Four more credit unions have signed on with Credit Union 24's ATM and EFT network, the Tallahassee, Fla., based network has announced.
The four are the $62 million Ashtabula County Schools Employees Credit Union, headquartered in Ashtabula, Ohio; the $22 million Enfield Community Federal Credit Union, headquartered in Enfield, Conn; the $30 million Lion's Share Federal Credit Union of Salisbury, N.C.; and the $16 million Mint Valley Federal Credit Union, Longview, Wash.
“Since our credit union has members throughout the entire southeastern United States, Credit Union 24's fee-free network access greatly improves the ATM and POS services we provide our members and the value they receive from our credit union,” said John McGrail, CEO of Lion's Share FCU. “We have experienced some great successes amidst this challenging year, first with gaining our federal charter and now with joining the largest fee-free ATM network in the country. These developments have positioned us well for future growth.”
Lion's Share FCU was chartered in 1982 as Food Town Employees' Credit Association Credit Union. The credit union now serves nearly 11,000 members across the Southeast, drawn from the employees of Food Lion, Sweetbay, Harvey's, Reid's, Bloom and Bottom Dollar Food store chains and their family members.
Ashtabula County saw the advantages to not only members but also tourists that bring needed commerce to the community.
“This partnership benefits our members and our county's guests immensely,” said Mike Riesterer, CEO of Ashtabula County Schools Employees Credit Union. “Tourism plays a large role in our county's economy, generating more than $175 million annually and supporting many of our members' financial livelihood, and now ACSE benefits those tourists who are members of Credit Union 24 participating credit unions by providing them with additional surcharge-free ATM and POS terminals while they visit our beautiful county.”
Chartered in 1955, Ashtabula County Schools Employees Credit Union serves almost 7,000 Ashtabula County residents.
“Ashtabula County sees thousands of people enjoy their covered bridges, wineries and other tourist attractions each year, and having ACSE Credit Union join the network benefits traveling cardholders all over the nation with increased fee-free financial access in Ashtabula County,” said Jim Park, president/CEO of Credit Union 24.
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Judge, Consumer Advocate Boost
Colorado CU Financial Literacy Venture

The Foolproof financial literacy package is getting some high-level media promotion this month A U.S. bankruptcy judge in Rochester, N.Y., who heads up a nationwide consumer group on debt management endorsed the program, an interactive financial literacy offering complete with Web videos appealing to young people, as “a very encouraging step in helping us get through this crisis and one credit unions deserve commendation.” Foolproof debuted last May by the Credit Union Association of Colorado and Wyoming.
A supportive statement from the Consumer Federation of America was planned for this week during a much-touted media briefing.
Foolproof, which has signed up 76 CU subscribers plus half a dozen state leagues, has the backing of Atlanta consumer advocate Remar Sutton “as the only literacy program on the market which speaks the truth by telling young people simply not to carry a balance on their credit card.”
Most other literacy programs, he said, including those pushed by banks and other vendors, simply contain mundane “pay your bills on time” advice with thinly veiled, self-serving motives.
“But credit unions are in a unique role and one they relish to help the consumer truly manage their finances,” said Sutton. The banks and AIG are institutions that have a totally different message and perspective than those of CUs, he said.
The Rochester bankruptcy judge, John C. Ninfo II, who is founder and chairman of the volunteer-based CAREprogram on literacy, said that in addition to Foolproof, he has witnessed “some very encouraging” endeavors by CUs and their foundations in his home state.
“Perhaps now through Foolproof and these kind of activities, we can get more of the media and public's attention to the personal tragedies we see in our courts every day,” said Ninfo.
The New York federal judge also singled out the work done by the Credit Union Association of New York, the “BizKid$” program and the Summit FCU of Rochester and its president/CEO Michael Vadala. Vadala “has received many well-deserved local honors in Rochester,” said Ninfo.
On Foolproof, Judge Ninfo said the video-primed element of the program appears highly effective in reaching vulnerable young people overextended on credit card debt. The Foolproof logo and link appear on the CAREprogram Web site (www.careprogram.us).
He stressed that the CAREprogram he runs is “strictly a volunteer program supported by federal bankruptcy judges and advocates from across the U.S.”
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CU Staff, Members Get Hertz Benefits

Credit union staff and members can now receive a 5-15% discount on Hertz car rentals due to a new agreement between the California and Nevada Credit Union Leagues and Hertz Corporation.
Credit union staff and members can receive the discount by using a special counter discount program code found on the league Web site ww.ccul.org.
The California and Nevada Credit Union Leagues are also developing marketing materials credit unions can use to advertise the discount to members.
“The Hertz Member Benefit Program does provide an added benefit to membership for credit unions,” said Sylvia Fath, the leagues' senior vice president of business services.
The program includes worldwide discounts for business and leisure rents, members-only, toll-free reservations number and coupon specials.

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