MPS and Educators Credit Union Celebrate EVERFI Graduates at Victory School

On Wednesday, May 8, Educators Credit Union and Milwaukee Public Schools came together to celebrate all of Victory School’s fifth-grade students completing EVERFI.

EVERFI is a financial literacy tool that teaches students about saving money, planning for college, protecting personal information and much more. The program puts students into a digital and interactive environment and learn lessons by stopping at different sections of a map. They then take a test to show their growth after taking the program.

“EVERFI gives students a context for how money actually works in the real world,” said fifth-grade teacher Rita Felippo. “I hope that the students learned to plan for their future. Whether it’s college planning, saving or investing, just having more of a sense on how money operates.”

Educators Credit Union is now sponsoring the use of EVERFI at every MPS elementary school. The program aligns with the State of Wisconsin’s requirement for financial literacy education.

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Your Checking Account Wasn’t Active Last Month!

We wanted to inform you that your checking account was not active last month. This means that you didn’t build up your Member Loyalty Reward¹.

You can still earn money for your Member Loyalty Reward if you have an active checking account this month! 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 card², writing a check, making an automatic withdrawal or using Bill Pay. It does not include ATM withdrawals.

Also, if Educators grows our active checking users by 20%, we will deposit a BONUS reward into every qualified account that has active checking on Nov. 30.

To see how you can build your Member Loyalty Reward, visit www.ecu.com/loyalty.

 

¹Educators Credit Union members will receive one Member Loyalty Reward per primary account holder social security number. A member can only receive one reward. Business accounts are eligible if their account uses an Employer Identification Number, not a social security number that is already linked to another Educators Credit Union account. The account earns a reward each month that builds to the Nov. 30 deposit. The account must be in good standing with Educators Credit Union for the member to participate in the reward that month. If a member’s checking account is negative due to Overdraft Privilege, that member is still eligible to participate in the program as long as the account is brought positive within the 35-day period. You can earn one monthly reward per service listed. For example, if you have multiple auto loans or leases, it will count as one service. Other restrictions may apply.

²ATM Withdrawals do not count as debit card transactions. Transfers from the checking share to another share, such as savings or loans, does not count as one of the five transactions.

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Celebrating Teachers That Made a Difference in Our Lives: Mrs. Morrissette

In our individual journeys to success, we all have learned many great things about life. The most beneficial things I have learned in my life come from my teachers, past and present. One particular teacher who had a positive impact on my life was Mrs. Morrissette.

When my mother was deported, I did not have any guidance on what I wanted to do with my life. But Mrs. Morrissette saw my potential and challenged me to reach it. She encouraged me to attend our school’s Future Business Leaders of America Club. When I finally decided to show up for a meeting. The meeting was the first step to shaping the person I would become. The club taught me how to network, how to have confidence and how to be determined to succeed.

In high school, I knew my father would not be able to afford to help me pay for college, but Mrs. Morrissette knew about an opportunity that could help me afford my tuition. She encouraged me to apply to become a co-op teller with Educators Credit Union at just 17 years old. Being a co-op teller would allow me to have a consistent job while still going to school. She always encouraged me to try new things and not to allow myself to be intimidated by new experiences.

At times I wanted to give up, but Mrs. Morrissette would not allow me to stop. I am thankful she put so much time and effort to mentor me. Because of this, I started taking college courses before I graduated high school and became the youngest District Ambassador of Gateway Technical College and Wisconsin Technical System.  I wouldn’t have had that initiative had it not been for Mrs. Morrissette.

Overall, my teachers’ motivation and love for students allowed me to become a woman of determination, confidence and a goal-setter. Now, I have worked for Educators Credit Union officially for two years and will graduate from Gateway in May with an associate degree, just a year after graduating from high school. I will forever be thankful to the teacher who encouraged me to become a successful individual. Thank you, Mrs. Morrissette!

– Keydi O.

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Happy National Teachers’ Day!

