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Overdraft Opt In
Due to the recent regulatory changes affecting how overdrafts are managed in a checking account, you have been asked to take action with your preference for the way overdrafts are to be handled on your account.

An overdraft occurs when there is not enough money in an account to cover a transaction, but Unitus Community Credit Union allows the transaction to be paid. Overdrafts can be covered in two different ways: 1) standard overdraft practices that come with the account and 2) overdraft protection plans, such as a link to a savings account or line of credit.

The standard overdraft practices that come with your account are limited to the following:

Overdrafts are paid at our discretion and we do not guarantee that every transaction will be paid. If Unitus does not pay an overdraft, the transaction will be declined. Unitus does not pay overdrafts resulting from ATM transactions and after August 15, 2010, we will not pay overdrafts on everyday debit card transactions unless you have chosen to participate in our Check Protect program.

According to our standard overdraft practices Unitus will charge a $26 fee for each overdraft. There is no limit on the total fees that can be charged for overdrawing the account. Please note there is no fee for automatic transfers from other Unitus accounts (i.e. a savings account or line of credit) to cover purchases.

Click here if you would like to enroll in full coverage and have Unitus pay overdrafts on your everyday debit card transactions.

If we do not hear from you by July 30, 2010, then as of August 15, 2010 we are no longer permitted to provide full coverage Check Protect for your everyday debit card transactions. We will continue to provide limited coverage which includes; checks, automated (ACH), and recurring debit payments.

Any changes you request will be effective July 1st or the date you respond, whichever is later. If you would like to make changes immediately or have questions regarding your options, please do not hesitate to call us at 503-423-8303 or 1-800-452-0900, ext 8303 during normal business hours.

If you have any questions about your overdraft options please call ous at 503-423-8303 during normal business hours to speak to a Unitus representative or (800) 452-0900, extension 8303.

Unitus Names 2010 Scholarship Recipients
Unitus Community Credit Union continues its tradition of helping members achieve a higher education by providing scholarships to 12 students. This year, Unitus has awarded scholarships to high school graduates, college undergraduate and graduate students who have been with Unitus for a year or longer. Also awarded was one scholarship recognizing outstanding community involvement.

Each scholarship recipient will receive $1,000 toward his or her tuition for the 2010-2011 academic year. This year's recipients are:

College-Bound High School Graduates

Lindsey Dennis of Vancouver, WA. -- Willamette University
Erin Doering of Tualatin, OR. -- Oregon State University
Caitlyn Cordrey of Woodland, WA. -- Washington State University
Victoria Teixeira of Cave Creek, AZ. -- Northern Arizona State

Undergraduate

Josh Hyrkas of Portland, OR. -- Portland State University
Amber Rudishauser of Salem, OR. -- Pioneer Pacific University
Jaslean Sandhu of Bartlesville, OK. -- Brown Mackie College
Annette Patton of Corvallis, OR. -- Whitman College
Michelle Janik of Sandy, OR. -- Oregon State University

Graduate

Sarah Spear of Portland, OR. -- Lewis & Clark College
Natalie Schumacher of Beaverton, OR. -- Concordia University

Outstanding Community Involvement

Nawwal Moustafa of Durham, OR. -- Western Oregon University

Congratulations to all of our winners! Meet the 2010 scholarship recipients.

To Buy or to Refi Your Auto. That is the Question.
Whichever way you go, the overall savings you’ll gain will only help improve your financial picture.

Due to sluggish auto sales and other recent auto-related circumstances, auto makers are offering buyers some impressive discounts to help increase sales. Add to that some of the lowest auto loan rates seen in recent years and you have to ask yourself whether it’s time to pull the trigger and purchase, or free up some cash to pay off your existing vehicle faster by refinancing your current auto loan with Unitus.

Is now a good time to buy?
That’s a question we all ask ourselves when the thought of buying a new vehicle arises. The short answer is yes. It remains a very good time to buy. If you have solid credit you’ll find some of the lowest rates around—add in those dealer discounts and you’ve got a great reason to head down to your local dealership.

Or, if pre-owned is your desire, not only will you save yourself the hit on depreciation you’d get with driving a new vehicle off the showroom floor, but you’ll be getting a “broken-in”, low-mileage vehicle at a better price, and in some cases with a warranty still in play.

Even if your credit isn’t exactly where you want it to be, you can still get a great deal on a vehicle. That’s where Smartway Advisors, a Unitus-owned auto-buying and credit-building resource can help. Through their Trust Funding and Credit Builder programs, you can build or rebuild credit while making payments on a quality, pre-owned vehicle that’s reliable and fits your budget. “It’s not always easy to find a vehicle that’s right for you and your finances,” says Paul Kirkbride, Unitus VP, Credit Services. “We want our members to succeed. So every effort is made to ensure they can afford the payment, which helps them to build or rebuild good credit.”

