Why Congress Is Protecting Credit Unions
By: Jim Nussle, President and CEO of America’s Credit Unions
As the Trump administration and Congress work to strengthen the economy and local communities, a small but powerful way for them to do so is to protect the longstanding not-for-profit tax status of the nation’s 4,500 credit unions. The House Ways and Means Committee has chosen to protect the tax-exempt status of credit unions, allowing their 142 million members to fulfill their small but indispensable role in financial services. Their colleagues in the House and Senate should follow suit.
Credit unions are not-for-profits for an important reason: banks were built for Wall Street. Credit unions were built for Main Street. Unlike banks, credit unions are member-owned financial cooperatives, not businesses that must maximize shareholder profits. The primary goal of credit unions is to serve their members and community, especially people whose banks have left them behind. Credit unions reinvest their profits in the cooperative and return them to members as reduced fees, higher savings rates, and lower home and auto loan rates.
Credit unions provided members over $27 billion in direct financial benefits last year. That figure rises to $38 billion for all consumers, who see the benefit from banks trying to match credit unions’ rates. This makes the credit union tax status one of the best investments the U.S. government makes, with a roughly 1,200 percent annual rate of return. Removing the exemption would have cost the federal government $33 billion in lost income tax revenue over the next 10 years. GDP would have been reduced by $266 billion, and 822,000 jobs would have been lost over the next decade.
Credit unions also empower members to accumulate savings, creating a source of credit for members, businesses, and other productive purposes.
Around 43 percent of all Americans belong to a credit union, 87 percent view them favorably, and 91 percent trust them (while 84 percent trust banks). Credit unions also stand out for primarily serving employees of local businesses, organizations, and other employers. Joining their employers’ affiliated credit union offers workers a free perk in the form of low-cost financial services.
Most credit unions are relatively small, typically with around $500 million in assets, and about 60% hold less than $100 million in assets. In comparison, the top 250 U.S. banks have an average of $85 billion in assets, while even midsize banks range between $10 billion and $100 billion in assets. The two largest U.S. banks are larger than the entire credit union industry combined.
Many credit unions are relatively modest operations. Many operate in “bank deserts,” providing the only established local financial services nearby. One of the smallest, Holy Trinity Baptist Church Federal Credit Union in Philadelphia, serves 80-90 members and has a meager $24,000 in assets, “But it has survived and thrived over the past 50-plus years with low overhead and a small but loyal membership,” American Banker reported. That’s true of many smaller credit unions.
Credit unions also tend to serve members of more modest means. The average income is $71,000, less than half that of a bank-only customer at $164,000. The credit union mission includes helping struggling members escape cycles of debt, achieve financial milestones, and build long-term prosperity.
This is why the Ways and Means Committee has chosen to resist—and all of Congress should, too—the banking industry’s Goliath versus David calls to eliminate credit unions’ not-for-profit status. Removing that status would impose a needless tax on millions of Americans—military members, farmers, small business owners, teachers, and families—and their communities that benefit from local credit unions.
The Maine Credit Union League creates videos to help members spot fraud
With a wide array of fraud schemes happening in Maine and across the country, it was difficult to pick one scam to focus on in the new advertisements. However, the heart of the message showcases how credit unions know their members and can spot suspicious activity. It also relays confidence that Mainers can feel safe banking at a local credit union.
To watch the new videos, please click the links below.
60 seconds: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rhtmCLfl1Jo
30 seconds: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ArgjoA0v0Co
15 seconds: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mnmeBblvoI
Fraud Scheme Targets Mainers with Fake Arrest Warrant
Keep in mind, a valid warrant would never be sent in the mail, through email, or via fax. It would be served in-person by a legitimate law enforcement representative. If you or one of your members receives a letter (or a phone call) like this, don’t panic; but more importantly—don’t engage! Further, never provide personal or financial information or make a payment to anyone claiming they can settle an arrest warrant. When in doubt, always contact your local police department or county courthouse directly about suspicious communications before taking action.
Scamming Has Never Been Worse. Here’s How Mainers Can Avoid It
In response to scamming, consumers need to be more vigilant than ever before. Rapid technological innovations are changing our world, and while we enjoy many benefits from that, there are also negatives to be aware of. Credit union members have been called, emailed or contacted via social media by people impersonating others. These scams disproportionately affect older people in Maine who are less familiar with new-age technologies.
