1) Educational Systems FCU is holding a used car sales event on October 30th where members can get low auto loan rates as low as 3.74% APR and a $100 gas card when purchasing a used vehicle from Enterprise Car Sales. 2) The article provides tips for safe holiday shopping online or by phone to avoid identity theft including checking out sellers and products, being wary of unsolicited calls, and not emailing financial information unless the connection is secure. 3) If identity theft occurs, steps should be taken immediately including placing fraud alerts on credit reports and closing any affected accounts.

1. FALL 2010 | www.esfcu.org
AnExchange
Fall into Savings
used auto sales event ~ Rates as low as 3.74% APR*
Thieves Don’t
Being a member of Educational
Systems FCU has many perks, and
for a better combination? A great
used car rate from your Credit Union Take Holidays
saving is one of them! If you are and a gas card from Enterprise!
The holidays are right around the corner
looking to purchase a car, why not
Enterprise Car Sales offers a large and more than ever, consumers will shop
decide to purchase a used vehicle
variety of used cars with one year by mail, phone and online. Although
from Enterprise Car Sales! Now is the
warranties at no-haggle, below these methods are convenient, they also
perfect time to fall into great savings
NADA prices. If you are interested create greater opportunities for thieves
with our Fall Used Car Event on
in purchasing a used car during who hope that shoppers will drop their
Saturday, October 30th from 9 a.m.
this promotion, please contact guards in pursuit of bargains and hard-
until 2 p.m. at the Enterprise Car
Educational Systems FCU at to-find items. To assure a happy holiday
Sales New Carrollton location. Even
800.356.6660 to get pre- season, protect yourself from fraud.
better, purchase a car from Enterprise
during this promotion and receive approved today! Then visit • Check out the seller. Be sure anyone
a $100 gas card**! Talk about www.cuautodeals.com today to selling online has a physical address,
membership perks! Who could ask preview Enterprise’s great selection phone number and clearly posted
of used cars! policies relating to payments, refunds,
delivery schedules, and the privacy of
your information. Merchants selling
by mail and phone should provide the
same information. When in doubt,
* As low as 3.74% Annual Percentage Rate (APR) is a fixed rate on loans financed up to 125% of the contact the Better Business Bureau for
NADA trade value for a maximum of 36 months. Applications are subject to credit approval. Actual rate a reference.
is based on your credit report.
• Be wary of unsolicited phone calls.
**$100 gas card will be issued within 45 business days upon purchase (or financing) of vehicle.
Thieves sometimes pose as well-known
Offer valid only on Enterprise vehicles purchased 10/01/10 - 10/30/10 and financed through
Educational Systems FCU. Offer void when 7-Day Repurchase Agreement is activated. No cash retailers, offering special deals available
advances. Cannot be combined with any other offers. Not valid on previous purchases. only by phone. Shop by phone only
when you initiate the call, and to a
merchant you know and trust.
• Check out the product. Some sellers
try to hide the fact that the offered
(continued on page 5)
1

2. AnExchange
Do You Have
Fall Fix-ups in Mind?
Now that Summer is a thing of the past and Fall is here, do you have home renovations
on your mind? Perhaps you would like to paint or order new cozy furniture before Winter
strikes again! Whatever you decide, your home could help you pay for its repairs. Why
not use your home’s equity to help with those Fall fix-up projects?
Whether you are in the market for a new home, refinance your existing mortgage
or open a Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC), we have the solutions that you need
to get what you want. Take advantage of our HELOC with a low introductory rate of
2.99% APR* for the first 12-months. Borrowing against your home’s equity enables
you to borrow at one of the lowest rates available, and in most cases, your interest is
tax-deductible (consult with your tax advisor).
Don’t delay! There’s no better time to contact your Credit Union. Please give us a call at
800.356.6660, stop by one of our branch locations, or visit us online at www.esfcu.org.
* Annual Percentage Rate (APR) for the first 12 months. Upon expiration of the intro rate, all balances will accrue interest at the
variable APR in effect for your account. Your APR may vary. Other conditions may apply.
