Credit Card Surcharge Notice

Effective January 27, 2013, Visa and MasterCard will allow merchants to pass along their payment processing costs to consumers who pay with a credit card. This would mean that a merchant who chooses to exercise this new right could impose a surcharge, sometimes referred to as a “checkout fee,” that could increase your credit card purchase amount by as much as 4.0% (maximum allowed). Under the settlement:

• The surcharge cannot exceed the amount that the merchant actually pays to accept credit cards – normally between 1.5% and 3.0% of the transaction amount.
• Surcharges can be imposed on credit card transactions only, not on purchases made with debit cards or prepaid cards. Surcharges cannot be imposed on debit card or prepaid card transactions that are run as a credit.
• Merchants must disclose the credit card surcharge clearly – at the store entrance and the point of sale or on the homepage if the merchant does business on the Internet.
• The disclosure must include the amount of the surcharge, the fact that the fee is being charged by the merchant, and that the fee does not exceed the merchant’s cost to accept credit cards.
• The dollar amount of the surcharge must appear on the transaction receipt.
  

Merchants are not allowed to impose a credit card surcharge in California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Kansas, Maine, Massachusetts, New York, Oklahoma, or Texas, where such fees are prohibited under state law. For more information visit www.knowyourcard.org.

Law Enforcement Torch Run Polar Plunge

ISPFCU Staff participated in the Law Enforcement Torch Run Polar Plunge at Lake Springfield on February 23, 2013. The Law Enforcement Torch Run Polar Plunge is a unique opportunity to support Special Olympics athletes.

Participants in the Polar Plunge raise donations in exchange for jumping into the icy waters of an Illinois lake in the middle of winter. Over $63,000 was collected from all of the teams in this plunge to benefit Illinois Special Olympics athletes!

            

ISPFCU wants to thank everyone that supported and donated to the Law Enforcement Torch Run Polar Plunge. You can still support this great cause by visiting our team page to donate.

ISPFCU Referral Rewards – Spread the Word, Earn Cash

Do you know someone who could benefit from belonging to ISPFCU? Could you also use some extra cash? If the answer to both of these questions is yes than you need to check out ISPFCU’s Referral Rewards Program!

For every new member you refer that joins ISPFCU we will pay you $10.00! The new member could be a friend or co-worker that is eligible to join ISPFCU through their own law enforcement employment or by being a member of your immediate family. This would include spouses, children, parents, and siblings just to name a few. You can also earn $25.00 for referring a member to open a new closed-end loan or to refinance an existing closed-end loan from another financial institution with a balance of at least $5,000! To earn the referral reward, the person you refer needs to turn in a referral card with your name on it.

Call us at 800-255-0886 to find out more about our Referral Rewards Program and to request your very own referral rewards cards today! Do yourself and your friends and family members a favor and direct them to ISPFCU.



Access Your ISPFCU Accounts with Home Branch Online

If you are not familiar with ISPFCU’s Home Branch Online (HBO) then now is the time to take advantage of this great service that comes free with your ISPFCU membership. HBO is a convenient way to access your accounts in the comfort of your own home or wherever you have access to a computer. With HBO you can manage your finances at your convenience 24 hours a day, seven days a week. HBO allows you to make balance inquires, view images of cleared checks, transfer funds between accounts, make loan payments, and much more.

HBO is also your online portal to other great ISPFCU services including E-Pay, our free online bill payment service, VISA Access Online, a site where you can view recent and pending transactions on your ISPFCU VISA Platinum Credit Card, and E-Statements, a site where you can view your current and previous ISPFCU monthly statements. You also can take advantage of ISPFCU’s Account Alerts within Home Branch Online. Account Alerts allow you to setup important account reminders such as when your next loan payment is due or when your checking account balance falls below a certain dollar amount. These alerts can be received by email, text message, or both.

If you would like to get signed up for Home Branch Online or if you are already signed up and have questions about one of the other services mentioned within Home Branch Online please call us at 800-255-0886.

 

ID Theft Alert - Be Aware of Text Message Scams

Identity thieves are now targeting cell phone users with a scam called smishing. In smishing scams, cell phone users receive a text message that seems to come from a legitimate source, such as a financial institution. The message seeks to convince users into clicking on a link via the phones Internet connection or into calling a certain phone number. Both the link and the phone number are fraudulent and lead to a request for personal information that can be used for identity theft. Once your identity has been stolen, it generally takes much time and effort to regain your lost funds and your good name.

Take a few simple precautions to protect yourself from this growing form of fraud. First, never respond to unsolicited requests for personal financial information received via text message, even if the request appears to come from a legitimate institution that you do business with. Second, always be sure of who you are dealing with. Don’t click on links in text messages or call numbers listed in text messages. Verify contact information independently and key in web addresses yourself. Lastly, monitor your credit report regularly for signs of irregularities.

Remember, ISPFCU will never contact you via text message, e-mail, phone, or any other way to ask for account numbers or passwords. If you suspect you have been a victim of identity theft, contact ISPFCU at 800-255-0886 immediately.

 

Protect Your Vehicle with an Extended Auto Warranty

Your vehicle is one of your biggest investments. By purchasing an ISPFCU Route 66 Extended Auto Warranty you will enjoy peace of mind that no matter where you travel in the United States, you are protected against major mechanical expenses. You will also enjoy:

• No deductible on covered parts and labor
• Free emergency roadside service 24/7/365
• Car rental reimbursement
• Plans can be transferred if you sell your car

The warranties may be applied to any auto whether they are paid off, financed at ISPFCU, or financed by another financial institution. There are a variety of options to choose from so you are sure to find one that meets your needs and your budget. And if you act now, we will take $250.00 off the purchase price of the warranty of your choice!

Call us at 800-255-0886 to learn more and to get your vehicle protected today!

 

Winners of Quarterly Drawings Announced

In the recent Future CrimeFighter quarterly drawing, Jenna from Auburn and Lauren from Decatur were drawn as the winners. Each won a $25.00 deposit to their Future CrimeFighter Account. Congratulations! To be eligible to win, Future CrimeFighter account holders had to make at least one deposit into their Future CrimeFighter account in the previous quarter.

In the recent Student Checking quarterly drawing, Steve from Oak Forest and Lauren from South Wilmington were drawn as the winners. Each won a $25.00 iTunes gift card. Congratulations! To be eligible to win, Student Checking account holders had to make at least one debit transaction in each month of the previous quarter.

To be eligible to open a Future CrimeFighter Savings Account you must be no older than 18. To be eligible to open a Student Checking Account you must be between the ages of 16 and 22. If you are interested in opening a Future CrimeFighter Savings Account, a Student Checking Account, or both, please contact ISPFCU at 800-255-0886 or sign up online by clicking here.