O K L A H O M A

E M P L O Y E E S

C R E D I T

U N I O N

N E W S L E T T E R

Winter 2012 Its the age old question of Which came first...great rates or great service? OECU has always had both. But did the great rates on auto loans, credit cards and home loans lead to great service or did the great service lead to the low rates on loans and high rates on deposits? Well no matter which one came first, at OECU you can have both!

P.O. Box 24027 Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73124

Presorted Standard U.S. Postage PAID Oklahoma City, OK Permit No. 1541

MARKMYWORD
current debt. If high interest bills are piling up then you need to take action. Debt consolidation is one way of getting out from under high interest rates. Depending on your credit and income, you may be able to secure a loan that can pay off all your bills at a lower interest rate than your creditors are currently charging you. Another option is to transfer your debts to a new, low interest credit card. Save money. Simplify your life. Consolidate your loans at OECU. We offer several options to help you pay off your loans quicker and lower your existing monthly payments. We have low rates on Auto Loans, Home Equity Loans and MasterCards. One of these could be the right answer for your credit consolidation needs. Once you get out from under the high interest rates you will be surprised at how much money goes back into your pocket each month. Take advantage of this opportunity to save extra money. Set up automatic payroll deductions to your savings account and youll never miss the money. Before you know it, youll be on your way to financial success. If you have any financial questions, we are here for you. Call us anytime at 405.606.6328 or visit us online at www.oecu.org.

OECU President

Mark Kelly

Can you believe its 2012 already? I hope everyone had a safe and happy New Year. Every year I am asked how to save more in the New Year. A simple way to free up extra money is to look at your

EMPLOYEESPOTLIGHT
Clay Dorrell is a Team Lead in OECUs Phone Center, which was started in 2001 in an effort to keep our promise to provide personal service. When anyone calls OECU, an actual person will answer the phone instead of an automated system that just gives a series of prompts, says Clay. The Phone Center started small with just three Member Service Representatives. Clay explains, Were now able to handle upwards of

Have a question or need help with your account? Dont worry, Clay Dorrell is just a phone call away.
20,000 calls per month with 20 employees working in the Phone Center. I am able to help with just about anything from resetting your online account, transfering funds, stopping payments or ordering checks. Thats why I have enjoyed working in the Phone Center for the past four years. No matter what a member calls in about, I am here to solve their problem, says Clay. For instance, I once had a

Clay Dorrell
Team Lead

nonmember call in thinking they had another credit union. I informed them that they had reached OECU, but offered to connect them with the correct credit union. They were so impressed that they wanted to move their accounts to OECU!

If you need help with your account, we are just a phone call away...405.606.6328 or 877.677.6328

Which came first... Great service or great auto loan rates? With auto loans as low as 1.90%APR** you can have both.

DOHYBRIDSMAKECENTS?
While many drivers are attracted to hybrid vehicles by the fact that the technology is more environmentally friendly, research shows that most hybrid owners joined the revolution because of greater fuel efficiency. How often do hybrid batteries tional car, and may even cost need replacing? Is replaceless due to decreased wear ment expensive and disposal and tear on the engine and an environmental problem? braking system. The hybrid battery packs are designed to last for the lifetime Youll probably want to take of the vehicle, somewhere your hybrid to a dealer, espebetween 150,000 and 200,000 cially considering that most miles, probably a whole lot companies offer additional longer. The warranty covers warranty on emission components and battery pack on top the batteries for between eight of the traditional 3-year/36,000 and ten years, depending on the car maker. mile warranty on the conventional systems. Hybrids use NiMH batteries, not the environmentally probDealer service centers do And, as gasoline prices conlematic rechargeable nickel usually charge a little more, tinue to fluctuate with seemcadmium. Nickel metal hybut classes are popping up ingly no rhyme or reason, an dride batteries are benign. all over the country to teach ever-increasing number of They can be fully recycled, independent car mechanics consumers are actively looksays Ron Cogan, editor of the ing for more fuel-efficient forms about hybrids. After all, there Green Car Journal. Toyota will be hundreds of thousands of transportation. The resultand Honda say that they will of these cars on the road in ing growth in the popularity of recycle dead batteries and the next couple of years, and hybrid vehicles over the past that disposal will pose no toxic mechanics will have to meet seven years has been nothing hazards. Toyota puts a phone this demand. This timing works short of amazing. number on each battery, and out well for new hybrid buythey pay a $200 bounty for ers. By the time your warranty Is maintenance more expeneach battery to help ensure is finished, there will be many sive with a hybrid? more qualified hybrid mechan- that it will be properly recyMaintaining a hybrid doesnt cled. cost any more than a conven- ics available to you.
**Annual Percentage Rate. 680+ credit score. 679 or less credit score will be 2.00% APR off the earned rate. Max term 36 months. Min amount $10,000. Existing OECU loan min advance $2,500. Requires automatic payments and eStatements. Limited time offer. Normal lending policies apply.

