EPEFCU

Bank Transfer Day

Big banks have been making headlines lately with news to begin introducing additional fees to their customers. Monday, Bank of America announced that it will no longer implement the proposed debit card fee following in the footsteps of many other larger banks such as Wells Fargo and JP Morgan Chase which have also dropped plans to impose similar charges. The damage however seems to be done.  In response to these actions, and many people have come together to form what is being called Bank Transfer Day.

According to Wikipedia, Bank Transfer Day is a consumer activism initiative calling for a voluntary switch from commercial banks to not-for-profit credit unions by November 5, 2011. Since the creation of this movement, a Bank Transfer Day Facebook page has emerged generating a following of more than 35,000 people.

Still, many people who don’t belong to credit unions are under the misconception that they are only for a certain segment of the population. For example, many in El Paso believe that in order to be a member of El Paso Employees Federal Credit Union, one must work for the city of El Paso. While this may have been true 75 years ago, EPEFCU has since become a community chartered credit union, meaning that anyone who lives, works or worships in the city is eligible for membership and can sign up for a FREE checking account.

There are many more differences between banks and credit unions, below is a list of some that you might want to consider if you’re thinking of participating in Bank Transfer Day.

1. Credit unions are locally based and therefore can make decisions locally.

2. Credit unions are not-for-profit. This means that surplus earnings are returned to members often in the form of higher rates on savings and lower rates on loans and credit cards. Banks on the other hand are profit driven.

3. Credit unions are member owned. When you make a deposit into a credit union you are buying a membership and decisions at the credit union are made by a voluntary board of directors chosen by the members. Decisions are made based on what is best for the entire membership of the credit union. Banks however are run by small groups of shareholders. This paid panel of directors makes all of the decisions, leaving customers without any say in how the bank is run. In the banks case, decisions are based on what is best for the small group of shareholders or investors.

So head on over to your local credit union and start earning more for your money. If you’re interested in joining a credit union, visit culookup.com and find out which credit union is located in your community.

 

 

 

Federally Insured by NCUA

Meet Melissa

El Paso Employees Federal Credit Union will be a silver sponsor for the Fiesta de las Flores celebration this labor day weekend. In addition, EPEFCU is also sponsoring Melissa Camargo, who will compepte in the Fiesta de las Flores pageant for the title of Queen of the Fiesta de las Flores. Help us support Melissa as we follow her progress in this journey! Check back often for updates.

 

Featured Post: Introducing eChecking, Simplify Your Life Today!

Technology affects nearly every aspect of our lives, and with the current ubiquity of devices, we are able to toggle back and forth between tasks, creating a constant desire to increase our capacity to multi-task. It is with this in mind that we have created eChecking, an account designed to simplify your life and change the way you bank!

In addition to offering 3.03% Annual Percentage Yield, the highest checking account rate in El Paso, our eChecking account offers free Online Bill Pay, eStatements, unlimited check writing, no minimum balance requirement, no monthly service fee or per check fee and the freedom to use any foreign ATM, because EPEFCU we will reimburse you any fees incurred by the credit union.

eChecking account holders will also enjoy the use of an exclusive eBanker hotline, where eBankers will be ready to assist members via phone or online chat. eAccount holders are subject to minor restrictions for in-lobby transactions and modest requirements.

Many of us don’t have the time to stand in line at a branch or even wait in line at a drive-thru. eAccounts makes juggling your daily task list easy by allowing you to conduct transactions without interfering with your daily routine. At the same time, you can enjoy earning high dividend rates on a quarterly basis. You’ll also qualify for special eAccount promotions and specials.

We understand that you can’t be everywhere at once, and so we’re hoping that our new eAccount will make multi-tasking much easier for you.  So if you’re tired of hassling with lines or just can’t seem to find the time to make it to a branch, whether it’s to visit a lobby or even a drive-thru, then this account is for you! Open your high-yielding eChecking account today, and take advantage of the best value in banking, visit http://epefcu.org and follow the “open accounts” link.

 

*Any eAccount holders who don’t meet the requirement or are disqualified during the quarter, will not earn a dividend for the quarter and the credit union ATM withdrawal fees will be charge.

**3.03% APY is paid on balances up to $5,000. Premiere Checking rates paid on balances over $5,000.

Your Voice, Your Credit Union

 

Be a part of our exclusive team and let your voice be heard!

