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Category:  Tips

CCU is growing with NC!

Posted in Tips
Updated December 03, 2019 4:25 PM
NL BLOG Image NC Branches 300x200 11 19

As CCU has experienced significant growth over the years, we’ve built a strong presence in three diverse geographic markets. We are one of the strongest credit unions in the country, with more than 112,000 members worldwide. In the Cape Fear Region alone, our 5 branches serve more than 25,000 members and employ more than 60 people – all with the goal of providing you with free and low-cost products and services and world-class customer service. 

We’ve been serving the Wilmington area for more than 20 years, and just as Wilmington continues to grow, so does CCU. The newly-opened Regional Office off 17th Street Extension will house even more employees, including a planned call center and support departments to better serve our fastest-growing market. Through our volunteer efforts, our Wilmington-area team strives to make the Cape Fear Region a better place for all of us to live, work and play. We are dedicated to growing with our members in the community we love!

To each and every member, thank you. We love serving you and strive to provide you with expert advice, exceptional service, and a variety of innovative products and services that help make your life better. If you love CCU, please consider sharing your story with your friends, family, and co-workers so they can join our family and grow with us too! 

You Can Join!

 

Answers to Your Digital Banking Questions!

Updated December 04, 2019 7:39 PM
NL BLOG Image digital banking 300x200 11 19

We continue to receive great feedback and questions regarding our digital banking system from our members.

To help ensure you’re getting the most out of your digital banking experience, we are answering some of your most frequently asked questions. Also included are some digital banking enhancements that will be coming soon!
                                   


    


Where do I find my direct deposit information?

Your direct deposit information is located in the Information widget. This widget was not available when we first launched our new digital banking system, so you may have to add it to your widgets. First, navigate to your widgets and select the More… option. If the Information widget is not there, you will need to add it by selecting Widget Options. This can only be done on desktop. 

Once you select Widget Options, locate the Information widget and select Add.

After the widget is added, it will then appear in the More... options bar.

The Information widget currently houses your direct deposit information in the correct form needed to make electronic deposits. In the future, we may add additional features to this widget and will communicate more information as these additions become available.

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How do I enroll and access eStatements (electronic statements)?

When you enroll in eStatements, it means you are opting out of receiving paper statements for the account that you used to register for digital banking. While you will be able to see eStatements for your other accounts, you will still receive paper statements in the mail. If you would like to go completely paperless, please contact us to process this request.

To enroll in eStatements on a desktop computer

  1. Navigate to the eDocuments widget and click Subscribe in the Overview section.
  2. You will be presented with a Subscription Disclosure; review the disclosure and click I Agree.
  3. Verify you can access and view PDF documents by clicking Open PDF to view a code and then entering the code in the text box.
  4. When finished, click Subscribe to continue to complete the enrollment process.

To enroll in eStatements on your smartphone

  1. Log in to the CCU app.
  2. Tap on the eDocuments widget in the main menu, then on the Settings link in the corner of the screen.
  3. Tap on the Subscribe link in the corner of the screen.
  4. Check the I Agree box to accept the Subscription Disclosure; then, on the same screen, tap the Open PDF link.
  5. Copy the text displayed on the next screen, then click Done to close the PDF and paste the text in the box as directed. Click on Subscribe to complete the process.
  6. By checking your Subscription Settings, you'll see verification that you are now subscribed. 

To access your eStatements, simply navigate to the eDocuments widget. You will see tabs for all types of eStatements, even for eStatement types you do not receive. 

Please note, eStatement permissions depend on the statement type, which are shown below:  

  • Account eStatements can be viewed only by the prime member on the account.
  • Credit Card eStatements can be viewed by the prime member and any member that is a joint borrower on the credit card.
  • Fixed Rate Home Equity Loans can be viewed by the prime member and any member that is a joint borrower on the loan.
  • Mortgage eStatements can be viewed by the prime member and joint member on the account; however, for joint members, the eStatements will only be available for a mortgage if the loan is on the account the member used to register in digital banking.

If you are a prime member on multiple accounts, you will see eStatements for all accounts on which you are prime. If you have an account type not listed, contact us to talk through your unique situation.

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How do external transfers work?

External transfers are used to move money to other accounts or other lines of credit that you have at other financial institutions. 