Which came first...great rates or great service? For Cindy Schrader the great service she experienced led her to great rates. the outcome, Having just moved to Oklahoma City for her Cindy said. career, Cindy Schrader was looking for a new financial institution that could meet her needs. At OECU As a mother of four kids its important for me we have the to make smart financial decisions; every penny counts, explains Cindy. Not only is it good for tools to help our members me to save money, but I wanted to teach my achieve their children to be money smart kids. financial goals. Whether its I was so impressed by the customer service I building credit, received at the NW Expressway Branch. In this preparing to day and age good customer service is hard buy a home or saving money on their auto to find. I was able to sit down with the Branch loan, we are here to help, says Sarah SonManager and discuss all the goals I had for the heim, Branch Supervisor of our NW Expressway future. By the time I left I had my savings and location. The ability to impact someones life so checking accounts established and opened greatly for the positive is my driving force every Future Millionaires accounts for my children. Soon after I saved money by financing my Jeep day when working with members! with OECU and I opened a MasterCard to start building more credit. I couldnt be happier with

MEMBERSPOTLIGHT

NEEDHELPPAYINGFORCOLLEGE?
OECU will award 2 scholarships for the 2012 2013 academic year. The first place scholarship award will be in the amount of $1,000 and the second place award will be for $500. We know and appreciate the value of a college education and are pleased to provide young people the opportunity to receive help with their educational expenses says Mark W. Kelly, President and CEO. Applicants must be a primary account holder in good standing at OECU and be enrolled full time to a college, university, trade or craft school within the next school year. Interested applicants can apply online at www.oecu.org or print out an application and return it to the credit union no later than April 30, 2012. Applicants need to submit an OECU scholarship application, a written essay and a transcript from their high school or college. Essay topics, applications and complete rules can be found at www.oecu.org.

2012ANNUALMEETING
Date: Saturday, March 31, 2012 Time: 1 pm to 3 pm Location: Jim Thorpe Museum (NE 41st & Lincoln) The first 300 people to RSVP will be guaranteed our annual coffee mug. To RSVP, visit oecu.org and click the Annual Meeting link or call 405.606.6328 or 877.677.6328.

ITSEASYWITHeBRANCH
Enjoy the convenience of accessing your OECU accounts anytime, anywhere for FREE. With eBranch, you can securely and conveniently: Check account balances Transfer money Pay bills with ePay* feature Review account history Make OECU loan payments View a copy of cleared checks Visit www.oecu.org to enroll in eBranch.
* Must pay one or more bills per month. $4.95 per month if no activity.