In honor of National Teachers’ Day, we wanted to spotlight some of the educators that had a significant impact on our staff. Here are some of our staff members’ recollections of their favorite teachers:

Hollie Edwards (Waukesha): Mr. P. was my 8th grade science teacher. As any 13 or 14-year-old, I had better things to do with my time, and science wasn’t really my best subject. Towards the end of the year he offered a “random” extra credit opportunity to students whose grades were suffering. This opportunity was helping him clear trash from a mile of the highway on a weekend afternoon. He was kind, entertaining understanding, and an all around wonderful teacher.

Hannah Kowalczyk (Accounting): Belinda Wampler! She taught math at Union Grove High School. She is one of the kindest teachers I have had the pleasure to learn from. Without her, I wouldn’t have discovered my love for numbers. It takes someone with a big heart to share their knowledge and passion with others, and Belinda is just that! She came to class every day with a big smile and a positive attitude. Her personality rubbed off on those around her. Thanks, Ms.Wampler, I owe so much to you!

Nathalie Andersen (Teller Operated Machines): My favorite teacher was my mother. From 2nd to 8th grade she taught my brother and I at home and helped us appreciate learning. Outside of making sure we learned things like math and English, she taught me faith, endurance, kindness and to listen. She taught me how to look at things from other perspectives and appreciate this great big world we live in. Every day growing up was filled with lessons and even now whenever I talk to her she is teaching me something new.

Stephanie Chamberlain (Janesville): My favorite teacher was my 1st through 3rd grade teacher, Mrs. Jacobs. I went to a very small school with only 34 kids in grades K – 8.  Mrs. Jacobs’ husband taught 4th – 8th grade. Their four children were among some of my very best friends. So, not only was Mrs. Jacobs the one who provided me knowledge about math, reading and science, she was also like a second mother to me. My own mother became very ill and my two brothers and I actually went to live with Mrs. Jacobs and her family for a little while until my own mother was better.  She was and still is a faithful friend to my mother and father. We still get together several times a year to visit. She is special to me because she is family.

Joe Knapton (Information Systems): I remember my 8th grade teacher Mrs. Smith. I liked math a lot, and we had a section on decimal equivalence (going from decimals to fractions to percentages, etc.). We had to memorize these for a lot of the simple ones, like 1/2 = 0.5, 1/8 = 0.125, 1/3 = 0.33333 – but during our graduation practices, I memorized the 7ths and the 13ths. They are six-digit patterns that repeat, and you know which one it is by the numerator. 1/7 is 0.142857 repeating. If you want 3/7, you pick the 3rd highest number and go from there (so 0.428751 repeating). The 13ths have 2 separate 6 digit sequences with the same concept. 076923 and 153846. I am typing this full thing from memory; zero calculators involved! That was way back in 1996, and 23 years later I still remember them “like that”. Mrs. Smith was a really fun teacher and clearly inspired me to do something “meaningful” (??) with my spare time!

Who was your favorite teacher? Let us know in the comments!

 

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Celebrating Nurses Day From the Eyes of a Nurse’s Son

My entire life, I’ve looked up to my mother. She’s a powerful and independent woman, she raised our family, did everything necessary to help us accomplish our dreams and goals, and so much more. But my admiration extends past family into her career: nursing.

Growing up, I was always aware that my mom was making a significant difference in the lives of others. We’d hear about her day at work and time with her favorite patients, get to listen to her rants about things she thought could be done better, and then, get the unique opportunity to meet some of her patients in the real world.

When patients left the hospital and saw my mom, they would always be ecstatic to see her. They’d carry huge smiles on their face and my mom always knew their name. My siblings and I would always be confused about why this person we’ve never met (and often their spouse) would be greeting my mom like a beloved family member. Now, as an adult, I get it. My mom wasn’t just coming in to change IVs, check medicals and occasionally bring you food. She was taking care of that person mentally and forming genuinely strong and lasting bonds.

