Our Rates Are Great!

ECECU Platinum Preferred VISA

and Classic VISA the Better Choice.

ECECU Platinum Preferred VISA Credit Card:

• 9.9% or 10.9% APR based on credit score.
• No Annual Fee
• 25 Day Grace Period
• Late Payment Fee - $25
• Over Limit Fee - $25

Apply for your new VISA Credit Card today.

'Smishing' Scams Reported

'Smishing' is a new scheme used to obtain confidential account information via text messaging.  Smishing is like phishing, except instead of using internet e-mails to entice members or customers to give out personal information the thieves use cell phone text messages.  The text message looks like official correspondence from the person's credit union or bank that direct the the person to a website that is similar or identical to their CU's or bank's.  The person is asked at the so-called spoofed website to provide account information and PINs and the information is used to produce counterfeit credit and debit cards.  The cards are then used at ATMs to withdraw funds or at stores to make purchases.  

Eaton County Educational Credit Union does not use text messaging or e-mail to contact members.  Do not use links on e-mails or web addresses that are provided by text messages to access the credit union's website.  Only access the website by using the www.eatonctyedcu.org address.  Credit unions and banks do not need personal account information or PINs - they already have the information.     

'Vishing' Phone Scams Reported in Monroe

Two credit unions are among three Michigan Financial institutions recently targeted by "vishing" attacks in an attempt to trick members or customers into revealing their account information - prompting a new round of warnings to credit unions and their members.

Monroe Community Credit Union, Monroe Federal Credit Union and Monroe Bank & Trust all reported that thieves have contacted their member/customers.  Some security compromises have also been reported.

Vishing mimics "phishing" by trying to induce persons into divulging account numbers and other personal information.  But instead of being phished in an e-mail message, the intended victim typically receives a telephone call from an automated random dialer, with a voice on the other end of the line informing the person that his or her credit card has been used illegally or has been temporarily suspended.

The person is then asked to dial a number where another voice asks for conformation of credit card or account numbers and other personal information.  The thieves then use this information to steal the victim's accounts.  The scam may also rely on a live caller, who identifies him or herself as a representative of a bank or credit union.  What makes the scam particularly effective is that having caller I.D. service won't tip you off that the call is bogus.  Unfortunately, the thieves have technology to 'spoof' the caller  I.D., so seeing the name of a legitimate financial institution turn up on caller I.D. is no guarantee that the call is legitimate. 

Vishing attacks have been facilitated by Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology, which makes possible inexpensive and anonymous Internet calling.  And the scammers aren't limiting their attacks to financial institutions.  PayPal, the on-line payment service has been the target of a fraudulent message urging victims to call a California-based phone number to update credit card account information "to prevent any fraudulent activity from occurring."  The number was traced to an Internet-phone service and shut down.

Here are some tips to avoid vishing:

• When receiving a phone call from someone asking for credit card or personal information, the best response is to simply hang up and report the incident by contacting the institution that issued the card by using a phone number on the back of the card or on a recent statement.
• Calls from someone who claims to be from a financial institution and knows the consumer's credit card account number - but wants the three-digit code on the back of the card for whatever reason - should be treated in the same way.  Hang up and call the issuer as soon as possible.
• Any e-mail message asking the card holder to call a toll-free number to verify account information should be deleted.  Never provide personal or account information based on an e-mail request.
• A consumer should be suspicious of any phone or email contact that doesn't use his/her first name or surname.

Board Lowers Loan Rates:

New car loans are now as low as 5.25% APR.  The actual rate will be determined as part of the loan analysis after the credit union has received a credit report and other information required to make the loan decision.  The rate received may be higher or lower than the base rate.  It is always a good idea to get a pre-approval before visiting the showroom.  Our monthly payments are often better then what you will get at the dealership.

Membership in the credit union shall consist of :

• Employees and pensioners of the educational institutions which are located in the County of Eaton, Michigan.
• Employees or members of employer groups or other organized groups which are located within 25 miles of the credit union´s main office. (See the SEG List of current employer groups).
• Any person over the age of 55 who receives a retirement annuity, pension, social security, or similar retirement from private or governmental sources, and lives in, or belongs to a retirement organization located in the county, or in a county contiguous to Eaton County. 
• And, members of the immediate families of any of the foregoing.

Attention Cyberbranch@Home Users!

