405.722.2234 • 800.324.8259oecu.com

OECU HolidaysJuly 4th — Independence Day

September 1st - Labor Day

EventsJuly 11th - Teacher Grant Application Deadline

Oklahoma Educators Credit Union Teacher Grant Program

Kick-Start Your School Year!In 2001, Oklahoma Educa-tors Credit Union developed the Teacher Grant Program.

“We support educators and their efforts to bring imaginative and innovative learning projects to their classrooms,” Cindy White, OECU President said. “That’s why we be-gan our Teacher Grant Program; it’s

our way to help Oklahoma teachers bring new projects to life.”

Since the program’s inception, Okla-homa Educators Credit Union has awarded over $68,000.00 to Okla-homa teachers through its Teacher Grant Program.

In 2013, 75 applications were received and reviewed by our Grants Committee with 42 grants being awarded.

Carla Cox, a third grade teacher at Linwood Elementary in Oklahoma City, was a No-vember 2013 Teacher Grant Recipient.

“Our state has made it man-datory that we provide read-ing centers in the morning in a 90 minute block. With

this grant money, I purchased addi-tional reading material that’s creative and helps our third graders become knowledgeable about reading – it allows them to have fun while they learn,” Cox said.

ALL Grant applications for 2014 are due on July 11, 2014. Grants will be awarded during our Grant Presentation Reception in Sep-tember. A new, online version of the Teacher Grant Application is available at oecu.com under the ap-plication section. Teachers, please share this with your colleagues!

2014 3rd Quarter

Certificate of Deposit

SAFE & SECUREFor Father’s Day a few weeks ago, I purchased a CD from one of my husband’s favorite bands. When I told my sons the gift I had purchased for their dad, my tech savvy, opin-ionated 12-year old son asks, “Mom, why did you buy Dad a CD? No one buys CDs anymore.” My youngest son had to get his two cents in as well, “Yeah Mom, what’s a CD?”

Wow. Thanks sons, for making your mom and dad feel old. Even if my husband only wanted the CD to add to his collection, it’s true that CD sales have fallen drastically since the invention of mp3 players. Artists now release their albums online before a CD is sold in stores.

But there’s another type of CD that won’t be losing popu-larity anytime soon… the Certificate of Deposit (CD) that you can open at Oklahoma Educators Credit Union. CDs are a conservative and risk free way to save your money.

A CD is a tool that is different from a savings or a money market account because you give up access to your money for a period of time, which is called the term. In exchange for agreeing not to touch your money during a CDs term, you typically get more interest than with other types of deposit accounts. A CD gives you a guaranteed return – no matter what happens to the economy or the stock market.

Typically, CD terms can range from six months to four years with the longer terms generally yielding the highest interest rates. Now, it can be really tempting to buy a CD with the longest term, but you have to be absolutely certain that you won’t need to withdraw the money before the ma-turity date because that can result in a high penalty.

Record companies might be dialing back on how many Compact Discs they produce these days, but financial insti-tutions like OECU want our members to realize the value of investing your funds in a Certificate of Deposit. It’s a safe, secure and risk free way to save money and earn money at the same time. Check out oecu.com for OECU’s CD and Jumbo CD rates. ~ Rachel Meinke, OECU Marketing Manager

How do you teach kids about money? It may be as simple as talking about your job, taking a trip to the grocery store, or opening them a savings account at Oklahoma Educators Credit Union to deposit allowance and birth-day money. The bottom line is that it’s never too early to start teaching children smart financial habits and the value of money.

Educating, motivating and empowering kids to become regular savers will enable them to keep more of the money they earn. Whether at home or in the classroom, OECU is here to provide you with the tools and resources to teach kids how to grow into financially responsible adults. The reward could mean a life free from the anxieties of debt.

MyCreditUnion.Gov: Click on the Pocket Cents sec-tion of this site and get ready to receive lots of great infor-mation to help your kids become more financially literate.

Games: Hit the Road: A Financial Adventure. Visit the Pocket Cents section at mycreditunion.gov. Click on the Hit the Road game and kids 8-14 will enjoy traveling across country, plus learning how to manage their money during the trip.

Teens: Also located in the Pocket Cents portion of mycreditunion.gov is a Teen section. Teens can learn how to fill out a check and step-by-step directions on how to balance a checkbook.

Money 101, also located in the Teens section, lets kids design their own dollar bill, take a money quiz and learn the history of US currency.

OECU is here to help your kids save and develop savvy fi-nancial habits - kids from 0-12 years can enjoy belonging to the Kirby Kangaroo Savings Club and students from 13-20 benefit from our Student Checking account.

Financial Literacy

KIDS & TEENS

Check Out Our Competitive JUMBO Rates at oecu.com Federally Insured by NCUA

*Annual Percentage Rate. Certain terms and conditions may apply. Rates based on borrower’s creditworthiness. Not all applicants will qualify for the lowest rate. We reserve the right to modify or cancel this promotion at anytime.

