News

St. Anne’s Promotes Jody Lauzon to Commercial Loan Officer

Eileen M. Danahey, President & Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of St. Anne’s Credit Union, along with its Board of Directors, are pleased to announce the promotion of Jody Lauzon to Commercial Loan Officer. Ms. Lauzon has been with St. Anne’s Credit Union since 2005, most recently serving as Credit Analyst/Portfolio Manager where she facilitated comprehensive credit analysis, collaborating with the Commercial Lending team by providing superior service to the members that receive commercial financing from St. Anne’s Credit Union. In her new role, she will continue to expand the Credit Union’s portfolio of commercial loans, helping borrowers achieve their financial goals by tailoring the Credit Union’s available business product and service suite to the members’ defined strategic objectives.

Ms. Lauzon earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting from the University of Massachusetts in Dartmouth and has 16 years of experience in the financial services industry, predominantly in commercial lending roles at St. Anne’s Credit Union. Throughout her career at St. Anne’s she has made many advancements, holding the positions of Credit Analyst/Portfolio Manager, Business Loan Specialist, Quality Control Analyst and Member Service Representative preceding this latest promotion.

“We are pleased to expand the Commercial Lending team to keep up with our increasing growth and promote Jody to Commercial Loan Officer. As we continue to place strategic emphasis on providing high-quality services facilitated by seasoned personnel, Jody is well-prepared to take on the additional responsibilities that come with her new position,” said Carlos DaCunha, Senior Vice President and Chief Lending Officer of St. Anne’s Credit Union. “Jody is committed to providing valuable support and service to our members and their businesses while contributing to the Credit Union’s overall success and will continue to help move this organization through our next phase of growth.”

St. Anne’s Credit Union Promotes Kerri Rivest to Assistant Vice President of Loan Servicing

Eileen M. Danahey, President & Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of St. Anne’s Credit Union, along with its Board of Directors, are pleased to announce the promotion of Kerri Rivest to Assistant Vice President of Loan Servicing.

Ms. Rivest has been with St. Anne’s Credit Union since 1999, starting as a Teller and subsequently holding several positions of increasing responsibility within the Loan Servicing and Quality Control departments. Most recently serving as Loan Servicing Manager, she has supported all facets of the Loan Servicing department including management of the Credit Union’s loan assets and daily operations of the department to ensure accuracy and timeliness of processing and unparalleled service to members.

In her new role, Kerri will be responsible for the total quality management of the servicing of all mortgages, commercial and consumer loans, continuously improving upon processes in order to contribute directly to the overall growth, stability and profitability of St. Anne’s.

“We are proud to recognize Kerri’s contributions to our institution’s success with this promotion”, said Eileen M. Danahey, President and CEO of St. Anne’s Credit Union. “We are confident she will be even more effective in her new role as St. Anne’s continues to grow and add value for our members as for 20 years she has continuously demonstrated her commitment to the SouthCoast community, doing her part to help individuals and businesses succeed.”

NEW WEBSITE – LAUNCHING MARCH 28 11AM ET 

Free Homebuyer Seminar – 3/28/19

St. Anne’s Credit Union Offers Homeownership Assistance

St. Anne’s Credit Union recognizes the various challenges associated with purchasing a home and can provide assistance as an approved member of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston’s (FHLB) Equity Builder Program – a program assisting local income-eligible homebuyers in purchasing homes they intend to occupy as their primary residence.
The program offers grants for down payment and closing costs, rehabilitation costs associated with acquisition, and reimbursement of homebuyer counseling programs. Borrowers are eligible to receive up to $15,000 on a first-come, first-served basis, and must complete a homebuyer counseling program and have individual or household income equal to or below 80 percent of the Housing and Urban Development (HUD) median income based on their future address to qualify for assistance.

Since 2003, the Equity Builder Program (EBP) has awarded more than $38.5 million in EBP funds assisting 3,479 income-eligible households in purchasing a home. Eligible to receive up to $150,000 for 2019 depending on the availability of funds, St. Anne’s Credit Union can offer members the assistance they need to make homeownership a reality.

Restrictions apply. Please contact an originator or stop by one of our branches to learn more.

St. Anne’s Provides Tips During America Saves Week

This week is "America Saves Week." It is an annual opportunity for current households to review spending habits and identify good saving behavior that can help reduce debt and build wealth. Many people find if challenging to make saving a habit, and America Saves Week invites you to change your money mentality and become more confident with your money management by adopting new tactics into your daily routine. Below, we've outlined some simple tips and suggestions to help you get in the money-saving mindset and make saving a habit.

