Professional Investment & Retirement Planning New Phishing Alert
Touch Tone Teller New Branch Location More ATM’s New Coin Machine
New Saturday Hours Reduced/Dropped Fees ID Theft
Combat Cyber Crimes Safeguarding Your Information
Online Shopping Beware of Email Scams New Columbia Branch
Free Credit Report 2006 Holiday Closings

Complimentary Professional Investment &
Retirement Planning: Member Investment Services, LLC

This new service is now available to you with no obligation.

Please contact our investment professional Frank Haviland at 931-486-3125 Ext 33 for an appointment or call us for more information.

Our new Member Investment Services, LLC offers an investing relationship and guidance from an experienced investment professional.

You'll work one-on-one with our investment professional who can help to address your unique investment needs. Your investment professional will familiarize you with a wide range of investment services and assist you in determining which investments are best suited to your needs.

Personalized planning is the cornerstone of your relationship with Family Advantage Federal Credit Union and Member Investment Services, LLC. Your investment professional will introduce you to a planning process, which includes aspects of managing, preserving, enhancing, and passing on wealth.

Securities offered through Next Financial Group, Inc., member NASD/SIPC, are not insured by the NCUSIF, or any government agency. They are not deposits or obligations including possible loss of the principal amount invested. Family Advantage Federal Credit Union is not an affiliate of Next Financial Group, Inc.

Urgent Notice for our Members: Phishing Scam Alert

Dear Family Advantage FCU Member:

Please be advised there is a new targeted phishing scam against credit unions using the National Credit Union Administration's (NCUA) name and logos. As a valued member, we wanted to ensure that you were aware of these recent events and are prepared to let our credit union members know as appropriate. Additional information can be found on the NCUA website at www.ncua.gov/Phishing/phishing.htm.

Even though we provide an encrypted HomeBanking site, this does not protect you from phishing incidents because phishers do not need access to our credit union’s network to implement a phishing scam. They can simply browse your website, grab screenshots of your login page and mount a copy of that page on another server. From there, a phisher can begin targeting you by sending you e-mails which appear to be from a legitimate source, leading you to the spoofed log-in page where you are tricked into revealing confidential account information. Once entered, you are immediately directed back to the legitimate website. Therefore, there is little evidence to alert you that you have been phished.

Anti-Phishing Recommendations for our Credit Union Members:

Never access an organization's Web site from a link provided in an e-mail, but only by typing in the actual URL.
If you suspect an email may be phishing, contact the organization's customer support center immediately.
Be very skeptical of "urgent" messages that require you to enter confidential information.
Keep your Internet browser software up to date and use an anti-virus and anti-spam product.
Check your online account balances and transaction regularly for any discrepancies.
Contact us immediately if you suspect you are being phished.

Touch Tone Teller (Phone Audio Response System)
Now Available! 1-800-201-3694

By using the Touch Tone Teller System, our members can make transactions and check balances right over the phone. Click here to learn all the features of this new valuable service.

New Branch Location

Family Advantage Federal Credit Union announces the opening of their new branch location in Columbia, TN. Your credit union is now more convenient to those members who live near Columbia, TN. The new branch is located on the north side of Columbia at 1511 Nashville Hwy, in Suite D in the Parkway Plaza.

More ATM’s

The Choice Network offers over 90 additional surcharge-free ATM’s in the Middle Tennessee areas including the Columbia, Lewisburg, Franklin and the Nashville area. The Choice Network is now available to our members. Click on the following link to find a participating ATM near you. http://www.choicenetwork.org

New Coin Machine

In the past, we required all incoming coins of large amounts to be rolled/wrapped—on a great suggestion from one of our members—we just made that whole process easier. In July 2005 we installed a coin counter machine at the main office (Spring Hill)—at no cost to our members. This little jewel of a machine automatically counts and sorts the coins then provides a ticket with the total. Just bring your ticket to the front counter for deposit or exchange for cash.

Please note:
The coin machine is not available during our Saturday lobby hours.

New Saturday Hours

You Spoke, We Listened - The main office lobby is now open
each Saturday from 8:00 a.m. until noon—that’s drive-thru PLUS
lobby service! Note: The coin machine is not available during our
Saturday lobby hours.

Reduced/Dropped ATM Card Fees

We have dropped the one-time $10 application fee. We also dropped/lowered the fee for on-line check copies—now you can get up to 8 free a month through the home banking site.

