Direct Deposit. Avoid the hassle, time and expense of running to the credit union to deposit your paycheck. Most schools and other employers can direct deposit your payroll check.

Payroll Deduction. Make savings deposits and loan payments via Payroll Deduction. The money is withheld from your paycheck and you don’t have to do a thing. Forms for MCPS, Hellgate Elementary & a generic form can be obtained below. Your employer may have one too.

GENERIC PAYROLL DIRECT DEPOSIT FORM
HELLGATE ELEM DIRECT DEPOSIT FORM
MCPS DIRECT DEPOSIT FORM

Senior Class. Get the benefits you deserve with Senior Class Checking. If you are 55 or older, you receive all the benefits in the Basic Share Draft Account plus these outstanding extras:

VISA Cash&Check Card. Your Montana Educators’ Credit Union VISA Cash&Check card makes everyday money management easier and more convenient than ever. You can access your account for immediate cash "24/7" free of charge 20 times per month through ATMs worldwide. And best of all, you can avoid pesky "up-charges" if you use ATMs at virtually any main office Credit Union in the State of Montana that has one, or at any Wells Fargo Bank nation-wide.  (Some remote or satellite ATM's, even if associated with a Credit Union, do not offer this service.) Our ATM card can be used at any Instant Cash or CashCard Network ATM world-wide. Check for US and international CIRRUS ATM Locations below.

http://www.mastercard.com/atmlocator/index.jsp

You can also buy things and services using your card at places of business that handle debit transaction over Interlink network.  It’s a convenient way to pay for items directly from your share draft checking account and obtain a little extra cash from your account without troublesome upcharges and fees.

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Travelers Cheques. Montana Educators' Credit Union discontinued the issuance of travelers cheques on April 2, 2007.  With the wide spread acceptance of Debit and ATM cards around the world, these cheques became an unnecessary expense to our members.  Retailers in many countries have adopted the practice of charging very high surcharges to cash them.  So we strongly advise you use your MECU VISA Debit Cash Card in the United States and around the world.  It will save you money and that's always nice! 

VISA Card. A Montana Educators’ Credit Union VISA Card provides a practical way to pay for items when you are on the go. It features a low, fixed rate of 11.9% APR, a 25 day grace period and no annual fee. 

You can check your balance and recent purchases and make payments on line through eZCardInfo.  As well this website provides easy access to many of your shopping needs at the eZCardMall!  Shop on line from retailers like Nordstrom, Lands' End, The Sharper Image, jcrew, Martha Stewart, the Disney Store, and many, many more.  Best of all using these services is absolutely free - no cost to you.  To sign up for these benefits click on:

http://www.eZCardInfo.com 

CREDIT CARD APPLICATION

Verified by VISA

The Verified by VISA program is designed to protect you during purchase on the Web.  With a simple password you create, no other party can use your card to make internet purchases from internet merchants who participate in this service.  (eBay will be installing this program soon.)  Simply click on the link below to learn more or to enroll.

https://www.mycardsecure.com/vpas/enroll/index.jsp?locale=en_US&bankid=3

Montana Medical Savings Account. The State of Montana has provided its citizens a powerful tool to save and pay for "eligible medical expenses", and exclude up to $3,000 per year per account, plus dividends earned, from your taxable income for Montana.

The MMSA is NOT a "USE IT OR LOSE IT" program like a Flex Plan, and neither is it a replacement for a Flex Plan. Rather, it can be a complement to your Flex Plan. You do not have to spend all the money in one year to exclude your savings from your Montana taxes. You can leave it there, gaining dividends, for future medical needs. A typical taxpayer in the 8% bracket can save about $240 on their Montana income tax by depositing $3,000 in their Medical Savings Account.

The details are too numerous to include here. It’s a benefit you cannot afford to pass up. Check with your tax advisor now, and contact us to set up your account.

jiffy lube® Coupons. Receive substantial services on lubrication services at jiffy lube. Available only by special coupons to members of Montana Educators’ Credit Union.

You can obtain these special Jiffy Lube® coupons at our office, 2000 South Russell Street  in Missoula. Then use your coupons at any Jiffy Lube® location in Missoula.

2310 Brooks Street – 728-0021

601 East Broadway – 549-6554

721-B Mount Avenue – 728-3918

3640 North Reserve – 721-8338

Vehicle Service Agreements.Most new vehicles are delivered with an excellent warranty these days, but many components are either not covered, or have limited coverage, and then for only 3 years or 36,000 miles unless you purchase "bumper-to-bumper" coverage at extra cost.

Preventing Identity Theft.  Increasingly we hear of unscrupulous practices by persons and groups wishing to defraud you and your money.  Incidences of Identity Theft are on the rise and one cannot be too careful to protect oneself and your assets.  Here are a couple of tips to help thwart attempts to defraud you:

• Review credit reports annually
• Shred document containing your Social Security Number, CU Account Numbers or other confidential information
• NEVER put confidential material in the garbage can
• Review all account statements promptly
• Use secure postal boxes to send and receive mail
• Use caution when asked for personal information over the phone or Internet
• On your next check re-order, consider removing your SSN
• Be aware of current scam tactics such as "phishing" and spoofing
• Report  suspicions about your account to the Credit Union and the Federal Trade Commission

The following internet link to the Federal Trade Commission provides more helpful information, the latest warnings and a method to file complaints:

http://www.consumer.gov/idtheft/

Credit Reports   Monitoring your credit history is the best way to protect your self against current fraud against you and loan denials in the future.  Under the FACT Act of 2003, you are entitled to one free copy of your credit report per year from each of the three credit reporting agencies.  To obtain your free credit report, go to http://www.annualcreditreport.com

Due to privacy laws, Montana Educators' Credit Union cannot make corrections to your credit report on your behalf even if you give us permission.  For information  on how to dispute an error on your credit report, you may call our credit report provider, EQUIFAX, at 1-800-685-1111.  MECU does not currently report to EXPERIAN or TRANSUNION, so information provided by us on your loan history to EQUIFAX may or may not show up on the other two agency's credit reports.  That is why it is a good idea to take advantage of your annual free credit report, particularly with the other two agencies.