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Wire Transfers

Wire transfers are a great way to send money quickly when the need arises. CESFCU sends and receives domestic wire transfers. Wire transfers are sent according to the wiring instructions provided by the sender.

While Wire transfers are fast and efficient, the sending financial institution is usually unable to retract them once they are sent. Thus, members must ensure the wiring instructions they provide to the Credit Union are correct and should consider all wire transfers final.

Please complete the Wire Transfer Request and Agreement to complete an outgoing Wire Transfer.

  • Wire transfers may be funded by cashier’s check, cash or money order, or from funds on deposit in CESFCU Regular Share Savings, Special Share Savings, or other Share Savings account where funds are not on hold or restricted (based on account type)
  • Wire transfers conducted between financial institutions only
  • Funds disbursed as directed by sender
  • Fees
    • $15 fee to send a domestic wire transfer
    • $10 fee to receive a wire transfer

Members should always contact the receiving financial institution to request proper wiring instructions before initiating a wire transfer. Members who wish to have their wire transfer sent the same day they make the transfer request must submit the request on Credit Union business days before the daily cutoff time of 3:00 pm CST.

Members sending funds to CESFCU as a wire transfer, should follow the Incoming Wire Instructions:

Receiver Depository/Financial Institution (FI) Catalyst Corp Federal Credit Union
Receiver FI ABA/Routing Number 311990511
Beneficiary Depository/Financial Institution Cooperative Extension Service Federal Credit Union
Beneficiary FI Account Number 282075086
Beneficiary Name (Primary Member Name) Name on the Account Receiving the Funds
Beneficiary Account Number (CESFCU Account Number) Account Number Receiving the Funds

 


Skip A Payment

CESFCU offers qualifying members the opportunity to skip loan payments up to two times a calendar year for qualifying loans. 

To skip the next CESFCU loan payment, complete, sign, and return the Skip A Pay form.

Members can authorize CESFCU to extend their final loan payment by one or two months annually. No payment will be required on your loan in the month(s) skipped; however, you will be required to resume your regularly scheduled payment(s) the following month. There is a $25.00 non-refundable processing fee per loan per month skipped. Interest will continue to accrue on the loan(s) during the month(s) skipped. Loan payments made through Payroll Deduction, Direct Deposit or ACH will be deposited into the Savings Account for the month(s) skipped. If accounts/loans at the credit union are not in good standing, this request is invalid. The first full contractual payment must be applied to the loan before being considered for a skip payment. If the processing fee is not included with the Skip A Pay application, the request will be denied, and the regular payment(s) will be required (or applied in the case of an automatic payment). A maximum of two skip payments are available per loan each calendar year. CESFCU reserves the right to deny any request. Multiple skips may reduce potential GAP claim or credit insurance benefits. Contact your provider for details.

VISA loans are excluded from Skip A Payments.

 


GAP Insurance

CESFCU members can take advantage of our Guaranteed Asset Protection or GAP coverage through GAPWise (Wise F&I).

Did you know that if your vehicle is stolen or totaled in a major accident, your loss could add up to more than its value? Most insurance policies only protect the actual cash value or market value of the vehicle at the time of the loss, which means you could receive less than the amount you owe. GAP insurance pays the difference between the actual cash value or market value of the vehicle and the amount owed on your vehicle. You can protect your investment with GAP. It covers the 'gap' between the vehicle's value and the amount you still owe. Why pay more at the dealership? CESFCU offers a very competitive rate usually less than what most dealerships offer.

Let’s say your vehicle is totaled in an accident. You still owe $25,000 on the loan, but your insurance only pays you the current value less your deductible, which is $21,000.

What you owe: $25,000
Actual cash value of vehicle: $21,000
Less your insurance deductible: $1,000
Insurance company pays you: $20,000
    This leaves you with an outstanding debt of:     $5,000

 


Credit Insurance: Credit Life & Disability

MEMBER'S CHOICE© Credit Life and Credit Disability Insurance may make your loan payments when you can’t. Life can be wonderful. But it can also get complicated when unexpected things happen. Protecting your loan payments against unexpected disability and covered life events could help protect more than your finances. It could help lighten the burden for the people you care about. Insure your loan payments today so you can worry a little less about tomorrow.

Beyond Protection:

  • Simple to apply
  • Designed to fit your lifestyle
  • Coverage that fits your loan
  • Totally voluntary
  • Won’t affect your loan approval
  • Sign up for credit insurance at your loan closing, or anytime you like.