 

 

Spring Writing Contest

We are now into our third full week of the New Year, and for college students, that means you’ll be heading back to school for the Spring semester. It also means you’ll probably be looking for ways to pay for that pricy college degree. We understand that for many, a college degree may seem out of reach as the cost of a college education continues to soar.

According to a UCLA nationwide survey of college freshman, nearly one-third of the 271,000 freshman surveyed are attending schools that were not their first choice. That’s the highest percentage since 1988. Of those students who were accepted but didn’t go to their first choice college, more than one-third said money was the issue: they couldn’t afford it.  

For those of you already in college, and for the high school seniors who are planning to attend college, we want to help! We’ve brought back our Writing Contest for the Spring to give two lucky students a chance to win $1000 towards their education.

Starting today, EPEFCU will kick off its spring writing contest, open to all college students and high school seniors. One student will be chosen from each category to win $1000 to use towards their education, all you have to do is share your experience with us! (You must be a high school senior or college student to qualify.)

Students, please choose one topic from each of the following categories to write about:

1. Tell us about your saving’s resolutions for this year. How do you plan to accomplish these goals in 2011?

2. Tell us about your financial experiences in 2010. How do you plan to improve upon your financial health in 2011, and what will you do differently?

3. It is easy to rack up unnecessary debt through the use of credit cards. Do you have any high balances you need to pay off? How do you plan to pay this debt down and what advice would you give others in your current situation?

Once written:
1. E-mail your submission along with your Name, Address, Telephone Number, Contest Group (high school senior or college) to marketing@epefcu.org.

2. Become a Fan or Follower and leave a comment about your recent submission on any one of our social media sites below.

Contest Rules:

*Deadline to submit your essay is April 15, 2011, no later than 11:59 p.m. MST.

* Entries must be at least 1,000 words.

* Content must be original and cannot be published elsewhere.

* By submitting an article for this contest the writer is granting El Paso Employees Federal Credit
Union first and full publishing rights to your piece.

* The applicants will be judged by a committee. A winner will be announced in each category and monies will be given once membership has been established. For the high school category, money will be deposited into an Escrow account and will be released to the university the student enrolls in after graduation. For the college category, the funds will be released to the university which you attend. Please keep in mind that the funds are to be used for educational purposes only.

* Winners will be notied April 25, 2011 via the e-mail address with which they used to register for the contest.

Winter Check-Up

Winter is just around the corner and soon we’ll be turning up our heaters and chopping wood for our fireplaces. Okay, so maybe we won’t exactly be chopping our own wood, but before you rush out to buy your favorite s’mores ingredients, conducting a pre winter check-up could help you minimize fire hazards in your home. According to the Home Safety Council, more home fires are started by heating equipment than any other cause during the winter months. Stay warm and safe this winter season by following these simple tips.

Before you turn up the heat, make sure to have your furnace inspected in order to make certain that the furnace controls and emergency shutoffs are in proper working condition. Most furnace manufactures recommend conducting yearly annual inspections. Also, be sure to remove all flammable material from the area surrounding your furnace.

If you’re using a space heater to warm any part of your home this winter, make certain that it is placed at least three feet away from any flammable objects. Space heaters should have plenty of room around them and should be kept far away from objects such as furniture or curtains. You should never leave a space heater on while it is unattended; if you leave the room or plan to fall asleep, make sure to turn off your heater.

If you plan to heat your home with a wood burning fireplace this winter, have your chimney or flue inspected annually and cleaned if necessary. Also, make certain to use a glass or metal cover at the entrance of the fireplace, doing so will prevent sparks from escaping. Never use charcoal inside your fireplace. According to the U.S. Fire Administration, burning charcoal indoors may produce toxic amounts of carbon monoxide. Also, do not place any flammable items on or near your fireplace’s mantel in order to prevent a fire.

A smoke detector and carbon monoxide detector should be installed on every level of your home. Each of them should be tested once a month and their batteries replaced on a yearly bases.

As the winter months grow colder, we may be tempted to do all we can to heat our homes, but products such as a range or an oven should never be used to warm up your home. Ovens typically produce carbon monoxide, and these levels increase each time the oven door is opened.

