4.00%

The

DIRECT

Line

November/December 2014

a communication to our valued members In This IssueVISA Credit Card SpecialsOnline Holiday Shopping TipsTruStage Health Insurance

Medicare Scams

Holiday Savings Ideas

Tutoring Clubs, an outreach of Stateline Youth for Christ,

is holding their sixth annual holiday fundraiser from December 1-31,

2014. This year, 10 of the area’s local credit unions are joining efforts

to make this the best year yet! Tickets will be on sale at all credit union

locations (in Winnebago county) for $5, or 5 for $20.

Your $5 ticket offers an opportunity to WIN a “money tree” full of gift cards—

Grand prize is a $1,000 VISA gift card, with 2nd-5th prizes totaling $500 also awarded.

A maximum of 2500 tickets will be sold (must be 18 yrs+ to enter).

is a one-on-one mentoring relationship between a caring adult volunteer and an at-risk child in

grades 1-5. This is a preemptive effort to direct children in becoming productive citizens. Students experience increased

confidence and show improvement academically, socially and spiritually. There are over 100 volunteers and seven

locations. Funds raised will go toward supplies and for creating additional clubs. Visit statelineyfc.org to learn more.

Please consider a $5+ donation toward helping local kids when you visit one of our locations this December!

Take advantage of our Holiday Special on an unsecured

personal loan, and borrow as much or as little as you need

at an affordable rate. Get an extra 1% off your already low

interest rate on applications submitted now thru December

31st. A great option for that little extra jingle you may need

for the holidays and beyond. Ask your loan representative for

details and apply today!

Local Credit Unions Help Local Kids with annual Tutoring Clubs Holiday Fundraiser

fixed rates as low as

‘Tis the season. . . to get a Loan for many reasons!

HOLIDAY LOAN SPECIAL

APR** APR=Annual Percentage Rate. Based on a repayment term of 6 months with MACU's A+ credit .25% discount, MACU's multiple service .25% discount, and

the Holiday Loan 1.0% discount. Loan applications submitted between November 1 thru December 31, 2014 and disbursed by January 5, 2015. Financing

example: $100.00 financed for 6 months at 4.00% requires a monthly payment of $16.87.

membersalliance.org Follow us on2

Make the call to Save with Sprint

Holiday specials for VISA card holders

A MembersAlliance VISA Platinum Rewards credit card offers

low interest rates all year long along with other money-

saving benefits including:

LOW interest rate

NO annual fee

NO balance transfer fee

NO cash advance fee

PLUS Rewards Points with every purchase**

Credit Union members can SAVE on their cell

phone costs with the Sprint Credit Union Member

Discount from Love My Credit Union Rewards. Our members can get:

—10% discount on select regularly priced Sprint monthly service

—Activation fee on new lines waived (up to $36 in savings)

—Upgrade fee waived (up to $36 in savings)

3 Ways to Get Your Discount:

• Call 877.SAVE.4CU (877.728.3428) and let them know you’re a credit union

member*. Ask to be a part of the NACUC_ZZM Corporate ID to save

• Click LoveMyCreditUnion.org/Sprint

• Visit your nearest Sprint store

*Current and new Sprint customers need to verify credit union membership to take advantage of these

exclusive discounts. Visit www.Sprint.com/verify or download the Love My Credit Union Rewards app in

the Apple App Store or Google Play to verify your membership. Some restrictions apply.

Skip-a-Pay on your VISA this season!Would having one less payment help your holiday budget?

This December, we are offering a skip-a-payment option

to our qualified MACU VISA credit card holders.* If you are

eligible (member without an automatic payment and in good

standing*), you will find a brief message with a description of

the option on your November statement, and the minimum

payment due will be zero. Please note that interest charges will

continue to accrue at the applicable monthly periodic rate, and

payment will resume for January 2015.

Beginning December 22nd, we’re

offering a special interest rate of

6.9%APR*

to our VISA credit card

holders on balance transfers and cash

advances thru March 2015.

Consider transferring balances from

other higher interest cards or use the cash advance option for

those extra end of year purchases. No gimmicks. The special

rate is valid until the promotional balance is paid off.

And don’t forget to check your Choice Rewards points, good

for merchandise, travel, gift cards, account credit and more!

Just log on to your online banking and visit your mycardinfo.**

Get your application online

or at any of our convenient locations.

Apply today!

Does the thought

of making your way

through crowded malls

and shopping at 20

different stores only

to wait in long check-

out lines have you

feeling like the Grinch?

Shopping online during

the holiday season can

save time and minimize

stress, but know a few simple rules before you dive into the world of

online purchasing.

1. Only buy from familiar companies. Confirm the seller's contact

information in case you have questions or problems in the future.

Know exactly what you're buying. Carefully read the product

description. Remember--if it seems too good to be true, it probably is.

2. Protect your privacy. Read and understand the company's online

privacy policy and keep any personal information, passwords, or

PINs (personal identification numbers) private. Look for these signals

indicating that you have entered a secure Web page:

3. Pay safely. After you review all terms of the sale, such as cost

for shipping, delivery date, and return policy, you are ready to buy.

Credit or charge card payments offer consumers the most protection.

Finally, print all transaction records and any other useful information

pertaining to your purchase.

Although online shopping allows you to virtually load your sleigh with

just a few mouse clicks, practice safe browsing this holiday season.