Multi-Layer Authentication

Cyberbranch@Home has been enhanced to include a second layer of authentication when you access your account.  The following procedures should be followed:

1. Click the Cyberbranch@Home icon to access Cyberbranch@Home.
2. You will be prompted to enter your current ID and password.  Notice that the Member ID and Member Password have been renamed User ID and User Password.  Press enter and the Change Question & Answer screen will be dispalyed.
3. Please read the directions.  Enter your password (same as above).
4. Enter a new question.  Do not use symbols or punctuation.  Do not put a question mark at the end of your question.  Use a simple question such as:
   • What is my favorite city
   • What is my favorite color
   • What is my sibling's nickname
5. Enter the new answer.  This can be anything.  While the answer to the question helps you remember; the answer doesn't have to match the question.  You do, however, need to remeber it and it is case sensitive.
6. After you click the Enter button, the Cyberbranch@Home page is displayed and you can concuct whatever business you'd like.

The next time you access Cyberbranch@Home, you will get the Welcome Page where you will enter your User ID and User Password.  The Challenge - Question & Answer page will appear.  The question will be supplied and in all capital letters.  The answer field remains case sensitive.  Please check to see if your Caps Lock is on or off.

“Phishing” Emails -Don’t be a victim!

“Phishing” emails continue to be directed to our members.The latest phishing example claimed to be from the Credit Union National Association which is an association that the credit union belongs to that provides insurance for both the credit union and its members.The email stated that access to ‘your account’ had been limited for security reasons.The email goes on to say that you need to click on a message to eliminate the limitations to use of online banking.

Our member knew better than to fall for this phishing attempt to get confidential information in an attempt to steal their identity.The member knew that the credit union or any other financial institution would never use email to get confidential information from a member.The credit union already has the information.

There were other clues that tipped off our member.The email was from cuna@cuna.com and referenced “Credit Union” as the name of the institution.It also mentioned an online banking product.Because the email did not come from Eaton County Educational Credit Union and our online banking product is called Cyberbranch@Home, our member immediately knew something was very wrong.

Other phishing attempts have come using the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) that provides insurance for your accounts to $100,000 (NCUSIF).Those emails claimed that the NCUA needed confidential personal information to continue the insurance on your account.The NCUA does not need any information from you.The credit union has all the information that is needed to cover your account by NCUSIF.

Remember, the credit union or any other financial institution, insurance company, or governmental office will never email you for personal confidential information.If you get such a request contact the institution by phone using a known phone number.Statements are the best source for the correct numbers to call.

If you receive an e-mail from Eaton County Educational Credit Union requesting financial information or any personal data:

• Treat the e-mail with suspicion.It’s not from the credit union.
• Do not respond to the e-mail or respond by clicking on a link within the e-mail message.Eaton County Educational Credit Union will never ask you to provide any kind of confidential or financial details via an e-mail request.
• Delete the email.
• Contact Eaton County Educational Credit Union as soon as possible to report the suspicious e-mail.You can reach the credit union at 800-553-2199.

Our Select Employee Groups:

City of Charlotte Employees	The Bargain Hut Employees
Eaton County Courthouse Employees	Spartan Motors Employees
Free Methodist Church Members	Callender & Dornbos Employees
Wash Basket Coin Laundry Employees	Elbon Farms Employees
Nashville Baptist Church Members	Eaton County Road Commission Employees
Hayes Green Beach Hospital Employees	Kirby of Ingham County Employees
St. John's Episcopal Church Members	Wal-Mart Employees - Charlotte
First Congregational Church Members	Pinewood Living Center Employees
Good Forestry Service Employees	Gale Briggs Inc. Employees
The Country Mill Employees	St. Mary Church Members
David L. Smith, Attorney of Law, Employees	Aunt Geni Day Care Employees
Eaton County Medical Care Facility Employees	D&J Excavating Employees
Charlotte Christian Reformed Church Members	Midstate Title Company Employees
L.L. Johnson Mfg. Co. Employees	Students of Bellevue Community Schools
Students of Maple Valley Schools	Students of Charlotte High School
Law Offices of Victoria L. Easterday P.L.L.C.	Old Orchard Veterinary Service, P.L.C.
Bellevue 4-H Farmers	Maple Knoll Manor
Good Flavor Chinese Restaurant	Peckham
Ledges Printing & Digital Technology, Inc	Student of Grand Ledge Public Schools
E.T. MacKenzie Company	Felpausch Food Center - Grand Ledge
Kares Construction Company	Grand Ledge Jewelers
Geldhof Tire & Auto	Seventh-Day Adventist Church - Charlotte
Asset Financial Services, Inc.	Glen Buege Chevrolet Oldsmobile GEO, Inc.
City of Grand Ledge