate the Grand Opening, October 15-20, 2007, of our new
Main Office in Stroudsburg! We were glad so many of you stopped by to see the state-of-theart
office at 935 Clay Avenue. We were also thrilled that so many new faces stopped by to see
us as well. In fact, many people signed up for NE PA Community FCU membership in just six
days during the Grand Opening celebration!
If you have not yet seen the new location, stop in soon! The new building features more
parking, Remote Teller Stations for easier, faster banking, safe deposit boxes, and much more.
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Congratulations
To Our Winner
Russell Capone was the lucky winner of our
42" HDTV Grand Opening Grand Prize.
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Ribbon Cutting, October 14, 2007 |
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Open House, October 20, 2007 |
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NE PA Receives
15th
Consecutive
Five-Star Rating
The nation's leading independent
credit union rating and research
firm, BauerFinancial, Inc., recently
announced that NE PA Community
FCU is one of the strongest credit
unions in the country.
"NE PA Community Federal
Credit Union's ability to earn our
Five-Star Superior rating time
and again speaks to its strength,
stability and longevity," said
Karen L. Dorway, president of the
research firm. "In an environment
where financial institutions are
struggling with loan quality and
delinquencies, it is an honor and
a pleasure to recognize NE PA
Community Federal Credit Union
and the values it represents."
NE PA Community FCU has been serving the financial
needs of its members for 48 years.
Dorothy Fox, President/
CEO, Retires
 After 23 years of service to the
credit union, Dorothy Fox will be
retiring on February 29, 2008. She
started on September 17, 1984
and has worked her way through
the ranks as Secretary, Executive
Assistant, Interim Office Manager, Office Manager, Sr.
Vice President-Administration & Finance, and finally
to President/CEO. She has been President/CEO for
the past 10 1/2 years. When "Dot", as she likes to be
called, took over as President/CEO on July 1, 1997,
assets were $28 million, shares were $25 million,
loans were $20 million, and we had 6,000 members.
Today, we have assets of $66 million, shares of $59
million, loans of $34 million, and we have
9,884 members.
Now she will have more time to spend with her
three children and four grandchildren, finish some
projects around the house, take some classes at
East Stroudsburg University, and volunteer in
the community.
This is a well-deserved retirement for Dot, and
all of our members thank her for her many years of
dedicated service and leadership. We wish her many
years of a healthful and fulfilling retirement.
New President/CEO Selected
By The Board
Of Directors
 Mark T. Filbert has been selected
by the credit union's Board of
Directors to replace Dorothy A.
Fox, who is retiring from service
with the credit union effective February 29, 2008.
Mark has been employed with the credit union since
July 26, 1993, and has held a variety of positions,
including Assistant Office Manager, Office Manager,
and Chief Operations Officer, a post that he has
held for the past nine years. Mark is originally from
Corning, NY. He attended Dickinson College in
Carlisle, PA, where he achieved a Bachelor of Arts
in history. He also attended Lehigh University in
Bethlehem, PA, where he received a Master of Arts
in history. Additionally, Mark has obtained a Human
Resources Certification from Moravian College in
Bethlehem, PA. Mark is a member of the Kiwanis
Club of the Stroudsburgs and serves as a member
of the club's Board of Directors. Mark hopes to
further increase the credit union's participation
in community service events while continuing to
emphasize innovative and quality service to our
credit union members.
Member Appreciation Specials
Our members are very important to us! As a Thank You for your
continued loyalty to NE PA Community Federal Credit Union, we are
offering you a chance to save even more on your investments. It's our
way of showing our appreciation for helping us grow and prosper.
Earn More Money Instantly!
For every year you have been a member, you will receive a .01% APY*
bonus on a new 1-Year Share Certificate (CD).
For instance, if you have been a member for 48 years, you will
receive a .48% APY* Share Certificate Rate Bonus.
Earn An Additional .25% APY* Bonus!