QUICKFINANICIALFITNESS
You dont need as long as you think to get your financial life in order. Just squeeze in these easy moves-some of which take a mere 15 minutes to tackle.
If youve got 15 minutes or less... Look at what youre using-and what youre not using. If you have a monthly gym membership but only go twice a month, would you be better off paying an entrance fee, which some gyms allow? Find out what options exist. The same goes for cable, unlimited talk cell phones, Internet access, and anything you can be paying for but not using much. Want to save money for a rainy day or a sunny vacation week but never have enough leftover cash to stash for these goals? Have the money taken directly from your paycheck, so youll never miss it. If youve got an hour... The majority of Americans havent included financial documents in their disaster plan, says Jim Judge, of the American Red Crosss Scientific Advisory Council. Be prepared: Scan the paperwork below onto two CDs. Keep one at home and one in a safe deposit box. Drivers license and passport Social Security card Health insurance card Insurance policies Mortgage & other loan papers Property deeds Car title & registration Marriage license Your will Last years tax return Credit Union & brokerage account numbers If youve got 2 or 3 hours... Invest a few hours in getting rid of the financial debris thats filling your filing cabinet, and youll take a psychic load off your shoulders, says therapist Debbie Stanley, author of Organize Your Home in No Time. The only stuff you need to keep (and how long to keep them): Tax returns: Keep them forever. Tax backup (receipts, W-2s, statements, etc.): Hang onto these for six years (the IRS has up to this amount of time to audit returns). Pay stubs: Keep these until you get your W-2 in January. Receipts for home improvements: Hold onto them for six years after you sell the home, for tax purposes. Receipts for big-ticket purchases: Keep them for as long as you own the item, for warranty and insurance claims. Year-end investment statements: Retain until six years after you sell, for proof of gains and losses for taxes.

HOWSMARTARESMARTMETERS?
What makes smart meters smart? The fact is that so-called smart meters arent smart. Their core function metering your electric use is the same as the old analog meters. The difference is that the new meters use digital technology that allows the consumer to be smarter. The old analog or electrical mechanical meters did not provide much useful information. Consumers with smart meters can track their consumption of electricity down to 15-minute intervals, helping them make more informed energy choices. The old meters required a meter reader on-site to take monthly readings. Smart meters can be read remotely and will automatically notify the utility about power outages. Smart meters are the first step in moving the electric grid into the digital age. Do Smart meters relay my personal information? No. No personal information is displayed on the outside or contained in the new meter. Your account number, address, and personal information are never transmitted by the meter. Smart meters relay a code that is associated with your account along with usage information on a 15 minute interval. The data transmitted by the meter is also encrypted for your protection. What are the benefits of smart meters? Smart meters make possible a new energy future: Automatic outage notification Smart meters will automatically notify the utilities about power outages to help restore power more quickly. Energy efficiency and savings Consumers can more closely monitor their electricity use to better manage energy costs by making even small changes, such as adjusting their thermostat. Consumers can also take advantage of optional rate programs (where available). Evironmental benefits -If consumers reduce energy use, less power may have to be produced, which is good for the environment. Faster transactions and order processing -The Smart meters remote capability can mean requests for connection and disconnection of electric service can be filled more quickly. Fewer truck rolls also reduces expenses related to providing electricity. Those savings are then passed on to ratepayers through reduced rates. Remote meter reading Utilities will be able to read smart meters remotely, virtually eliminating the need to go house to house to read electric meters, which means fewer trucks on the road, less cost for the ratepayer, and less CO2 emissions. For more information about Smart Meters visit the Oklahoma Corporation Commission at www.occ.state.ok.us

DATESTOREMEMBER
20
Presidents Day Monday, February 20 Stiles drive-thru and Virtual Branch open 9am - 1pm. All other branches closed.

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Annual Meeting Saturday, March 31 1 pm to 3 pm Jim Thorpe Museum (NE 41st & Lincoln)

For account information access eBranch at www.oecu.org or call our 24-hour phone teller at 405.606.6338 (800.526.6663) Credit Union Service Centers are open. North OKC Service Center is moving to its new location at 10491 N. May Avenue, Oklahoma City, OK 73120, which is located in the Village Park Shopping Center. The new locations should be open for business on or about January 30, 2012.