It’s then that I understood why nurses are so important. Many of these people are going through the toughest period of their life. Working in a transplant clinic, my mom helped her patients recover from significant surgeries and ailments. But it wasn’t in and out, she would also offer them companionship in a terrifying time where they were down on their luck. They’re keeping you alive with their care and attention to detail, making you comfortable, and giving you some human connection during a trying and arduous journey.

My mom’s heroism extends when she’s off the clock, too. Watching her spring into action when there’s a significant car accident, or save a man going through a major cardiac event on an airplane has almost become the norm. Who needs superheroes when your mom saves lives almost routinely?

I know that my mom is making a significant impact in the lives of someone each and every day. I also know that there are thousands of nurses making that same heroic impact day in and day out (including my sister because nursing has become a family job). I’m proud to be the son of a nurse.

On behalf of myself and everyone here at Educators Credit Union, thank you, nurses! Your compassion, dedication and bravery are important to all of us.

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Getting Started with Credit

I started working at Educators Credit Union as a high school co-op employee in 2018. During this time, I have learned what “adulting” really means and how choices you make early on can impact you for the rest of your life. This led me to think, when it comes to personal finance, how many teenagers are as lost as I was?

The transition from high school to adulthood is not a simple one. Once you graduate, there’s a world of opportunities and decisions to make that impact you financially. You could go to college, buy a new car or start saving for that new house, but no matter what you choose, establishing credit makes it possible.

The words “establishing credit” sound intimidating, but just mean that you have proof that you are willing and able to pay back borrowed money. Borrowing from financial institutions is inevitable for most of us, but it is important to be financially educated and responsible before you begin to establish credit.

Here are a few tips to ensure that you are making the best financial decisions when it comes to credit:

• Don’t buy what you can’t afford!

A credit card might seem like free money, but when your payment date comes around, it is important that you can afford to at least pay the minimum payment. If you really want to build your credit, pay off the entire statement balance, which is the amount of money you spent in a billing cycle. Paying your statement balance each month is also a good way to avoid interest!

• Credit is your friend, not the enemy!

Avoiding credit cards or loans may seem like a good option to stay out of debt; however, credit is the proof lenders need that you are a trustworthy person to loan money to. Opening a credit card with a low maximum balance and making payments each month is all it takes to begin building credit.

• Read the fine print!

You must be selective when it comes to a credit card. Credit cards with low/moderate APR (interest rate), no annual fees, and benefits are what you should take into consideration while credit card shopping. Some credit cards have important hidden details in the fine print, like an interest rate that will get higher after the first six months or year. It is important to be completely aware of what you are signing up for when credit card shopping.

• One step at a time!

After reading this, you might be extremely eager to open loans and start building your credit but applying for a lot of loans or credit cards at once can lower your credit score. The applications are “hard hits” on your credit and it can also give lenders the impression that you are having trouble getting approved for loans.

As I am entering the adult-world, it has become evident to me that credit is essential to achieving short-term and long-term goals. When used responsibly, establishing credit can open opportunities for you that may not have been possible otherwise. Please comment below what you learned about establishing credit!

-Hailey K.

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ALERT: A New Scam is Targeting Wisconsin Residents

Wisconsin residents are being targeted by a new scam where fraudsters pretend to be the Social Security Department. The scammers are calling people in our area from a spoofed phone number that says they are from the Social Security Department. These fraudsters tell the person on the other line that their social security number is compromised and they must remove all of their money from their financial. The fake social security officer states that a representative will collect the money and replace their social security number after that exchange.

The Social Security Department would NEVER call you directly. Should your information be compromised, they would send a letter to you asking you to contact their offices.

If these scammers try to contact you or you believe you are a victim of this scam, please contact your local police department.

Use caution whenever you receive a phone call that demands immediate action, especially if the person on the other line wants your money, social security number, credit card number or other sensitive information. If you doubt that the person on the other line is who they say they are, hang up and call the company directly using a number from their official website.

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2019 May Member Focus

The newest Member Focus is now available for your enjoyment!

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