Copyright CUNA 2014

6.90%

*

Shop at Home for the Holidays

* A screen notice that says you're visiting a secure site

* A closed lock or unbroken key in the bottom corner of

your screen

* The first letters of the Internet address you are viewing

change from "http" to "https"

*APR=Annual Percentage Rate. Promotional

rate subject to qualification. For cash advances

and balance transfers made between Dec. 22,

2014 - March 31, 2015, the rate is valid until the

promotional balance is paid off. Any cash advances

and balance transfers made after March 31 , 2015

will be at the Annual Percentage Rate documented

on your statement. **Learn more about Rewards

Points and get details at www.membersalliance.org.

*Eligible cardholders are those who are current on payments, do not have an excessive delinquent history,

and remit monthly payments. Members who are currently delinquent, have a delinquent history, or have

automatic payments are not eligible. November statement will reflect a payment amount if not eligible.

You Can Rely On Us! 3

Know Your Priorities to Make Holidays Special

Medicare’s Open Enrollment period began October 15th and

runs through December 7th. That makes this the peak season

for scammers to make telemarketing calls that trick seniors

into revealing personal information or agreeing to be billed for

medical devices that don’t exist. The Better Business Bureau is urging senior

citizens to be aware of the warning signs of medical identity theft scams.

Here’s how the scam works: You receive a prerecorded

call saying that you have been selected to receive free

medical supplies. Common offers include a personal

emergency alarm system, medications or supplies

for a specific health condition, such as diabetes.

The caller will ask for personal and/or insurance

information, and the “free” products never arrive.

In other variations of these scams, the recorded call

claims that you can get an alarm system or medical

supplies worth several hundred dollars free or for a low monthly charge.

Another version involves a caller claiming that a “doctor-ordered” medicine or

medical device is already in the mail and the call is confirming the shipment.

“Scammers try to take advantage of senior citizens because they are

among the most vulnerable consumers,” says Dennis Horton, director

of the Rockford Regional Office of the Better Business Bureau. “It is

important to never give out your bank account information, address or

social security number to anyone over the phone.”

Here are signs that a caller is trying to scam you:

• Tries to create a sense of panic. Scammers try to scare victims

into immediate action, don’t fall for it.

• Claims you have been specifically identified for an offer but

doesn’t know your name or anything about you. This is a sign

that the call is actually being blasted out to thousands of phone

numbers.

• Promises something for free, that really isn’t. Be wary of “free”

offers that ask you to pay a handling fee or other charges.

• Implies an endorsement from a well-known organization. In

some cases, the call claims the alarm system is endorsed by the

American Heart Association and the “American Diabetic

Association,” which can be confused with the legitimate

“American Diabetes Association.” Others claim a good BBB

rating, so be sure to check this on BBB.org.

• The business doesn’t have a legitimate mailing address and

website. Victims of this scam report that staff refuse to provide

basic business information, such as the address.

For more information, visit bbb.org or call your local BBB office.

Attn Seniors! Medicare Scam Alert

Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or the

solstice, the holiday season can be stressful—with financial stress

often playing a large role.

Figure out what makes the holidays

special for you and your family and

allocate most of your spending to

those things. Maybe there are other,

less important things you can scale

back or skip.

For instance, if you love hosting a

lavish holiday dinner but are ho-hum

about festive holiday clothing, don’t

buy that new outfit. Budget more for

your dinner instead. The key is to set

priorities and identify the important

things.

And remember that handmade or homemade goodies, charitable

gifts, or the gift of time can mean much more to recipients than

presents. Here are some ideas:

• Give loved ones a framed photograph of a place or event that is

special to both of you.

• Make a charitable contribution in someone else’s name. Give to a

fund that person believes in.

• Offer to help with a project around the house, take a friend to

lunch, or just go for a walk together.

• Give baked goods or premade dinners to family or friends.

• Offer to pet sit or babysit free of charge.

Holiday Tip: Get ahead on next year’s holiday planning~Open

a Christmas Club account with MembersAlliance today!

Copyright CUNA 2014

Shopping for health insurance? Let the new TruStage Health Insurance

Program simplify your search. Learn more today!

With your credit union membership, the TruStage Health Insurance

Program makes it simple to find the right plan for you.

• Designed for credit union members

• Dedicated experts to help you understand and choose health

coverage wisely

• Tools to compare plans and identify financial assistance

Online or over the phone, TruStage Health Insurance Program with

GoHealth, gives you access to licensed agents who can help you make

an informed decision. Find Your Plan!

Visit TruStageHealth.com or call toll-free 1-888-416-2166.

Affordable Health Insurance Made Easy

Need a gift for that hard to

please person on your list?

A VISA Gift Card

is the perfect fit!

Available at your teller window

Prsrt StdUS Postage

PAIDRockford, IL

Permit No 781Main office 2550 S. Alpine Rd.Rockford 815.226.2260 Perryville branch6951 Olde Creek Rd.Rockford 815.484.1160 Inside Walmart3902 W. Riverside Blvd.Rockford 815.484.53507219 Walton St.Rockford 815.484.5345 4781 E. Rockton Rd. Rockton 815.484.1250

Calendar of Events Subject to change.

Your deposits are insured to $250,000 per account.

This institution is not federally insured.

printed on paper from recycled components

membersalliance.org

Nov. 11 Veteran’s Day Holiday -

traditional branches Closed / instores Open

Nov. 27 Thanksgiving Holiday - all offices closed

Dec. 24 Christmas Eve Day - all offices close at 1:00pm

Dec. 25 Merry Christmas! - all offices closed

Dec. 26 Day after Christmas -

traditional branches Closed / instores Open

Dec. 31 New Year’s Eve Day

traditional branches close 1:00pm

instores close 3:00pm

Jan. 1, 2015 New Year’s Day - all offices closed

You Can Rely On Us!