Dear ValleyStar Members,

It’s another exciting time at ValleyStar! We are pleased to announce that ValleyStar Credit Union and Entrust Financial Credit Union have entered into an agreement to merge, subject to Entrust membership vote and regulatory approvals. Once combined under the ValleyStar name, your Credit Union will have an estimated $500 million in assets and 55,000 members.

Entrust Financial Credit Union has served the Richmond, VA area since 1970, and their field of membership covers 16 counties and 4 cities with one branch facility. As part of this merger, we will be retaining that branch facility located at 1801 Dabney Road in Richmond, as well as adding an expanded network of surcharge-free ATMs and joining a shared branch network. These enhancements will not only stand to serve the incoming Entrust members but will also better serve our existing ValleyStar members with more convenient ways to access money and conduct business. The legal merger date and member data conversion are anticipated to occur on June 30, 2019.

We are excited to bring Entrust into the ValleyStar family, and we look forward to the additional growth and opportunity it offers to all members and the communities we serve!

Sincerely,

Delbert Lee MorganPresident/CEO

We have lots of exciting enhancements to our products and services coming your way soon! We don’t want you to miss out on any important communications from us, so please make sure that your personal contact information on file is up-to-date. Stop by any of our branch facilities or call our Contact Center at 800.475.6328 x0 to update your information today!

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A Letter from Our President/CEO

Don’t Miss Out! Update Your Information Today

Join us at our Collinsville and Danville North branch locations for free paper shredding! Bring in all your important documents for secure destruction.

Danville North Branch:October 9th from 11 am to 1 pm3240 Franklin Turnpike, Danville, VA 24540

Collinsville Branch:October 11th from 11 am to 1 pm41 Wheeler Avenue, Collinsville, VA 24078

Protect Your Personal InformationValleyStar Founding Member Will Be Missed

2018 ValleyStar Credit Union 300 Wrap-Up

Thomas J. Hall, a ValleyStar Credit Union founding member, passed away at the age of 97 in Martinsville on September 12, 2018. Mr. Hall was one of the original eight founding members of the Credit Union in 1953, and the last surviving founder. He was affectionately known as “Big Tom” to people inside the Credit Union and served in numerous positions, including President and Chairman of the Board of Directors, before retiring after 45 years of service. On October 14, 2015, ValleyStar dedicated its Rocky Mount branch facility in his honor. “Tom’s unwavering dedication to this Credit Union along with his love for the community and the members of ValleyStar was inspirational,” remarked Delbert Lee Morgan, President/CEO of the Credit Union. “He will truly be missed.”

NASCAR’s most prestigious late model stock car race, the ValleyStar Credit Union 300, ran under the lights again on September 29th at Martinsville Speedway. Congratulations to the winning driver, C.E. Falk III, a veteran racer who claimed victory after 13 attempts at Martinsville. The day’s festivities were fun and exciting for all race fans and were topped off that evening with the feature race at 8 pm, where 42 drivers raced before packed stands full of cheering fans. ValleyStar is proud to support our community and be the presenting sponsor of this great state-wide event!

COMMUNITY Shred Day

Two Upcoming Community Shred Days

Holiday ClosingsColumbus DayMonday, Oct. 8, 2018

Veterans DayMonday, Nov. 12, 2018

ThanksgivingThursday, Nov. 22, 2018Friday, Nov. 23, 2018 (close at 1 pm)

ChristmasMonday, Dec. 24, 2018 (close at 1 pm)Tuesday, Dec. 25, 2018

New Year’s DayTuesday, Jan. 1, 2019

Contact UsPhone 800.475.6328Monday – Friday 8 am – 5 pmExt. “2” to access Teller24

E-Mail info@valleystar.org

Website www.valleystar.org

Mailing AddressValleyStar Credit UnionP.O. Box 5511Martinsville, VA 24115

Branch LocationsATMs on Location

Collinsville41 Wheeler Avenue

Danville Main212 Holt Garrison Parkway

Danville North3240 Franklin Turnpike

Martinsville35 DuPont Road

Roanoke3452 Buck Mountain Road

Rocky Mount1080 Old Franklin Turnpike

South Boston4027 Halifax Road

Waynesboro501 W. Broad Street

Branch Lobby & Drive-Thru HoursPlease visit valleystar.org

StatisticsAs of August 31, 2018AssetsSharesLoansMembers

Federally Insured by NCUA

10 Most Important Cyber Security Tips The weakest point of any security effort is humans. No matter how effectiveor expensive the security tools protecting networks are, there’s no way to predict the damage caused by a single careless “click.” The war against cyber criminals is fought each time a user decides to click an unfamiliar link or open an attachment.

We’ve compiled a list of things that you should be thinking about whenever you’re using the Internet. You’ve probably heard many or all of these tips before, but there’s no substitute for education and repetition.

1. You Are a Target. Realize that you are an attractive target to hackers. Don’t ever say “It won’t happen to me.”

2. Eight Characters Is Not Enough. Practice good password management. Use a strong mix of characters, and don’t use the same password for multiple sites. Don’t share your password with others, don’t write it down, and definitely don’t write it on a Post-it note attached to your monitor.

3. Lock It Up. Never leave your devices unattended. If you need to leave your computer, phone, or tablet for any length of time (no matter how short), lock it up so no one can use it while you’re gone. If you keep sensitive information on a flash drive or external hard drive, make sure to lock it up as well.

4. Practice Safe Clicking. Always be careful when clicking on attachments or links in an email. If it’s unexpected or suspicious for any reason, don’t click on it. Double check the URL of the website the link takes you to. Bad actors will often take advantage of spelling mistakes to direct you to a harmful, phony website.

5. Beware of Browsing. Sensitive browsing, such as banking or shopping, should only be done on a device that belongs to you and on a secure network that you trust. Whether it’s a friend’s phone, a public computer, or a cafe’s free WiFi, your data could be copied or stolen.

6. Back It Up. Back up your data regularly, and make sure your anti-virus software is always up to date.

7. Physical Cyber Safety. Be conscientious of what you plug in to your computer. Malware can be spread through infected flash drives, external hard drives, and even smartphones.

8. Share Less Sensitive Information. Watch what you’re sharing on social networks. Criminals can befriend you and easily gain access to a shocking amount of information, such as where you go to school, where you work, when you’re on vacation, etc. that could help them gain access to more valuable data.

9. Cut Out The “Middle Man.” Offline, be wary of social engineering, where someone attempts to gain information from you through manipulation. If someone calls or emails you asking for sensitive information, it’s okay to say no. You can always call the company directly to verify credentials before giving out any information.

10. Stay on Top of Your Accounts. Be sure to monitor your accounts for any suspicious activity. If you see something unfamiliar, it could be a sign that you’ve been compromised.

Excerpts from: Cybint News, Popular Posts (2018, February 9). 10 Most Important Cyber Security Tips for Your Users [Web log post]. Retrieved September 10, 2018, from www.cybintsolutions.com

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