Newsletters » Fall 2007

• Our Credit Union Works Hard To Help Protect Its Members!
• Use Bill Payer At No Additional Cost!
  
• VISA® Scorecard Points & Online Bill Pay Promotion
  
• Compare The GCCU VISA® To Any Card
  
• Holiday Closings
• Member Privilege Is Protecting You
  
• Holiday Club Update – Win Some Cash For This Holiday Season!
  
• Kids: Win Some Cash From Dollar Dog!
• First Annual Youth Week

Our Credit Union Works Hard To Help Protect Its Members!

Identity Theft and Fraud have become common, everyday threats. They most regularly occur when corporations, companies, and state agencies experience a loss of personal data. The Credit Union takes the responsibility of notifying our members of any compromised information very seriously, and we highly recommend taking the following steps to help protect yourself from the risk of having it happen to you.

How Identity Theft Happens
There are many ways that personal or financial information can be stolen. Most fraud occurs as a result of a stolen item rather than stolen information. Only about two out of five people who have their information accessed know how it happened. Some ways that information can be stolen include:

• A lost or stolen wallet, checkbook, or credit card.
  
• Information stolen in the home, including by family or friends.
  
• Mail theft from an unlocked mailbox.
  
• By “dumpster divers” who go through the trash.
  
• By “shoulder surfers” who listen in on public transactions.
  
• By hacking, spyware, or viruses on computers or ATMs.
  
• By a breach at any business or government entity that stores private data.
  
• By communication pretending to be a bank or business (e.g. e-mail, text messages, phone calls).

Tips To Prevent Fraud
It is impossible to totally prevent fraud. Here are some tips to minimize your risk:

• Only carry identification, debit and credit cards you use. Never carry your Social Security Number.
• Opt for electronic billing and payments if offered by banks, merchants, utilities, and employers, including automatic payroll deposits.
• Add PINs and passwords to your accounts. Make them hard to guess, change them frequently, and do not share them.
• Never provide personal information unless you initiated the contact. Use only phone numbers, addresses, and websites that you can verify as legitimate.
• Shred all sensitive documents before disposal. Destroy digital data as well.
• Consider a secure mailbox, such as a P.O. Box, for incoming mail and send sensitive items from a Postal Service mailbox, not from your home mailbox.

• Be aware of your surroundings when completing public transactions. Do not allow others to see screens or keypads at ATMs and checkouts.
• Be careful of offers requiring fees in advance. If an offer sounds “too good to be true,” it probably is.
• If you must store sensitive data on a laptop, PDA, or cell phone, make sure it is secure. Use data encryption software to protect this information.
• Install and update anti-virus, anti-spyware, firewall, and security software on your computer.

How To Detect Fraud

• Monitor credit card and bank activity regularly. Weekly checks of account balances are recommended.
• Watch for the arrival of statements, checks, and credit/debit cards (new or renewal). If one does not arrive when expected, be prepared to report it.
• Review your credit information. Request free reports from all three credit bureaus, but stagger them. Always confirm that all accounts listed are yours.
• A good way to get regular updates is through credit monitoring services (for a fee). Be sure to use a service that monitors all three credit bureaus.

What To Do If You Are A Victim Of Identity Theft Or Fraud
Don’t panic. Follow these easy steps:

• Contact your Credit Union, bank, credit card company, or merchant immediately. Do this both by phone and in writing. This applies to lost or stolen cards, missing statements or invoices, or if you suspect that your information might have been stolen.
• Close accounts that may be affected. This will minimize your risk.
• Place a credit alert with one of the credit bureaus and get a copy of your credit report. The bureau you contact is required to notify the others.
• Ask your Credit Union, bank, or credit card company about their fraud resolution process and zero-liability guarantees.
• Be aware of your data breach notification rights (varies state to state).
• Consider a credit freeze (available in some states). This prevents your credit report from being shared while you investigate a possible loss of your information.
• File a report with local police (wherever the identity theft occurred) and get a copy of the report.
• Notify the Federal Trade Commission by phone at 877-438-4338 or online at www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft/.

Use Bill Payer At No Additional Cost!

Bill Payer now offers you the convenience you deserve. Eliminate the hassle of purchasing stamps or getting to the mailbox on time – all it takes is Tellie Online access, and you’re just a click away. To access Bill Payer, log on, click “Tellie Online” then go to “Account Set Up” to register. All registrants will receive an e-mail when they are accepted. Bill Payer is available to all members with GCCU Checking Accounts.

If you’d like some setup assistance, just stop in one of our offices and we’ll be happy to help!

More Convenience For You!
Tellie Online Internet Banking – Manage your money from any Web-connected computer. Tellie Online lets you view your account history, retrieve cancelled checks, and transfer funds. Limit your visits to the office and waiting for your statements by using Tellie Online!

Direct Deposit/Payroll Deduction – With Direct Deposit, payday couldn’t be any easier. Payroll Deduction is a great way to start a savings plan, make loan payments and more.

Diamond Club – The Diamond Club rewards full service members with a 2.00% APR* reduction in the VISA^® & PLC interest rate, a 1.00% APR* reduction in the rate on most loans and a bonus on Share Certificates. Membership in Diamond Club is easy – simply maintain Share (Savings), Share Draft (Checking), STAR_sm ATM card and VISA Accounts in good standing. Diamond Club members are now eligible for Diamond Club specialty checks at no cost.

RetireEase Checking – The RetireEase Checking program offers Checking without a monthly processing fee,** as well as RetireEase specialty checks at no charge for members age 50 and older who agree to have their pension or Social Security checks Direct Deposited into their accounts. RetireEase is also available to working members age 62 and older who agree to have their paychecks Direct Deposited into their accounts. Ask us for all the details.

