SEPTEMBER 2012

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SHRED FEST – SAVE THE DATE!NEFCU will hold the last FREE Shred Fest of the year on Saturday, September 15, from 9 am to 3 pm at our 141 Harvest Lane office in Williston. The Shred Fest allows you to securely destroy documents containing sensitive information through the services of SecurShred, a local document shredding company. Limitations: Maximum 5 boxes, personal documents only, no business material. No three ring binders or general recycling, only documents containing personal or sensitive information.

Items that can be recycled with your documents: Paperclips, staples, plastic spiral holders, rubber bands, file folders, and hanging file holders.

Smartphone SecurityOne of four teenagers carries a smartphone. Many of these young users wind up broadcasting their whereabouts and other personal information to complete strangers, boosting the chances of becoming victims of identity theft.

A smartphone is a minicomputer holding quantities of personal information that requires protection, just like computers and laptops. Users, especially teenagers, are not taking simple, necessary steps to protect their smartphones from thieves and hackers.

Identity fraud increased in 2011, in part because of unsafe social media and mobile behaviors by users. Smartphone users are about one-third more likely than the general public to be victims of identity fraud. About 7% of smartphone owners were identity-fraud victims last year, according to “Identity Fraud Report: Social Media and Mobile Forming the New Fraud Frontier” by Javelin Strategy & Research.

In April the Federal Communications Commission and the wireless industry announced creation of a stolen smartphone database, rendering stolen devices worthless and preventing thieves from reactivating the devices on other carriers. The wireless carriers’ databases may be completed within six months, but it could take 18 months to complete the integrated database across all carriers.

The Identity Theft Resource Center, San Diego, California, recommends these best practices for mobile device users:

• Password-protect your phone. Use a strong password(numbers, upper- and lower-case letters, and symbols).

• Enrollinabackup/wipingprogram.Thisservicebacksupinformation on your smartphone to your home computer and “wipes” your phone if it’s lost or stolen.

• Installsecuritysoftware.Companiesofferantivirus,malware,and security software designed for smartphones. Make sure you download software updates.

• Downloadappsfromtrustedsources.Some“badapps”containmalware.

• Donotaccessfinancialaccountsfromfree,publicnetworks.Public Wi-Fi hotspots are a prime target for hackers who then have direct access to your mobile device.

E D U C A T I O N I N F O R M A T I O N

E V E N T S N O T I C E S&

&Learn Online at nefcu.com/learn

Seminars at NEFCU

RETIREMENTDON’T BE A TARGET

YOUNG ADULTSCAMS - PROTECTING YOUR PRIVACY

HOMEOWNERSHIPFOUR WALLS IS NOT ENOUGH For more information, go to nefcu.com/learn and view the articles, videos, audios, coaches and calculators related to these topics.

INTERNET SAFETY: AVOID FRAUDS, SCAMS AND HOAXESThursday, September 6 5:30-7 PM

PREPARE FOR HOMEOWNERSHIP – PART 1Thursday, September 13 5:30-7 PM

INTERNET SAFETY: PROTECTING YOUR HOME NETWORKTuesday, September 18 5:30-7 PM

PREPARE FOR HOMEOWNERSHIP – PART 2Thursday, September 20 5:30-7 PM

VT DISTINUISHED WRITERS’ SERIES: GESINE BULLOCK-PRADOWednesday, September 26 5:30-6:30 PM

VT DISTINUISHED WRITERS’ SERIES: THEA LEWISWednesday, October 10 5:30-6:30 PM

HOW TO NEGOTIATE A BETTER DEAL WHEN BUYING A CARThursday, October 11 5:30-7 PM

COMMON FRAUD SCHEMES AND INVESTIGATIONSTuesday, October 16 5:30-7 PM

HOME ENERGY AUDITS - WHY YOU SHOULD HAVE ONETuesday, October 23 5:30-7 PM

These seminars will be held at NEFCU, 141 Harvest Lane, Williston. Seating is limited and reservations are required. Register at nefcu.com or call 800-400-8790.

ThebigLaborDaycarsalesarejustaroundthe corner. If you’re in the market, check inwithNEFCUforourcompetitiveratesand fast and easy online loan applications atnefcu.com.Payingoffyourloancouldn’tbe easier since you can make payments usingNEFCUOnlineorMobileBanking.Soconsideraffordabilityand convenience when choosing your next auto loan.

You may also want to check out NEFCU’sAutoCheck,whichis a pre-approved loan that you

carry with you in the form of a blank check (recognized at dealerships throughout Vermont, New Hampshire, New York or Massachusetts). With the Auto Check, you’re assured of getting our best available rate. When your Auto Check is approved,

you can lock in your rate, so even if rates go up, you’re protected. And if rates go down before you buy we’ll give you the lower rate. Also, our Loan Courier Service can bring your check to your home or office, to help make the loan process easier.

NEFCUoffersdiscountedgroupratesatMetLife®andTravelers.CallNEFCU’slocalagents to see if you can save! MetLife 1-877-491-5089 or Travelers 800-842-5936.

MakeNEFCUyourfirststopwhenshopping for a new or used car or truck. Call us at 866-80-LOANS or apply online anytime at nefcu.com.

NEFCU Auto Loans: More than a great rate!

New Shelburne Road Branch Coming!Temporary location opens soon

NEFCU members who drive Shelburne Road will notice some big changes this fall. NEFCU’s Shelburne Road branch will be temporarily relocating a half mile down the road to the north while we build a new state-of-the art facility. The new branch will be a major upgrade over the existing building and will enable us to continue to serve our members well into the future.

To minimize the disruption during construction, all regular banking services and staff will move to a “temporary branch” located on Shelburne Road between Koto Japanese Steakhouse and Bourne’s Service Center in the former Pizza Hut building. Members will still be able to conduct teller transactions and meet with Member Service Representatives and both locations will have an ATM for your convenience.

Stay tuned for more details about the move, as well as regular construction updates.

In today’s digital world, your personal information is as good as gold – especially to identity thieves. More than 11 million people were victims of identity theft in 2011, making it one of the most common crimes in the U.S, as well as one of the most expensive.

The good news! Protecting yourself and your personal data is relatively simple, if you follow a few simple rules.

1.Becarefulwithyourinformation–Don’tgiveoutpersonaldataunlessyou’resureyou trust the other party. As a rule, don’t respond to unsolicited phone calls or emails asking you to provide personal information like checking account or social security numbers. These are common tricks used by thieves to pry your information loose.

2.NeverwritedownorshareyourpasswordorPIN– Have you ever jotted down your password or PIN? Or given it to a friend “just this once?” Once you’ve shared your access numbers, they are out of your control and you’re vulnerable. Play it safe by memorizing your password and PIN and keeping them entirely to yourself.

3.Destroyoldfinancialdocuments–Dumpsterdivingisonewaythievesfindold statements and cancelled checks which contain information they can use to potentiallyaccessyouraccounts.Neverrecycleorthrowoutoldfinancialdocuments.Shred them instead.

4.Monitor,monitor,monitor– If identity theft does happen to you, you want to knowaboutitASAP.NEFCUmakesthiseasywithNEFCUOnline,whereyoucancheck your account activity 24 hours a day. You can also sign up for automatic alerts that can help you spot suspicious activity on your account.

The new digital landscape requires us all to take new precautions to protect ourselves. By taking a few simple steps, you can do a lot to ensure that your identity, and your money,remainssafe.Ifyouhaveanyquestions,orwanttolearnmoreaboutNEFCU’sfraud protection programs, please contact your local branch or call us at 800-400-8790.

Protecting your most precious asset:

Your Identity

P R O D U C T S S E R V I C E S&

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