The

PULSE

Fall 2015

News you can use: Year-End Loan Special! • 4 Great New Ways to Pay • Stop By & See Us at the Benefit

Fairs • Help is Available for Investments, Insurance & Financial Planning • Holiday Loan •

Credit Score Information • HSFCU’s Convenient Services • Limited-Time Auto Loan

Offer: Low Rates & a CASH BONUS • Pick a Month & Skip-A-Payment! •

HSFCU Member Benefit Award • We FREE • Tips for Safe Online Shopping

FALL FOR HSFCU!From home improvements to holiday bills

& more, it’s the season to save with HSFCU’s low-rate loans.

We’d love to see you at the upcoming hospital Benefit Fairs, Oct. 28 - Nov. 9! Healthcare Systems FCU representatives will be on hand to provide information and greet members, both old and new. Please stop by and say hello – and feel free to bring along co-workers who may not have joined yet!

Stop By & See Us at the Benefit Fairs

Great New Ways to Pay!

‘Tis the season for shopping – and we’ve got some great new ways to make payment faster, easier and more secure. Just link your HSFCU Visa® credit card to any or all of these services and get ready for a great shopping experience!

Apple Pay. Use your iPhone or Apple Watch to pay at over a million stores accepting contactless payments, and to make purchases in participating apps. More stores and apps are added every day!

Google Wallet / Android Pay. Your Android device can use Google Wallet to send and receive money, and Android Pay to easily make payments at any tap and pay location in the U.S. and in participating apps.

Visa Checkout makes paying online a snap. Breeze through checkout when shopping online with a single sign-in anytime you see the Visa Checkout button. You’ll be done shopping in no time.

For more information on these services, visit healthcarefcu.org. Happy shopping!

When it comes to planning for your future and dealing with everything from college planning, retirement planning or even estate strategies, it can help to have someone who’s experienced and knowledgeable to assist you along the way. Our Financial Services Specialist, Theresa White, is available to work with you on these issues. This is a free service for members of Healthcare Systems Federal Credit Union.

Contact Theresa at 301-651-7397 or email her at theresawhite@financialguide.com.

Help is Available for Investments,Insurance and Financial Planning

At this time of year, expenses start piling up faster than the leaves falling from the trees outside: school supplies, home improvements, holiday plans and much more. Our Year-End Loan Special can help!

• Rates as low as 8.99% APR* • Terms from 12 to 48 months

• Use the funds for any purpose

• No collateral required

Apply TodayTake advantage of our limited-time Year-End Loan Special so you can relax and enjoy the season. Apply online at healthcarefcu.org, call us at 703-776-2700 or stop by a branch.

FALL FOR HSFCU!Apply Now for Our Year-End Loan Special!

* Annual Percentage Rate (APR) is based on an evaluation of credit history, so your rate may differ. Rate quoted includes all available discounts.

Limited-Time Offer!

NOT A CREDIT UNION DEPOSIT; NOT NCUA INSURED; NOT INSURED BY ANY FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AGENCY; NOT GUARANTEED BY THE CREDIT UNION; MAY GO DOWN IN VALUESecurities, Investment Advisory and Financial Planning services offered through qualified registered representatives of MML Investors Services, LLC, Member SIPC: 222 Central Park Ave Suite 1100 Virginia Beach VA 23462 (757) 490-9041. Member Wealth Management and Healthcare Systems FCU are not a subsidiary or affiliate of MML Investors Services, LLC.

Theresa White

No T ricks … Let us T rea t You to a Great Car Loan!When it comes to auto loans, there are no tricks at Healthcare Systems FCU. We’ll treat you to some of the lowest rates around AND a Cash Bonus – good for both vehicle purchases and refinancing high-rate loans obtained elsewhere.

Rates as low as 1.39 Cash Bonus of $100**

We make frightful car-purchase experiences a thing of the past, too. Apply for an HSFCU Auto Express Check, take it to the dealer, strike your best deal, sign and drive. It’s that simple. Our partner TrueCar can also help you find the car you want at a sweet price. Hurry – Cash Bonus offer ends Nov. 15, 2015! For details or to apply, visit healthcarefcu.org.

*Annual Percentage Rate (APR) quoted includes all available discounts. Rates are based on an evaluation of creditworthiness. Your rate may vary.**Cash Bonus is for refinanced loans of $10,000 or more on model year 2009 or newer vehicles. You must make your first scheduled payment in order to receive the $100 Cash Bonus. $100 will be credited to the primary applicant’s savings account within 91 to 95 days of the loan origination date. If the loan is closed in the first 90 days, the $100 offer will become invalid. Existing Healthcare Systems FCU loans are not eligible for this offer. Recipient is solely responsible for any personal tax liability arising out of this incentive.

