1. Make It Yourself: It may seem corny, but moms agree, a homemade gift from the heart is often the best gift of all. Consider framing a family photograph, writing a meaningful letter of thanks for lessons taught, or making her favorite baked goods. The sentiment of love and appreciation is what matters.

2. Skip Sunday – Make Plans for Saturday: Many restaurants, tearooms, or other venues may offer special events on Mother’s Day Sunday, but you often pay a premium. If you’re taking her out, make plans for Saturday and visit her at home on Sunday.

3. Combo Deal: If your family has the good fortune of celebrating both Mother’s Day and Father’s Day, combine the celebrations in late May or early June. You can enjoy some savings by paying for one dinner or brunch out, one set of theater tickets, and so on.

Why not keep up your savings savvy, year-round? Consider setting aside a few dollars for year-end family gift giving, as well. Now is actually the perfect time to begin putting away a little at a time in a UECU Holiday Savings Account – accumulate your funds over the summer and fall months, then take advantage of your savings just in time for the holidays. Call us at 800-288-6423 to set up an account today.

Utility & Energy Employee Families - how are you celebrating Mom this year? Share your frugal family celebration tips in your comments! Post your ideas and plans here, or join the conversation on UECU’s Facebook Page!

Last month, UECU held our Annual Meeting for member-owners at our Pennsylvania headquarters. Don’t worry if you missed it – you know that as a virtual, nationwide credit union we’re bound to keep you all up-to-date via the Web!

As proud UECU staffers, my co-workers and I always enjoy the opportunity to get together with our fellow UECU members at this event. All of the UECU membership is invited to participate in the UECU Annual Meeting, when we announce the upcoming date in our December issue of UECU Member News. It’s an excellent chance for members to meet UECU’s employees and its volunteers – this year we were thrilled that every member of UECU’s Board of Directors and Supervisory and Audit Committees could attend and had the chance to chat with members.

Before and after the meeting’s formal program, I enjoyed speaking with some members who had the chance to attend and who provided some great suggestions and positive feedback on UECU’s communication with our members. While most were members local to the area, more than one spoke to me about how their children and other family members living in various states, always do their financial business with UECU. They love the amazing rates we offer on our savings accounts, loans and credit cards – and they’ve found it easy to manage their accounts through our free online services or phone banking.

The virtual credit union model has really been key to UECU’s success and it recently received attention at our annual meeting and in the news. Earlier this year, UECU grew into a $1 Billion credit union – joining only a small handful of similar-sized credit unions operating from Pennsylvania. The even more impressive part? We’ve grown while staying cost-efficient – since we don’t maintain extra branch buildings or branch staff, we can return more profits back to our members than the typical credit union of our size! Our unique virtual credit union model made news in a local Pennsylvania paper just before we reached this new asset size level. You can also read all about how we made it to $1 Billion in our online national news announcement: Energy and Utility Industry Credit Union Reaches $1 Billion in Assets.

This and other milestones from the preceding year were highlighted in the President and Board of Directors reports presented at our Annual Meeting. UECU President Glen Yeager shared several highlights from our organization’s past year in his comments…

“Looking back at 2011, UECU’s membership and staff can take pride in an outstanding year that celebrated our ongoing commitments to financial integrity as an institution and to the financial success of our members. We achieved several milestones, maintained our high standards for fiscal strength, and rewarded our members’ loyalty with a $1.2 million cash bonus.”

It was definitely a great year for UECU’s staff and our members. In addition to the new Member Loyalty Bonus™ program unveiled in 2011, UECU also made news as one of only 28 of the nation’s 7,000 credit unions to receive the highest A+ “Excellent” Weiss Rating for financial stability from the independent Weiss Ratings firm. For the second consecutive year, UECU was also recognized as one of the Best Places to Work in Pennsylvania by the Central Penn Business Journal. I’d have to agree – I love the opportunity to communicate with and serve UECU’s members across the U.S. – an opinion shared by UECU’s enthusiastic employees who are just waiting to chat with you!

So, give us a call at 800-288-6423 to discuss how we can serve your financial needs today and throughout the years – and don’t forget to take a look back at our 2011 Year in Review. Click below to check out UECU’s 2011 Annual Report, Annual Meeting news articles, and YouTube video coverage from the event. And please share your comments here or on our Facebook page – why not tell us what you most enjoyed at UECU in 2011 – we love to hear from our members!