To set up an external transfer to another account on a desktop computer: 

  1. Log in to your account.
  2. Locate the Classic tab of the Transfers widget and select Add an External Account.
  3. Agree to the ACH Transfer Policy, update the account type, choose how to you’d like to receive the verification code and enter the code within 15 minutes of receiving it.
  4. We will send two trial deposits of less than $1.00 each to verify you’re the owner of the external account.
  5. On the Dashboard, a confirmation will appear in the notification area once the deposits have been made. Click on Confirm to go to the Accounts tab of the Settings widget.
  6. Once you click on Confirm, it will prompt you to enter the transaction amounts sent to the external account.
  7. Once confirmed, the account will appear in the list of available transfer recipients within the Account menu. 

To set up an external transfer to another account outside of CCU on mobile:

  1. Log in to the CCU app.
  2. Click on the Transfers widget.
  3. Select Add Account, then select the External Account tab.
  4. Enter the recipient info.
  5. Choose how you’d like to verify your identity.
  6. We will send two trial deposits of less than $1.00 each to verify you’re the owner of the external account.
  7. Once the trial deposits have been made, head to the Settings widget from the Main Menu, then select Accounts to view the pending external account(s) displayed at the top of the screen. Click Confirm.
  8. To confirm the External Accounts, enter the transaction amounts to complete the process. 

External Transfers will arrive within three business days of the transfer request. Transfers submitted by 2 p.m. on a business day will be processed that day. Transfers submitted after 2 p.m., on a weekend, or on a holiday will be processed the next business day.
Want to learn more or see a step-by-step visual tutorial? Check out our Digital Banking Tutorials! 

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Stay Tuned for New Digital Banking Enhancements!

With our new digital banking system, you can expect faster updates to continually improve your experience. We’re excited to share some upcoming enhancements coming your way soon!

A New Widget to Help Manage Your CCU Cards
A new feature giving you the ability to control your card(s) within digital banking is in the works! This new feature will allow you to ‘freeze’ a card if it’s not actively being used or if it has been temporarily misplaced. You will also have the ability to order a replacement if your card is damaged and you need a new one.

Live Chat Within Digital Banking
We’re excited to share that we’re working on a new live chat feature which will give you the ability to have a conversation in real-time with a CCU representative within digital banking. We expect to launch in 2020.

Add Accounts at Your Convenience with Quick Apply
We’re adding more convenience to the Quick Apply widget! In addition to being able to initiate a loan application through this widget, you will now be able to add an All Purpose or Holiday Club account whenever and wherever is most convenient. 

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Avoid “Free Trial” Traps

Posted in Tips
Updated November 09, 2018 8:00 PM
FREE TRIAL

How often do you find yourself browsing online and an advertisement for a free trial for some product or service pops up? Do you click on it? If you do, you’re not alone! Anything free can be enticing, especially when you’re on a budget. Free trials can certainly have their advantages, but it’s extremely important to pay attention to the details so you don’t get stuck with a bill and products you don’t want.

If you’re considering a free trial, just remember, they always have an end-date. In most cases, it is up to you, the subscriber, to cancel before the trial is over. By letting the subscription run out with no action, you may unknowingly be agreeing to continue the subscription and/or buy more products. How does that happen? The answer is probably written in the Terms and Conditions.

Unfortunately, most free trials come with strings attached. Businesses offering these trials often make it extremely difficult to cancel a subscription by hiding the Terms and Conditions of their offers or by setting conditions on returns and cancellations that are nearly impossible to complete. Some companies will also use pre-checked boxes as default settings when you sign up for their product or service. If you don’t uncheck those boxes, you may have given them permission to continue providing you with that product after the trial is over, but for the full price.

How can you avoid getting caught in a free trial trap?

  • Research the company – The best way to find out if something is legitimate is to see what other people are saying about it. Read the reviews on the company and on the trial offer; you’ll want to make sure you pay attention to any complaints.
  • Find and read the Terms and Conditions completely – Make sure you understand what’s in the fine print before you sign up so you can avoid any potential surprises. If you are having trouble locating the Terms and Conditions, or if you can’t understand them, it’s best to just not sign up.
  • Watch for pre-checked boxes – Look for any pre-selected boxes before you sign up. If those boxes are selected, it could be the permission they need to charge you for items after the trial is over.
  • Mark your calendars – Find out when the trial is over and mark your calendar with the date so you know when to take action before getting charged.
  • Know the cancellation and return policy before signing up – Find out if there are any fees associated with returning items or canceling.
  • Monitor your accounts – Keep an eye on your accounts to ensure you’re not being charged for something you didn’t order.

What do you do if you’ve been charged for something you didn’t order?