% APR*

Our Skip-A-Payment program can be especially helpful at this time of year. Simply choose a month, fill out a brief form and skip your HSFCU loan payment for that month. You may choose up to two non-consecutive months a year and skip your HSFCU loan payment for those months. Certain conditions apply. To get started, visit healthcarefcu.org.

Pick a Month & Skip-A-Payment! October November December

Take A Break$ $

FREE Checking ...

Simple and Easy to understand. No minimum balance, no monthly

service fee, no worries.

FREE e-Services: Mobile & Online Banking, Mobile Deposit, Mobile & Online Bill Pay, Member to Member Transfers, Draft Check Copies, eStatements, Finan-

cial Counseling, Money Desktop Tool, Account Inquiries & Transfers.

Just plain ol’ FREE: ACH Origination, Apple Pay, Debit Card Transactions & Purchases*,

Direct Deposit, Incoming Wire Transfers … oh yes, and friendly faces and great service!

*Surcharges by another institution may apply at their ATMs.

HSFCU is a recipient of the Credit Union National Association’s 2015 National Member Benefit Award for providing highest quality direct financial benefits to our members. Members saved an average of $1,830 on new car loans and $1,108 on used car loans, and an average

of $1,100 a year with our Visa® Platinum with CR Rewards card, compared to area banks.

Savings calculated by the Credit Union National Association, based on comparisons from 9/2013 - 9/2014.

WEFREE!

DID YOU KNOW?

Amount Owed on Accounts Determines 30% of a Credit ScoreOwing money on credit accounts doesn’t necessarily mean you’re a high-risk borrower with a low credit score. However, when a high percentage of a person’s available credit is being used, this can indicate that a person is overextended, and is more likely to make late or missed payments.

Part of the science of scoring is determining how much is too much for a given credit profile. Your credit scores take into account several factors, including:

The amount owed on all accounts. Note that even if you pay off your credit cards in full each month, your credit report may show a balance on those cards. The total balance on your last statement is generally the amount that will show in your credit report.

The amount owed on different types of accounts. In addition to the overall amount you owe, your credit scores consider the amount you owe on specific types of accounts, such as credit cards and installment loans.

Whether you’re showing an amount owed on certain types of accounts.In some cases, having a very small balance without missing a payment shows that you have managed credit responsibly, and may be slightly better than carrying no balance at all. Having a low credit utilization ratio can be better than having a high one, or none at all. For example, closing unused credit accounts that have zero balances and are in good standing may not raise your credit score.

For my vacation loan, the entire process – from application to getting the money – took under 2 hours. What a wonderful experience. My credit union is awesome!

-Jennie S.

“

”

If you find yourself strapped for cash this holiday season, let us help with a Holiday Loan.

• Up to $1,000

• Bi-weekly

payments less

than $50*

• Credit score will not stand in the way

• Online applications ONLY!

• Certain conditions apply**

This is a limited-time offer, so don’t delay. Applications will be accepted online ONLY. Simply visit healthcarefcu.org, click Apply for a Loan and select Holiday Loan.

Need Help Brightening Your Holiday Season?

*Payment amount based on a $1,000 loan with a12-month repayment period at 18% APR (Annual Percentage Rate).**Available to members of Healthcare Systems Federal Credit Union with an account in good standing that has been open for at least 180 days or six months, with active direct deposit into an HSFCU savings or checking account and a demonstrable capacity to repay loan. There is a 12-month repayment period.

If it makes your financial life easier, it’s here at HSFCU.

Federally insured byNCUA

Healthcare Systems Federal Credit Union3300 Gallows RoadFalls Church, VA 22042

703-776-2700 • 1-800-250-9676www.healthcarefcu.orgTouch Tone Teller: 703-776-2498

Remember, even when our offices are closed, our online and mobile banking services are “open” and available 24/7!

Holiday Closings

Columbus Day: October 12Veterans Day: November 11

Thanksgiving Day: November 26Christmas Day: December 25

• Keep security software updated on your computer. You should have anti-virus, anti-spyware and anti-spam software as well as a good firewall installed.• Keep personal information and your password secure. Do not respond to requests to “verify” your personal information. • Create strong passwords. A good password is 14 or more characters long, and includes numbers, symbols and upper- and lowercase letters.

• Watch out for scams. Beware of “bargains” from unfamiliar companies, notices that you’ve won a contest or lottery you haven’t entered, or requests for personal information. If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.• Use secure websites for purchases. Look for “https” in the website address or a lock symbol in your browser.• Check out the “4 Great New Ways to Pay” article in this newsletter to learn about convenient, safer payment options.

KEEPING SAFE. Tips for Safe Online Shopping

As we look to the holiday season, it pays to know how to be safe while shopping online.