Smart Holiday Shopping
Takes Planning and Control
Do you catch yourself saying this every 2. Make a list: Shop from a list to avoid
year after the holidays? “Next year I’m impulse purchases that could leave you
going to spend less money.” Then the in a large amount of debt at the end of
holiday season rolls around again and the season.
you repeat the cycle. It’s very easy to get 3. Comparison shop: Take the time to
carried away, and spend more than your find the best deal. Fight the urge to
budget will allow. However, it can be get your shopping over with as quickly
just as easy to stay financially fit, even as possible, and, for the procrastinator:
during the busiest shopping season of Don’t wait until the last minute!
the year! 4. Trim your interest payments: If
you decide to pay with a credit card
Here are some suggested holiday instead of using cash, use a card with
spending tips: a low-interest rate. Now is a good time is ideal for those “hard to buy for”
1. Budget your spending and set to contact us about our Visa® Double people on your holiday gift list.
goals: Start with a realistic idea of Platinum Card! You could earn double 6. Open a sub savings account: Enjoy
how much you can spend on holiday reward points on every purchase, the convenience of opening a sub
gifts, food, travel, and so on. Add it and get a great low rate tied to the savings account with your Credit Union.
up and really give some thought to prime rate*. Put a small amount of money away
what best fits your budget. 5. Shop smarter not harder: If each month deducted directly from your
you want to avoid the hassles of paycheck to save for your holiday gift
long lines and holiday shopping all giving, vacations, or anything that you
together, remember Visa®. Gift Cards need to save for. It may be too late to
can be purchased directly from any start saving for this holiday season, but
Educational Systems FCU branch certainly never too late to start saving
location, and used anywhere Visa. for next year’s holiday shopping.
Debit Cards are accepted. This option * As of September 1, 2010 prime rate was 3.25%.
2

3. In the Know About…
A Power Of Attorney
A Power Of Attorney (POA) is a document that allows an
individual (Attorney-In-Fact) to legally act on the behalf of
another (such as an account holder). It does not create a
trust, it does not give ownership rights, and it does not create
a beneficiary. A power of attorney is only valid while the
individual granting the POA is alive. The most common use of
this document is to protect or assist an individual in the event
of an unexpected illness or injury.
Effective October 1, 2010, all power of attorney documents
executed in Maryland must meet certain requirements to be
accepted for financial transactions. For your convenience,
Educational Systems FCU has a limited power of attorney
Choose to Open Your form that you may
use with your credit
Checking with Us union accounts. If
a non-Credit Union
You Make the Choice
POA is presented
If you are looking for better options to meet your checking and requires outside
needs, Educational Systems FCU offers three checking legal review, there will
options* (Standard Checking, Premium Checking and Interest be a $75 legal review
Checking)—You make the choice. fee charged.
All of our checking Standard Checking
If you have questions
accounts offer: • No minimum balance regarding an existing
• Free Visa® Debit Card requirements and an $8.95 POA or wish to revoke
• Free Online Banking & monthly service fee. one that is on file
BillPayer • Maintain a minimum of with us and you no
• Free eStatements $1,500 and the monthly longer have use for
• Free first order of 50 checks service fee is waived. this document, please
• Free unlimited use of ATMs visit one of our branch
located at Educational Premium Checking
locations for assistance.
Systems FCU branch • No minimum balance
locations and our ATM requirements
located at the Charles
County Board of Education
• No monthly service fees
Membership
• Surcharge free access at
any of the Prince Georges
Interest Checking
• A $500 minimum balance
Has it’s Privileges
County Community FCU is required to earn interest
We have partnered with Nationwide Insurance to offer our
ATMs and to avoid a below
Members a discount on their auto insurance. It is simple, call
• No per check fee minimum balance fee.
your current Nationwide agent and ask for the Educational
• Great selection of check Systems FCU Affinity discount. A 3% discount will be applied
designs to choose to your policy. If you are not insured with Nationwide or have
questions on your current Nationwide policy please contact:
To open your new Educational Systems FCU checking account, Corrigan Insurance Agency
visit any of our branch locations, or give us a call at Tele: 301.474.4111
800.356.6660. Toll Free: 800.213.1634
* Eligibility for a checking account is subject to credit review and may have certain other Email: corriganagency@nationwide.com
requirements and fees.