UECU Annual Report for 2011

UECU Annual Meeting Preview – News Release

UECU Announces $14 Million Contribution to Members – News Release

UECU Annual Meeting YouTube Video Coverage

Written by Amanda Y.

1. File a police report. Insurance companies and financial institutions will ask for it and you need it in the event crimes are committed in your name.

2. Change the locks. If your keys were in your purse or bag, secure your home immediately and change the locks.

3. Notify the credit bureaus. Set up a fraud alert with the credit bureaus. Calling any bureau (Equifax, TransUnion or Experian) will alert all three.

4. Open new financial accounts. Your service representatives will walk you through the steps to close your current accounts and open new ones with new passwords, a fraud alert, or other safety measures.

5. Keep good notes. You have to be your own fraud investigator. Keep a record of everyone you speak to, the date and time of the call, and the details of the conversation. If your identity is compromised down the line, you’ll have notes to which you can refer.

6. Don’t stuff your new wallet or new purse. Only carry what you need, when you need it. Don’t carry any more credit cards than what you are using that day. Do NOT make a habit of carrying your Social Security card. Keep a list or copy of the front and back of all your cards in a safe place at home so you have all the pertinent information and phone numbers if they’re ever necessary.

If your VISA® Power Card™  or Advantages VISA Check Card™ is lost or stolen, please call us at Utilities Employees Credit Union at 800-288-6423 during normal business hours, or 800-543-5073 after hours. (In the instance your card is lost or stolen while you are traveling, you may contact VISA within the U.S. at 1-800-VISA-911 or use one of the global numbers provided at www.visa.com/tollfreenumbers.)

Article provided by PSB and featured in the February 2012 issue of UECU’s News You Can Use.

That’s a message I can get behind, and so can our credit union. Utilities Employees Credit Union is all about making it easier for our members to save. That’s why UECU maintains savings rates significantly higher than the average of other bank and credit union rates – and why we offer savings tools that fit your lifestyle. I think many of us can agree that when we make saving easy and automatic, we follow through – we all enjoy convenient solutions, especially when it comes to our finances!

Here are three online resources to help you develop your savings plan:

1. America Saves Week. org: Get inspired by fellow American savers – read success stories, take fun quizzes to test your savings knowledge, and assess your savings progress and future wealth. You can even use some handy calculators to determine what you could save in your budget by cutting out splurges like your daily coffee – you can also calculate how much you should be putting away for an emergency savings stash or for future needs like a retirement fund.

2. Home & Family Finance Online Resource Center: For your home and family financial planning, check out the online resource center for financial tips to make your life easier and more profitable. Listen to Home & Family Finance® Radio segments and watch short videos on everything from balancing your check book, to financially preparing for marriage or children, to motivating your kids to become good savers.

3. UECU Online: UECU knows everyone has their own personal savings goals – keep up to the minute with your progress on uecu.org. UECU members can log into Advantages Online™ home banking to view your savings and checking balances, transfer funds and name your own special savings accounts … Car Savings, House Fund, Kids’ College Account, Italy Vacation, Rainy Day Savings, Mad Money … anything you choose. View your recent activities including your deposits, ACH transactions, and ATM withdrawals – and see the year-to-date dividends on your savings and the status of your yearly IRA contributions. Even put an ongoing savings plan on Auto Pilot – arrange for a regular amount to be moved from your checking to your savings account each month using an eVantages™ by Web funds transfer. Your savings tools are at your fingertips!

And don’t forget to sign up to receive the ongoing personal finance tips and great promotions we share on the UECU Blog! Enter your email on our blog.uecu.org page to get email notifications the moment we share a new post – you can even follow us on Google Reader or by RSS feed by clicking the blog feed link on the UECU Blog homepage!

Written by Amanda Y.