MEMBER'S CHOICE© Credit Life and Credit Disability Insurance is underwritten by CMFG Life Insurance Company.


TruStage® 

Insurance designed for credit union members like you.

TruStage® insurance products and programs are designed for credit union members. You deserve competitive rates, helpful guidance, and simple, straightforward insurance brought to you by your credit union. We can help you get coverage that fits your needs and your budget (Life, AD&D, Auto, Property, Cancer, Heart Attack, & Stroke, and Funeral). It’s all part of smart planning and protecting what matters most.

Visit us at: trustage.comor Call 1.800.356.2644 and we’ll help you understand your options so you can choose the right coverage for you and your family.

All statements made are subject to provisions, exclusions, conditions, and limitations of the applicable insurance policy. Coverages and features not available in all states. Eligibility is subject to meeting applicable underwriting criteria. Discounts and savings are available where state laws and regulations allow, and may vary by state. Certain discounts apply to specific coverages only. To the extent permitted by law, applicants are individually underwritten; not all applicants may qualify. A consumer report from a consumer reporting agency and/or motor vehicle report will be obtained on all drivers listed on your policy where state laws and regulations allow. Please consult your policy for specific coverages and limitations.

TruStage Auto & Home Insurance Program is made available through TruStage Insurance Agency, LLC. Coverage provided and underwritten by Liberty Mutual Insurance Company or its subsidiaries or affiliates.175 Berkeley Street, Boston, MA 02116 USA. Equal Housing Insurer. © 2022 Liberty Mutual Insurance. Discounts and savings are available where state laws and regulations allow, and may vary by state. Certain discounts apply to specific coverages only. To the extent permitted by law, applicants are individually underwritten; not all applicants may qualify. 

TruStage® Final Arrangements and Preplanning Solutions products and services are made available through and sold by licensed agents of American Memorial Life Insurance Company (AMLIC), Rapid City, SD, part of TruStage Financial Group, Inc. AMLIC is licensed in all states except NY. An agent may contact you. Products are not currently available in all states.

TruStage® Insurance products and programs are made available through TruStage Insurance Agency, LLC. Life insurance and AD&D insurance are issued by CMFG Life Insurance Company. The Auto and Home Insurance Program is issued by a leading insurance company. The insurance offered is not a deposit, and is not federally insured, sold or guaranteed by any depository institution.

Corporate Headquarters 5910 Mineral Point Road, Madison WI 53705

 


Notary Services

A Notary Public is a state-licensed legal witness to the signing of documents. A Notary Public acknowledges the signing of a document with his or her own signature and notary seal. CESFCU offers notary services Monday through Friday.

 

Please contact us prior to coming into the branch so we can ensure that a notary will be available to assist you.


Helpful Consumer Links & Information

  • Do not leave personal items like your wallet or purse in your car.
  • Do not leave outgoing mail in your mailbox with the flag up. It is a notice to thieves that you may have checks in your mailbox. Try to always take outgoing mail to a post office drop box.
  • Safeguard your Username and password. Never share your Username or password with anyone. Do not save your password in your browser.
  • Use trusted devices. Avoid using public computers or public wireless access points for online banking and other activities involving sensitive information when possible. Criminals may be waiting to access your device.
  • Never share your security questions and answers. 
  • Keep antivirus software up to date and install regular system updates. This will help protect your computer from being vulnerable to viruses that might compromise your information. 
  • Review your account statements every month. If you find a transaction that you did not authorize, contact your financial institutions, credit card companies, or any other organizations. You must tell them within 60 days of the date that your statement was delivered.
  • Contact your financial institutions, credit card companies, and or any other organizations that could have been compromised if your login credentials have been lost or stolen. 
  • Never provide your username, password, Social Security number or any other personal information through email or text. Financial institutions, credit card companies, or any other organizations will never ask for your personal information through an email or text. Contact financial institutions, credit card companies, or any other organizations through the normal means that you have always contacted them, do not click on any links or websites provided in the email or text.

More than 27 million Americans have experienced identity theft, and that number is growing every year. Just as your home, automobile or personal safety can be at risk from criminals, so can your financial information.