ID Theft Brochure Online

You’ve read here, other places, and heard on the news about the perils and prevalence of identity theft.

Keep yourself safe. Now, you can read the latest brochure about how to stop this growing crime from happening to you.

Just click here for this "must read" brochure. Protect yourself today.

Be Prepared to Combat Cyber Crimes as Thieves
go High-Tech

The Internet has brought the world to our fingertips. We can learn who won the game last night, order a pair of shoes or trade stocks all with a few clicks of the mouse.

Unfortunately, though the prevalence of the World Wide Web and the tools we use to make it work for us, such as credit cards, are sometimes easy prey for criminals. You lock your car door when you go to the mall. You should always protect your personal information the same way.

Avoid becoming a victim of "phishing" scams
Have you received unsolicited e-mails supposedly from merchants or financial institutions? Beware! These are what’s commonly referred to as “phishing” scams.

To protect your personal information, never reply to an e-mail requesting your personal data or passwords.

No legitimate company, financial institution or retail outlet will ever request this information by an e-mail request.

Think about it. We gave you your account number. Why in the world would we call you and ask for it? Only provide your account number when YOU have initiated the contact and you believe the business to be reputable.

Protect yourself when shopping online
Never send payment information in an e-mail.

Most reputable merchants use encryption technologies from their Web sites that will protect data from being accessed by others as you conduct online transactions.

It’s also a good idea to use online merchants who participate in the Verified by Visa program, which further ensures that your transaction is safe.

Protect yourself from Identity Theft
Do not leave receipts at ATMs, teller counters or gasoline pumps.

And do not leave payment envelopes in your mailbox for postal pickup where a thief could steal them. Drop these directly at the post office.

Identity theft is one of the fastest growing crimes in the United States today. For the identity thief, the phrase " a little goes a long way" rings true.

With a minimal amount of valid information, like a Social Security Number or driver's license, a skilled thief can quickly assume your identity to conduct numerous crimes.

Precautions to Safeguard Your Personal Information

By taking some of the simple precautions listed here, you can safeguard your personal information and minimize your risk of identity theft.

Shred all personal & financial information before you throw it out.
Call the Post Office if you stop receiving all your mail.
Use unique passwords on your accounts.
Don't volunteer any personal information when you use your credit or debit cards.
Don't store your social security number or other passwords in your wallet or purse.

Online Shopping is Safe, When it’s Done Right

Use your Visa Debit card for your online shopping needs.

To help you stay secure online, here are some tips to remember:

If your first contact with a merchant is unsolicited and you've never heard of the business, beware. Give out your card number only when you initiate the contact and you believe the business is reputable.
When you do business with a new merchant, ask questions. Find out about returns and exchange policies and make sure those policies meet your needs.
Never give out your personal or account information online to anyone you do not trust.
Keep passwords secret.
If the offer sounds too good to be true, it probably is. If the service or merchandise is priced so low, you'll probably end up paying for it one way or another.
Keep a record of the online transaction. To be safe, back up your online transactions by saving and or printing the order confirmation.
Review your monthly account statement. Promptly notify the Credit Union of any suspicious activity.
Stay clear of e-mails from businesses that "alert you to customer account problems" and link you to a web site for financial information verification. Internet crooks are setting up fake Web sites that mimic legitimate online businesses. The site may look real, but it is designed to trick you into providing your account number and personal data.

Follow this advice and stay safe!

Crooks Use NCUA Name To Trick Members

Recently, crooks have made multiple e-mail "phishing" attempts posing as the National Credit Union Administration.

These bogus e-mails have targeted the general public as well as credit union members. These e-mails that appear to be from the NCUA ask for members’ credit union account information, supposedly to verify or audit accounts.

If you get a e-mail purportedly from the NCUA, do not respond. If you have responded to such an e-mail and provided any confidential account information, please notify the credit union immediately.

Additionally, e-mail scammers also pose as banks and credit unions in trying to obtain financial information. They give a Web site link that appears exactly like the actual financial institutions’ website. However, it’s fake.

Your Free Credit Report Now Available Via The New Federal FACT Act

With the recently enacted FACT Act, you may now receive an annual credit report at no charge. The annual free credit report became available in the Southeast on June 1, 2005. You can visit this Web site to obtain your free report: www.annualcreditreport.com.

Or you can call toll free at 877-322-8228.

You can also request your credit report by mail. The address is: Annual Credit Report Request Service, PO Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281.

It is a good idea to check your report at least annually to ensure accuracy.