1. Withdraw Disposable Cash Once a Week: Limit yourself to only spend the cash you have on hand, this way you’re prevented from overspending and making impulse purchases, allowing you to focus on the necessities. Physically seeing how your money is being distributed, as opposed to invisible digital cash with debit and credit cards, provides the added opportunity to help you understand your spending behaviors and identify areas you can save.
2. Cancel Cable & Share Subscriptions: Cable is no longer considered a necessary expense, with many streaming video services available, such as Netflix or Hulu offering more customization and lower prices. Most of these streaming services offer multiple screens, which allow you to share subscriptions with family and friends and in turn split the cost.
3. Pay for Your Bad Habits: Identify one of the bad habits you wish to eliminate, such as slouching, biting your nails, etc. and collect money each time you catch yourself practicing your bad habit. As simple as that: Save up money while breaking your bad habit! Once you’ve kicked one bad habit, pick another and start the saving system up again.
4. Practice the “30-Day Rule:” If you find yourself with the impulse to splurge on an unnecessary or expensive item – stop, record the product details (such as price and store available) on a post-it note, and place it on a calendar thirty days from then. If at the end of the thirty days you still feel the impulse to complete the purchase, consider revisiting the store and committing to the transaction. Giving yourself additional time to assess a purchase will help you feel more confident and in control of your spending habits while also preventing the purchase of unnecessary items.

Whether you're saving for retirement, holiday shopping, that dream vacation, or the next rainy day, we can help you reach your financial goals. Take advantage of the numerous ways St. Anne’s can help you save:

• Watch your savings grow when you open a free savings account with low minimum balance requirements and no monthly service charge
• Automate your savings by enabling split deposit or an automatic transfer to a savings account
• Collect and save your monthly earnings from the CashBack Debit Program that pays you $5 a month when you make 20 or more debit transactions with your CashBack Checking Account 
• Grow funds without tying your money up for longer periods of time with a Certificate of Deposit (CD) 
• Save for retirement in a tax-efficient manner with low-cost Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs)
• Teach children to make saving a habit while learning the basics of banking with an acorn savings account – click here for accounts geared towards teaching children the benefits of saving.

Sources: Lifehack.org , pennypinchinmom.com, Greatist.com, fastcompany.com

Annual Meeting – March 31 at 10:30am – Venus de Milo

Hold the date!

St. Anne's Credit Union will be holding their Annual Meeting on Sunday, March 31, 2019 at 10:30 at Venus de Milo. Doors open at 10:00am and light breakfast fare will be served.

We look forward to seeing you there. 

St. Anne’s Supports United Way Loaned Executive Program

Congratulations to Michael Adorno, Credit Analyst who was chosen to represent St. Anne’s as a Loaned Executive for United Way of Greater Fall River in 2018. A Loaned Executive is a temporary United Way staff person who volunteers during the United Way’s annual campaign, assisting them in planning and implementing successful donation campaigns. St. Anne’s is proud to support our employees’ commitment to the community as the Credit Union stays dedicated to strengthening it.

Michael is shown in the picture with United Way of Greater Fall River Executive Director, Kimberly Smith.

St. Anne’s Credit Union’s Holiday Giving Initiatives

St. Anne’s Credit Union is proud to be a contributing corporate partner in the local community, supporting those in need – especially during the holiday season. Employees from St. Anne’s, in addition to volunteering to ring the bell for The Salvation Army’s Red Kettle Campaign in December, donated new coats and outfits to The Salvation Army’s “Clothe-A-Child” campaign - with one employee knitting approximately 50 hats for donation to this organization. The Salvation Army provides basic needs, housing, youth services, rehabilitation, and counseling to people in the communities we serve and provides assistance during times of disaster or crisis. St. Anne’s Credit Union is proud to partner with this non-profit organization to help raise money for those in need during the holiday season.

Patricia Borba, Internal Auditor is shown ringing the bell for The Salvation Army.

Mobile Banking Enhancements to occur on November 7

On November 7, our mobile banking will be updated to give our members quicker ways to bank online – all in fewer clicks and with a new look! Some of the enhancements include:

• Updated login and account screens for ease in use
• Quicker navigation from screen to screen
• Faster check depositing process
• Access to more help functions

If you have any questions regarding this update, please contact 1-877-STANNES (1-877-782-6637).

Boost your Cyber Resilience

Being mindful of your actions while online and practicing smart and secure computer habits can help safekeep your data. Below are some of the ways in which you can protect your identity and online information.

