Fall into Savingsused auto sales event ~ Rates as low as 3.74% APR*

* As low as 3.74% Annual Percentage Rate (APR) is a fixed rate on loans financed up to 125% of the NADA trade value for a maximum of 36 months. Applications are subject to credit approval. Actual rate is based on your credit report.

**$100 gas card will be issued within 45 business days upon purchase (or financing) of vehicle. Offer valid only on Enterprise vehicles purchased 10/01/10 - 10/30/10 and financed through Educational Systems FCU. Offer void when 7-Day Repurchase Agreement is activated. No cash advances. Cannot be combined with any other offers. Not valid on previous purchases.

Being a member of Educational Systems FCU has many perks, and saving is one of them! If you are looking to purchase a car, why not decide to purchase a used vehicle from Enterprise Car Sales! Now is the perfect time to fall into great savings with our Fall Used Car Event on Saturday, October 30th from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the Enterprise Car Sales New Carrollton location. Even better, purchase a car from Enterprise during this promotion and receive a $100 gas card**! Talk about membership perks! Who could ask

forabettercombination?Agreatused car rate from your Credit Union and a gas card from Enterprise!

Enterprise Car Sales offers a large variety of used cars with one year warranties at no-haggle, below NADAprices.Ifyouareinterestedin purchasing a used car during this promotion, please contact Educational Systems FCU at 800.356.6660 to get pre- approved today! Then visit www.cuautodeals.com today to preview Enterprise’s great selection of used cars!

Thieves Don’t Take Holidays The holidays are right around the corner and more than ever, consumers will shop bymail,phoneandonline.Althoughthese methods are convenient, they also create greater opportunities for thieves who hope that shoppers will drop their guards in pursuit of bargains and hard-to-find items. To assure a happy holiday season, protect yourself from fraud.•Checkouttheseller. Be sure anyone

selling online has a physical address, phone number and clearly posted policies relating to payments, refunds, delivery schedules, and the privacy of your information. Merchants selling by mail and phone should provide the same information. When in doubt, contact the Better Business Bureau for a reference.

•Bewaryofunsolicitedphonecalls.Thieves sometimes pose as well-known retailers, offering special deals available only by phone. Shop by phone only when you initiate the call, and to a merchant you know and trust.

•Checkouttheproduct. Some sellers try to hide the fact that the offered

(continued on page 5)

1

FALL2010| www.esfcu.org

AnExchange

Do You Have Fall Fix-ups in Mind?Now that Summer is a thing of the past and Fall is here, do you have home renovations on your mind? Perhaps you would like to paint or order new cozy furniture before Winter strikes again! Whatever you decide, your home could help you pay for its repairs. Why not use your home’s equity to help with those Fall fix-up projects?

Whether you are in the market for a new home, refinance your existing mortgage or open a Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC), we have the solutions that you need to get what you want. Take advantage of our HELOC with a low introductory rate of 2.99%APR*forthefirst12-months.Borrowingagainstyourhome’sequityenablesyou to borrow at one of the lowest rates available, and in most cases, your interest is tax-deductible (consult with your tax advisor).

Don’t delay! There’s no better time to contact your Credit Union. Please give us a call at 800.356.6660, stop by one of our branch locations, or visit us online at www.esfcu.org.

* Annual Percentage Rate (APR) for the first 12 months. Upon expiration of the intro rate, all balances will accrue interest at the variable APR in effect for your account. Your APR may vary. Other conditions may apply.

Smart Holiday Shopping Takes Planning and Control

Do you catch yourself saying this every year after the holidays? “Next year I’m going to spend less money.” Then the holiday season rolls around again and you repeat the cycle. It’s very easy to get carried away, and spend more than your budget will allow. However, it can be just as easy to stay financially fit, even during the busiest shopping season of the year!

Here are some suggested holiday spending tips: 1. Budget your spending and set

goals: Start with a realistic idea of how much you can spend on holiday gifts,food,travel,andsoon.Additup and really give some thought to what best fits your budget.