Refinancing can save you money
Refinancing has become increasingly popular as auto loan rates have dropped. It’s easy to do and Unitus can help. Stop by any Unitus branch location, or call 503 227 5571, toll free 800 452 0900 to start down the road to savings today.

Third Quarter Newsletter (View PDF)
Read the latest news and special offers from Unitus.

Top Commercial Lenders
Portland Business Journal ranked Unitus #23 for total dollar volume of commercial loans in 2009. This is our first appearance on the list and no other credit unions were listed.

Unitus remains committed to helping our small-business members' needs by offering a full range of deposit and loan services, in addition to merchant and payroll services. Our products are geared towards small businesses, like our no-fee checking account and high-yielding money market account. In terms of loans, we tend to stick with what we know, such as commercial real estate, vehicle loans and small lines of credit secured by business assets. And when it comes to loan approvals, we generally look for experienced management, positive cash flow and strong guarantors.

Look for Unitus in the August 2010 issue of Oregon Business Magazine!

Email Temporary Password
Members can request a random temporary password be generated and emailed to the email address on file. This can be used when an account is locked or a password is forgotten. Members who need to reset their home banking access will now have the ability to receive a temporary password by email at any time during the day or night.

To utilize this feature, you must have a current and valid email address on file. By clicking on the “Forgot your password” link (located on the login page), you will be prompted to enter the account number and other identifying information such as answers to your Security Questions. At that time, the temporary password will be emailed to your current and valid email address.

You can help us provide greater convenience to you by ensuring you provide us with your most up-to-date email address.

Address Change
Members can now update primary and alternate addresses. In addition, Home/Work and Cell Phone Number can also be updated electronically within uOnline.

Account Masking
With this feature the display of the Member Account Number is masked for added security as member is viewing uOnline account information. While the last three digits of the account number are visible, first set of digits will be seen as asterisks.

Overdue Loans Feature
In order to assist members with up-to-date loan information and help maintain strong credit scoring, when a loan due date is in the past, uOnline will now display the past due amount and due date in red text.

Multi-Account View (coming soon)
Members will now be able to view multiple Unitus accounts within the same uOnline session.

What is the Credit Union Difference?
New federal laws and regulations are changing the structure and face of the financial services industry. In this time of accelerating change, it is important to truly understand how credit unions are unique and different, and why we remain a necessary and extremely popular financial alternative for 87 million Americans.

• Not-for-profit. Credit unions are not-for-profit financial cooperatives. We exist to serve our members, not to make a profit. Unlike most other financial institutions, credit unions do not issue stock or pay dividends to outside stockholders. Instead, earnings are returned to our members in the form of lower loan rates, higher interest on deposits, and lower fees.



• Taxation. Credit unions do pay taxes - payroll taxes, sales taxes, and property taxes. Congress exempts credit unions from federal income taxes. The exemption was established in 1937, affirmed by statute in 1951, and re-affirmed in 1998 in H.R. 1151, the Credit Union Membership Access Act, which states:



"Credit unions, unlike many other participants in the financial services market, are exempt from Federal and most State taxes because credit unions are member-owned, democratically operated, not-for- profit organizations generally managed by volunteer boards of directors and because they have the specified mission of meeting the credit and savings needs of consumers, especially persons of modest means."


• Ownership. Credit unions are economic democracy. Each credit union member has equal ownership and one vote -- regardless of how much money a member has on deposit. At a credit union, every customer is both a member and an owner.



• Volunteer Boards. Each credit union is governed by a board of directors, elected by and from the credit union's membership. Board members serve voluntarily.



• Membership Eligibility. By current federal statute, credit unions cannot serve the general public. People qualify for a credit union membership through their employer, organizational affiliations like churches or social groups, or a community-chartered credit union.



• Financial Education for Members. Credit unions assist members to become better- educated consumers of financial services. Additionally, CUNA is partnering with the National Endowment for Financial Education, a not-for-profit foundation, to expand financial education among high school students. A national study shows that just ten hours of personal finance education can positively affect students' spending and savings habits for a lifetime.



• Social Purpose: People Helping People. Credit unions exist to help people, not make a profit. Our goal is to serve all of our members well, including those of modest means - every member counts. Our members are fiercely loyal for this reason. They know their credit union will be there for them in bad times, as well as good. The same people-first philosophy causes credit unions and our employees to get involved in community charitable activities and worthwhile causes - just ask us.

Credit Unions Outscore the Banks AGAIN in Consumer Satisfaction Survey
The University of Michigan's American Consumer Satisfaction Index (ASCI), a national economic indicator of customer evaluations of the quality of products and services available to household consumers in the United States, has given credit unions a score of 84 on the index's 100-point scorecard. This score is the second highest and the same rating they received last year - an accomplishment in today's credit market upheavals.

The report shows that banks lost ground, while credit unions maintained a steady hold on consumers' satisfaction levels with their financial institutions. Banks received an ACSI score of 75. The study went on to explain that two of the nation's largest, more well-known banks hit industry lows with ratings of 67 and 68, 8% and 7% drops respectively.