Tips to protect yourself against identity theft:

  • Do not share personal information. Never give your passwords, PIN, checking account and credit card numbers or Social Security number to anyone unless you know the person or the organization. Organizations will never ask you for this type of sensitive information via email, text or during a phone call that they initiate without your request.
  • Shred financial solicitations, bank statements or other papers containing personal information before disposing of them.
  • Put outgoing mail into a secure, official Postal Service collection box.
  • If you stop receiving your bills, call the companies generating the bills to find out why.
  • Carefully review all account statements and investigate immediately if your bills include questionable items or charges.
  • At least once a year, contact the major credit reporting companies (annualcreditreport.com) to review your credit report and make certain the information is correct.
  • For more information, including steps to take if you become a victim of identity theft, visit the Federal Trade Commission's website at www.ftc.gov.

Children can — and do — become the targets of identity theft. Here’s how to safeguard your kids against child identity theft.

  • Does your child have a credit history? This question may seem unusual to some, but children are often targeted for identity theft.
  • With a child's Social Security number, a fraudster can open credit card and cell phone accounts, and even apply for apartments and home loans. And since your child might not run a credit check until they reach adulthood, identity theft can go unnoticed for years.

Here are three tips to help you prevent child identity theft.

1.  Protect Your Children's Information

  • Identity theft prevention starts by keeping close tabs on your child's personal data. Take measures to securely store personal data, particularly all paper and electronic documents containing your child's Social Security number. Before throwing away any sensitive documents, be sure to shred them. Keeping antivirus software up to date may also help prevent digital security breaches.
  • Also, as your child starts school and begins to join youth organizations, you'll encounter more forms asking for his or her Social Security number. If the local baseball league requests your child’s personal data, it may not be required. Ask how your child's information will be used and stored before sharing it with others.
  • Consider placing a Credit Freeze on your child’s credit even if they do not currently have a credit history. To freeze your child’s credit report, you will need to contact the three major credit bureaus: Equifax, TransUnion,Experian.

2.  Educate Your Children

  • Until they're old enough to understand how to protect themselves, children don't need access to their Social Security numbers. Once they do have access to this information, teach them about safe internet use and the importance of keeping personal information private. Explain that clicking on links and downloading files from unknown sources can allow hackers to access financial and personal information — and the consequences that kind of theft could have for your family.

3.  Watch the Mail for Identity Theft Red Flags

  • If you receive a notice from the IRS that your child didn't pay taxes or you start to receive collection calls or bills in their name, they may be a victim of identity theft. Even if your child receives just junk mail, check with the three credit reporting companies (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion) to see if they have a credit report. The companies may require copies of your child's birth certificate listing you as parent, your child's Social Security card, your government-issued ID, and proof of address to manually search your child's file.
  • Even without warning signs, when your child is around the age of 16, you should check if they have a credit report. That way, if you discover any wrongdoing, you can correct it before they apply for a job or loan.
  • If your child has been a victim of identity theft, request in writing that all three credit reporting companies remove all accounts, account inquiries, and collection notices associated with your child's name and Social Security number. Request each reporting agency to place a fraud alert on your child's account and contact each business where the information originated. This will help avoid further instances of fraud in the future.
  • For more information on preventing and responding to child identity theft, visit the Federal Trade Commission's consumer information portal.

Fraudulent emails, text messages and websites designed to elicit your personal information can be very sophisticated and deceiving. Fraudulent emails and texts, known as “phishing” or “smishing” can look very similar to standard communications from your financial institutions, credit card companies, or any other organizations. If you see suspicious emails, texts or online requests asking for information or actions regarding your financial information, do not click on the links or reply to the messages. If you believe that you have received or replied to a suspicious email and provided private information about your account — including one-time codes, usernames, passwords and PINs — please contact your financial institutions, credit card companies, or any other organizations immediately.

On an almost daily basis, internet users are warned about the most recent hacking or infectious spyware incidents perpetrated by criminals who are seeking to illegally profit by obtaining your financial information and/or identity. Fight back against this crime by arming yourself with the knowledge to protect your identity and ensure your internet security. We encourage you to read this essential information.

Viruses are simply programs or pieces of code that are downloaded to your computer without your knowledge. Viruses can and normally do replicate themselves and may quickly use up your computer’s available memory, bringing your operating system to a standstill. Most of these types of viruses are disguised as email attachments. When you open the attachment, the virus attaches itself to your system — many times without your knowledge.

As a result, antivirus software programs have been created to help protect your system from these attacks. Your protection against these virus attacks is dependent on maintaining your updates and exercising caution when opening email attachments. Should you receive a suspicious email, it is best to delete the email immediately and run a virus check.