2. Make a list: Shop from a list to avoid impulse purchases that could leave you in a large amount of debt at the end of the season.

3. Comparison shop: Take the time to find the best deal. Fight the urge to get your shopping over with as quickly as possible, and, for the procrastinator: Don’t wait until the last minute!

4. Trim your interest payments: If you decide to pay with a credit card instead of using cash, use a card with a low-interest rate. Now is a good time to contact us about our Visa® Double Platinum Card! You could earn double reward points on every purchase, and get a great low rate tied to the prime rate*.

5. Shop smarter not harder: If you want to avoid the hassles of long lines and holiday shopping all together, remember Visa®. Gift Cards can be purchased directly from any Educational Systems FCU branch location, and used anywhere Visa. Debit Cards are accepted. This option

is ideal for those “hard to buy for” people on your holiday gift list.

6. Open a sub savings account: Enjoy the convenience of opening a sub savings account with your Credit Union. Put a small amount of money away each month deducted directly from your paycheck to save for your holiday gift giving, vacations, or anything that you need to save for. It may be too late to start saving for this holiday season, but certainly never too late to start saving for next year’s holiday shopping.* As of September 1, 2010 prime rate was 3.25%.

2

AnExchange

All of our checking accounts offer:•FreeVisa® Debit Card•FreeOnlineBanking&

BillPayer•FreeeStatements• Freefirstorderof50checks•FreeunlimiteduseofATMs

located at Educational Systems FCU branch locationsandourATMlocated at the Charles County Board of Education

•Surchargefreeaccessatany of the Prince Georges County Community FCU ATMs

•Nopercheckfee•Greatselectionofcheck

designs to choose

Standard Checking •Nominimumbalance

requirements and an $8.95 monthly service fee.

•Maintainaminimumof$1,500 and the monthly service fee is waived.

Premium Checking•Nominimumbalance

requirements•Nomonthlyservicefees

Interest Checking•A$500minimumbalance

is required to earn interest and to avoid a below minimum balance fee.

Choose to Open Your Checking with UsYou Make the Choice

If you are looking for better options to meet your checking needs, Educational Systems FCU offers three checking options* (Standard Checking, Premium Checking and Interest Checking)—You make the choice.

To open your new Educational Systems FCU checking account, visit any of our branch locations, or give us a call at 800.356.6660.

* Eligibility for a checking account is subject to credit review and may have certain other requirements and fees.

Membership Has it’s PrivilegesWe have partnered with Nationwide Insurance to offer our Members a discount on their auto insurance. It is simple, call your current Nationwide agent and ask for the Educational SystemsFCUAffinitydiscount.A3%discountwillbeappliedto your policy. If you are not insured with Nationwide or have questions on your current Nationwide policy please contact:

Corrigan Insurance Agency Tele: 301.474.4111 Toll Free: 800.213.1634 Email: corriganagency@nationwide.com

In the Know About…A Power Of AttorneyAPowerOfAttorney(POA)isadocumentthatallowsanindividual(Attorney-In-Fact)tolegallyactonthebehalfofanother (such as an account holder). It does not create a trust, it does not give ownership rights, and it does not create abeneficiary.ApowerofattorneyisonlyvalidwhiletheindividualgrantingthePOAisalive.Themostcommonuseofthis document is to protect or assist an individual in the event of an unexpected illness or injury.

Effective October 1, 2010, all power of attorney documents executed in Maryland must meet certain requirements to be accepted for financial transactions. For your convenience, Educational Systems FCU has a limited power of attorney

form that you may use with your credit union accounts. If a non-Credit Union POAispresented and requires outside legal review, there will be a $75 legal review fee charged.

If you have questions regarding an existing POAorwishtorevokeone that is on file with us and you no longer have use for this document, please visit one of our branch locations for assistance.

