St. Thomas Employee Hospital Credit Union

Money Doctor Quarterly Newsletter
July 2002

Members, it’s here -- STCU Online Banking
Do you have an STCU sharedraft checking account? We’ve got exciting news for you! The credit union’s “virtual branch” is “open!” Online Banking Enrollment Forms were sent in your August statement!

For STCU checking account holders only!
Only credit union members with STCU sharedraft checking accounts may enroll in online banking. If you’ve joined the credit union, but still have your checking account elsewhere, this is an excellent time to make the switch to STCU checking. If you haven’t yet joined the credit union, do it now! While you’re at it, you can sign up for STCU checking AND online banking!

What you need to connect with the STCU “Virtual Branch:”
If you are an STCU member with an STCU checking account, all you need is a personal computer (at home or office) with internet access and a standard web browser.

When we receive your Online Banking Enrollment Form, we’ll activate your STCU accounts for online access...and send you a “top secret” personal User ID and temporary security code. (Guard this information!)

When you receive your secret numbers...
1. Just connect to the internet and visit
    www.stthomascu.org.
2. Follow the links from the STCU web site to
    “Virtual Branch.”
3. Enter your User ID and Security Code in
    boxes on your screen.

You’re on your way to enjoying the 24-hour convenience of STCU online banking!

Summer Auto Shopping?
STCU offering special low rates during July!
STCU encourages you to check out the excellent values available right now at Enterprise Car Sales AND your area Gold Key Dealers!

Enterprise Car Sales:
For a limited time, STCU is offering qualified members 100% financing on gently used Enterprise autos -- plus -- $100 off an extended service agreement!

Gold Key Auto Dealers:
Also for a limited time, STCU is offering 100% financing of the MSRP at participating Gold Key dealers!

Check out these low STCU rates!
STCU Auto Loans Effective July 1, 2002

Term:             APR (range):
60 months      5.75 - 12.00%
48 months      5.50 - 11.95%
36 months      5.25 - 11:00%
24 months      5.00 - 11.00%

*For members who qualify. Rates subject to change. Visit our Rates page for rate updates.

For member convenience -- STCU & BHCU Cooperating on ATM usage
Now...STCU members who are visiting or working at Baptist Hospital... and BHCU members who are visiting or working at St. Thomas Hospital...may use either credit unions’ ATMs with no surcharge!

Dormant Account Fee: $5.00
STCU savings accounts with less than $100.00...and into which not one deposit is made during the calendar year...are charged a $5.00 fee on their July statement.

Make at least one deposit to eliminate the fee! Better still, sign up for payroll deduction and save every payday!

Ask Dr. Money
Q. When I call STAT-Line, it doesn’t work! What am I doing wrong?

A. STAT-Line is a 24-hour touch-tone phone service available to all STCU checking account holders -- but you have to sign up! Complete an application, and in about 10 working days, you’ll receive your secret personal ID number (PIN.) Your PIN plus your share account number will enable you to:
    • Access credit union account information
    • Transfer funds between accounts
    • Make STCU loan payments
    • Get info. on your last 15 checks to
      clear STCU
    • And more!

Prescription:
Stop by the credit union and apply for STAT-Line this week.

Then call 242-STAT to get information and take care of much of your STCU business!

Who can join STCU?
Credit union membership is available to employees and volunteers of St. Thomas Medical Facility and other groups (such as doctors’ offices) who share an occupational common bond and are located on the St. Thomas Campus. Immediate family members may also join.

Call STCU at 222-6721 if you have a question regarding your eligibility to join!

Holiday Closing
The STCU office will be closed for Labor Day -- Monday, September 2, 2002.

Fight Fraud -- Sign your cards!
Sign the back of all VISA Check Cards, ATM cards and credit cards as imprinted on the front. If a thief steals your card and tries to use it, a sharp merchant will notice his or her signature doesn’t match yours. Theft of your money or credit could be nipped in the bud!

Warning: Writing “CID” (See I.D.) in the signature space makes it easy for a thief to use your card with a fake I.D. Protect against this by signing your card!

Virtual Branch open round-the-clock! Keep your business at home! Apply at the Credit Union. Loan Applications are When you visit www.stthomascu.org, follow the links to “Online Banking,” and enter your User ID and Security Code, the system will confirm your identity...then show you a listing of your current STCU accounts.

From that point, convenient links on the left side of your screen (and easy-to-use online instructions) will enable you to perform a wide array of banking functions! You’ll be able to:

Check Account Information -- See detailed information about each of your accounts, including current balances. Information is updated in real time, just like you’d get it from the STCU office.
Review Account Transaction History -- This is an electronic version of the paper account statement you get in the mail, except that it’s much more up to date because you’re accessing it online in real time. Select a specific account and view recent transactions that have posted to that account. No more waiting for your monthly statement to arrive before you can reconcile your account, verify whether outstanding checks have cleared or track ATM withdrawals or VISA check card purchases.
Transfer Funds -- Use online banking to transfer funds between your credit union checking, savings and money market accounts. You may transfer an advance from a line of credit into a share account...or make a loan payment by transferring share account funds to a loan account. You may schedule transfers to occur immediately...or at a later date. You even may schedule a series of transfers to occur automatically every week, month, etc. Talk about handy!
Check on Scheduled Transfers -- Not only do you have the ability to schedule transfers between your STCU accounts, the online banking system lets you monitor and change any of your scheduled transactions, right up to 1:00 PM CST on their effective dates! (A handy search facility enables you to find and review the details of any of your transfers made during the last 18 months.)
Modify or Stop Payments -- You can review your list of pending payments on the Change Payments screen. Make changes to pending payments any time up to 1:00 CST on the processing date.
Secure Messaging -- More secure than regular email, your STCU Secure Messaging feature is protected from prying eyes. Now you can send and receive messages from the credit union that include sensitive information such as account numbers and balances. With Secure Messaging, you can complete a number of tasks and requests that used to require a trip or call to the credit union. For example, you can reorder checks, change your address, request copies of checks and statements, submit research, dispute requests or report problems. And as with all STCU online banking services, you can use Secure Messaging around the clock!

Important Online Banking Tips:
1. Signing on the first time. Once you receive your User ID and temporary Security Code, you’ll use them to sign on for STCU online banking the first time.

At this point, you’ll be prompted to create your own security code. Think of a code that will be easy for you to remember...but difficult for anybody else to guess. The new code you create must be four to eight characters long, and can include letters, numbers and punctuation marks.

2. Logging off! When you finish your financial tasks (or leave your computer unattended for a moment), click the Exit button (near top of every screen.) This will prevent someone else from accessing your accounts by using your computer while you’re away.

Summer Auto Shopping?
If you’re in the market for a new car, truck, van or SUV, the credit union encourages you to check out the excellent offering available right now at:

Enterprise Car Sales.
Each “gently used” vehicle made available for sale has passed a rigorous 109 point inspection. You’ll get a great haggle-free price and enjoy worry-free ownership!

Gold Key Auto Dealers.
Special STCU member discounts on both new and used autos have been pre-negotiated with Gold Key Dealers.

Members who combine an outstanding Enterprise or Gold Key value...with a low-interest STCU auto loan...will be driving into summer with a big smile -- and money left in your pocket!

MONEY DOCTOR
(Copyright July 2002, LNDSHRK Comm.)
is a free quarterly newsletter to members of:
St. Thomas Hospital Employees Credit Union