What you need to know about Identity theft!

What is Identity Theft? Identity theft is a serious crime where your personal information—anything from

your name, your driver’s license, or Social Security Number—has been stolen by an imposter who intends to commit fraud using your name. With your Social Security Number, someone can easily obtain false lines of credit and rack up significant debt in your name. With a stolen identity, someone might use your name in a legal matter, leaving you with a false criminal record. Identity fraud is a major problem, and it happens more often than you might think.

How do I protect my identity? One of the best habits you can have to protect your identity is to change your passwords on a regular basis. Make this a monthly routine. Another simple step toward protection is to avoid using similar passwords, like password1 and password2. Mix it up.

How can someone steal my identity? Your mail often contains sensitive information, like your Social Security Number, and criminals can obtain it by going through your trash. It’s important to destroy documents that include personal information before putting them in the garbage. You can buy a personal shredder or collect your documents in a secure place and dispose of them at a secure shred event like the one we held June 4th. Identity theft can also occur as the result of a lost or stolen wallet, in which case you should file a report with the local police, as well as your bank and credit card companies.

How do I find out if my identity has been stolen? Reviewing your credit report is an effective way to detect identity fraud, and you can get your report for free from https://www.annualcreditreport.com. You can review your report for signs of suspicious activity, such as accounts opened in your name that you don’t recognize, or credit checks from companies with which you’ve never done business. This could be a sign that someone is applying for credit in your name, and it’s better to catch it early. You can’t always prevent identity theft, but you can be proactive and minimize the damage. If you don’t review your credit report on a regular basis, months or years might go by before you find out that someone has stolen your identity.

What do I do if my identity has been stolen? Report the theft. Report the identity theft to the local police, the Federal Trade Commission and your State Consumer Protection Office or Attorney General. Contact the company or financial institution where the fraud occurred. Inform them that a false account has been opened in your name. For insurance fraud, contact your insurance company, and let them know that your identity has been stolen. For tax fraud, contact the IRS. Freeze your accounts. Contact the three credit reporting agencies—TransUnion, Experian and Equifax—and place a freeze on your accounts. The freeze will block any further credit applications made in your name. Call the credit union or bank. Report the situation to the fraud departments of all of your financial institutions (any and all institutions with which you do business or have current accounts).

Post by: Cari J.

Walk to Tackle Cancer--Saturday June 18, 2016

As some of  members already know, I have been battling Lung Cancer for the last two years.  I have been on Chemotherapy and am now on Radiation.  My family, friends and co-workers have been there with me on this long (seems like endless) journey.  They have given me so much love and support, it is unbelievable.           

This being said, Aurora Baycare is hosting a “Walk to Tackle Cancer” on Saturday, June 18^th and my family has decided we will be walking to support cancer patients.   The walk is a 5K or 3.1 miles and is open to any one who would like to participate.  My daughters, Rebecca & Vanessa, told me if I couldn’t walk the whole 5K they would pull me in a wagon.  J  How is that for support?? 

 We have a team set up on the walks web-site.  Our team name is "Sassy Schoen’s."   Check our team, sign up, or donate at   by clicking here and plan on joining us on June 18^th.  Whether it is to walk or just cheer us one, hope to see you there!   

Written by: Karen S.  

Your Little Superhero Could Win!

We would love to see pictures of your little superhero! Share a picture with us, and be entered to win a prize pack the whole family can enjoy. You have two options to enter:

Post a picture of your child to our page in his or her favorite superhero costume (homemade or store bought), with an explanation of why that superhero is their favorite! We won’t limit you to just the superheros with capes either--if you can provide an understandable explanation for your child’s superhero, then we will accept it. 

OR

Is your child an actual superhero in the community? If they’ve recently been involved in a volunteering or community event, post a picture and tell us about it! We’d love to hear what happened!

If you have any questions, please feel free to ask us by commenting on or private messaging our Facebook Page. 

GOOD LUCK! 

The Fine Print:  This contest is open to anyone who chooses to participate. As curators of the contest, we hold the right to define an “understandable explanation” and to change that definition as the situation calls for. Pictures must be posted between April 4th 2016 12:00AM and April 28th 2016 11:59PM. By posting the picture to our Facebook Page, you release the photo to be used by Horizon Community Credit Union for contest and marketing purposes. Only one entry per child will be accepted, though there is no limit to the number of pictures that we will accept. Winners will be determined by random drawing. The winner will be contacted through the Horizon Community Credit Union Facebook page. The winner has two weeks from the first date of contact to pick up the prize UNLESS arrangements have been made to allow for more time to pick up the prize pack at the branch that is convenient to the winner. By accepting the prize, winners also agree to allow a member of the HCCU staff to take a picture of the acceptance of the prize.

Start Young: Teaching Children Financial Literacy

photo courtesy of expertbeacon.com

“Tell me, and I forget. Teach me, and I remember. Involve me and I learn.”

-Benjamin Franklin

Do you remember how you learned about money? Think back! My grandfather used to pull out change from his pocket, have us name the coin and its value, and then have us make a given monetary amount with what we had available. Later on, my mother and I created an arrangement where I would clean the house for a certain sum of money. Soon after that started, she took me down to the hometown bank and opened up a checking account for me. She walked me through how to write a check and how to balance a checkbook.