3

2010 International Credit Union DayWe’re celebrating a special day, and it’s all about our commitment to you. Join us October 21 to celebrate International Credit Union Day with this year’s theme “Local.Trusted.ServingYou.”AtEducationalSystemsFCU,we’reproudtocontinueservingthe needs of our members and our local community. In tough economic times, it’s our cooperative spirit and dedication to our members and community that sets credit unions apart from the rest. Credit unions don’t belong to shareholders hoping to turn a profit from your cash. Rather, credit unions are member-owned, and any earnings are returned to you in the form of better rates and higher earnings. Take full advantage of your credit union

membership. Meet your borrowing and savings needs with our member-friendly, low-priced services.

This International Credit Union Day, we want to thank you for trusting Educational Systems FCU to take care of you. We have only your best interests in mind. Let us know how we’re doing and what we can do to make your credit union experience even better. Be sure to stop by your local branch on October 21 for refreshments.

In an effort to further enhance the security of your financial information, Educational Systems FCU is converting social security number based account numbers, and all account numbers that are seven digits or longer, to randomly generated account numbers.

Effective October 9, 2010, your new account number will be required for all transactions conducted at any Educational Systems FCU branch office. It will also benecessaryforAudioResponseTeller(ART)andOnlineBankingaccess;however,yourpasswordswillnotchange.PINnumbersforATManddebitcardswillnotchange and will automatically access your new account number.

If you have a checking account with us and have ordered checks within the past five years, we will automatically order a new set of checks for you at no charge. Future check orders should be made using your new account number. Please destroy all checks bearingyouroldaccountnumberuponreceiptofyournewchecks.Anydirectdepositsor automatic withdrawals will automatically be transferred to the new account number andwillcontinuetoposttoyouraccount.Aftertheconversion,werecommendthatyoucontact your payroll office and others to request that they update your direct deposit or automatic withdrawal instructions with your new account number.

Please watch your mail carefully for a more detailed letter and new membership identification cards. Your new account number will be provided in that letter, along with other important account information.

If you have any questions regarding the conversion of your account number, please give us a call at 800.356.6660 or speak with a Member Services Representative at your nearest branch office.

Account Number Conversion Coming Soon

Bowie High School & Annex In-School Credit Union Branch Grand Opening!On Monday, September 13th at 11:00 a.m., the Credit Union partnered with Bowie High School administrators and faculty for the grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony of the Bowie High School In-SchoolCreditUnionBranch!Anadditional In-School Branch location openedatBowieHighSchoolAnnexon Wednesday, September 15th. Students will have the opportunity to open savings accounts and make deposits into their accounts on a weekly basis. Participating in the ribbon cutting was Jane Spence, Principal; Davina Hurt, Business DepartmentChair;DeLoriaSavoy,AVP,Member Services; Brenda Rosario, Bilingual In-School Coordinator; andBowieH.S.students.Alsoinattendance for the event was Donna Rodney, Supervisor, Business and Computer Management Services and Experiential Learning and Educational Systems FCU staff.

Ou

r C

om

mu

nit

y C

orn

er

BowieHighSchoolAnnexIn-SchoolBranchGrandOpening! L to R: Cheryl English, Member Services Representative; Joshua Warren, 9th grade student; Donna Rodney, Supervisor Business & Computer Management Services & Experiential Learning; DeLoria Savoy, AVP Member Services; Brenda Rosario, Bilingual School Financial Education Coordinator; Rhonda Taylor, Tech Prep Coordinator; Orewana Bey, Assistant Principal; Khyla Webb, 9th grade student; Davina Hurt, Business Department Chairperson.

4

Fall 2010 | www.esfcu.org

Call for Nominations Attention Members: Here is an opportunity to serve your fellow Credit Union members. If you are interested in volunteering to serve on the Board of Directors or a committee, please contact Karen Jung by November 1, 2010 at 800.356.6660 ext 4767 to receive a nomination request form.

item is refurbished or a previously returned item. Be certain of the product description in the ads and examine items carefully when they arrive.

•Don’t email financial information. Email isn’t always secure, be sure to enter personal and financial information only when there is a “lock” icon on the browser’s status bar and look for the URL to read “https” versus “http”.