3

4. Fall 2010 | www.esfcu.org
Account Number Conversion Bowie High School
Our Community Corner
& Annex In-School
Coming Soon Credit Union Branch
In an effort to further enhance the security of your Grand Opening!
financial information, Educational Systems FCU is
converting social security number based account On Monday, September 13th at
numbers, and all account numbers that are seven digits 11:00 a.m., the Credit Union
or longer, to randomly generated account numbers. partnered with Bowie High School
administrators and faculty for the
Effective October 9, 2010, your new account number will be required for all grand opening and ribbon cutting
transactions conducted at any Educational Systems FCU branch office. It will also ceremony of the Bowie High School
be necessary for Audio Response Teller (ART) and Online Banking access; however,
In-School Credit Union Branch! An
your passwords will not change. PIN numbers for ATM and debit cards will not
additional In-School Branch location
change and will automatically access your new account number.
opened at Bowie High School Annex
on Wednesday, September 15th.
If you have a checking account with us and have ordered checks within the past five
years, we will automatically order a new set of checks for you at no charge. Future Students will have the opportunity
check orders should be made using your new account number. Please destroy all checks to open savings accounts and make
bearing your old account number upon receipt of your new checks. Any direct deposits deposits into their accounts on a
or automatic withdrawals will automatically be transferred to the new account number weekly basis. Participating in the
and will continue to post to your account. After the conversion, we recommend that you ribbon cutting was Jane Spence,
contact your payroll office and others to request that they update your direct deposit or Principal; Davina Hurt, Business
automatic withdrawal instructions with your new account number. Department Chair; DeLoria Savoy, AVP,
Member Services; Brenda Rosario,
Please watch your mail carefully for a more detailed letter and new membership Bilingual In-School Coordinator;
identification cards. Your new account number will be provided in that letter, along and Bowie H.S. students. Also in
with other important account information. attendance for the event was
Donna Rodney, Supervisor, Business
If you have any questions regarding the conversion of your account number, please and Computer Management Services
give us a call at 800.356.6660 or speak with a Member Services Representative at and Experiential Learning and
your nearest branch office. Educational Systems FCU staff.
2010 International Credit Union Day
We’re celebrating a special day, and it’s all about our commitment to you. Join
us October 21 to celebrate International Credit Union Day with this year’s theme
“Local. Trusted. Serving You.” At Educational Systems FCU, we’re proud to continue serving
the needs of our members and our local community. In tough economic times, it’s our
cooperative spirit and dedication to our members and community that sets credit unions
apart from the rest. Credit unions don’t belong to shareholders hoping to turn a profit
from your cash. Rather, credit unions are member-owned, and any earnings are returned
to you in the form of better rates and higher earnings. Take full advantage of your credit union
membership. Meet your borrowing and savings needs with
our member-friendly, low-priced services.
Bowie High School Annex In-School Branch
Grand Opening! L to R: Cheryl English, Member
This International Credit Union Day, we want to thank Services Representative; Joshua Warren, 9th
grade student; Donna Rodney, Supervisor
you for trusting Educational Systems FCU to take care Business & Computer Management Services
of you. We have only your best interests in mind. Let & Experiential Learning; DeLoria Savoy, AVP
Member Services; Brenda Rosario, Bilingual
us know how we’re doing and what we can do to School Financial Education Coordinator;
make your credit union experience even better. Be Rhonda Taylor, Tech Prep Coordinator;
Orewana Bey, Assistant Principal; Khyla Webb,
sure to stop by your local branch on October 21 for 9th grade student; Davina Hurt, Business
refreshments. Department Chairperson.