Getting Started Is Easy!
Call (513) 559-1234 or stop by the Credit Union for more information.

*APR=Annual Percentage Rate.
**First 30 checks per month are included at no additional charge, $.15 for each additional check.

VISA^® Scorecard Points & Online Bill Pay Promotion

Members who have our Checking Account and also use our VISA^® Credit Card can earn extra VISA Scorecard Points by paying their bills using the Tellie Online Bill Pay feature.

From September 1 through October 31, 2007, you will earn a Scorecard Point (up to a maximum of 5,000 points for each of the two months) for each dollar of payment made using the Online Bill Pay feature.

Sign up for Online Bill Pay today to take advantage of this special offer. There is no additional cost to you – all it takes is a Share Draft Account and a Credit Union VISA Credit Card.

To be eligible to earn Scorecard Points, members must have a Greater Cincinnati Credit Union VISA Credit Card in good standing. Members must also have a Greater Cincinnati Credit Union Share Draft/Checking Account in good standing. One Scorecard Point for each dollar of payment made through the Tellie Online Bill Pay feature with a maximum of 5,000 points rewarded per month, for the months of September and October 2007. Points will be added by the 10th day of the month following the promotion month. Payments to Greater Cincinnati Credit Union accounts are not eligible for Scorecard Points.

Compare The GCCU VISA^® To Any Card…
We Give You The Best Deal!

Take a close look – the GCCU VISA Credit Card is the right card for your wallet. With lower fixed rates and lower fees, the GCCU VISA gives you all the convenience you need without the high cost. Compare for yourself:

Earn More With Scorecard Points!
Scorecard Points are our way of paying you back for using your VISA. Earn points for each dollar charged to your GCCU VISA Credit Card and redeem the points for great rewards. It’s a great way to earn gifts for yourself while doing your holiday shopping for others!

Don’ t Have Your GCCU VISA Yet? Apply Today!
Apply online, stop in, or call (513) 559-1234 and start enjoying the benefits!

*$30 late fee accrued after 10 days past due.

HOLIDAY CLOSINGS

The Credit Union will be closed to observe the following events and holidays:

Columbus Day
Saturday, October 6, 2007
Monday, October 8, 2007

Veterans Day
Saturday, November 10, 2007
Monday, November 12, 2007

Thanksgiving
Thursday, November 22, 2007
Friday, November 23, 2007 – Open Regular Hours!
Saturday, November 24, 2007

Christmas
Monday, December 24, 2007 – Open 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Tuesday, December 25, 2007

Year End Processing
Monday, December 31, 2007 – Open 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

New Year’s Day
Tuesday, January 1, 2008

Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Saturday, January 19, 2008
Monday, January 21, 2008

Member Privilege Is Protecting You

Having a check returned due to insufficient funds can be a costly and humiliating experience. That’s why we provide “Member Privilege,” a special Overdraft Privilege program for Greater Cincinnati Credit Union’s Personal Checking members. It provides an added level of protection against unanticipated cash flow emergencies and account reconciliation errors. This service can be used between paychecks or to cover unexpected bills and expenses. As long as you maintain your account in good standing, Member Privilege is ready to help, with up to a $300 limit on your account. Stop by any branch or call our Call Center at (513) 559-1234  for more information.

Holiday Club Update – Win Some Cash For This Holiday Season!

When you stop by to renew your Holiday Club Account this November, be sure to fill out an entry form for our $1,000 Holiday Club Cash Giveaway Drawing. Twenty fortunate Holiday Club Account holders will each win $50 cash! New Holiday Club Accounts are eligible, too!

Fill out an entry form between November 1 and December 1, 2007 when you open or renew your account. No purchase necessary.

Odds of winning Holiday Club Cash Giveaway Prizes will vary according to the number of entries received by December 1, 2007. Holiday Club Cash Giveaway Prize Drawing will be held on December 10, 2007. Some restrictions apply to this promotion. Limit one entry per person.

Kids: Win Some Cash From Dollar Dog!

Attention all Dollar Dog members! Your Credit Union wants to help you save during this holiday season by giving away $500 – that’s $25 each to 20 lucky Dollar Dog members! Watch your mail for an entry form for this special drawing. The winners will be drawn in December. No deposit is necessary – simply fill out the form and return it to the Credit Union office.

Odds of winning Dollar Dog Cash Giveaway Prizes will vary according to the number of entries received by December 1, 2007. Dollar Dog Cash Giveaway Prize Drawing will be held on December 10, 2007. Some restrictions apply to this promotion. Limit one entry per person. No purchase necessary to win.

First Annual Youth Week

Congratulations to the kids of the Credit Union! During the week of April 22-28, we challenged our younger members to make deposits totaling $1,000. With a grand total of $8,718.34 in deposits and 121 entries for our prize drawing, they sure showed us that they know how to save!

Prize drawing winners included:

• Grand Prize – Michael Austin, One night (family of four) stay at the Great Wolf Lodge
• Second Place – Gretchen Shisler, Four one-day passes to Kings Island
• Third Place – Tyler Peddenpohl, Four one-day passes to Coney Island
• Runners-Up – Donovan Givens, Carry Ketron, Vincent Pfirrman, Quincy Rutland, and Craig Davis, $20 Graeters Gift Card

In response to the awesome saving that our kids did, Daryl Sawyer, CEO of the Credit Union, sent $10 Graeters Gift Cards to every non-winning entry participant for their tremendous effort. Kids, stay tuned next year for another exciting opportunity to save and win big prizes.