•Don’t open suspicious attachments. Some Internet identity thieves will send spam email offering unbelievable bargains on hot items such as digital cameras, computers, and mp3 players. The email includes an attachment that promises to explain how to obtain the promised item. By opening the attachment, however, you download a program that searches your computer for your personal information, and transmits that data to the thief.

•Keep your virus protection software and personal firewall up-to-date. Many software packages have features that allow an automatic check for updated virus definitions or enhanced protection; use these options to guard against hackers and thieves. Don’t forget to use hard-to-guess passwords to further protect sensitive data.

•BecarefulusingunfamiliarATMs. Need cashonyourshoppingtrip?ATM’sare

popping up everywhere but some are found in high traffic areas where there are opportunities for thieves to observe your pin entry and use small cameras to film your transaction.

•KnowYourRights.Allretailers(including those using the Internet) must ship your order within the time limit they promised in their offer. If they didn’t state a time limit they must ship within 30 days of receiving payment. If the retailer cannot ship within the promised date, they must allow you to cancel the order and receive a timely refund.

•KeepRecords. Save all documentation related to your purchases, including emails detailing online purchases. Make note of all phone purchases, including the phone number you called, when

you called, and who you spoke with. Alwaysaskforaconfirmationnumberfor your order to quickly reference the purchase if the item fails to arrive or you are not satisfied.

Want more important consumer and personal finance guidance? Contact the financialprofessionalsatBALANCE. AsabenefitofmembershipwithEducational Systems FCU, counselors are ready, at no charge to you, to answer questions and help you develop a personal finance strategy. Visit www.balancepro.net or call toll-free: 888.456.2227 today.

My Mom opened an account for me when I was about two. Now at 24, I have my own reasons for being a member for life. Educational Systems FCU helped make my dream car a reality!! Look at it, I get thumbs up from guys when they pull up beside me on the road. I think they are surprised to see me in the driver’s seat!

Since I just finished law school in May, my job didn’t start until September. Educational Systems FCU had this fantastic July/Augustcarloansalewithgreatrates,

a $200 Visa® Gift Card and I wouldn’t have to make my first payment until the end of this October. Can we say—PERFECT DEAL!! I love it, thanks Educational Systems FCU! ~ Nicole S.

Thieves Don’t Take Holidays 1Place a fraud alert on your credit

reports, ask for a free copy of your credit report, and review those reports for evidence of accounts you didn’t open. Fraud unit contacts are:

Equifax Tele: 888-766-0008 P.O.Box740241,Atlanta,GA30374-0241 www.equifax.com

Experian Tele: 888-397-3742 P.O.Box9532,Allen,TX75013 www.experian.com

TransUnion Tele: 800-680-7289 P.O.Box6790,Fullerton,CA92834-6790 www.transunion.com

2Close accounts such as savings or checking,cancelanyATMcards

that have been tampered with or used fraudulently. Contact all financial institutions and lenders, credit card issuers, utility companies, and the Social SecurityAdministrationtonotifythemofthe fraud. Follow up each conversation withaletter.Askthecreditbureausfortheir advice regarding the best fraud monitoring services available.

3File a report with law enforcement and insist on getting a copy of the

report or the report number.

If you are a victim of identify theft, take these steps immediately:

Satisfied Member!! I just LOVE my Credit Union.

(continued from page 1)

5

Fall 2010 | www.esfcu.org

Corporate Office Mailing AddressP. O. Box 179, Greenbelt, MD 20768-0179 800.356.6660 | Fax: 301.985.4661 | www.esfcu.org

Branch Locations

Bowie Branch Duvall Village Shopping Center 4801 Glenn Dale Road, Bowie, MD

Upper Marlboro Branch Washington Plaza 8903 Presidential Parkway, Suite100, Upper Marlboro, MD

Waldorf Branch Smallwood Village Shopping Center 169ASmallwoodVillageCenter,Waldorf,MD

Greenbelt Branch Maryland Trade Center I7500 Greenway Center Drive, Suite 140, Greenbelt, MD

California Member Service Center* San Souci Plaza 22599-122MacArthurBlvd.,California,MD

Prince Frederick Member Service Center* Manning Building 90 King George Way, Prince Frederick, MD

*No Teller Services

All Card Services The phone number is 800.356.6660.You will be prompted to press 4 to report a lost or stolen Visa Credit or Debit Card.