You will also receive an additional .25% APY* Share Certificate Rate
Bonus if you have any three of the following NE PA accounts:
- Share Draft/Checking
- Mortgage
- Visa® Credit Card
- Home Equity Loan
- Visa® Check Card
- Home Equity Line Of Credit
Claim Your Bonus Today!
To open a Share Certificate and enjoy the membership appreciation
savings, simply stop by the credit union at your convenience, or call
(570) 421-5585 x1141 to learn more.
Thank You For Your Membership!
*APY=Annual Percentage Yield. Contact the credit union for details.
Choose e-Statements -
The "Green" Alternative
Did you know you can now sign up to receive your NE PA account
statements via NE PA HomeBranch? Not only will you be helping to
cut down on paper used every month, you will enjoy more secure and
timely access to your end-of-month statements!
This service is FREE and is available to members who have signed
up for NE PA Home Branch. To sign up for NE PA Home Branch, apply online, call
(570) 421-5585, or stop in.
Additional e-Statement Benefits
- You will be notified by e-mail that your statement is posted and
immediately available through NE PA Home Branch.
- You can download a printable PDF image of your statement, and it will
look exactly the same as your current printed statement.
- Your statements will be archived on NE PA HomeBranch for six months.
- You will receive your statements on the first business day of the new month.
- Extensive security measures keep your online information safe.
Sign Up Today!
If you aren't yet signed up for NE PA Home Branch, enroll
today and start enjoying the convenience and safety of
environmentally-friendly e-Statements!
Shopping Online? Then Shop Safely!
You can take numerous security steps while
shopping online. The following tips provide
excellent points from which to start:
Know from whom you are buying. Get the phone number and
physical address of the seller. Check with the Better Business
Bureau or other consumer protection agencies to see if there are
complaints lodged against the merchant. Check the seller's website
to see if they support or belong to programs that encourage good
business practices.
Pay with a credit card. A credit card gives you the ability to legally
dispute charges for goods that you never received, ordered, or were
misrepresented to you. If there are unauthorized charges on a credit
card, your liability is limited to $50 under Federal Law.
Know exactly what you are buying and how much it will cost. Understand the seller's description of the product and read all the
fine print. Factor in all charges, including shipping and handling. Be
sure to comparison shop other sites to validate the cost.
Print and save records of all online transactions. Make copies of
the product description, price, receipt, and even the main web page
of the seller with contact information. Save this paper trail in the
event you might need it later.
Verify the Privacy Policy of the seller. Consider what information
the merchant is collecting, why it is being collected and how it will
be used or disseminated. If there is no Privacy Policy, expect that
all your information will have no safeguard, and consider going to
another seller.
Check out warranty and service information. Determine if the
product comes with a warranty and if the seller provides service
should you need it.
Confirm that the seller has a return policy. Find out if the
seller will allow you to return the item if you are not satisfied. Also
determine if you are responsible for shipping and handling for the
return, and if there are restocking fees.
Validate the security of your transaction. Many merchants' sites
employ Secure Socket Layer (SSL) or Secure Electronic Transaction
(SET) technology, which encrypts information you send over the
Internet. Look for one of these signs that your transaction is secure:
- The web address changes from "http" to "https" or "shttp." The "s"
indicates that the site is now secure.
- Your browser shows a closed lock icon in the lower right-hand
corner. Unencrypted web pages will display an open lock.
Never provide sensitive information in an e-mail to the seller, or to
anybody else!
This article is excerpted from our online Security Training, Education and Awareness Module (or TEAM). To
read more articles like this one, visit www.nepafcu.org and click the TEAM section on the home page.
Verified By Visa® - Added Security
For Your NE PA Visa Check Card
With Visa® Check Card fraud on the rise, we are always looking for better ways
to increase our members' security. With Verified by Visa, we are able to provide
another layer of security for online purchases made with your NE PA Community
FCU Visa Check Card.
Visa's multiple layers of security provide cardholders with an extraordinary level
of protection so they can feel confident no matter how they use their Visa Check
Card. Verified by Visa plays an important role in this strategy in the following ways:
- Improving The Security Of Online Payment Transactions.
