Earn Rewards When You Use Your ET Check Card!

ETFCU is proud to introduce ScoreCard Rewards—just in time for holiday shopping. With ScoreCard Rewards, you can earn rewards anytime you pay with your ET Check Card!

Earning rewards is easy. Simply use your ET Check Card in a credit transaction; when prompted to choose either “credit” or “debit,” choose “credit” and sign for your purchase. In some cases, you won’t need to sign a receipt, such as when paying
for gas at the pump. Just choose “credit,” and you will receive the same benefits. Even when selecting “credit,” your transaction will still be deducted from your checking account. In addition to earning valuable points, your ET Check Card also gives you the protection of your signature in cases of disputed card charges and identity theft.

For every $2 you spend, you'll earn one point to redeem for brand-name merchandise, travel discounts, and more. Enrollment in the rewards program is automatic for all ET Check Cardholders. There is no point expiration date and no point earnings cap. Cash advances, ATM transactions, and returns
that were processed with your ET Check Card are not eligible.

If you don’t have an ET Check Card, open an ETFCU checking account and apply for your card today!




Government Extends First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit and Offers Credit for Move-Up/Repeat Buyers

In a continued effort to kick-start the national housing market, the government is offering first-time home owners a tax credit of up to $8,000 with the purchase of their first home. There is now also a $6,500 tax credit option for repeat buyers. And with ETFCU's rates low rates, now is the perfect time to buy!

$8,000 First-time Home Buyer Tax Credit at a Glance:

• The $8,000 tax credit is for first-time home buyers only. For the tax credit program, the IRS defines a first-time home buyer as someone who has not owned a principal residence during the three-year period prior to the purchase.
• The tax credit does not have to be repaid.
• The tax credit is equal to 10 percent of the home’s purchase price up to a maximum of $8,000.
• The tax credit applies only to homes priced at $800,000 or less.
• The tax credit now applies to sales occurring on or after January 1, 2009 and on or before April 30, 2010. However, in cases where a binding sales contract is signed by April 30, 2010, a home purchase completed by June 30, 2010 will qualify.
• For homes purchased on or after January 1, 2009 and on or before November 6, 2009, the income limits are $75,000 for single taxpayers and $150,000 for married couples filing jointly.
• For homes purchased after November 6, 2009 and on or before April 30, 2010, single taxpayers with incomes up to $125,000 and married couples with incomes up to $225,000 qualify for the full tax credit.

The $6,500 Move-Up / Repeat Home Buyer Tax Credit at a Glance:

• To be eligible to claim the tax credit, buyers must have owned and lived in their previous home for five consecutive years out of the last eight years.
• The tax credit does not have to be repaid.
• The tax credit is equal to 10 percent of the home’s purchase price up to a maximum of $6,500.
• The tax credit applies only to homes priced at $800,000 or less.
• The credit is available for homes purchased after November 6, 2009 and on or before April 30, 2010. However, in cases where a binding sales contract is signed by April 30, 2010, the home purchase qualifies provided it is completed by June 30, 2010.
• Single taxpayers with incomes up to $125,000 and married couples with incomes up to $225,000 qualify for the full tax credit.

Contact the ETFCU Real Estate Lending Department at
(812) 469-9928 or 1-800-800-9271 for more information. You can apply for you loan at any ETFCU office or online at our Online Mortgage Center.




New Home Banking Feature Available to Track Debit Card Transactions

When you use your ET Check Card for purchases, a hold is placed on your checking account until the transaction clears. Thanks to a home banking enhancement, now you can view your pending debit holds online. From the Account Summary screen, click on the Pending Items selection in the upper right corner where you’ll see a description of each debit hold.

If you are not yet enrolled in ETFCU’s free home banking program, be sure to check out the demo on our website. Click on Home Banking and then select Demo on the left bar. You’ll see how fast, easy, and convenient this service can be!

Get 25% More Reward Points on Your Credit Card Purchases!

Take advantage of the benefits of an ETFCU Visa® credit card and get a 25% reward points bonus on your total purchases through March 31, 2010. Here’s how:

• Apply for a Visa credit card online or at any ETFCU office between October 1 and November 30, 2009.
• Get 2,500 bonus points with your first purchase—that’s enough for your first reward! Or, save your points for even bigger rewards like cash back, travel, gift cards, and more!
• Enjoy a 25% reward points bonus based on the sum of your net purchases made through March 31, 2010. (For example, $1,000 in purchases would earn you a 250 reward points bonus.)
• Plus, you’ll continue to earn 1 reward point for each $1 you spend.

This is a limited-time offer. Apply today!

Cardmember will receive a 25% reward points bonus calculated based upon net purchases made through 3/31/2010. Net purchases are determined by totaling all new purchases that are charged to the account, then subtracting credits posted to the account for returned purchases or adjustments. In order to qualify, the Visa Signature®, Visa Platinum Business Rewards, or Visa Business Travel account must be opened between 10/1/09 and 11/30/09, and the account must be open and in good standing (not over limit or past due) at the time the bonus is to be awarded. Bonuses will be awarded in May 2010. Cardmembers can redeem their points online (through the Rewards Center) or by calling Cardmember Service at 1.888.229.8864. Contact ETFCU for full details. The creditor, issuer and service provider is Elan Financial Services.