Columbus Day Monday, October 11

Veteran’s Day Thursday, November 11

Thanksgiving Thursday, November 25

Christmas Saturday, December 25

New Year’s Day Saturday, January 1, 2011

Martin Luther King Day Monday, January 17, 2011

President’s Day Monday, February 21, 2011

Your savings are insured up to $500,000. Your savings

are federally insured up to at least $250,000 by the

National Credit Union Administration (NCUA), and

backed by the full faith and credit of the United States

Government. An additional $250,000 of coverage

is provided by Excess Share Insurance (ESI), a private

corporation. Traditional and Roth IRAs are insured

up to $250,000 by NCUA and up to an additional

$250,000 through ESI, all at no cost to you.

Fee Change Notification

2010-2011 Holiday Schedule

Locations

NCUAYour savings federally insured to at least $100,000

and backed by the full faith and credit of the United States Government

National Credit Union Association, a U.S. Government Agency

NCUAYour savings federally insured to at least $100,000

and backed by the full faith and credit of the United States Government

National Credit Union Association, a U.S. Government Agency

NCUAYour savings federally insured to at least $100,000

and backed by the full faith and credit of the United States Government

National Credit Union Association, a U.S. Government Agency

P.O. Box 179 Greenbelt, MD 20768-0179

Prst First ClassU.S.Postage

PAIDSouthern MD

Permit No. 305

Hours for Branches and Member Service Centers

Lobby Hours Monday—Thursday 9:00 a.m.—5:00 p.m. Friday 9:00 a.m.—6:00 p.m. Saturday 9:00 a.m.—1:00 p.m.

Drive-Thru—Bowie Branch Monday—Friday 8:00 a.m.—7:00 p.m. Saturday 9:00 a.m.—1:00 p.m.

ATM Locations 24-HourATMAccessattheaboveBranchesand Member Service Centers Foraddedconvenience,anATMisalsolocatedattheCharles County Board of Education 5980 Radio Station Road, La Plata, MD Hours: Monday—Friday, 8:00 a.m.—4:00 p.m.

Effective December 1, 2010

ReturnedCheck/Overdraft $35/item

ReturnedACHDebit/Overdraft $35/item

ReturnedDepositedItems $35/item

CourtesyPay* $35/item

MoneyMarket(CheckWithdrawals>3) $35/item

Overdraft(ATM&CheckCards) $35/item

LegalReview $75/document

* Limited to a maximum of 4 per day, per checking account. No charge for additional transactions on the same day, up to the approved Courtesy Pay limit.

A Changing Marketplace for ConsumersYou may be aware of the numerous problems caused by the recent financial crisis which has prompted Congress and the Federal Reserve to make many regulatory changes affecting banks and credit unions. TherecentCreditCardAct,the Secure and Fair Enforcement for MortgageLicensingAct(SAFEAct),theFairandAccurateCreditTransactionsAct(FACTAct),theDodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and ConsumerProtectionActalongwithchanges in rules and regulations from the Federal Reserve are intended to protect consumers from questionable business practices by banks or mortgage brokers. However, these new regulations appear to be changing the financial services marketplace by having the unintended consequences of significantly increasing costs for all financial institutions including credit unions.

AlthoughEducationalSystemsFCUdid not experience the problems that many of the banks did (which caused the financial crisis), we are still subject to the new regulatory requirements and costs which are prompting some changes in how we structure our CourtesyPayprogram,ATMfees,andourcreditcards.Asweconsiderchanges in any product or service, you can be assured that your Credit Union remains committed to offering competitive products with great rates andreasonablefees.Asanot-for-profit cooperative, we will remain true to our mission which is to grow by helping the members of the education community achieve their financial goals and dreams.

Fall 2010 | www.esfcu.org

AnExchange