If you’re single or part of the anti-Valentine’s camp this February, you may be off the hook for February 14th expenses. However, if you are part of a couple, Valentine’s Day can be stressful for your relationship and your wallet. While we at UECU can’t offer you any relationship advice, we can share some ideas to take the burden off your budget…

1. Plan ahead for dinner: If dinner at a nice restaurant is part of your celebration, find out if they are offering a special menu or package. Many include flowers so you won’t end up paying for them twice. Also, consider an earlier meal that may allow you to order from the lunch or early bird menu, which could provide big savings without forfeiting the ambiance.

2. Don’t buy roses: If there’s one day a year you shouldn’t buy roses, it’s Valentine’s Day. Because roses require a lot of manual labor to grow, ship, and store, the volume of demand for one day increases the price. Buy them for your loved one’s birthday or anniversary but stick to a more common botanical variety, or even paper flowers, on Valentine’s Day. If you’re going for a natural bouquet, why not save even more by taking advantage of your credit union discount to FTD? UECU participates in the Invest In America program, which offers “Love My Credit Union” promotions like a $15 discount on many of the flowers and gift choices available through FTD.

3. Give from the heart: Why not give a handwritten letter, a personal poem, a meaningful book, or CD? These gifts are more personal and will usually mean more to the recipient than the generic candy and flowers. Recount the year on a blank calendar or download songs that commemorate your firsts (date, kiss, trip, and so on). These ideas are far less costly than others that are packaged for the masses. Also, don’t think it’s taboo to talk about Valentine’s Day beforehand, so you understand each other’s expectations. This is the best way to avoid spending more money than you need to when your partner is simply happy being with you.

4. Do your own thing. Whether you’re part of a couple, or just hanging out with your single pals this Valentine’s Day, do what makes you happy. Singles, why not take that fun day trip you’ve been planning or have your own Valentine’s Alternative party or film fest at your place? Couples, if you’d rather skip the crowds, why not meet up for lunch and a wintertime walk, or order-in for some relaxing quiet time? You could also check out the seasonal online promotions from sites like Groupon, LivingSocial or Google Offers to find a fun and affordable activity in your neighborhood!

What are your plans to save money on Heart Day? Share your frugal Valentine’s tips by leaving a comment!

Article modified from PSB

It’s here! If you noticed the hints UECU has been dropping through our newsletters, website and social media pages, you know we’ve been gearing up to unveil a new rewards program for our members.

We’re now pleased to announce the Member Loyalty Bonus™, which further rewards our members for making UECU their financial institution of choice for saving and borrowing. Thanks to the Member Loyalty Bonus™ program, the more you save and borrow with UECU, the more you’ll EARN in Cash Rewards!

In fact, UECU has given our members more than $1.2 million in total for the 2011 Member Loyalty Bonus™!

With the debut of the Member Loyalty Bonus™, UECU has joined the very elite number of credit unions across the United States to offer this type of financial reward to its members – and just try to get this from your bank. In UECU’s latest President’s Message to Members our President shares why UECU decided it was essential to offer this exclusive program to you, UECU’s member-owners, and explains how your Bonus is calculated. The basics: UECU takes the interest you’ve earned on your deposit accounts and interest paid on most UECU loans – and gives you an extra percentage – a nice bonus deposit in your share account.^*

Even better, the Member Loyalty Bonus™ is really the icing on your cake – it’s the fantastic year-end Bonus you can earn on top of a year filled with UECU’s other member perks – year-round VantagePoints™ rewards, annual MyChoice™ rewards, savings rates significantly higher than the national average, amazingly affordable loan rates, a variety of free financial services, and low or non-existent fees.

We invite you to visit BONUS.UECU.ORG to discover ALL the rewards and benefits you can enjoy as a UECU member. Use our fun, interactive site to calculate how much more you could earn toward a 2012 Member Loyalty Bonus™ by doing more or all of your financial activities with your Credit Union. You can even add up all the money UECU will put in your pocket through the year, when you make use of our three rewards programs, the member giveback you receive with great lending and savings rates, and the incredible fee savings we offer.

You may be amazed by how much you can add to your wallet with UECU in a year. When you make UECU your primary financial institution you and your family members earn more in a lifetime! UECU…Where Loyalty Pays!

Written by Amanda Y.