- Increasing Both Cardholder And Merchant Confidence In Internet Purchases.
- Reducing Disputes And Fraudulent Activity Related To Visa Payment Cards.
Effective February 2008, you must activate your existing NE PA Visa Check Card
with the Verified by Visa service and create your personal password, prior to
shopping online with your Visa Check Card. Please visit Verified by Visa to learn more.
Ask Bettyanne
 When you sit with a finance
representative at a car dealership
and he or she offers you financing,
you usually pay a higher rate
than if you obtained the same
loan directly from a financial
institution. The car dealership has
a rate that they "buy" from the
financial institution, and establish
a higher rate when they "sell" it to the car buyer. So, for a little
paperwork they make a percentage point or more on your loan.
Even if they process your loan for you at their "buy" rate, they
still earn a flat fee.
Also, did you know that your credit score is affected every time
someone runs your credit report? One dealer can send your
request for financing to more than one financial institution
without you being aware of it. That means that whenever a
dealer sends your request, whether you buy from them or not,
your credit score goes down. If your credit score is on the lower
end of a credit tier, the numerous inquiries may be enough to
stop you from qualifying for a better rate.
All vehicle loan interest rates are based on a risk factor
determined by your credit score. There are many ways to
improve your score. Most members know that paying their
bills on time reflects positively on their credit score. But, did
you know that the revolving credit "used" versus revolving
credit "available" also affects your score? Be careful about
overextending yourself with credit cards and loans. You control
your score. Also, if your current vehicle loan is a little high, you
can apply to refinance that loan with our credit union at a lower
rate. By doing so, you could improve your debt-to-income ratio
and potentially help your credit score.
Why not first apply at the credit union for a pre-approval to
purchase your new vehicle? If you'd like, we will sit with you and
show you how your credit score affects the interest rate you are
offered. With a pre-approval in hand, you can shop for your next
vehicle and drive home with the best deal on both the vehicle
and your financing.
Contact Bettyanne at bnevil@nepafcu.org if you have
any questions.
NEW!
Safe Deposit Boxes
Now Available
 You can now rent a safe deposit box at NE
PA Community FCU for less than the cost of
a rental at many other financial institutions.
A safe deposit box is a valuable storage
space for military discharge papers, stock
and bond certificates, birth, marriage and
death certificates, and more.
Get Your Safe
Deposit Box Today
Ask a Member Support Specialist
for pricing and details by calling
(570) 421-5585 x1141 or by stopping
in today.
Lower Your Credit Card Interest Rate
Are you paying too much for your current credit card? When
you choose the NE PA Community FCU Visa®, you will enjoy
an interest rate as low as 8.99% APR*.
The NE PA Visa also offers:
- NO Annual Fee (If Card Is Used At Least Once Annually)
- 25-Day Grace Period For Purchases
- Cash Advances At Same Low Rate As Purchases
- Automatic Payment On Card Balances
- No Accelerating Increase In The APR For Late Payments
- And More!
Compare your current credit card to the NE PA Visa Credit Card. Do you get all the
benefits listed above? If not, then make the switch to NE PA today!
Apply Today!
To get instant approval, apply online or call Loan-By-Phone
at
(877) 421-5585. You can also stop by the Loan Department at the credit union to
fill out an application.
*APR=Annual Percentage Rate. Contact the credit union for complete details.
Bulletin Board
Holiday Closings
Monday, January 21, 2008 - Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
Monday, February 18, 2008 - Presidents' Day
Annual Meeting Notice
Our Annual Meeting will be held on Tuesday, April 22, 2008. Every member is invited
to attend, so mark your calendar and save the date! Further details will appear in the
Spring 2008 issue of "Straight Talk."
Stop By & Say Hi At The Expo
NE PA Community FCU will be at the Pocono Mountain Chamber of Commerce Expo at
ESU Koehler Fieldhouse on March 12 and 13, 2008. Stop by Booth 50 and say hello!