The survey demonstrates the real difference credit unions have to offer over the banks and other financial institutions.

Walk into any bank and you're a customer. They look at you as someone they need to satisfy, but also profit from. Depending on how profitable you are can determine the level of service you'll receive.

On the other hand, at a credit union you're a member, and membership matters. You'll quickly discover that the most obvious reason to join is that you can earn more on savings and pay less for loans. But there is more to being a member than saving more money.

Credit unions are also deeply rooted in the local communities they serve. The credo "People Helping People" is an original declaration of credit unions nationwide-credit unions were founded to help people who could not get assistance from other financial institutions. A large part of that vision includes working with organizations within the community that positively shape education, health and human services, primarily but not exclusively with children.

Credit union members have a voice when it comes to the election of their Board of Directors. Board members are unpaid volunteers-elected from the membership. There are no outside stockholders and credit unions are not-for-profit. That was true when credit unions were founded over one-hundred years ago, and it remains true to this day.

Credit unions remain your best and local choice for all your financial needs.

Understanding Your Credit Take a look at your credit report and you’ll find an ongoing list of your credit card and loan accounts, including limits, balances, payment history and account status. Your credit report is a file that employers, insurance companies, property managers, and lenders use to verify your accountability and future debt threshold. And it’s all tied to your credit history and credit score, a single number ranging from 350 (highest risk) to 850 (lowest risk). A low credit score can quickly cost you a lot of money, states Paul Kirkbride, Unitus VP of Credit Services. “Buying a $20,000 car with a credit score of 620 versus 740 could cost $2,500 more in interest over the life of the loan.” That’s because with a score of 740 or higher, you’re usually guaranteed the best rates around. Go below that number, and you’ll find you’re paying more per month for the same car at the same terms. If you haven’t checked your report in the past 12 months you’re due a free credit report from each of the three reporting agencies. To get yours, visit www.annualcreditreport.com or call 877 322 8228. Of course, if you need any help reading your report, stop by any Unitus branch location or call 503 227 5571, toll free 800 452 0900 and talk with one of our experts. Calculating and Improving Your Score Five general categories are used to calculate your score, but the most important is your payment history, explains Kirkbride. “Your score is negatively impacted by late

Pre-paid Visa Gift Cards now available at your branch!

Get your Unitus Pre-Paid Visa Gift Card and use it anywhere Visa Debit is accepted. And if it gets lost, it can be replaced. We can even help reload it. The Gift Card only costs $5.00 to purchase and $1.25 to reload. Ask about Pre-Paid Visa Gift Cards the next time you stop by your local branch.

Online Bill Pay Enhancements!
Your online bill paying experience just got better. Here are a few of the changes now in place.

• A more intuitive and user-friendly layout
• Screens are visually cleaner and simpler helping you navigate the site better
• Enhancements to payment and payee screens making it even easier to pay your bills
• Now you can receive electronic summaries of your bills from participating merchants
• A new Help feature and Quick Links section

Unitus' Credit Card Program Has Made the Dean's List
Credit Card Connection is a not-for-profit effort organized to connect consumers directly to the most fair and ethical credit card programs in the country - the type of cards all consumers deserve to have. To be included on Credit Card Connection's Dean's List, the credit card program has to earn 5 stars.

Suze Orman, an internationally acclaimed personal finance expert and host of the CNBC program 'The Suze Orman Show', appeared on Larry King Live recently and mentioned the benefits credit unions offer with their credit card programs as well as promoted the Credit Card Connection site.

Orman is quoted saying, "I have come to believe…that many Credit Unions are more ethical and fair to their customers than banks with credit cards."

Click here to learn more about our VISA cards

Switch to a Credit Union, Suggests Online Financial Expert
"You aren't bound to your bank. Learn why credit unions deliver big savings and better service for many consumers..." -MSN Money

Read: Ditch Your Bank for a Credit Union

Locate an ATM via Text Message
When you're on the go and need to find an ATM fast, simply text your location (address, intersection, or zip code) to 692667 (MYCOOP) from any mobile phone or call 888 SITE CO-OP to access the voice ATM Locator.

As a Unitus member you have FREE access to over 28,000 surcharge-free CO-OP ATMs nationwide, including most 7-Eleven stores equipped with special Vcom units that handle most branch transactions. Your Unitus VISA debit card can be used anywhere VISA cards are accepted*

*When using a VISA Check card, funds are debited directly from your checking account.

Suspicious telephone calls recently reported.
Several members have reported receiving a telephone call from an individual claiming to be from Unitus. The caller indicates that the member's card has been deactivated. The caller provides a telephone number to call for card reactivation. This type of activity is another attempt at phishing for sensitive information such as credit card numbers, account numbers, personal identification numbers and/or social security numbers.

If you receive one of these telephone calls, hang up immediately. Do not call the telephone number or provide any information.

Events

There are currently no events planned at this time.