Tetris and Angry Birds are fun but wouldn’t it be great to have some portable financial help in your phone, too? Check out the mobile apps that can put some extra cha-ching in your pocket. Break out your iPhone, iPad, Android or BlackBerry to start saving with these 7 applications …

1. Mint: (iPhone, iPad, Android) When you use Mint, you can manage all your financial accounts in one easy spot so you can always keep track of exactly what your budget looks like.

2. Skype: (iPhone, iPad, Android) An app everyone should have that allows phone calls, video calls, and instant messaging for FREE.

3. Redlaser: (iPhone, iPad, Android) Scan any barcode and find out where to go buy it and how much everyone is charging for it.  Never overpay again.

4. Gasbuddy: (Phone, iPad, Android, BlackBerry) A free app that lets find the cheapest gas while you’re on the go. Locate gas stations near you and see their current prices.

5. MyCoupons:  (available for iPhone, Android, BlackBerry) This handy app is perfect for everyone out there who clips coupons each week but then forgets to take them to the store. It allows you to scan the coupon right into your phone and redeem at the store. Unless, of course, you forget your phone too.

6. Coupon Sherpa: (available for iPhone, coming soon for Android and BlackBerry) Delivers hundreds of department store coupons and discounts directly to your phone. The inventory is updated daily so you always have the latest savings.

7. Key Ring: (available for iPhone, Android, BlackBerry) Stop carrying around (or forgetting) those loyalty cards that get you extra discounts and perks. This app stores all the information in your phone so you can always access it without the bulky keychain.

Article provided by PSB and featured in UECU’s Fall/Winter 2011 Connections™ Newsletter

So, what could you do in 2012 to improve the lives of your family and friends?

If you’re already a UECU member, you have the privilege of offering them a brighter future. That’s right, there’s still time to give your family and utility co-workers a gift that will last them a lifetime. We know it’s the thought and feeling behind a gift that really counts. And if you received a few gizmos that have you puzzled or brightly colored sweaters destined for the back of your closet, you’d agree we usually don’t need more “stuff.”

That’s why the gift of UECU Membership is perfect. There are no batteries required, no returns or exchanges needed, and it doesn’t take up any storage space! What’s more, you’ll be giving your family and utility co-workers financial tools and solutions that our dedicated UECU team customizes to their lifetime of evolving financial needs.

So, this year, make a resolution to Share the Wealth of UECU Membership. Why not start by telling your gift recipients about the Top 4 Reasons to be thankful for Credit Union Membership? And don’t forget to give yourself a gift as well ~ remember, UECU gives our current members 500 VantagePoints™ Rewards for each new member they refer!

Best wishes for the New Year!

Written by Amanda Y.

Charitable donations and monetary contributions. If you’ve been collecting your clothing and books or saving coins in a jar, don’t wait any longer. Donate to your charity of choice and get a receipt.

Speaking of receipts…begin collecting them for tax filing. Think about whether you have any deductible expenses, from non-reimbursed business expenses like uniforms and cell phone bills, to postage and paper costs for job hunting. Your tax advisor will direct you on what can be used, but now is the time to put together your paperwork to back up your plan of action.

Mileage expenses. Did you drive your car … to medical appointments? …to or from volunteer work? … to job interviews? Use an online mapping application and categorize how you used your car in 2011. Again, depending on your personal tax strategy, the expense of many miles of travel can be deducted.

Have your UECU tax forms delivered electronically. Reduce your paperwork and get email notification the instant your Tax E-Forms are available in your Advantages Online™ home banking profile. Log in to Advantages Online™ and sign up today to go paperless for 1098, 1099-INT, 1099-Q, 1099-R, 1099-SA, 5498, 5498-ESA, and 5498-SA forms related to your UECU accounts.

Let UECU help you make tax season more convenient & rewarding. For instance, to get your refund faster, be sure to request it be automatically deposited in your UECU account. To easily file your taxes and access tax advice online, try Turbo Tax® – and visit uecu.org to learn about our member discount for Turbo Tax®! And finally, why not be rewarded for paying your taxes? Your UECU VISA® Power Card™ makes payment easy AND earns you VantagePoints™ – convenience and rewards – suddenly tax season is looking brighter!

Article provided by PSB and featured in the November 2011 issue of UECU’s News You Can Use.

