Happy New Year from the staff
of Touchstone Federal Credit Union!

Check out our 5.75% APR* Home Equity Loan promotion!

* APR is Annual Percentage Rate

 

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Interested in Running for a Seat on Our Board?
If you've thought of joining the Touchstone FCU Board, there's no better time than the present. If you would like to fill one of the three seats open on our Board, please submit a short resume and bio about yourself to Helen Sweeney by February 20, 2009. Helen can be contacted at (978) 657-4453.

 

Review Statements to Avoid Potential Holiday Credit Card Fraud
Don't forget to review your Visa credit card statements to check for any potential fraudulent use during the holiday season. If something on your statements does not seem right, please call us immediately at (978) 657-2223. Credit card fraud is increasing, but you can do something about it. Remember to view your statements carefully. Sign up for home banking, and review all your accounts regularly online to avoid problems.

Also, make sure we have your current phone information on file so that we can quickly contact you if we think there are any potential issues with your account(s).
 

Traveling Overseas with Your Visa Credit Card?
Visa credit card holders, if you are traveling overseas, please let Touchstone know. For the safety and peace of mind of our members, we have a security "lock-out" on your credit card that will not allow you to use the card overseas. This security precaution could freeze your account when you try to use it overseas unless you've informed us of your plans. On your written request, we can release the "lock-out" feature for as long as you plan to stay abroad.

 

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Prepare, Print, and E-file Your Simple Federal Return for FREE
with TurboTax^® Federal Free Edition!

When it comes to finances, we’re all ready for some good news. So how about not only getting the maximum refund you deserve, but also filing your taxes for FREE. This year as a valued Touchstone FCU member, you’ll find out just how untaxing your taxes can be when you file your simple federal return with TurboTax® Federal Free Edition.

Make tough times a little easier. TurboTax is the uncomplicated, unexpensive, untaxing way to get your taxes done. Fast, easy and free. With the security of knowing you’ll get the MAXIMUM REFUND you deserve.

It’s easy! It’s FREE! Get started — click here!
 

© 2008 Intuit Inc. All rights reserved. State filing charges apply. Limited time offer for TurboTax 2008. Terms, conditions, features, availability, pricing, fees, service and support options subject to change without notice.  Intuit, TurboTax and TurboTax Online, among others, are registered trademarks and/or service marks of Intuit Inc., in the United States and other countries. Other parties' trademarks or service marks are the property of their respective owners.

  

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$50K YOUR WAY Sweepstakes
Three ways you can win in the $50K YOUR WAY sweepstakes from December 1, 2008 through January 31, 2009!

1: New Bill Pay users earn $10.00 simply by paying just 10 bills online from December 1, 2008 through January 31, 2009.

2: All members can win one of ten daily Instant Win prizes of $100.00, each time you log in to the program site and learn more about Bill Pay.

3. All participating members will be entered to win the Grand Prize of $50,000!

Pay bills the easy way with FREE Bill Pay. Not signed up yet? Demo Bill Pay today!

 

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How Can We Help You?
Touchstone FCU offers Members many services including financial planning services and mortgages through our professional associates. How can we help you to reach your financial goals? We asked some of our Members to share their experiences with you in our newsletter and on our website.

Annette Griffin: Member since 1984
Q: What prompted you to go to Paul Goyette of NPA*? How has he helped you?
A: In 2004, I made an appointment with Paul to talk because I was planning to retire. I feel relieved about my retirement. I am very happy with Paul. He did a very good job of organizing my retirement plan.

Q: What has it been like to work with Paul?
A: It was an awesome experience. It has been very easy to work with Paul and his staff. They are all very helpful if I have a question, and Paul will meet quarterly with me. We’ll meet soon, but Paul called me during this time because I was concerned during these times with the economy. I feel less scared, more relieved with my plan.
Read More about Annette's experience...  

For more Member stories, Read our Fall News!

* Paul M. Goyette is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER^TM practitioner for Northeast Planning Associates, Inc.
Financial Planner offers advisory services through Northeast Planning Associates, Inc., a registered investment adviser.  Securities offered through Linsco/Private Ledger (LPL), member NASD/SIPC.  Products and services provided: 1) are NOT federally insured; 2) are NOT obligations of the credit union; 3) are NOT guaranteed by the credit union; 4) may involve investment risks including possible loss of principal.  Touchstone Federal Credit Union, Northeast Planning Associates, Inc. and LPL are not affiliated.  Branch 402 Amherst Street, Unit 101, Nashua, NH 03063 (603) 689-7162.