CU Service Centers Now the Largest Branch Network in Indiana

ETFCU members won’t have much trouble finding a branch while in the Hoosier state. The CU Service Centers shared branching network now provides 201 branch locations in Indiana alone—more branches than any other financial institution that does business in the state!
 
In addition, the network offers over 3,800 locations nationwide. For more information about the shared branching network, visit them at www.creditunion.net. Find the address and office hours to the nearest branch with the click of a button. Or you can even download a complete list of shared branching locations into your GPS! 

ETFCU Eases Financial Hardships

We know some members have incurred financial hardships due to the economy. That’s why we offer programs for borrowers and savers that can help during these money-strapped times as well as educational tools to help you better manage your debt.

Skip-a-Pay Program  This service allows you to get the extra cash you need by skipping up to two loan payments per year without negatively affecting your credit history. One payment deferment may be taken during the first six months, and another payment deferment may be made in the second half of the year. A $35 fee is charged for each deferment, and certain restrictions apply. Skip-a-payment applications are available in our lobbies or online.    

Certificate Early Withdrawal Penalty Lowered From October 1 through December 31, 2009 only, you can make a withdrawal of up to $10,000 from your ETFCU certificate balance and incur a lower penalty!* To qualify, the withdrawn funds cannot be reinvested in a certificate at ETFCU. This option is not available on Individual Retirement Accounts, Health Savings Accounts, Coverdell Education Savings Accounts, Jumbo certificates, and Market Index certificates. Only one reduced penalty is available per certificate. Please note that there is never a penalty when you transfer funds from an existing certificate of deposit at ETFCU to an investment with MEMBERS Financial Services located at the Phipps Center.

*The penalty may reduce the principal balance of the certificate. Only one reduced penalty is available per certificate.  

Debt Management Tools  ETFCU offers an online resource to help you examine your debts and take control of your finances.  It features the following services:

• Debt in Focus: This tool creates a customized personal action strategy designed to help you keep your finances moving in the right direction.
• Credit Card Repayment Calculator: Use this calculator to learn more about how the amount you pay each month affects how long you’ll pay on your credit card balance.

Click here to visit ETFCU's Debt Management page.




ETFCU Wins Readers’ Choice Award

ETFCU was recently presented with the Gold Award in the Best Financial Institution category of the Evansville Courier & Press 2009 Readers’ Choice Awards. Thank you to all who voted for us!

ETFCU Offers the Ted Hitch Scholarship for High School Seniors

If you’re a high school senior with great grades and a solid slate of extra-curricular activities, then don’t forget to apply for ETFCU’s Ted Hitch Scholarship. Selection for these ten $2000 scholarships is based on academic success and other achievements.

Students must have a minimum 3.5 GPA on a 4.0 scale or its equivalent, and they or their parents/guardians are required to have been members of ETFCU for at least one year prior to the March 1 application deadline. Applications are available at all ETFCU offices, most local high school guidance offices, and online.

Call (812) 469-9920 or 1-800-800-9271 for more information or to receive an application by mail.




ET Odyssey Designated as Authorized Disney Vacation Planner

ET Odyssey, ETFCU’s full-service travel agency, has been designated by Disney Destinations as an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner based on its strong knowledge of Disney vacations—knowledge that consumers can take advantage of when planning a Disney vacation.

Our travel counselors have gained specialized knowledge on vacations to the Disneyland® Resort, Walt Disney World® Resort, Disney Cruise Line®, and Adventures by Disney vacations. They have also received extensive training on Disney Destinations’ theme parks, resorts, cruises, vacation packages, and more.

For professional assistance in planning your customized Disney vacation, contact an ET Odyssey Travel consultant today at (812) 469-9905 or 1-800-800-9271, Option 5, or contact them by email.




ETFCU Places ATMs at USI and Central Library

Evansville Teachers Federal Credit Union has placed two ATMs at the University of Southern Indiana. One is located in the ground level lounge connecting the Wright Administration building to the Science Center. The other is located inside Rice Library. USI students, faculty, and staff are eligible for membership with ETFCU. You can learn more about our benefits for USI students at www.etfcu.org/usi.

The credit union also installed an ATM in Central Library in downtown Evansville. The ATM is located inside the lobby.




ETFCU Now Offers Home Banking Site Customized for Your Cell Phone or PDA

If you've tried to access ETFCU's home banking site on your cell phone in the past, you may have experienced problems getting everything to fit on your screen. But now with ETFCU's wireless home banking site, you'll enjoy a perfect fit!

This new site is available to all members enrolled in online banking, but this site is different than our main home banking site. It is formatted to fit the screen of your web-enabled phone or PDA. Your device must be capable of Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) protocol (sites that begin with https://) and WML or HDML compliant.

ETFCU's wireless home banking site includes most of the functionality of our regular home banking site. It allows you to view account balances, transfer funds, pay bills, and more. To access our wireless home banking service on your phone, visit us at www.etfcu.org/wireless.