Update your Software

• Ensure that security software for all your internet-connected devices (including smart appliances and connected devices, such as home assistants like Alexa), web browser and operating system is up to date. Doing so will best help you safeguard against infection from virus, malware and other cyber threats.
• Tweak your device’s settings to enable automatic software updates to defend against identified risks actively.

Strengthen your Logins

• Enable strong authentication tools on all devices such as biometrics like fingerprint or facial recognition, or unique one-time codes entered from your mobile device to improve account security.

Reinforce your Passwords

• Create unique passwords for each online account. Using a “master” password puts all of your online accounts at risk of being compromised.
• Keep in mind that strong passwords are at least 12 characters in length, and contain letters, numbers, and symbols.
• Set a sentence or phrase as your password so it’s easy to remember and you don’t have to write it down.

Secure your Home Network

• Protect your network by setting an inconspicuous name that doesn’t hint to where the router is based. Avoid using your family name or address since making a network easily identifiable as your own puts you at risk to be targeted by hackers.
• Set a strong password for your Wi-Fi network - recommended to be at least 12 characters in length.

Connecting on the Go

• Use a Virtual Private Network (VPN) or personal hotspot when transmitting personal data or making purchases in public.
• Enter payment information only into sites with a secure web address (i.e., “https://” or “shttps://”). Sites with those protocols encrypt web communications, making it secure to transmit personal and payment information.

Refresh your Devices

• Refresh your devices by deleting Apps you no longer use and update and review App permissions of those you plan to keep. Set restrictions for the types of data collected about you by the developers of these Apps.
• Clean out your email - empty trash folders, unsubscribe from email alerts or newsletters you no longer make use of or need.

Keep a Backup

• Back up all your digital files electronically and store them on another password protected device or drive. You will also need to back up the information stored on your mobile device. Preparing yourself with a recent copy of your files means you can retrieve them if you fall victim to ransomware or other cyberattacks.

Purging Data

• Perform a factory reset deleting all of your personal information and files from devices you plan to sell, donate or recycle.

Practice Smart Computer Usage

• Review privacy and security settings for all accounts and devices, and set restrictions on the type of information you’re sharing.
• Hover above any link you receive via email, social media, or online to test the item’s legitimacy. If you don’t recognize the link address or it raises any doubt, delete it immediately. The bottom line is that if something looks suspicious, delete it. Phishing messages sent from hackers can be manipulated to appear as if they’re originating from accounts of people you know, making it difficult to distinguish which messages are authentic, and which messages are trying to steal your data.
• Run USBs and other external devices through a security scan when connecting to a device to ensure they’re not affected with malware or viruses.
• Create an account with Apps that help you remotely locate, lock and wipe your device clean of data if your phone is lost or stolen.

Cyber risks only increase and become more obscure as our digital world expands and we connect more devices electronically. Boosting your cyber resilience by transforming the way you use the internet and share personal data is the best defense against cybercriminals. Make sure you take advantage of each of these tips and put them into action to boost your cybersecurity skills and protect your data.

Sources: Consumer Finance Protection Bureau (CFPB), Federal Trade Commission (FTC), IdentityTheft.gov, Stop.Think.Connect.org

St. Anne’s Credit Union Receives Two Awards, Recognized as Best Financial Institution

St. Anne’s Credit Union is pleased to announce that they have once again been chosen as a top choice of Community Banks/Credit Unions in Swansea in The Herald News Readers’ Choice Awards. Additionally, for the second year in a row, they have been recognized as Best Financial Institution in SouthCoast Media Group’s Best of the Best Awards.
Proud to be a local, community-based Credit Union with deep roots spanning over 80 years in the SouthCoast community, they would like to extend a heartfelt thanks to their members, voters and most notably their dedicated and hard-working employees who made the prestigious awards possible and continue to drive their success.
“We are thrilled to receive this recognition,” said Eileen M. Danahey, President & CEO of St. Anne’s Credit Union. “We are especially proud of the talented team of professionals who have contributed to the great success we have had in the communities we serve, and we are optimistic about our growth and momentum thus far in 2018. Credit unions are an integral part of every community, and our role is not merely to further people's material well-being—though that is vitally important. The value of credit unions runs deeper, including financial inclusion—access to basic financial products and services – that we will continue to offer, along with low loan rates and personalized service.”
St. Anne’s Credit Union understands that when it comes to banking services, value and convenience are critical. From their tellers to their boardroom, everyone at St. Anne’s is dedicated to making their members their first priority. Their banking professionals will work with you to help make managing your money easy.
To learn more about how they can help you achieve your financial goals, please visit stannes.com or call 1-877-STANNES (877-782-6637).