4

5. Fall 2010 | www.esfcu.org
Thieves Don’t If you are a victim of identify theft, take these steps immediately:
Take Holidays 1 Place a fraud alert on your credit
reports, ask for a free copy of your 2 Close accounts such as savings or
checking, cancel any ATM cards
(continued from page 1)
credit report, and review those reports that have been tampered with or
item is refurbished or a previously
for evidence of accounts you didn’t open. used fraudulently. Contact all financial
returned item. Be certain of the product
Fraud unit contacts are: institutions and lenders, credit card
description in the ads and examine
issuers, utility companies, and the Social
items carefully when they arrive. Equifax Tele: 888-766-0008
Security Administration to notify them of
• Don’t email financial information. P.O. Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30374-0241
the fraud. Follow up each conversation
Email isn’t always secure, be sure to www.equifax.com
with a letter. Ask the credit bureaus for
enter personal and financial information Experian Tele: 888-397-3742 their advice regarding the best fraud
only when there is a “lock” icon on the P.O. Box 9532, Allen, TX 75013 monitoring services available.
browser’s status bar and look for the www.experian.com
URL to read “https” versus “http”.
• Don’t open suspicious attachments.
Some Internet identity thieves will
TransUnion Tele: 800-680-7289
P.O. Box 6790, Fullerton, CA 92834-6790
3 File a report with law enforcement
and insist on getting a copy of the
report or the report number.
send spam email offering unbelievable www.transunion.com
bargains on hot items such as digital
cameras, computers, and mp3 players. popping up everywhere but some are you called, and who you spoke with.
The email includes an attachment that found in high traffic areas where there Always ask for a confirmation number
promises to explain how to obtain are opportunities for thieves to observe for your order to quickly reference the
the promised item. By opening the your pin entry and use small cameras to purchase if the item fails to arrive or
attachment, however, you download a film your transaction. you are not satisfied.
program that searches your computer • Know Your Rights. All retailers
for your personal information, and (including those using the Internet) must Want more important consumer and
transmits that data to the thief. ship your order within the time limit they personal finance guidance? Contact the
• Keep your virus protection software promised in their offer. If they didn’t financial professionals at BALANCE.
and personal firewall up-to-date. state a time limit they must ship within As a benefit of membership with
Many software packages have features 30 days of receiving payment. If the Educational Systems FCU, counselors
that allow an automatic check for retailer cannot ship within the promised are ready, at
updated virus definitions or enhanced date, they must allow you to cancel the no charge to
protection; use these options to guard order and receive a timely refund. you, to answer
against hackers and thieves. Don’t • Keep Records. Save all documentation questions and
forget to use hard-to-guess passwords related to your purchases, including help you develop
to further protect sensitive data. emails detailing online purchases. Make a personal finance strategy. Visit
• Be careful using unfamiliar ATMs. Need note of all phone purchases, including www.balancepro.net or call toll-free:
cash on your shopping trip? ATM’s are the phone number you called, when 888.456.2227 today.
Satisfied Member!! I just LOVE my Credit Union. Call for
My Mom opened an account for me when Since I just finished law school in May, Nominations
I was about two. Now at 24, I have my my job didn’t start until September.
own reasons for being a member for life. Educational Systems FCU had this fantastic Attention Members: Here is an
Educational Systems FCU helped make my July/August car loan sale with great rates, opportunity to serve your fellow
dream car a reality!! Look at it, I get thumbs a $200 Visa® Gift Card and Credit Union members. If you are
up from guys when I wouldn’t have to make my interested in volunteering to
they pull up beside first payment until the end of serve on the Board of Directors
me on the road. this October. Can we say— or a committee, please contact
I think they are PERFECT DEAL!! I love it, thanks Karen Jung by November 1, 2010
surprised to see me Educational Systems FCU! at 800.356.6660 ext 4767 to
in the driver’s seat! ~ Nicole S. receive a nomination request form.
5

6. AnExchange
Prst First Class
U.S. Postage
PAID
Southern MD
P.O. Box 179
Permit No. 305
A Changing
Greenbelt, MD 20768-0179
Marketplace
for Consumers
You may be aware of the numerous
problems caused by the recent
financial crisis which has prompted
Congress and the Federal Reserve
to make many regulatory changes
affecting banks and credit unions.