We all have our own reasons, but as a proud member of Utilities Employees Credit Union, these have become the Top 4 Reasons I’m Thankful to be a Credit Union Member:

1. FEWER Fees. Credit unions have developed a reputation for low or non-existent fees, which sets them apart from big banks. As a cooperative, not-for-profit, credit unions are trying to keep more money in our members’ pockets. So, while other financial institutions make the news for adding or increasing customer fees for using basic financial services, UECU continues to do member-focused business as usual. Check out our lengthy Fee FREE Schedule for all the great no-cost benefits we give members – try finding that at a bank! For those fees absolutely necessary to cover operational costs, UECU even goes above & beyond, stretching our dollars further than most credit unions. The average UECU member household saves $74 more in fees each year than if they used an “average” credit union!*

2. BIGGER Savings Potential. UECU loves to help our members save – that’s why we return our profits to members with better savings rates. Even members who stick with a basic Share Savings Account earn significantly more interest than the national average – for this month, when you compare current rates, UECU has a savings rate more than 4X higher.^** What’s more, we make it easier to save with lots of deposit account options and automatic fund transfer tools like e-Vantages™ by Web that can help you automatically move a set amount of money from your UECU credit union checking account into your savings.

3. LOWER Loan Payments. Speaking of savings, UECU doesn’t stop with our great deposit accounts. When you combine the annual savings from both deposit earnings AND savings from paying lower loan interest rates – the average UECU member household receives $295 more in savings than the average credit union.* That’s just compared to other credit unions – imagine how much more you’re saving than at a typical bank! Just look at the amazing credit union loan rates on our website – take our popular Auto Loan – with current rates, you could be buying your new car for as little as $8 per day – that’s a new car for the price of lunch!^ And that’s just the beginning. You can read more about UECU’s loans for utility workers at uecu.org. We also offer great rates and 24/7 loan application service for home equity loans, mortgages, boat & RV loans, personal loans and much more!

4. MORE Rewards. Who doesn’t love more rewards? UECU believes managing your personal finances should be a rewarding experience for credit union members. And we prove it with not one, but two credit union rewards programs for UECU members – our VantagePoints™ and MyChoice™ programs, which reward members for using their credit union for a mix of products and for their everyday financial activities. And we just can’t help getting in the holiday spirit – so we’ve just begun a Double Points Special to give 2X the usual VantagePoints™ rewards when members make purchases with their UECU VISA® check card or credit card through December 31^st.† We’re even planning to announce a third rewards program in the New Year, so keep visiting us for updates!

And finally, the BONUS – if you’re an energy or utility worker, you’ve found the credit union that caters directly to you. Utilities Employees Credit Union has been serving Utility and Energy Employees and their Families since 1934. So join today and remind your company’s HR department you could all join – you won’t regret it – I promise I’ve just scratched the surface of all our credit union member benefits. Already a member? Why not refer a family member or utility co-worker today? Did I mention you’ll earn 500 VantagePoints™ per referral – yes indeed, isn’t it nice to be a credit union member?

Written by Amanda Y.

* Source: Raddon Financial Group, 2011 CEO Strategies Reports.

**UECU savings rate compared to national average savings rate as reported by Datatrac.com on 11/08/2011.

^ Daily payment comparison based on financing $13,000 of your total car purchase with a 60-month loan, calculated as of 11/15/2011 at a rate of 2.99% APR. Your terms may differ based on age of vehicle and evaluation of credit worthiness. Our lowest rate is based upon an evaluation of credit-worthiness criteria, and maintaining an active UECU checking account (at least one transaction per month); your actual rate may differ. Certain auto model year and minimum loan amount restrictions apply Limited time offer. Offer is subject to change without notice. Refinancing of existing UECU auto loans are not eligible. Visit uecu.org for details.

† Transactions must be signature-based; PIN-based transactions do not earn VantagePoints™. Points are earned net of credits. DOUBLE points for the purpose of this promotion cannot be combined with double points earned on the first 30 days after receipt of your new card. This promotion runs from 11/25/2011 until 12/31/2011 but can be withdrawn at any time.

This credit union is federally insured by the National Credit Union Administration. Your savings federally insured to at least $250,000 and backed by the full faith and credit of the United States Government.

Utilities Employees Credit Union is an Equal Housing Lender.