The first component of vigilance is public awareness. We need to understand that scammers are out there in droves to exploit consumers, especially those who are less comfortable with technology. But scamming is a threat to everyone — across all industries.
To identify scammers, there are general red flags to watch for. According to the Federal Trade Commission, scammers often pretend to represent familiar organizations, claiming there is a problem that warrants a fast response or a prize for those who act. It is common for scammers to pressure consumers to act quickly while telling them to pay up in a very specific way. This very targeted sense of urgency is an easy giveaway.
There are other giveaways, depending on the platform. Scammers have become more sophisticated due to 21st century frontiers like emailing and text messaging, but the red flags still apply. Whether it’s on a phone or a computer, a scam can be identified through careful examination.
Is the subject line strange? Does it appear to be from someone you know, but it doesn’t seem like them? (Keep in mind: scammers can make their text or call appear to be from any number they wish.) If you hover over the email address, can you see the true domain name? Are there grammatical or spelling errors that make the email feel less formal? Is there threatening language urging action? Are there unusual characters or punctuation marks?
It’s important to run through all these questions as checkpoints. The same goes for social media: Beware of unusual wording or display features, or anyone reaching out for your password information. Above all else, consumers should avoid clicking links or opening attachments that seem fishy because they are quick pathways to compromised information.
Scamming is way, way up, so there should be no taboo surrounding the notion of a scam. Consumers shouldn’t feel silly about being tempted by a potential scam because tricksters are very clever when it comes to manipulating people. Scammers are savvier than they were five or ten years ago, changing voices and phone numbers through AI.
Consumers must also remember that there are resources out there for people who feel threatened by scammers. Credit unions and other financial institutions are aware of the scamming crisis, and they are ready to provide resources that can keep people safe. Consumers should never feel ashamed about asking for these resources from a credit union or their financial institution.
In Maine and across America, today’s scamming requires extra vigilance from all of us. Staying alert is the key to staying safe—and saving money, too.
Beware of Recent Text Scams – posted November 1, 2023
Our credit union wants to alert you about a text messaging scam that is impacting members across Maine. If you receive an unsolicited text message from someone claiming to be with a Maine-based credit union about a suspicious online purchase made with your debit card, do not click any links in the message!
As a friendly reminder, you should never click on links received in emails or text messages from people you do not know. Anytime you receive an alert about a financial transaction from someone other than your trusted credit union, be wary! This is a big red flag for fraud. Our credit union will never contact you by phone, text, or email and ask you to verify your banking account number, passwords, Social Security number, or other personal information. Always reach out to our credit union at the number listed on our website if you are uncertain about a communication or need assistance.
Protecting Your ATM Card
- Always protect your ATM card and keep it in a safe place, just like you would cash, credit cards or checks.
- Do not leave your ATM card lying around the house or on your desk at work. No one should have access to the card but you. Immediately notify the credit union if it is lost or stolen.
- Keep your Personal Identification Number (PIN) a secret. Never write it down anywhere, especially on your ATM card.
- Never give any information about your ATM card or PIN over the telephone. For example, if you receive a call, supposedly from the credit union or possibly the police, wanting to verify your PIN, do not give that information. Notify the police immediately.
Using an ATM
- Be aware of your surroundings, particularly at night. If you observe or sense suspicious persons or circumstances, do not use the machine at that time.
- Have your ATM card ready and in your hand as you approach the ATM. Don’t wait to get to the ATM and then take your card out of your wallet or purse.
- Visually inspect the ATM for possible skimming devices. Potential indicators can include sticky residue or evidence of an adhesive used by criminals to affix the device, scratches, damaged or crooked pieces, loose or extra attachments on the card slot, or noticeable resistance when pressing the keypad.
- Be careful that no one can see you enter your PIN at the ATM. Use your other hand or body to shield the ATM keyboard as you enter your PIN into the ATM.
- To keep your account information confidential, always take your receipts or transaction records with you.
- Do not count or visually display any money you received from the ATM. Immediately put your money into your pocket or purse and count it later.
