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How Financial Institutions Can Help America Heal

Wall Street Journal

 

How Financial Institutions Can Help America Heal

Financial tools to pay for education and build wealth should be more widely available.

By Rodney E. Hood

June 4, 2020 6:51 pm ET

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When I was growing up in North Carolina, my father sat me down for “the talk” about how to behave should I ever find myself in an encounter with a police officer. He wanted me to understand the risks I could face as an African-American should such an encounter go the wrong way.

That was more than 30 years ago. Yet even now the risks my father warned about loom large for minorities in America, as demonstrated by George Floyd’s tragic and deadly Memorial Day encounter with a Minneapolis police officer. I am all too familiar with the heartbreak and pain that so many in the black community experience as they see such events play out repeatedly, and I understand the demand for change from peaceful protesters around the country.

But there’s nothing heartening in the emerging images of violence and property destruction. Violence and vandalism serve no constructive purpose.

President Trump appointed me the first African-American to lead a federal banking regulatory agency, the National Credit Union Administration—the independent agency that oversees the nation’s federally insured credit unions. Since I assumed the chairmanship last year, much of my focus has been on building and reinforcing places that have fallen behind, often in areas where opportunity is limited, like hard-pressed urban neighborhoods and rural communities fighting decline.

Healing begins with strengthening our commitment to diversity and inclusion. Diversity is important, but only if it’s more than simply “checking the right boxes.” Inclusion requires a deep commitment to cultural change. As vice chairman of the Federal Financial Institutions Examinations Council, a formal interagency body that makes recommendations to promote uniformity in the supervision of financial institutions, I have called upon regulators to make inclusion a major priority in the financial industry.

But the change must reach beyond government agencies. Private industry should support inclusive growth. In that regard, it has been encouraging to see so many bank and credit union leaders make supportive statements about diversity and inclusion.

I encourage financial leaders to bolster those statements with a strengthened commitment to community building through financial inclusion. This includes giving more working families access to tools that help them achieve financial independence, providing more young people with the educational and vocational training they need to succeed, and nurturing the material conditions that allow people to prosper and thrive. Each of these will help Americans build stronger communities and a healthier society.

And finally, let’s renew our commitment to having the difficult conversations about diversity, equity and inclusion needed to foster and nurture greater understanding. These aren’t controversial principles. They’re the forces that bring us together and serve as sources of enrichment, strength and unity.

Mr. Hood is chairman of the National Credit Union Administration.

 

https://www.wsj.com/articles/how-banks-can-help-america-heal-11591311103

Congratulations Class of 2020 - Natco Cares

Class of 2020

Natco Credit Union is Giving $500 to Two Graduating Seniors

We realize this time has been especially hard on graduating seniors (high school or college) who have looked forward to celebrating their accomplishment. We want to CONGRATULATE you and give you a fun way to be recognized. By participating, you will be entered for a chance to win $500!

FOLLOW THESE IMPORTANT STEPS TO BE ENTERED

  • Stop by one of our offices and take picture WITH our ‘CONGRATULATIONS Class of 2020’ banner. YOU must also be in the picture.
  • We encourage you to make it fun by representing your school.
    (wear your cap and gown, letter jacket, sports or band uniform, holding sports equipment or instrument, holding your senior picture, wearing a shirt with your school name, etc).
  • Post your photo on Facebook or Instagram must include this tag – #NatcoCares. Your post must be public so that we can see your entry to count.
  • Give us a mention in your post (@Natco Credit Union) AND your graduating school (example – #IU or #CentervilleHighSchool).

