Archive for category: Blog

The new APCO Credit Union branch location in Hoover.

Great news for APCO Credit Union members living or working in the Hoover area: your Credit Union’s new full-service branch in the Chace Lake area opens Monday!

The new branch is located at 4725 Chace Circle, about one-half mile south of Riverchase Galleria just off Highway 31.

Grand Opening June 18

Stop by on Tuesday, June 18, and you’ll find yourself in the midst of our grand opening celebration. We invite you to come by, have some refreshments, register for door prizes, and give us the opportunity to thank you for allowing us to serve you. The ribbon cutting ceremony will be at 11:00 a.m.

The branch will be open from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. each day, Monday through Friday. The office will be closed for lunch each day between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. For more information, please call the branch at (205) 823-7403 or contact us via our website.

Thank you for your support of your credit union!

We are getting closer to completing construction on our new branch in Hoover!

The pictures below were taken earlier this week. The branch, located at 4725 Chace Circle, is scheduled to open in June.

Thank you for your support!

On April 1, 2013, your Credit Union will launch a new website and an improved online banking suite.

The website includes all of the useful features and functions you love, including online mortgage applications, rate calculators, and other useful services. However, this new website is also compatible with tablets and mobile devices, which allows us to better serve your needs.

The newest feature is our new online banking suite. The new online banking portal is more advanced, allowing you to have more control over your account.

Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about the new online banking:

FAQ

 1.  Will my password change?

 2.  Does my password ever expire?

 3.  I forgot my PASSWORD!  What do I do?

 4.  The system won’t let me login. What do I do?

 5.  What is the Security Feature?

 6.  I would like to have PCU Internet Account Access.  How do I get signed up?

 7.  Can I pay my bills online?

 8.  How far back can I go on my History?

 9.  How can I display a full screen of transactions when viewing my accounts online?

 10.  Why can’t I see all my accounts and/or loan history and balances?

 11.  Can I access all of my accounts from just ONE UserID ?

 12.  Why can’t I view my most recent check images?

Q:  Will my password change?

A:  No. The answer you provide to the “challenge question” is separate from your regular PC Banking login password.

Q:  Does my password ever expire?

A:  No, your password will never expire.  If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact us Mon-Fri during normal business hours at 205-226-6800.

Q: I forgot my PASSWORD!  What do I do?

A: Your PASSWORD is case sensitive. (When typing in your Password, check your caps lock key, make sure it is set appropriately). If you forgot your password or your account is already in the locked status, you will need to contact us Mon-Fri during normal business hours at 205-226-6800.

Q: The system won’t let me login. What do I do?

A: If, while logging into PC banking, you receive a message indicating that the site is unavailable, please clear the cookies from your browser. Below is a link to instructions on how to do this for some of the most popular versions of internet browsers. If you are still experiencing a problem after following the instructions below, please feel free to contact member services for support.

Instructions to Clear Cookies/Cache

Q: What is the security feature?

A: Users of PC Banking have always authenticated themselves to gain access. From now on, PC Banking will reciprocate and will also authenticate itself to you. You will know with every certainty that you are visiting PC Banking because you will be presented a graphic and phrase each time you login to APCO Employees Credit Union.

Q: I would like to have PCU Internet Account Access.  How do I get signed up?

A: In order to start the process, click on the link located at the top of our homepage at www.apcocu.org. You will need to complete the application then print it out. Make sure to sign it and mail it to the address below.

Before applying, you must read and agree to the “MAP” (Member Account Profile) Agreement and Regulation E disclosure. After reading and agreeing to the agreement and disclosure, you will be sent to the application form. If you do not agree, you will be sent to the Home Page.

Please mail the completed application form to:

APCO Employees Credit Union

Attn: Online Services

750 17th St. N

Birmingham, AL 35203

Q: Can I pay my bills online?

A: YES.  Bill Pay is available for FREE to all members with an active checking account.  Simply login to your PCU online account, go to the Bill Payment tab, then click on Enrollment Options to enroll.

Q: How far back can I go on my History?

A: You will have access to the past 7 months of account history.

Q: How can I display a full screen of transactions when viewing my accounts online?

A: Click on the “Click Here to print this page” button.  This will open a new window and display your transactions.

Q: Why can’t I see all my accounts and/or loan history and balances?

A: Each User ID can only be tied to one primary account number.  If you have other accounts or loan(s) listed under a different account number, you must Sign Up to get another User ID and Password created to view those accounts.  Once this is done, you can setup your account to view your other account(s) (see the next Q/A below).  If you want to transfer funds from one  account # to another and cannot, please contact us by calling 205-226-6800.

Q: Can I access all of my accounts from just ONE UserID ?

A: YES.  This is called Multiple Accounts. In order for this to work, each account must have a separate UserID, Password setup for each of your accounts that you want to access.  Once this is done, login and click on “Your Preferences / Multiple Accounts”, then click on the “Add Account” link.  Follow the simple instructions and you’re done.

Q: Why can’t I view my most recent check images?

A:  Check Images take approximately 1-2 business days from the time it clears your account until you can actually view the image in your account.  The reason for the delay is because the checks are routed through a third party processor where they are scanned and then sent electronically to our check imaging system.

Construction is coming along on our new branch in Hoover!

We are building a new branch on Chase Circle near Taziki’s and Gigi’s Cupcakes just south of Riverchase Galleria along Highway 31.

We hope to have our new branch open in June.