Firewalls are the first line of defense for protecting your private information. They work to prevent unauthorized internet users from accessing your private computer while it is connected to the internet. If you have a broadband connection, such as cable modem or DSL, it is especially important to maintain a firewall.

The firewall can be set up to filter all traffic entering or leaving through the firewall. By examining each message, it can block transactions that do not meet your predetermined security criteria.

There are several manufacturers of firewall software; we encourage you to research what works best for you.

The term “spyware” is a generic term for advertising software (also referred to as “adware”). It enables advertising firms to install tracking programs on your computer. In most cases, these are legitimate firms that simply want to track user behavior and promote products.

While in some cases this may be just a nuisance, there are also malicious hackers who have created spyware programs for the purpose of collecting sensitive data from your system, as well as installing additional software. Your computer is vulnerable, and — more importantly — your privacy is at risk when spyware is used by criminals.

You can combat spyware programs with software designed to find and delete the programs from your computer. In addition, the software can protect you from downloading spyware in the future. We recommend you research what is best for you.

Keep your computer “healthy” by properly maintaining your system. Computer manufacturers offer automatic updates or reminders that notify you when a new update or upgrade is available for download. These updates often are created to help protect your system from possible security flaws.

When you regularly maintain your operating system, web browser and software programs, you decrease the risk of an attack on your computer.

There are several manufacturers of firewall and antivirus software; research what works best for you. In addition, some valuable consumer sites where you can learn more about the benefits of protecting yourself online include the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

No mobile or online banking platform or wireless data transmission system can be guaranteed to be absolutely secure and invulnerable to breach or compromise. However, following these tips can mitigate risk and help protect you against fraudulent activity.

  • Understand today’s reality. Mobile devices are essentially small computers that need to be secured like a PC or laptop.
  • Keep it safe. Maintaining physical control of your device is the first way to prevent abuse.
  • Keep it updated. Set your device to install app and system updates automatically if possible. These updates often include security fixes.
  • Use your security features. Use a passcode or PIN to help protect your device. Enable remote wipe and location features to help ensure that your personal information is protected if your device is lost or stolen.
  • Beware of malicious applications. Use banks’ dedicated apps for secure financial transactions and download apps only from trusted sources like the Apple® App Store or Google® Play.
  • Avoid links from unknown sources. Don’t click a link from sources you don’t trust, including emails and social media posts. Malicious links could direct you to websites or install applications that compromise your device.
  • Use trusted networks. Connecting your device to unknown wireless networks can expose your data. Avoid accessing sensitive information, like banking, if using an unsecure or unknown network. If possible, switch to your cellular data plan for banking and then back to wireless when complete.
  • Turn off unnecessary services. Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, location apps, NFC (near field communication) apps and other connection abilities can be disabled to protect your device when you’re not using them.
  • Avoid putting your device at increased risk. Gaining system-level access — known as “rooting” for Android™ and “jailbreaking” for Apple® — may provide access to untrusted software or apps not intended for your device that can expose you to greater security risks.
  • Encrypt your data. If your mobile device supports it, use encryption to help protect sensitive information.
  • Be cautious when granting elevated privileges. When installing applications or external accessories, always inspect the permissions. They will tell you what access the apps/accessories need to function and will also tell you if the application is asking for more permissions than needed.
  • Clear data from your smartphone frequently. With Text Banking, your phone will only store the information provided via text message, including your account nicknames, account balances and transaction history. As an extra measure of caution, you can delete text messages when they are no longer needed.

Financial fraud can happen to anyone. There are many ways you can reduce your exposure to financial scams and identity theft. Learn more about common financial scams, along with ways to identify them early and how you can protect yourself.

 How to Protect Yourself from Financial Scams

You may find the possibility of a scam compromising your financial accounts unnerving, but there are many ways you can protect yourself. Here are some tips to help reduce your risk.

  • Review your accounts. Check your credit card and banking accounts on a regular basis to ensure that there are no unauthorized charges. To help you catch fraudulent charges quickly, monitor your online or mobile banking accounts daily.
  • Change your account passwords. Switch out your passwords on sensitive accounts frequently, and make sure not to use the same password for multiple accounts.
  • Use online transactions with caution. When shopping online, always make sure you are using a secure internet connection, and avoid using public Wi-Fi.
  • Confirm all financial communication. Be wary of common scams such as phishing, a process in which scammers send emails posing as a bank and ask you to update or confirm your account information. Always contact your bank directly to ensure that your account information does not fall into the wrong hands. Also, remember that the IRS will never initiate contact with you via email, text, or social media to demand personal or financial information.
  • Check your credit reports. At least once per year, check your credit report from Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion to make sure all your information is up to date and all your accounts are accurate. You can access your free report each year from AnnualCreditReport.com, but be cautious of lookalike sites that may charge unnecessary fees.
  • Monitor your credit. You may also want to sign up for a credit monitoring service, which immediately alerts you to any activity relating to your credit history and accounts. This can be helpful in detecting suspicious inquiries or identity theft.
  • Properly dispose of documents. If you are throwing away old bank statements or other paperwork with sensitive information such as account numbers, social security numbers, personal identification numbers, etc., make sure to shred everything before disposal.

