News

Before You Go, Let Us Know

It’s that time of year again: family vacations, weekend getaways, maybe even the trip of a lifetime. And there’s no better way to pay than with your America First Visa® cards.

But before you leave, please inform us so we can guard your resources.

Call 1-800-999-3961 or log in to free online banking, use the other services tab, then look for the Visa traveling form in the bottom-left corner.

Protecting Your Financial Health

When you choose Visa® from America First, you’ll have the best benefits, features & options.

Plus, you’ll get free identity theft recovery services, complete with:

  • Family protection plans
  • Document replacement
  • Dedicated case advocates

To learn more, click here.

Let Us Know Before You Go

It’s that time again—family vacations, outdoor getaways, maybe even the trip of a lifetime. And there’s no better way to pay than with your America First Visa® cards.

But before you leave, please inform us so we can protect your account.

Call 1-800-999-3961 or log in to free online banking to make a travel notification.

You can also visit us here for more information about protecting your finances.

Take Control of Your Finances

We all want to improve & maintain our financial health. And with America First membership, you can use the following free services to accomplish that goal:

  • FICO® Scores—check your credit at any time using free online banking
  • Money manager—a convenient tool that tracks spending & saving in one place, even listing accounts at other institutions
  • Account e-alerts—custom notifications regarding transactions
  • Card Guard®—turn your Visa® on and off with this mobile app

No matter what objectives are, let America First help you achieve them. Get started today.

Now Is the Best Time to Benefit from America First Home Loans

With interest rates set to rise, now’s the perfect time to build, buy or refinance your home with America First.

  • Competitive options
  • Flexible terms & schedules
  • All your financial solutions under one roof

Build—with quick & easy financing, you can create the perfect home at your preferred price.

  • Customized to your needs
  • Discounts for bundling construction/home loans
  • Simple & convenient draw process

Buy—when you find your dream home, get hassle-free lending from a financial institution you trust.

  • Perfect for move-in-ready properties
  • Options with no closing costs
  • Step-by-step notifications

Refi—enjoy lower monthly payments while freeing up some extra funds.

  • Fixed rates available
  • Options with no closing costs
  • Flexible terms up to 15 years

Apply today.

Security: Spring Cleaning

It’s the season to de-clutter, upgrade technologies and streamline security—a spring-cleaning project for your digital life. To follow are some tips for getting it done:

  • Go through your computer & devices, discard old files and empty the recycle bin.
  • Organize your media in labeled folders.
  • Uninstall programs you don’t use to speed things up and bock malware potential.
  • Reinstall your operating system.
  • Back up important data.
  • Update security software, including antivirus, anti-spyware and anti-phishing programs.
  • Set up a firewall—major search engines can tell you how.
  • Sort through your email and toss out messages that aren’t relevant.
  • And finally, visit us here to learn more about protecting your information and financial resources.

Security Update: It’s Time to Do Some Digital Spring Cleaning

To keep your electronic life secure, use the following tips to remove clutter, upgrade technology—basically, do a digital spring cleaning. Here are 10 simple chores.

  1. Get rid of excess files and items.
  2. Organize your media in labeled files.
  3. Remove unnecessary icons from the desktop.
  4. Uninstall programs that aren’t ever utilized.
  5. Install antivirus, antispyware, antiphishing and firewall software.
  6. Create strong & unique passwords (having different characters/numbers, lowercase/uppercase letters).
  7. Back up important data.
  8. Perform operating system updates.
  9. Defragment your hard drive.
  10. Double-check your smartphone and remove unneeded apps.

And be sure to visit us here to learn how your credit union is safeguarding your resources.

 

Helping You Develop Financial Independence for Retirement

We’re committed to helping ensure your funds are working as hard as they can for you, especially as you save for retirement.

Your membership provides access to a full range of America First accounts, as well as complete investment and insurance services, through CUSO Financial Services, L.P. (CFS*) at America First Credit Union Financial Solutions, including:

  • Broad investment choices
  • Portfolio management with accounting & performance reporting
  • Integration with online banking, giving you a single log-in
  • And more

We’re pleased to have a CFS Financial Advisor serving families and businesses in your community to help you achieve your goals, whether you are considering retiring or your IRA might not be generating the returns it could.

Please call 1-800-999-3961 for a no-cost, no-obligation appointment or send your request to affsolutions@cusonet.com.

*Non-deposit investment products and services are offered through CUSO Financial Services, L.P. (CFS), a registered broker-dealer (Member FINRA/SIPC) and SEC Registered Investment Advisor. Products offered through CFS are not NCUA/NCUSIF or otherwise federally insured, are not guarantees or obligations of the credit union, and may involve investment risk, including possible loss of principal. Investment representatives are registered through CFS. The credit union has contracted with CFS to make non-deposit investment products and services available to members.

Better Money Management

Many of us resolve to practice better money-management when a new year gets under way, but by maximizing your membership in America First, you can truly reach those goals.

We offer several free, state-of-the-art services to monitor, track & control your funds, such as:

  • Money Manager—easy, intelligent online budgeting
  • FICO® Scores—check your credit any time with free online banking
  • Account alerts—stay informed about balances, transactions, deposits and loan payments
  • Card Guard®—set transaction limits, approve merchants & turn your America First Visa® cards on and off

Click here to learn how these and other premier tools can enhance your financial health.

Avoiding Tax Season Tricks

The middle of April might feel as though it’s ages away, but the tax deadline will soon be upon us—and so will the online scams.

According to the Federal Trade Commission, the country experienced a 50% hike in reported identity theft crimes since 2015, including those related to someone filing a false tax return in a stolen name.

To follow are some timely tips to prevent fraud during the coming months and throughout the year:

  • Officials recommend doing your taxes as soon as possible. The Internal Revenue Service only accepts one return per Social Security number. If yours is in early, a criminal cannot submit another with your personal information.
  • Imposters often claim to be government agents, but official U.S. agencies will never email or call you demanding payment without mailing you a notice first. Nor will they ask for card numbers via email or phone.
  • Regularly review your accounts and activity with free online & mobile banking. We also post your FICO Score ® if you have checking and/or a loan with us. And be sure to check your credit report for shady transactions at least once annually.
  • Watch out for unsolicited emails, texts, social media posts or fake sites that prompt clicking on links or sharing valuable data.
  • Take advantage of free antivirus or protective software.
  • Add a system firewall to prevent unauthorized users.
  • Visit us here to see how we’re working to safeguard your resources.