Looking to buy a house? Need to refinance?

Rates have never been lower and it’s never been easier than today to get a real estate loan at your Credit Union.

APCO Employees Credit Union is currently offering mortgage rate specials as low as 2.50% for a 5/1 Adjustable Rate Mortgage loan. Other mortgage rate specials include:

10 years fixed at 2.80%
15 years fixed at 3.45%
30 years fixed at 3.75%

APCO real estate loans offer you a choice – adjustable rate mortgages with terms to 30 years, fixed rate mortgages with terms to 30 year, or our APCO home equity line of credit loan. We consider each mortgage loan on a case-by-case basis and we use common sense to make our decisions.

What is APR? 

APR stands for annual percentage rate and it describes the entire interest rate for the term of your loan.

DO NOT be misled by a lender quoting you JUST a rate. Make sure you get a quote on the APR.

Lenders will often quote you a rate that appears to be lower than others but, by the time fees upon fees are added to the cost of the loan, the APR is much higher.

APCO Employees Credit Union is here to serve its members by providing the lowest APR loans in the market. How do we do it? Our fees are lower and it causes the APR on our loans to be lower.

Check out our entire loan menu at apcocu.org. You’re going to look good this spring in a low APR APCO loan!!!

Here are some things you should consider every year when evaluating your financial situation:

#1 – Cut down your debt. Stop estimating what your debt is costing you. Set up a plan to address your biggest
problem, such as high interest rate credit cards, too high of a balance, or having too many credit cards. Remember
not to close a card once it is paid off. Closing a card can have a negative affect on your credit history.

#2 – Get your records organized. Being disorganized can cost you money in late payment and over-limit fees.
Getting yourself organized will make it easier when it comes time to do your tax returns. It also will help you in
tracking your spending and matching purchases to your credit card statements.

#3 – Checking your credit report. Think of your credit as your portfolio. Once a year you can get a free
report from each of the big three credit reporting agencies (Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion) by going to
www.annualcreditreport.com. These reports will include information on all your accounts and let you see your
payment habits. It will also let you see if there are any possible problems with identity theft.

Water is one of nature’s most important gifts to humankind. Essential to life, a person’s survival depends on drinking water. Drinking six to eight glasses a day can be important for many reasons:

– Water is part of your body’s cooling system.
– Water is “pure,” in that it has no calories, sugar, stimulants, depressants, or chemical additives. It’s an ideal diet
aid, filling your stomach without adverse effects.
– Water protects your skin. It can help ward off wrinkles by promoting skin elasticity.
– Water protects your joints. It increases synovial fluid – something your body produces to lubricate joints.
– Water helps digestion. It is a natural laxative and can help prevent kidney stones.

Every day you lose about three quarts of water – even if you aren’t particularly active. Without enough water, you
may become dizzy, get a headache, lose energy, or become irritable. So, drink a tall glass of water – to your health!

The latest “IT” electronic toy hits the market. What happens at your house?

Option A: Your kids beg and plead and cry until you pull out the plastic to buy it for them; or

Option B: You’ve helped them anticipate they would want it and helped them save for it so they can pay for all or part of it on their own.

While Option A may be the case at the majority of households, Option B has longer lasting effects. Teaching your kids how to save for the future is a skill that will benefit them throughout their lives.

Here are some tips to help you get started:

1. If you provide an allowance, have your kids divide it each week into three boxes or jars: money to spend, to save
and to share. Help younger kids decorate the containers. Encourage them to divide up any money they receive as a
gift or earn for doing extra chores in the same manner. When the saving jar is nearly full, have your child bring the
money to the credit union to deposit into their savings account.

2. Show your kids how to set savings goals and stick to them. Help them with the math, if necessary, and have
them glue pictures of the things they want to a special savings jar.

3. Help kids learn about saving money by comparison shopping and cutting their expenses. For example, talk about
whether all the money they are spending on snacks from vending machines might be better saved and spent on
something like a new hand-held game or a bike.

4. Consider a match program – a family 401(k) if you will. Agree to match some percentage of the amount children
save in their share savings account at the credit union. For example, every time they save $5, you could match it
dollar-for-dollar or at 50, 25, or 10

Your Credit Union offers investment services to you. Visit apcocu.org for more information.

If you use a plastic card – debit, credit, or ATM – you can learn a lot from experienced card players. They protect themselves by not showing their hands. Here are seven tips for keeping your cards safe and secure.

1. Memorize your PIN (Personal Identification Number). Don’t write it on the back of the card. You can disguise it as part of a phone number in your address book or translate it into a word or easy to remember phrase from a keypad – 5683 is LOVE; 2559 is All Kids Love X-Box.

2. Use caution when using an ATM. Avoid frequenting any in secluded places. Always be aware of anyone “shoulder surfing” (standing close to you to observe your PIN or account number).

3. If you have multiple credit cards, use one exclusively for online or phone purchases. Then if it’s compromised, you have only one card to replace. Never enter your card information on a Web site unless the site is secured. Check to be sure the site has an “s” in its URL: https//. Scroll over the lock icon to confirm the site is verified.

4. Photocopy the front and back of your cards and keep the document in a secured place. If one is lost or stolen, you will have easy access to the account information.

5. Keep your cards in the same order in your wallet. That makes it easier to discover if one of them is missing.

6. Review your statements carefully for any unauthorized activity.

7. Contact the credit union or other issuer immediately to report a lost or stolen card.