The recent Credit Card Act, the
Secure and Fair Enforcement for
Fall 2010 | www.esfcu.org
Mortgage Licensing Act (SAFE
Locations
Act), the Fair and Accurate Credit
Transactions Act (FACT Act), the Corporate Office Mailing Address Hours for Branches and
P. O. Box 179, Greenbelt, MD 20768-0179 Member Service Centers
Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and
800.356.6660 | Fax: 301.985.4661 | www.esfcu.org Lobby Hours
Consumer Protection Act along with Monday—Thursday 9:00 a.m.—5:00 p.m.
changes in rules and regulations Branch Locations Friday 9:00 a.m.—6:00 p.m.
Bowie Branch Saturday 9:00 a.m.—1:00 p.m.
from the Federal Reserve are Duvall Village Shopping Center Drive-Thru—Bowie Branch
intended to protect consumers from 4801 Glenn Dale Road, Bowie, MD Monday—Friday 8:00 a.m.—7:00 p.m.
Saturday 9:00 a.m.—1:00 p.m.
questionable business practices by Upper Marlboro Branch
Washington Plaza
banks or mortgage brokers. However, 8903 Presidential Parkway, Suite100, Upper Marlboro, MD
ATM Locations
24-Hour ATM Access at the above Branches and
these new regulations appear to Waldorf Branch Member Service Centers
be changing the financial services Smallwood Village Shopping Center
169A Smallwood Village Center, Waldorf, MD For added convenience, an ATM is also located at the
marketplace by having the unintended Charles County Board of Education
Greenbelt Branch
consequences of significantly Maryland Trade Center I 5980 Radio Station Road, La Plata, MD
Hours: Monday—Friday, 8:00 a.m.—4:00 p.m.
increasing costs for all financial 7500 Greenway Center Drive, Suite 140, Greenbelt, MD
institutions including credit unions. California Member Service Center*
San Souci Plaza 2010-2011 Holiday Schedule
22599-122 MacArthur Blvd., California, MD
Although Educational Systems FCU Prince Frederick Member Service Center*
Columbus Day Monday, October 11
did not experience the problems that Manning Building Veteran’s Day Thursday, November 11
90 King George Way, Prince Frederick, MD Thanksgiving Thursday, November 25
many of the banks did (which caused
Christmas Saturday, December 25
*No Teller Services
the financial crisis), we are still subject New Year’s Day Saturday, January 1, 2011
to the new regulatory requirements All Card Services Martin Luther King Day Monday, January 17, 2011
and costs which are prompting some The phone number is 800.356.6660.You will President’s Day Monday, February 21, 2011
be prompted to press 4 to report a lost or stolen
changes in how we structure our Visa Credit or Debit Card.
Courtesy Pay program, ATM fees,
and our credit cards. As we consider Fee Change Notification
changes in any product or service,
Effective December 1, 2010
you can be assured that your Credit Returned Check/Overdraft $35/item
Union remains committed to offering Returned ACH Debit/Overdraft $35/item
Your savings are insured up to $500,000. Your savings
competitive products with great rates Returned Deposited Items $35/item are federally insured up to at least $250,000 by the
and reasonable fees. As a not-for- Courtesy Pay* $35/item National Credit Union Administration (NCUA), and
backed by the full faith and credit of the United States
profit cooperative, we will remain true Money Market (Check Withdrawals>3) $35/item
Government. An additional $250,000 of coverage
to our mission which is to grow by Overdraft (ATM & Check Cards) $35/item is provided by Excess Share Insurance (ESI), a private
Legal Review $75/document corporation. Traditional and Roth IRAs are insured
helping the members of the education up to $250,000 by NCUA and up to an additional
community achieve their financial * Limited to a maximum of 4 per day, per checking account. No charge $250,000 through ESI, all at no cost to you.
for additional transactions on the same day, up to the approved
goals and dreams.
Courtesy Pay limit. Your savings federally insured to at least $100,000
and backed by the full faith and credit of the United States Government
NCUA
National Credit Union Association, a U.S. Government Agency
Your savings federally insured to at least $100,000
and backed by the full faith and credit of the United States Government
NCUA
National Credit Union Association, a U.S. Government Agency