What a year! For Members 1st, 2020 seems like a year of duplicities: both standing still AND making progress.
When we were forced to shut down our lobbies because of the pandemic earlier in the year, that halted almost everything. We had to get creative and work super hard to figure out what members and employees could do safely. The "progress" part came because we were able to do that by helping members discover and use services that had always been available to them … but that they might not have ever used before.
Now as we near the end of the year, despite being fully open for several months now, we understand things still feel a bit uncertain for many of you. However, we believe the more you know about the services your credit union offers, the better prepared you'll be if something would happen (although we hope not). Get to know these Members 1st services, so you're prepared for anything that comes your way in 2021 and beyond!
Online Banking:
The best thing you can do to prepare is to sign up for online banking and use this time to get accustomed to using it. You can access all your credit union accounts 24/7 - check account balances, transfer between accounts, make loan payments and more. You can see all your transactions online and see copies of all the checks you write, including who you wrote them to and when the check cleared. Once you learn how to navigate it … you'll wonder what you ever did before it!
E-Statements:
With the recent mail slowdowns, some members' paper statements have been arriving late. Once you set up online banking, you can quickly and easily sign up for e-statements, which let you see an electronic version of your regular paper statement online immediately.
Mobile App:
Not everyone has internet access at home ... however most everyone has access to a smartphone. If you download our mobile app from Google Play or the App Store, you can quickly access and use the online banking feature on your mobile device on the go! You can even deposit checks just by taking a picture of them with the mobile app. More than a convenience, it's a great backup if you can't physically get to the credit union or prefer to have the freedom of banking at your fingertips.
Debit Card:
Maybe you don't have a debit card because you prefer writing checks or making a cash withdrawal inside the lobby. But even if you never use it to make purchases, did you know that a debit card is a great way to get emergency cash? You can access up to $500 per day from our ATMs - even if the lobby is closed for any reason, or even just after hours.
Card Valet:
This is one of our newest - and quickly becoming one of our members' favorites - services. With Card Valet, you'll receive a text message or email notification whenever your debit card is used. It's not just a great way to find out quickly about fraudulent use if your card is lost or stolen, but also if you forget to write down a debit card transaction in your check register, you'll have the ability to look at these alerts to remember the transaction details.
Direct Deposit & Payroll Deduction:
You can have your paycheck, retirement check or other recurring payments deposited directly into your credit union account. You can also arrange to make a loan payment or account deposit automatically.
Social Media:
Maybe you think social media is all chit-chat and cat videos. But Members 1st social media accounts are all about helping members. We share credit union news, like special loan rates or new services, top tips, as well as closures and last-minute information. And of course, we like to have a little fun and showcase employees and members!
Email Blasts:
If we have your updated email, we send out messages about our newest member services and programs, as well as branch information. It's just one more quick and convenient way to stay informed on your credit union!
If you want to know more about online banking or any of these services, we invite you to call or stop by one of the offices, or you can find more information on our website. Now … let's focus on welcoming and preparing for 2021!
Mattis office: (314) 487-5628
Festus office: (636) 931-7144
Toll-free: (877) 487-5628