If this happens to you just follow these steps:

  • Don’t panic and pay – Take a minute to assess the situation and do your research on the company, what’s happened, and what your rights are in this situation.
  • Cancel the reoccurring order/contract – Though it may not have seemed like you agreed to reoccurring orders or that you signed a contract, providing your information likely gave them permission to continue to charge you for their product or service. Contact the company and officially cancel your order. If possible, try and get proof of the cancellation for your records and for your financial institution.
  • Record all communication – Be sure to keep track of all communication with the company so you have proof of your interactions moving forward.
  • Contact your financial institution – If there is no resolution with the company, contact your financial institution right away to dispute the charge. You may want to consider talking with them about blocking all further withdrawals from this company.

We hope this information will help you navigate these offers in the future. Though free trials often come with strings attached, they are not something you have to completely avoid, as long as you know what to look for. By following these tips you can help protect yourself from getting caught in free trial traps.

 

Watch Out for these Scams after Natural Disasters

Posted in Security, Tips
Updated June 11, 2019 7:20 PM
Common scams

After disasters, it’s important to keep an eye out for these common scams:

Home Repair Scams

A common home repair scam involves a person showing up at your property and offering to do repair work. The person will ask for funds up front, and once you have paid, he or she never returns. Never pay more than half the cost of repairs in advance and always ask for a detailed estimate in writing. 

Before hiring someone, check their references, insurance, and licenses. It’s also a good idea to ask your neighbors and friends who they have used locally to complete their repairs.

Other Scams

Scammers may also pose as utility workers, insurance adjusters, and FEMA officials. Always verify the identity of anyone who contacts you by calling the utility company, insurance company, or FEMA directly. Also beware of anyone who asks for your 9-digit FEMA registration number or banking information. Legitimate FEMA officials never ask for this information.

Donation Scams

We all want to help after a disaster, but it’s important to check out any charity you’re thinking of donating to ahead of time. You can use websites like Charity Navigator, Charity Watch, and Guidestar to make sure any non-profit is legitimate before making a donation.

Keep an eye out for unsolicited donation requests that may come to you by email or social media. Don’t click on links in emails or on Facebook or Twitter; they could be links to malicious websites.

When using a search to find charities, be careful with the search results. Carefully read the Internet addresses before you click. Scammers often create fake websites with web addresses that are very close to legitimate charity URLs. Look for slight misspellings, tweaks, or sound-alike names. Know that most legitimate non-profit organizations web addresses also typically end in .org.

 

What to Do After a Hurricane

Posted in Security, Tips
Updated October 15, 2018 7:25 PM
Community Help

If your home has been damaged during a hurricane, follow these steps:

Take Pictures and Document Damage

Document the damage thoroughly with photos and/or video, as it will make the insurance claims process much easier. In addition, keep a running list of all damaged items and any expenses you incur after the hurricane is over, like temporary relocation expenses.

Secure Your Property

If it’s possible and safe to do so, make efforts to secure your property from additional damage (like covering broken windows with plastic to keep rain out). Don’t make permanent repairs until an insurance adjuster reviews the damage.

File Claims

Notify your insurance company as soon as possible that you need to file a claim. Provide a general description of the damage and have your policy number ready if possible. If your policy is through the CCU Insurance Agency, contact your insurance company directly to start the claim process. If you aren’t sure which insurance company your policy is with, call us at 844-835-7641.

Insurance Claims Contact Information

Homeowners insurance policies typically exclude flood losses from coverage; however, you may have a separate flood insurance policy. If you do not have coverage for a flood loss, visit www.DisasterAssistance.gov or call 800-621-3362 (TTY 800-621-3362) to learn more about Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) assistance.

Please note, FEMA forms may ask for your bank or credit union’s Routing & Transit Number. Corning Credit Union’s R&T number is 222380359. If you need to include your checking account number, use the 14-digit Member Account Number on the bottom of your checks. Feel free to call us if you need help.

Return Claim Forms

After you file your claim, your insurance company will send you forms to fill out and return as soon as possible. A claims adjuster may also schedule time to inspect the damage to your home and personal property.

Receive Insurance Proceeds

If you have a mortgage on your property, the insurance claim check will be made jointly to you and your mortgage lender. If your mortgage is with CCU, call our Real Estate Services team at 800-677-8506.

Make Repairs

When you’re ready to start repairs, ensure you select a qualified contractor to help. Keep an eye out for common scams that often occur after disasters.

The Greater Wilmington Business Journal has created a place for businesses, home owners and others in the region to find needed resources to help recover from a Hurricane.





Foremost Insurance
800-527-3907

Hartford
800-243-5860

NC Joint Underwriters / Insurance Underwriters Association
800-662-7048, Option 1

Progressive
800-776-4737

Safeco
800-332-3226

Travelers
800-252-4633

Assurant Flood
800-423-4403
www.myflood.com
reportfloodclaim@assurant.com