Camelback And Jack Frost Discount Tickets
When you buy Jack Frost and Camelback Ski Area lift tickets at the credit union, you can
save as much as $18.00 per ticket, based on the day you choose. Stop by for details.
We Appreciate Our "Angels"
Thank you to all of our members and staff who contributed to this year's Salvation Army
Christmas Angels Program and the Kettle Drive! The Angels provide holiday gifts for less
fortunate children, and the Kettle Drive helps those of all ages in need. Your generosity
helped to make the holidays happier for many people!
Tax Time Is
Almost Here -
Are You Ready?
The 2007 tax filing deadline is Tuesday,
April 15, 2008 - so you still have time
to make 2007 contributions to your
Individual Retirement Account (IRA).
NE PA offers a variety of IRAs to meet
your retirement needs. You can choose
from Traditional IRAs, Roth IRAs,
and SEPs.
FREE IRA Brochure
If you have never invested in an IRA
before, you may have a lot of questions.
Stop by the credit union or call today to
receive a free copy of our informative
brochure, "Comparing Your IRA Options."
The brochure includes details on who
can contribute, tax deductibility, and
much more.
Get Your Refund Faster
Once you have made your IRA
contribution and are ready to file your
return, don't forget to elect to receive
your refund via Direct Deposit.
To receive your refund through Direct
Deposit, simply indicate your choice of
NE PA Savings, Checking Account, or
IRA and include your account number
on your tax returns. To complete your
authorization, you must also supply
the credit union's ABA/routing number
- 231386221. There is no charge for
this service!
Reduce Your Holiday Debt Instantly
 The holidays can create many great memories, but they can also create large credit card bills in January. If you spent a bit more than you anticipated over the holidays,
NE PA Community FCU can help you get out of debt faster.
If you own a home, you can apply for a Home Equity Loan or Home Equity Line
of Credit (HELOC) and borrow against your home at a great low rate, then use the
funds to pay off your outstanding loans from other lenders. This allows you to lower
your interest rate and pay less over the course of your loan!
Apply Today
Simply stop by the credit union, call NE PA Loan-By-Phone at (877) 421-5585 or
apply online.
*APR=Annual Percentage Rate. Rate is subject to change without notice. Home Equity Line of Credit rates subject to change two times
per year based on the Wall Street Prime + 0%. Contact the credit union for complete details.
**Unless title insurance is required.
Choose NE PA For A Secure Mortgage
You may have read recent news reports about the failure of the subprime Mortgage industry. What
does this mean? It means that many subprime Mortgage lenders approved loans that individuals and
couples without good credit could not actually afford. As a result, many people across the nation who
bought homes using these types of "alternative" Mortgages were unable to afford their purchases.
Many lost their houses due to foreclosure, and some even had to file bankruptcy.
Safe, Secure Loan Options
You can feel safe choosing NE PA Community FCU for your Mortgage, because your credit union
does not offer subprime Mortgages. This means that if you cannot truly afford a Mortgage, we will not
approve you for the loan.
If you find you cannot afford a home, we will be happy to help you research other options or provide
you with advice on how to improve your credit rating so you can buy a house in the future.
NE PA has never had a First Mortgage go into foreclosure. We also service all of our loans in-house.
They are not sold to another lender or broker, so you know you can always contact NE PA with any
questions or concerns.
For More Information
To learn more about the Mortgage purchase and money-saving refinance options available at NE PA,
stop by the credit union or call (570) 421-5585, x1128, x1125, or x1127.
Start Saving For Next
Holiday Season - It's Easy!
 Don't let the holiday season sneak up on you. Get a head
start on next year's presents by opening a Holiday Club
Account! Add Payroll Deduction from your paycheck to your
Club Account, and saving becomes automatic. A Holiday
Club Account is the easy way to save for the holidays.
Open Your Account Today
Take advantage of this great way to save for seasonal
expenses throughout the year. Simply call us at
(570) 421-5585, x1140, x1141, or x1142 or stop by
the office to open a Holiday Club Account today.
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