Phishing (pronounced 'fishing') is a scam employed by cybercriminals to trick you into providing them with personal information that could be used to steal your identity.

The scam usually works like this: You receive an email that appears to come from a reputable company - one you recognize and possibly do business with - like your Internet provider, a bank, credit card company, government agency, etc. The language in the email will be designed to make you think you must respond immediately to solve a problem with your account, avoid cancellation, claim a valuable prize, etc. Most likely you will be asked to update or validate information - account number, password, Social Security number or other information that can be used to verify your account. You will be encouraged to click on a button to go to the organization's website. Don't do it!

If the email you received was part of a phishing scam, the link provided would take you to a fake website that looks just like the real thing. Or, it may actually be the real website, but will include pop-up windows designed to gather your personal information. Another objective of this scam may be to infiltrate your computer with a virus or software designed to spy on your Internet transactions.

It's never a good idea to open an email attachment you did not request or one from an unknown sender. And you should never provide confidential information in response to an email or call you did not initiate.

If you are concerned about your accounts as a result of receiving an email, visit the company's website directly (don't cut and paste the address in the phisher's email), or call to find out if there is a problem and let the company know you received the email.

There are many different ways to commit check fraud, but one of the most common is when criminals use forged checks to purchase merchandise or services. In some cases, victims are instructed to deposit fake checks and send a portion of the funds to another person. After the funds are withdrawn, the check is returned leaving the victim at a financial loss.

Protect yourself by watching for the following red flags:

  • The amount of payment for the item or task is inflated
  • The issuer of the check is unknown to you
  • You are asked to withdraw the funds quickly and send it to someone else

Businesses are common criminal targets. In many cases, fraudsters target employees with access to company finances and con them via email into making wire transfers into accounts that look like they belong to the company or a trusted partner but are actually controlled by the criminal.

Techniques used to perpetuate this crime include spear-phishing, social engineering, identity theft, email spoofing, and use of malware.

Follow these best practices to help protect your business:

  • Protect your computer network to prevent intrusion
  • Verify email changes in wiring instructions by phone
  • Verify new email requests for wires by phone
  • Provide training to employees on how to protect company-issued computers and cell phones

Businesses who fall victim to a wire fraud loss from a compromised email request can file a complaint with the FBI at FBI-Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3).

Some criminals create fake job opportunities and use the application process as a way of collecting personal information from victims. Other criminals go one step further in offering applicants’ jobs and then requesting the victim send funds to pay for supplies, credit reports, software, or equipment.

Both of these schemes are more common with online job applications and work-from-home opportunities.

Watch for the following red flags while job hunting:

  • The pay for the job is higher than expected
  • The job description and requirements are vague
  • You are expected to send money to someone you don’t know
  • You are not able to find information about the company in online searches
  • They ask for your bank account information or login

Criminals sometimes contact people by phone, email, or text congratulating them on winning a lottery, sweepstakes, or contest they did not enter. The message usually states that to receive the winnings you must first pay the taxes or another type of fee in advance. They then give instructions to mail or wire the payment to an individual.

If you find yourself in a winning situation, prevent it from becoming a losing one by being aware of the following:

  • Taxes are typically deducted from lottery winnings, not paid up front
  • Be extra cautious if you do not remember entering the lottery or contest
  • Do not send funds to an unknown individual

Criminals sometimes contact people by phone, email, or text congratulating them on winning a lottery, sweepstakes, or contest they did not enter. The message usually states that to receive the winnings you must first pay the taxes or another type of fee in advance. They then give instructions to mail or wire the payment to an individual.

If you find yourself in a winning situation, prevent it from becoming a losing one by being aware of the following:

  • Taxes are typically deducted from lottery winnings, not paid up front
  • Be extra cautious if you do not remember entering the lottery or contest
  • Do not send funds to an unknown individual

 

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