With rates as low as 7.99%APR* you can have both! Want more? Open your credit card today and take advantage of... No Annual Fee No Balance Transfer Fee No Cash Advance Fee

SOCIALMEDIASECURITY
Social networking sites continue to grow in popularity as attack vectors because of the volume of users and the amount of personal information that is posted. The nature of social networking sites encourages you to post personal information. The perceived anonymity and false sense of security of the Internet may cause users to provide more information about them and their life online than they would to a stranger in person. The information you post online could be used by those with malicious intent to conduct social engineering scams and attempt to steal your identity for access to your financial data. Here are some tips to keep your information safe: Passwords: Protect your social networking account with a strong password. Do not share this password with anyone or use it for other sites. Links: Be cautious when clicking on links. If a link seems odd, suspicious, or too good to be true, do not click on it...even if the link is on your most trusted friends page. Your friends account may have been hijacked or infected. not properly protect your information, do not use the site. Personal Information: Do not respond to an email requesting personal information or that ask you to verify your information or to confirm your user-id and password.

Privacy: Do not assume privacy on social networking sites. Confidential information should not be shared. You should only post information you are com Keep your system updated: fortable disclosing to a comEnsure that any computer you plete stranger. Review a sites use to connect to a social networking site has proper security privacy policy. Some sites may share information such as email measures in place, including anti-virus and anti-spyware soft- addresses or user preferences ware, and a firewall. Make sure with other parties. If a sites privacy policy is vague or does you keep them up-to-date.
*Annual Percentage Rate is variable. 1.00% foreign transaction fee.

BOARDELECTIONS

The 2012 Election Committee is taking applications for candidates for three (3) separate positions for the OECU Board of Directors. The deadline for registration is February 15, 2012. Description of Duties - A volunteer on the Board of Directors (BOD) will perform as a member of a team that is ultimately responsible for the general direction and control of the affairs of the credit union. As a group, the BOD approves credit union policies and declares dividends for deposits and rates of interest for loans. The BOD also approves members of the credit union and authorizes investments of credit union funds. Because of these responsibilities, it is necessary that qualified candidates realize and be able to commit to the following criteria: 1. Be a credit union member in good standing. 2. Be bondable. 3. Be able to attend monthly meetings and an annual planning conference. 4. Have a general knowledge of credit union products and services. 5. Maintain the highest level of ethics and confidentiality in all BOD dealings. Qualified candidates should submit their nomination in writing to: Oklahoma Employees Credit Union Attn: Election Committee P.O. Box 24027 Oklahoma City, OK 73124 Nominations must include the following information: 1. Letter of nomination/introduction 2. Declaration for which seat the candidate wishes to run: a. Seat 1 (3 yr. term) - Eddie Foreman b. Seat 2 (3 yr. term) - Gary Parson c. Seat 3 (3 yr. term) - Mike Patterson 3. A current resume Each candidate may only specify one seat for which they wish to run. All nominations should be submitted no later than February 15, 2012. No nomination will be accepted after this date. Each individual submitting a nomination will be notified of their eligibility and opposition by the Election Committee no less than 15 days prior to the Annual Meeting. The election will be held at the Annual Meeting and successful candidates will be introduced following the election.

OECU Members Can Save on TurboTax Online Deluxe! TurboTax guides you step-by-step, just like a GPS, making it easy to do your taxes right. Visit www.oecu.org to get started.

Mortgage rates as low as

3.99%

APR^

Looking for a Low Rate, Low Cost, Short Term Mortgage? Hurry before rates go up. Right now you can lower your term and lower your rate!

^ Annual Percentage Rate. Must be primary residence first mortgage. Max 12 years up to $150,000 & 75% loan-to-value (determined by county value or AVM). Min credit score 700. Limited time offer. Normal lending policies apply. Offer not available on residences outside Oklahoma or manufac8 tured homes.