School Spirit Debit Cards

You SwipeSchool Districts EARNEducators, parents, students, and alumni love to sup-port their school district and with a School Spirit Visa® Debit Card from Oklahoma Educators Credit Union, it’s easier than ever.

Each time a School Spirit Debit Card is swiped, the school district of your choice earns money.

The School Spirit Debit Cards that are available with any OECU checking account are: Western Heights Public Schools, Yukon Public Schools, Putnam City Public Schools, Mid-Del Public Schools and COMING SOON - EL RENO PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

Don’t see your school’s card yet? Contact Rodney Eller at (405) 722-2234 to find out how your school can start receiving the benefits of a School Spirit Visa Check Card from Oklahoma Educa-tors Credit Union.

Q: I started using online banking and I love it. It’s so easy to keep track of everything and I can always see my accounts at the credit union, as well as what’s in them. Now that I’ve joined the new era, do I still need to keep a check register, or is that a thing of the past?

Q: Online banking sounds so insecure, but I know that ‘everyone’ is doing it. I don’t need up to the minute information on my checking account, so is there any rea-son to switch? Also, I don’t mind getting my statements online, but never bothered signing up. What are the pros and cons? A: It’s understandable to be uncomfortable about making the switch from paper to online statements, but online secu-rity has come a long way. From sign-on screens that encrypt your sign-on information, to the password you use to sign on, as well as your own Internet security – your account information has several layers of security. In addition, having your account information accessible twenty-four hours a day will become a convenience you won’t know how you did without, even if you only check it once a week. Checking on when the checks you’ve written have cleared, as well as deposits you’re waiting to post to your account are instantly known with online banking. On-line banking also affords you the convenience of transferring balances between savings and checking accounts. If you are on a shared checking account, it’s also great to have more up-to-date information to track purchases so the budget and spending stay on track. Sometimes life gets too interesting and busy to talk about banking at the dinner table; your daily updated statement can do that for you. As far as online statements, it’s actually

Question & Answer

Online Banking

more convenient (because it’s often faster than the mail) and more secure. People need to pass through multiple layers of security if they are seeking access to an online statement. One that comes in the mail can be plucked right out of our mailbox and/or filing cabinet.

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Federally Insured by NCUA

Oklahoma City6001 N. W. Expressway Oklahoma City, OK 73132

Midwest City1704 S. Air Depot Midwest City, OK 73110

Local (405) 722-2234Toll Free (800) 324-8259Fax (405) 720-5242

Moore2120 Riverwalk Drive Moore, OK 73160

Yukon732 Garth Brooks Blvd. Yukon, OK 73099

Mailing AddressPO Box 22222 Oklahoma City, OK 73123

oecu.com

Oklahoma Educators Credit Union

OUTSTANDING ASSOCIATE

A: The short answer is yes, you definitely need to keep your check register up to date. Here’s why.

As long as you’re using checks, you won’t know the true bal-ance in your account unless you input the uncleared checks you’ve written out against that account.

Using a register helps you catch mistakes. You enter a check, or debit card purchase and when you reconcile your account, which should be done monthly, you’ll quickly find any dis-crepancies.

The very act of using a register and reconciling your records against the credit union’s gives you a full picture of where your money is going. If you’re happy with what you’re see-ing, great. If not, you’ll know what you need to change. Awareness is the first step, but without keeping a register, awareness is not likely.

At OECU there is no fee for Online Banking. Our Online Banking service gives you control of your accounts wherever internet access is available. Transfers, real time balances, histories and money by check withdrawals are a few of the benefits online banking provides. For more information, contact an OECU Member Service Representative.

Joy Kuhr, Member Service Supervisor at the Oklahoma Educators Credit Union Moore branch, has been named OECU’s Outstand-ing Associate for the second quarter of 2014.

The Outstanding Associate award is awarded to a credit union employee who has performed above and beyond normal expectations.

Kuhr joined the OECU team in August of 2012 and has 13 years of member service expe-rience.

“Working with our members is the most reward-ing part of my job,” she said.

“I think the most important thing our members need is to make sure that their money is safe and I do that by making sure I know who I am working with each and every time I help someone.”

When Joy is not at work, she enjoys spending time with her family, reading and traveling back home to Indiana to visit with friends and extended fam-ily.

JOY KUHR

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OECU Go Green Checking Account: *Annual Percentage Yield. Meeting all the requirements for OECU’s Go Green Rewards Checking account each month earns you the highest dividend rate we currently pay on any checking account, up to a maximum balance of $15,000. To begin earning your rewards you must meet the following monthly qualifications: 15 posted and cleared check card purchases greater than $5.00, 1 ACH direct deposit or ACH auto debit, enroll and receive electronic statements, access online banking month-ly. If you don’t meet the criteria in a given month, your total balance will earn a lower dividend rate (.10%) for that month. All rates attached to this account are variable and subject to change at any time. Fees may re-duce earnings. No monthly service charge. Available for personal accounts only. Federally Insured by NCUA.