- If you are using a drive-up ATM, be sure passenger windows are rolled up and all doors are locked. If you leave your car and walk to the ATM, lock your car.
Special Precautions for Using an ATM at Night
- Park close to the ATM in a well-lighted area.
- Take another person with you, if at all possible.
- If the lights at the ATM are not working, don’t use it.
- If shrubbery has overgrown or a tree blocks the view, select another ATM and notify the credit union.
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The True Cost of Car Ownership
(From the Financial Literacy Blog) – It costs money for people to get around—whether it’s by taking public transportation, renting a vehicle, using ride-hailing services, or buying a car. For those who choose to buy a vehicle, it’s likely to be one of the most expensive purchases they’ll ever make, with home-buying being the most costly. While the upfront cost of a car gets the most attention, it’s important for people to know that there are additional costs that add up over time. Other than the interest rate on the financing, here are some additional costs people should consider before purchasing a vehicle:
Registration and Excise Tax
By law, everyone is required to register their vehicle annually in the State of Maine, regardless of whether the vehicle is purchased new or used. The yearly cost of registration is $35. When an individual visits their town office or city hall to make their registration payment, they’re also charged an agent fee, with costs varying. The fee is usually around $5. These costs don’t end there, however. To complete the registration process, car owners need to pay an excise tax on their vehicle. In Maine, the excise tax is based on the manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) of the vehicle when it was sold new. In the first year that a car is registered, an excise tax of $24 per $1,000 of MRSP is charged. The price declines each year of the vehicle’s life until its sixth year and subsequent years, where the charge is $4 per $1,000 of MSRP. For example, if someone purchased a new vehicle for $30,000 and registered it for the first time, they would pay the following:
$30,000 / $1,000 = $30
$30 x $24 = $720
Their total excise tax in the first year would be $720. If they were registering the vehicle for the sixth or subsequent year, they would pay the following:
$30,000 / $1,000 = $30
$30 x $4 = $120
Their total excise tax in the sixth or any subsequent year would be $120.
Insurance
Auto insurance protects people from having to pay the full cost of vehicle repairs, a replacement vehicle, or medical expenses following an accident. In Maine, it is against the law to operate a vehicle without paying for auto insurance. The average annual cost of auto insurance in the Pine Tree State is $294 for minimum insurance and $965 for full coverage. While full coverage is more expensive every year, having better insurance could save someone a lot of money in the event of a total loss due to theft or an accident.
Gasoline
While the cost of fuel may seem insignificant to some when they’re purchasing a vehicle, it’s important to understand the cost of gasoline can quickly add up. With fuel costs at nearly $4 per gallon across Maine, visits to the pump can quickly break a budget. On average, people are spending $131 on gasoline for their vehicle each month. For those looking to save on gas prices, read our blog here.
Maintenance
Keeping a vehicle running smoothly is an ongoing expense. Between oil changes, new tires, battery replacements, new windshield wipers, services, and more, car owners should budget for regular maintenance and upkeep. According to a study by AAA, a new car’s routine maintenance and repairs could cost an average of $0.09 per mile. If someone drives around 10,000 miles per year, that comes to $900. The older the vehicle, the more costly it is to maintain. That is because parts wear down over time and need to be replaced more often than on a new vehicle.
Parking
If someone lives in the city, it’s likely they’ll need to factor parking costs into their budget. Monthly parking garage passes in Portland are around $140, with meters charging around $2.50 per hour. Car owners in rural areas likely won’t have to factor these costs in, but anyone living or working in the city should plan for recurring parking expenses.
Know Your Costs
The bottom line is that the advertised price of a vehicle is just one consideration when determining the true cost of car ownership. Adding up the cost of registration and excise tax, insurance, gasoline, maintenance, and parking can help people get a better sense of the true cost.
Members who participated in the 2022 Membership Survey rated Maine Solutions FCU with 100% satisfaction!!!
Additionally, we are pleased to announce that member Michael Davis is the 2022 Membership Survey Raffle winner. Congratulations to Mike, and thank you to all members who participated in the survey.
Maine Solutions Federal Credit Union, in South Portland, Maine, is a member owned organization providing our credit union family a wide range of financial services to meet their needs in a friendly and efficient manner.