Though these are great ways to teach a child the value of money, they aren’t the only things you can do. Here are some other ideas:

Play the Grocery Game: Give your child a fixed amount of money and a list of things needed at a local food back. Challenge your child to buy as much as they can with that fixed amount of money. For an older child, you can give them your grocery list and have them work out the cost and compare places and prices.

Need/Want Game: As you and your child are looking through a magazine together, ask your child if a particular item is a need or want and why. You can also have your child identify needs and wants while they walk through the store with you. It is important for children to know that a need is something essential, while a want is nonessential, and the significance of spending on a want instead of a need.

Let Them Adopt a Budget Line: Give your child a single budget category for a month and let them manage it. It’s advised that you choose a category where you can control how much or how little is spent, like groceries, education, and vacation. The child can do research online and find the best way to spend the money. This not only helps illustrate the concept of a budget, it allows the child to see their choices in action.

Show Them How to Use Budget Tools: There is an endless number of budgeting tools out there. Teach your child how to use a budgeting tool to help them understand the value of a budget and why it’s necessary to track all expenses.

Let Them Make Mistakes: We all make mistakes, and we tend to make a bit more of them when we’re learning! Let your child make mistakes, and, most importantly, let them see the consequences. Talk with your child about the consequences, and what could have been done to avoid them.

No Bailout: Resist the urge to help your child pay for the last few dollars of a purchase. Consistently bailing out your child sets up a future of bailouts, and it also diminishes the child’s effort and any feelings of accomplishment they have from paying for it by themselves.

Open A Youth Savings Account at HCCU: We have youth savings account at HCCU that have a special reward attached to them--a toy! Each time a child makes a deposit in their account, they get to choose a toy out of our treasure chest. As the child gets older, they have the option to open a Student Checking, or perhaps have an ATM or Debit Card. See a Member Service Representative for details!

We cannot stress enough how important it is for children to learn how to spend, save, and invest their money wisely. If they develop the good habits when they are young, they are far more likely to manage their finances successfully as adults. Because we believe success is on your and your child’s horizon, we are more than willing to help educate you and/or your child about the “tools and rules” that come with an HCCU membership. You can always call 920-433-0122 or visit your nearest branch if you have any questions.


Written By: Breanna B.

Sources:

Investopedia--5 Ways to Teach Your Kids The Value Of A Dollar

Investopedia-- Teaching Financial Literacy to Kids

Chain of Hearts Campaign for the Children's Miracle Network

3139 Voyager Dr branch
February 2015

If you have stopped by either of our branches lately maybe you have noticed the hearts by our teller windows and the chain of hearts we are creating behind our teller line! Well in case someone hasn't told you and you are wondering, throughout the month of February Horizon Community Credit Union will be collecting donations for the Children's Miracle Network HCCU has a goal to raise $2,000 through our Chain of Hearts Campaign and we hope that with all of our members help and support we can achieve that goal! 100% of funds collected will stay in Wisconsin! So help us put the money where the miracles are.

Hearts: $25
Links: $1

Please help us meet our goal of $2,000! No matter how big or small your donation is, every dollar donated counts! You can stop by either of our branches or give us a call to donate.

To learn more visit the Children's Miracle Network website here.

Creating miracles by raising funds for our local Children's Hospitals. 

Thank you all for your generous support!

- Horizon Community Credit Union

Post by: Karla C.

FRAUD ALERT

Some members have reported getting a text message from NEW Credit Union warning of a temporary block on certain credit card accounts and asking recipients to call a support number. The picture below is a screenshot of a text message received.

This is not from Horizon Community Credit Union.

HCCU will never include personal information or your account number in an unsolicited text or email.

Never call a number or click on a link as directed in an unsolicited text or email. Never give out personal information to someone who has called you.  If you receive a call, text, or an email that appears to be from HCCU, but you're not sure, contact the credit union using the phone number listed on our website.

Please visit this page on our website for information about fraud prevention.

If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please contact us!

WINTER LIFE HACK! How to Quickly Remove Ice From The Windshield

http://ow.ly/XZAS4 

Do you ever wake up to scattered ice on your vehicle windshield? You think to yourself, it is freezing outdoors and I have exactly 15 minutes to get to work. Well, I have the perfect remedy for this situation.

The initial approaches would be to either blast your defroster to heat up your window or to scrape off the ice. Either way, both approaches are time consuming and leaving your car on for a long period of time and wastes gas. Instead, use this method to save both time and money.

Take 1/3 part of water and 2/3 part of rubbing (isopropyl) alcohol and mix it in a spray bottle. Simply spray the solution onto the windshield of you car and like magic, the ice melts instantly. Rubbing alcohol has a freezing point of 128 degrees below freezing. Therefore, rubbing alcohol and water work well together because the water helps melt the ice and the rubbing alcohol ensures the melted ice does not refreeze. In colder climates, the ratio of the rubbing alcohol to warm water would increase.

Since the rubbing alcohol’s melting temperature is so low, you can keep this spray bottle right in your vehicle. Make sure to label the bottle so that children, including you, know not to use it for other purposes.

Post by: Mai Y.