Traveling, Money and Your CU

Traveling season seems to be in swing. “Snowbirds” (read: smart people) are heading south to warmer climates, and college students will be going the same direction during spring break. Many things cost money, especially while traveling, so having quick access to yours is important. To make your travels a bit less stressful, call or come in to talk to a Horizon Community Credit Union Member Service Representative. We can place a travel alert on all of your accounts so that your transactions will not be rejected when you travel. If you are residing somewhere  for an extended period of time, make sure you leave us with an alternate address and/or phone number, in case we need to contact you. If you have any loans, it would be a good idea to set up some automatic transfers to be sure that those loan payments are made on time.  We offer some additional products and services that can help you manage your money from wherever you may be.

A very common way to access money today is an ATM/debit card.  When making purchases with your debit card, confirm that merchants have the correct zip code for your address.  Also keep in mind that you have a daily ATM withdrawal limit.  Our standard ATM limit is $210/day.  If you will need more than $210 in one day, contact a Team Member to learn what other options we have for you.  Lastly, remember to tell HCCU that you will be traveling and verify that we have your current contact information!

As an additional protection for members, we utilize an automated debit card security system, which recognizes unusual transactions and possible fraud.  If this occurs, you will likely receive a phone call. The system is considered “smart,” and tries to recognize patterns and typical usage. It is quite a shock when it knows that you live in Green Bay, Wisconsin, but your card is being used in Fort Worth, Texas. This security measure can protect you from identity theft.  I have seen it in action, and it really does protect well. As it is said, it is better to be safe than sorry!

If you are not already set up on our ItsMe247 services, it would be wise to enroll before traveling. Online banking offers the most flexibility and service, and allows you to keep an eye on your finances, make payments and transfers with ease.  The new Promise Deposit feature is done through online banking, and that may be useful on your travels as you can deposit checks for instant credit and then mail the paper document in. You can access the online banking through your phone’s Internet browser, as the site will automatically convert to mobile form.

Our automated phone banking system, CU*Talk allows you to call a specific number that will tell you, based on the security information you enter, your account balances. You can also make transfers, loan payments, and verify cleared checks. To clarify, CU*Talk is different than calling the credit union. It is available 24/7, while the MSR’s are only at Horizon Community Credit Union during business hours. Lastly, there is text banking. At this time, its main purpose is to give balances of accounts and send eAlerts as text messages. You can enroll/un-enroll in text banking through your online banking. All of these services allow you to perform transactions on your own time and offer the convenience of 24/7 service.

Don’t’ spend your vacation worrying about your money—stop by or call a Horizon Community Credit Union Member Service Representative today and let them help you set yourself up for a relaxing vacation.

Post by: Breanna B.

Promise Deposits - It's MY money and I want it NOW!

When I was away at college, living at the university and I received a paper check, I had mixed feelings. I was very grateful that I received the check; however, getting to the financial institution was difficult without a car. I’ve also been in the situation where I was unable to get to a financial institution, no thanks to conflicting work hours. If you’ve ever faced a similar situation, take heart—you will no longer have to struggle with such conflicts. Horizon Community Credit Union is rolling out Promise Deposit!

Promise Deposit is a new product that allows you to promise a deposit of a check, but receive the funds immediately. In order to use this product, you’ll need to enroll and be approved. This can be done through your online baking portal. Hover over the heading in the upper left-hand side that says “My Accounts.” A large menu will pop up, and you will see “Promise Deposits” under the “Manage” heading. You will see the stipulations for promise deposit, which are also outlined below. It is then as simple as clicking the “Enroll Me” button. You will have to wait to be approved. You can also call HCCU or request enrollment when you’re at the teller window. No matter how you enroll, you will still have to be approved. It is also possible to have your Promise Deposit privileges revoked if you no longer meet the eligibility requirements.

As is to be expected, there are stipulations involved in using Promise Deposit. There can only be a maximum of 10 outstanding checks at any given time. The sum of all outstanding checks cannot exceed $1,000, and there is a $500 daily deposit limit. Once you promise a deposit, you have 4 calendar days to get the check to HCCU, whether that is in person, by mail, or by night deposit. There is a $2.50 fee for each check submitted via promise deposit. The fee is waived for Platinum level SunDrops members.

I've told you how to enroll and the stipulations, but I haven’t even gotten to the best part: actually using Promise Deposit! There are three steps when creating a new deposit. The first step requires you to fill out a form with all of the information on the check. To make it easier, the online form looks just like a check. For example, the box for the check number is in the same place as a check number on a normal check. Below the check form is a drop down menu that allows you to select the account you wish to deposit the check in. Once you have completed all of that information and selected your account, you must press the button that says “Add this check to my deposit” to continue. A window will pop up with the check number, amount, who the check is from, and where it will be deposited to. If you see any errors, this is your opportunity to fix them. Otherwise, you can continue. You will then be taken to the second step. You can review your deposits and remove them if you wish. You are also given the option to start over completely. The third step simply involves pushing the button that says “Complete this Deposit.” Once you have completed those steps, you are halfway done!

Halfway done, you say? Yep-Don’t forget that you have to get the checks to us. If you fail to send the check, the amount that you promised will be removed from your account and you put yourself at risk to lose Promise Deposit privileges or incur overdraft fees. After you have completed the steps listed in the previous paragraph and created a deposit, you will be taken to a page that will guide you on the mailing requirements. You must sign the back of all of your checks with your signature and the tracking number you are given. You will also need to print the Promise Deposit Certificate and mail it with your checks. At the bottom of the web page, you will be provided with our P.O. Box and your due date.

Even though we love to see your smiling face at our branches, we understand that some people have difficulty getting there. The frustration of check depositing can be a thing of the past for you. Enroll in Promise Deposit today!

Post by: Breanna B

Happy Holidays from HCCU!

We know the end of the year is a busy time for many of you.  Traveling, decorating, shopping for gifts, returning gifts, celebrating...  All that fun can get expensive, and we would never want you to be without access to your cash!  In order to help you plan ahead, our holiday hours will be:

Wednesday, December 24th    8:30 am -  12:00 pm
Thursday, December 25th       CLOSED
Friday, December 26th            8:30 am - 5:00 pm
Saturday, December 27th        9:00 am - 12:00 pm   Voyager Dr. location only
Monday, December 29th         8:30 am - 5:00 pm
Tuesday, December 30th         8:30 am - 5:00 pm
Wednesday, December 31st    8:30 am - 3:00 pm
Thursday, January 1st             CLOSED
Friday, January 2nd                 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
Saturday, January 3rd              9:00 am - 12:00 pm   Voyager Dr. location only

To access your account information, It'sMe247 Online Banking and CU*Talk Phone Banking are available anytime of the day or night - even on holidays!  For cash, our ATM at Voyager Dr. is available 24/7 every day, but if that's not convenient for you, you can also use any ATM Alliance Network terminal without incurring a surcharge!  For a map of fee-free ATMs near you, visit the  ATM Alliance Network page on our website.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM HCCU!