In addition to preparing the inside of you home, the outdoors requires some preparations as well. Don’t forget to insulate water lines so as to keep your water supply from freezing. If you own any pets that you are unable to bring indoors during the extreme cold, make certain that they have proper shelter and access to fresh, unfrozen water.

We want you to stay warm and safe this winter. Follow this winter checklist to keep you and your family safe this holiday season.

 

 

Were these suggestions helpful? What else do you do to prepare your home for the winter weather? Let us know! We’d be honored to read your comments.

Help us pick this years winners!

We are making the rounds today to all of our branches to referee the creativity of our employees. We have invited all of our departments to participate in our decorating and costume contest. All entries will be judged on originality of the theme, creativity, good taste and compliance with the rules. Throughout the day we will be uploading pictures to our Facebook page. Choose your favorites and help us pick the winners!

Take a look at last years winners:

 

NFL Lock of the Week

Enter Your Lock of the Week and Win an iPad!

Here at El Paso Employees we love football and this year we would like to invite you to play the “NFL Lock of the Week” with EPEFCU President and CEO Ken Walters! Ken will join Steve Kaplowitz on Sports Talk Radio KROD once a week  to choose his lock of the week. You can participate by emailing Steve your lock of the week. The last player standing will walk away with an iPad, but you have to hurry because you only have one week to enter for your chance to play.

Click Here to listen to Ken Walter's KROD radio contest description 

 

Complete Contest Rules:

1. Contest is open to everyone except EPEFCU employees, board, family members and volunteers.
2. The deadline to enter for your chance to play is 11:59 p.m.  Friday October 29, 2010. Each week thereafter players must submit their lock of the week by Friday 11:59 p.m. of that week to stay in the running.
3. Once you choose a winning team, you can no longer choose that team for the remainder of the contest.  
4. One entry per person per week.
5. Email your name, phone number, and NFL lock of the week to sportstalk@krod.com
6. Promotion ends when all contestants are out or at the end of the playoff season where winners will be determined (1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd).

Prizes:

1^st place: Apple iPad

2^nd place: iPod Nano

3^rd place: iPod Shuffle

International Credit Union Week

Today marks the beginning of International Credit Union week, celebrated by credit unions across the nation as a way to reinforce the philosophy and history of the credit union movement. In addition to the festivities this week we would like to take these next few days to express our appreciation for our members.

The happiness of each of our members at El Paso Employees Federal Credit Union is important to us because your support makes us who we are today.

As an organization, we can only hope to empower you through our values and the quality of our services. Your faith and loyalty in us is what drives us to better serve you. 

We hope that we are more than just a place for you to bank. We hope that we have won over your hearts and your minds by going above and beyond your expectations. So, from the bottom of our hearts, thank you for being a member.

Join us next week, and if you're currently a member, make sure to take advantage of all of the free services we have to offer!

INTERNATIONAL CREDIT UNION WEEK SERIES:

1. Dave Ramsey Super Saving Seminar - Learn how to save Dave Ramsey Style

October 19, 2010
Main Branch
8840 Gazelle Drive
6:00pm-7:30pm

2. Breaking the Chains of Debt - Can't make it on Tuesday? No problem! Join us for Thursday's free Dave Ramsey Seminar

October 21, 2010
Main Branch
8840 Gazelle Drive
6:00pm-7:30pm

3. International Credit Union Celebration

October 23, 2010
Main Branch
8840 Gazelle Drive
11am-1pm
Entertainment provided by KSII

Event Schedule:

• Annabelle Estrada, Communications Director, Better Business Bureau of El Paso: Subject:  Making the BBB Work for You
• EPEFCU’s Claudia Fernandez facilitating: Managing Your Credit Report
• And much more!

You will also enjoy:

• Bring documents to be shredded. Document shredding by Ready One Industries.
• Kids Face Painting
• And much more!

Summer Writing Contest Winners

Yesterday marked the first full day of fall which may bring joy to others who are ready for the cooler weather and sadness to those who are sad to see the warm weather and pool parties come to an end. At El Paso Employees FCU we celebrated Summer by kicking off our first ever Summer Writing Contest geared toward high school seniors and college students and we were excited to see so many students participate. Congratulations to our winners, Karina Canaba and Yasmeen Nicole Hernandez! Watch their video interview below!