What You Need to Know for Tax Season

Tax season is here, and Educators Credit Union wants to make sure you avoid any problems filing this spring. We have put together a list of must-dos as you submit your taxes to the Internal Revenue Service.

• Taxes are due by Monday, April 15. Make sure you have everything sent to the IRS by that date. The government requires that all tax documents be delivered by Jan. 31. If you have not received a tax document you are expecting by then, follow up with the organization that is sending you the document.
• When arranging a direct deposit for a tax refund, make sure to use your correct 11-digit account number. Educators members can find their account numbers on the bottom of their checks or can ask for it at a branch or by calling 262.886.5900. Your statements and Online Banking do not have your full account number.
• If you do not use the correct account number, you are liable for lost refunds. Double check that you are providing accurate information. The IRS uses account numbers, not names, to verify payment. If an issue occurs, contact the IRS right away. Visit www.IRS.gov for contact information.
• Having a professional file your taxes? Thoroughly review your tax agreement before handing over valuable information. Avoid hidden fees or agreeing to something that doesn’t sound right. Do your research beforehand to make sure you are using a quality service. Never agree to let a tax professional deposit your return into their account first and then give it to you.

We hope these tips can help protect you this tax season. If you have additional questions about filing your taxes, please contact a tax professional for assistance.

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You Said We’re the Best – Again!

For the third year in a row, Educators Credit Union has been named the “Best of Milwaukee!” The Shepherd Express revealed the winners of its Best of Milwaukee poll at a banquet on Jan. 22, 2019. They revealed that Educators Credit Union came out on top in four categories.

In this year’s poll, our members voted for us as the:

• Best Credit Union
• Best Financial Institution for Getting a Business Loan
• Best Financial Institution for Getting a Mortgage
• Best Financial Institution for Opening a Checking Account

Shepherd Express put the poll up online in November. Voters then went online and selected their choices in every category.

Thank you to everyone who voted for Educators Credit Union. We appreciate your continued support!

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This New House: New Year, New Condo?

Last year, the Marketing Team seemed to be all on the same brain wave. Brad, Rick and our colleague Lizz, who left Educators to start her own photography business, all bought houses.

After listening to their eye-opening experiences all last year and the challenges they faced, I thought that this year would be a great time for me to start my own house-hunting adventure with a slight twist: embarking on the condo journey. Anyone who knows me is aware that I am ALWAYS on the go. I am a person who likes to keep busy and try new things – so I need a house that can keep up with me and one that I can keep up with. So as my rent continues to spiral out of control in my perfectly located downtown Milwaukee apartment, I thought that it was finally time to take the next step into adulthood by searching for my own home.

As I take the first step of the journey, I am looking forward to sharing my experiences, the ups & downs of this process and HOPEFULLY in the end, I may end up with a home to call my own.

Steve Jobs once said, “If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle. As with all matters of the heart, you’ll know it when you find it.”

So, wish me luck, share any advice for me below and let us know if you have any questions! We love to hear from you and can’t wait to hear all your stories of your first time buying a house.

-Emily

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Educators Credit Union Celebrates Three Saver’s Sweepstakes Winners

The third Saver’s Sweepstakes drawing was held on December 17th and three Educators Credit Union members were lucky winners of $100.

Last month’s Educators Credit Union Saver’s Sweepstakes winners were:

• Nadine M.
• Patricia K.
• Jessie J.

The Saver’s Sweepstakes is a brand new prize-based savings account created by The Wisconsin Credit Union League with help from several credit unions across the state. Members earn entries into the sweepstakes for every $25 saved each month. They can receive up to six entries monthly. Those entries go towards a $100 monthly drawing, $1,000 quarterly drawing and the $5,000 yearly grand prize drawing.

While the Saver’s Sweepstakes is special because members can win for saving, it was created to help credit union members develop good saving habits.

The next group of winners will be picked in mid-January. For full entry rules and information, visit www.ecu.com/savers.

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Member Loyalty has changed for 2019!

It’s a new Member Loyalty Reward for a new year! Educators Credit Union members can now unlock up to $165 for participating in Member Loyalty. All you need is an active checking account.