 

OFFICIAL RULES

  • This contest is open to any graduating senior (high school or college)
  • You do NOT have to be a member of Natco Credit Union to participate
  • Your photo must be posted on Facebook or Instagram and properly tagged by midnight on 06/28/20 to be entered
  • By tagging us (#NatcoCares), you give us permission to post and share your photo on our social media accounts and through other media
  • One entry per graduating senior
  • Posts must be set to ‘public’ to be entered (this allows us to share your post)
  • If a parent or someone else is posting on your behalf, they must include YOUR FIRST AND LAST NAME  in the post to be entered
  • Two winners will be drawn at random on 06/30/20
  • Each winner will be notified through the platform they used to enter – Facebook or Instagram
  • Prizes must be claimed at a Natco Credit Union office. An appointment must be scheduled in advance and will be coordinated with Natco

 

Congratulations Class of 2020 Natco Cares

Congratulations Class of 2020 - Natco Cares

Natco is Giving $500 Each to Two Graduating Seniors!

We realize this time has been especially hard on graduating seniors (high school or college) who have looked forward to celebrating their accomplishments. We want to CONGRATULATE you and give you a fun way to be recognized. By participating, you will be entered for a chance to win $500!

FOLLOW THESE IMPORTANT STEPS TO BE ENTERED

  • Stop by one of our offices and take a picture WITH our ‘CONGRATULATIONS Class of 2020’ banner. YOU must also be in the picture.
  • We encourage you to make it fun by representing your school.
    (wear your cap and gown, letter jacket, sports or band uniform, holding sports equipment or instrument, holding your senior picture, wearing a shirt with your school name, etc).
  • Post your photo on Facebook or Instagram and must include this tag – #NatcoCares. Your post must be public so that we can see your entry to count.
  • Give us a mention in your post (@Natco Credit Union) AND your graduating school (example – #IU or #CentervilleHighSchool).

 

OFFICIAL RULES

  • This contest is open to any graduating senior (high school or college)
  • You do NOT have to be a member of Natco Credit Union to participate
  • Your photo must be posted on Facebook or Instagram and properly tagged by midnight on 06/28/20 to be entered
  • By tagging us (#NatcoCares), you give us permission to post and share your photo on our social media accounts and through other media
  • One entry per graduating senior
  • Posts must be set to ‘public’ to be entered (this allows us to share your post)
  • If a parent or someone else is posting on your behalf, they must include YOUR FIRST AND LAST NAME  in the post to be entered
  • Two winners will be drawn at random on 06/30/20
  • Each winner will be notified through the platform they used to enter – Facebook or Instagram
  • Prizes must be claimed at a Natco Credit Union office. An appointment will be scheduled in advance and will be coordinated with Natco

 

Congratulations Class of 2020 Natco Cares

Over 5,000 Natco members will receive their stimulus deposit tomorrow

Over 5,000 Natco Members Will Receive Their Stimulus Deposit Tomorrow

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

We will be open Wednesday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and will be ready to serve you.

Here are a few useful tips.

  • Expect longer than normal delays at our drive ups over the next several days
  • Our call center is receiving an extremely high call volume right now. Verify your deposit tomorrow using our mobile banking app, home banking or PAL.
  • If you need cash, use our ATM during non-business hours to make withdrawals (up to $500 per day)

Plan ahead and give yourself some comfort by putting these funds to the best use possible.

  • Anticipate upcoming expenses. Leave as much on deposit as you can to cover expenses for the next few months – groceries, mortgage/rent, utilities, car payments, insurance, healthcare and other basic needs
  • Pay these expenses in advance when possible

Talk to us about opening a special savings account to set aside your stimulus check. This way it’s separate from your other funds and can be used over the next few months.

If you would like help budgeting your stimulus check, call the NCEC at 983-4766.

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Stimulus Checks Begin Arriving This Week

Members will begin receiving their government stimulus checks this week. This has caused an abnormally high call volume for Natco’s call center.

If your deposit is in the first round of deposits, it will be posted this Wednesday (4/15). Please check your account Wednesday morning using your mobile banking app, home banking, or PAL to verify if your check has been deposited.

If your deposit is not part of this Wednesday’s file, the EARLIEST it will be deposited is next Wednesday (4/22). Please check your account on 4/22 to see if your deposit was posted.

We will post the files each Wednesday in for the next several weeks.

Eligible taxpayers who electronically filed their taxes in 2018 or 2019 will receive their deposit automatically through direct deposit into the account used for their previous tax filing.

