Valley First Credit Union

A Valley First Credit Union member struggling with overdraft fees during the COVID-19 pandemic gets a huge surprise during Happy Holipays!

Fraud Tip Pet adoption scams are not new, but they are on the rise as people have more time at home and are looking to add a pet. As always, verify who you're giving money to and also make a point to see the pet in person before paying.

Happy International Credit Union Day! Each year our industry comes together to raise awareness about what it means for members around the world to have a credit union as their financial partner. This year’s global health crisis has been trying for all communities, but credit unions have stayed true to their cooperative principles and stepped up during this time of economic uncertainty. https://bit.ly/3j1Ys5h

#MissionMoment We're choosing to focus on the positive as 2020 comes to a close. This year Valley First waived more than $200,000 in potential fees when our members were most in need of saving money.

Congratulations Wes Hall! After 70 years of service, Wes serves in his recent capacity as Director Emeritus, continuing to lend his vast knowledge and experience of leading a successful credit union. He took personal dedication when Valley First set out to select a new leader to take the helm in 2019 and set the overall direction for growth of Valley First into the future. Wes was one of the highlights of my interviews with the Valley First Board of Directors. His dedication and knowledge of our industry is a model every credit union should be so lucky to have amongst their volunteers. I am very grateful for his ongoing contributions to Valley First - President and CEO Kathryn Davis.

Patriots Day 9/11. Never forget the sacrifices made on 9/11. Today, we honor those lost and the ones who served to protect us.

Check out The CUInsight Experience podcast featuring our President & CEO Kathryn J. Davis.

Happy Labor Day! Relax and Enjoy, be safe! As a reminder our branches and member call center are closed today in Observance of Labor Day.

Happy Labor Day Weekend! Relax and Enjoy, be safe! As a reminder our branches and member call center will be closed on Monday September 7.

Fraud Tip Wire Transfers: It’s always a red flag when someone you don’t know or can’t verify asks you to send them money via wire transfer. That type of exchange is a common tactic in scams because it’s difficult to trace and there is very little you can do to try to get your money back once it’s gone. Only use wire transfers in transactions you can verify and validate it as a legitimate exchange.

Fraud Tip Prize Scams: Someone may reach out to you congratulating you on winning a prize or sweepstakes. The scam comes into play when they ask you to pay upfront for the taxes and fees on your winnings. Do not send money when someone claims you’ve won something.

August 26th was #nationaldogday. National Dog Day was established in 2004 by pet and family lifestyle expert Colleen Paige. This is a time not only to give your own pal with paws extra praise, but also to thank the many working dogs who daily enrich people’s lives such as service dogs, K9 cops and working military dogs. Here are some of the Valley First teams fur family members. Hope you enjoy our Pooch Collage.

Fraud Tip Mail Fraud: Scam phone calls are not the only way fraudsters try to commit scams. Letters or forms received in the mail can look legitimate, but use the same cautionary approach as you would with a phone call. Verify the creditor by reaching out to them at their published contact information. Be particularly wary of mail that asks you to send cash or a wire transfer.

Back to School Tip Buy Less When Virtual: If your kids are starting the school year in a virtual environment, you likely don’t need to buy as much for back to school as you normally would. New clothes aren’t as important if they’ll be doing their school work at home and they probably have art supplies and materials in the house that can stand in for new school supplies.

Fraud Tip Posing as a Friend or Relative: As odd as it may sound, another common scam technique is to pose as a friend or relative and ask for money or fake an emergency. These are particularly common targeted at older people who may get confused or not know how to verify the identity of the caller. Do not send wire transfers, gift cards or money of any kind to anyone you can’t verify as someone you know.