An active checking account is when:

• You deposit a check, receive an electronic deposit from a non-Educators Credit Union account, or receive a payroll direct deposit into your checking account at least once a month.
• You make at least five transactions each month. These transactions can be any combination of using your debit card, writing a check, making an automatic withdrawal or using Bill Pay. It does not include ATM withdrawals.

Once you have an active checking account, you can start building your rewards up each month! The money you earn is then deposited into your account on Nov. 30.

Click here to see what you need to unlock the maximum payout of $165!

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Happy Cut Your Energy Costs Day!

It’s National Cut Your Energy Costs Day! To help you get in the spirit, we’re giving you five ways you can reduce your energy costs to get a little extra money in your savings account.

1. Seal your house! It’s Wisconsin and it’s winter. That means the elements are working against us when it comes to keeping our homes a comfortable temperature. Having a window and door inspection to ensure there’s no extra draft can be huge when it comes to reducing the cold air coming in. Also, you can buy plastic insulation that attaches to your windows or a draft blocker for your door to ensure your fighting off as much of the cold as possible.
2. Completely turn off or unplug the devices you’re not using. Laptop chargers, DVD players or desktop computers left on are costing you money, even when they’re not being used. Shut these devices down completely to save on energy that’s being completely wasted.
3. Lower the temperature on your water heater. Lowering your water heater’s set temperature from the standard 140 degrees to 120 reduces the time it’s running, therefore saving you costs to heat water you might not even use.
4. Program your thermostat. Have a thermostat you can set? Change it so that the temperature is lower when you are at work or sleeping. Then you’ll be saving costs without even thinking about it. Set it to start warming up 15 minutes before you arrive home and you’ll have a toasty home again in no time.
5. Use LED bulbs. Replacing your lighting with strictly LED bulbs can have its upfront cost, but studies show it can save you up to $75 per year. These bulbs also last longer than your typical fluorescent light bulb. If you get a smart bulb, you can even track your energy usage straight from your app.

Have more ways to save on energy? Let us know in the comments!

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Whoa. Did the Educators website just change?

 

Whoa. Did the Educators website just change?

— I’m so happy that you noticed!

Educators Credit Union is happy to present some much-needed updates to our website. While these changes should improve the look and function of the site, we know how exciting and scary that these changes can be!

The new look incorporates much of the look and feel you currently get when going into Educators Credit Union branches, including aesthetics made famous by Wisconsin architect Frank Lloyd Wright. Many of our branches have a bit of Wright’s influence in them, whether it’s the stain glass grid or the prairie building design he was fond of. The new colors keep the theme, with earthy tones aimed at comforting.

These changes are just the start of a round of upgrades you will see to the website in 2019. As the year progresses, we’ll also add a fully integrated Spanish web experience, an update to our Careers page and mobile experience updates.

As always, if you’re ever in need of assistance, reach out to us! Our team is happy to hear from everyone through our blog discussions, any of our social media channels, email and texts. All of the feedback is read through and discussed on a daily basis – we do our best to respond to every single comment.

I hope you have a wonderful start to the New Year.

-Emily
Marketing Manager

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Educators Credit Union Adds a New Team and Branch!

Educators Credit Union has merged with the Aurora Credit Union! The merger was completed on Tuesday, Jan. 1. Through this partnership, Educators is adding over 5,500 members, seven new employees, and one new branch.

For Aurora Credit Union members, this merger will give them access to Educators’ first-class services and products, including Mobile Banking, FlashCash, Ctrl and more. They’ll also have access to Educators Credit Union’s 22 other locations, giving them more options for managing their finances.

Educators Credit Union members now have an additional branch in Milwaukee to help service their needs. Located at 3355 W. Forest Home Ave., Milwaukee, this branch can help members in southern Milwaukee County.

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2019 January Member Focus

Take a look at the latest edition of the Educators Credit Union Member Focus. This month, we’re introducing our new team members, revealing the new Member Loyalty, and sharing ways you can save when filing your taxes.

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