The purpose of the stimulus money is to provide emergency assistance to individuals and families who have been affected by the coronavirus pandemic, so Natco Credit Union WILL NOT be applying these stimulus funds to overdrawn accounts, delinquent accounts, garnishments.  

The Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service launched a new web tool allowing quick registration for stimulus payments for those who don’t normally file a tax return.

According to the IRS, the Treasury plans to develop a web-based portal in the coming weeks for individuals to provide their banking information to the IRS online. This will allow individuals to receive payments immediately as opposed to checks being mailed.

The IRS has provided important information regarding the stimulus checks on this pageEconomic Impact Payments What You Need to Know.

 

image of money

Stay Safe, Leave Your Money in Place

We know that a lot of people are worried about a number of things right now. Natco Credit Union wants to assure you that one thing you shouldn’t worry about is the money you have saved. The credit union will always make sure you have full access to your account, but we also want you and your savings to be safe.

Here are a few reasons to leave your money in your account:

  • Your money is insured when it’s in the credit union. Natco Credit Union’s accounts are federally insured by the National Credit Union Administration up to $250,000 per account holder.
  • No risk of losing the money. With your money in your account, you always know exactly where it is. When you take money out, there’s a chance that it will be lost or stolen.
  • Money is covered in germs and bacteria. According to NYU’s Dirty Money Project, up to 3,000 different kinds of bacteria can live on a $1 bill. Instead, use your debit or credit cards, which can be cleaned with sanitary wipes. Contact us to request a Natco debit card or apply for a Natco REAL FREEDOM Visa card.

During this trying time, we want to make sure you’re protected. Check out our Quick Reference Guide for transacting business. Please, keep yourself and the money you’ve worked so hard to earn safe.

New Video – You Can Count on Natco

You can count on Natco to be here for you!

 

 

Important information icon

Avoid Long Lines on Friday, April 3rd

We expect our drive up lanes to be busy this Friday due to it being a payday for several businesses and for those who receive government checks.

Avoid longer lines:

  • Use our ATMs to make deposits and withdrawals outside normal business hours.
  • Deposit checks 24/7 through mobile deposit
  • Visit our drive up another day.
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Giving You Another Way to Make Your Natco Loan Payments Without a Fee

In an effort to help you make your payments electronically, we are giving you another option to make your Natco loan payments without a fee!

Use your credit card, debit card or ACH to pull funds from your account at another institution to make your payment. It’s quick and easy to get started.

  • Log into home banking from a desktop and select the ‘Make Loan Payment’ options from the left.
  • Log into one of our mobile banking apps (Android or Apple), click on the ‘More’ option then click ‘Make a Loan Payment.’
  • Click the ‘Make a Loan Payment’ link located at the top of our web site.

Until further notice, Natco is waiving the fee associated with using a credit card or debit card to make loan payments. Payments made via ACH are always free.

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Lifeline Loans Available March 22, 2020 through May 31, 2020

If your income or expenses have been affected by changes from the Coronavirus, a Lifeline loan can provide the short-term financial assistance you need.

  • Loan amounts between $500 and $2,000
  • 7.95% fixed APR
  • Terms up to 24 months
  • First payment due date can be extended to 90 days from loan closing

Additional qualifiers

  • Established member as of 03/16/2020
  • Member of the household is currently employed or most recently employed by a company affected by COVID-19
  • Current loans with Natco are up to date
  • If Natco holds collateral on a current loan, we must have the title on file and proof of adequate insurance coverage
  • Loan cannot be used to refinance or consolidate existing Natco loans
  • Proof of income required from February 2020
  • Optional automatic payment through payroll deduction or direct deposit
  • Credit Life and Credit Disability insurance available
  • Lifeline loans are not eligible for skip-a-pay promotions
  • Limited to one Lifeline loan per household at a time
  • Certain other conditions may apply for this loan type

Standing by our mission of ‘HELPING PEOPLE LIVE BETTER LIVES.