 

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Credit Unions: "Just What the Doctor Ordered"
While loans have dried up at other financial institutions during these tough economic times, credit unions are still lending, and Touchstone is too! Why? Because Touchstone and credit unions like it take a conservative approach to lending and have not been hurt by the subprime mortgage mess. In a recent Time article, George Hofheimer, chief research officer of Filene Research Institute noted, "In good times, you'd say [credit unions] are much too conservative. But in times like these, it's just what the doctor ordered." Read "Boom Times for Credit Unions" for more information. AND, if you’re in need of a loan, we can help! Talk to us, or apply online!

 Did you know that credit unions in America are celebrating their 100th Anniversary? The first credit union transaction occurred on November 24, 1908 when St. Mary's Bank in Manchester, NH accepted its first deposit. With that one small deposit, a new tradition of members helping members was launched in America, and for 100 years credit unions have been helping members to preserve wealth and achieve their financial goals. They remain "just what the doctor ordered" for financial stability and growth.

Important News About Phishing Scams
Please be advised that there are several phishing scams that may appear to come from support services of financial institutions. (Anyone with an e-mail address may be susceptible to this scam or others like it.) Please use caution if you receive any e-mails that ask you to provide confidential information or to click links to visit web pages that ask you to provide confidential information. Many such e-mails are sent by criminals attempting to trick recipients into providing confidential information like user names and passwords. Known as phishing, many such fraudulent e-mails may appear to be from official or trusted sources. Two recent phishing scams you should be aware of are e-mails that purport to come from Network Solutions or Digital Insight. If you receive suspicious e-mails, do not click on the link provided in the e-mail.

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Your Savings are Safe with Touchstone FCU
We want to assure you that your savings are safe with Touchstone Federal Credit Union. As in the case of all credit union accounts, the amount on deposit is fully insured up to the legal limitations. The NCUSIF is administered by the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA), an agency of the federal government. It protects credit union members against losses; no member has ever lost money insured by the NCUSIF. Only credit unions with sound operational standards qualify to receive NCUSIF coverage, and the operations of all federally insured credit unions are reviewed regularly by the NCUA.

As of October 3, 2008, share accounts in federally insured credit unions are insured up to the Standard Maximum Share Insurance Amount (SMSIA) of $250,000. The Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 increased the insurance coverage on all accounts up to $250,000 until December 31, 2009.

You may obtain additional separate coverage on multiple accounts, but only if you have different ownership interests or rights in different types of accounts and you properly complete account forms and applications. For example, if you have a regular share account and an Individual Retirement Account (IRA) at the same credit union, the regular share account is insured up to $250,000 and the IRA is separately insured up to $250,000.

Coverdell Education Saving Accounts are insured as irrevocable trust accounts and will be added to a member’s other irrevocable trust accounts and insured up to the SMSIA. Roth IRAs will be added together with traditional IRAs and insured up to $250,000. Additional coverage is available on revocable trust or payable on death accounts on a per beneficiary basis. A co-owner’s interest in all joint accounts in the same credit union will be added together and insured up to the SMSIA. If you have any questions about share insurance coverage, read the NCUA brochure on Share Insurance, use the handy NCUA Share Insurance Calculator, download and read "Share Insurance and You" from the NCUA website, or please call us at (978) 657-2223.

Be Vigilant, Feel Secure with Free Home Banking
Fraud is all around us, so be vigilant about reviewing your accounts weekly online for signs of any suspicious transactions.  Don't have FREE Home Banking? Demo and sign up for Touchstone FCU's FREE Home Banking system, touchstone@home, and you'll be able to monitor your accounts regularly with ease. If any fraudulent activity, does take place, it can be caught earlier and we can help to prevent any major problems from occurring.

 

Borrow Smart, Buy Smart with Touchstone and Enterprise
Touchstone FCU has teamed up with Enterprise to offer you a smart way to borrow for and purchase a used vehicle. Click here to learn more about Touchstone's auto loans and our partnership with Enterprise Car Sales. Check out Enterprise's selection of great used vehicles and learn more about the benefits of choosing an auto from Enterprise Car Sales.

 

Save Time. Save Space. Save Money. Save a Tree.
Help Touchstone FCU “Go Green” by Using eStatements. By signing up for eStatements through Home Banking, you can view your statements online at any time, from any place. What’s more, you’ll be helping to eliminate the monthly mailing costs and reduce the amount of paper use. Make a statement. Sign up for eStatements today!

 

Important Information for Debit Card Holders
When your debit card expires we will send you a new one, which you must activate before using.  When you call to activate your card the system will tell you that your card is already active, this happens because you have an existing card NOT because someone has activated your new card. Just follow the prompts to activate your replacement card and remember to destroy the old one, clearly eliminating the number sequence.