Shown in the picture is St. Anne’s Credit Union’s Fall River-South Main Street Branch Manager, Elizabeth Carreiro accepting the SouthCoast Media Group’s Best of the Best award.

Holiday Hours

All St. Anne's Credit Union branches will be closed on: 

Tuesday, December 25
Tuesday, January 1

Though our offices are closed, you can bank using: 

• Our Free Mobile App
• Our Free Online banking system
• Your St. Anne's Credit Union Debit Card at any of our branch locations for free
• Our Free Telephone Banking system by calling 1-800-258-8484

In honor of Thanksgiving

All St. Anne's Credit Union branches will be closed on:

Thursday, November 22

Though our offices are closed, you can bank using:

• Our Free Mobile App
• Our Free Online banking system
• Your St. Anne's Credit Union Debit Card at any of our branch locations for free
• Our Free Telephone Banking system by calling 1-800-258-8484

IN HONOR OF Veteran's Day

All St. Anne's Credit Union branches will be closed on:

Monday, November 12

Though our offices are closed, you can bank using:

• Our Free Mobile App
• Our Free Online banking system
• Your St. Anne's Credit Union Debit Card at any of our branch locations for free
• Our Free Telephone Banking system by calling 1-800-258-8484

IN HONOR OF Columbus DAY

All St. Anne's Credit Union branches will be closed on:

Monday, October 8

Though our offices are closed, you can bank using:

• Our Free Mobile App
• Our Free Online banking system
• Your St. Anne's Credit Union Debit Card at any of our branch locations for free
• Our Free Telephone Banking system by calling 1-800-258-8484

Free Homebuyer Seminar

Buying a home can be an exciting time, but confusing if you're not sure what to expect. St. Anne's Credit Union can help you with the process and give you the tools you need to make better informed financial decisions.

At this free seminar, we will:

• Take you through the basics of home buying
• Advise how to choose the financing option that suits your needs
• Review the step-by-step process from pre-qualification and beyond
• Provide secret industry tips that you need to know

Light refreshments will be served and all attendees will be entered into a drawing* for a home improvement gift card.

Receive a Free Homebuyer Kit.

Space is limited - RSVP by 10/18.

*One entry per person. Must be present to win. Opinions expressed by third-parties do not represent or reflect St. Anne's Credit Union.

Carlos A. DaCunha Joins St. Anne’s Leadership Team as Senior Vice President, Chief Lending Officer

Eileen M. Danahey, President & Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of St. Anne’s Credit Union, along with its Board of Directors, are pleased to announce the appointment of Carlos A. DaCunha as Senior Vice President and Chief Lending Officer.
“We are incredibly fortunate to have someone with Carlos’ extensive level of lending expertise to lead our team. His broad banking background and vast knowledge of lending, credit and management will be a great asset to St. Anne’s,” said Eileen M. Danahey, President and CEO of St. Anne’s Credit Union. “He has been successful in penetrating the SouthCoast marketplace with relative ease and agility, and I look forward to seeing the lending team grow under his stewardship. We’re looking forward to blending our solution-driven business model with his centers of influence and community-minded approach to benefit the counties in which St. Anne’s serves.”

Carlos DaCunha brings with him over 30 years of financial experience in Southeastern Massachusetts, with a focus on developing successful business relationships, teams and regional markets most recently working as a Senior Vice President at Webster Bank, a $27 billion asset public-traded bank with 10 banking centers in Bristol County. In this role, he was responsible for leading its successful cross-functional development in the region over the last 9 years. Prior to Webster, Carlos led the development of Millennium bcp as the Regional President of the bank with 6 branches in Massachusetts, rapidly climbing the corporate ladder from Market Manager at BankBoston at the beginning of his career. Mr. DaCunha is a graduate of New Bedford High School and obtained his Bachelor of Science degree in Finance from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, a Master of Business Administration degree from Bryant University, and is also twice certified by the national Risk Management Association.

As Chief Lending Officer, Carlos will be responsible for all lending functions for the Credit Union including underwriting, loan processing and originations, and oversight of loan servicing, consumer lending and collections activities in order to maximize market penetration for St. Anne’s.

“It’s an exciting venture for me in my career and I am pleased to be joining the St. Anne’s leadership team,” Carlos said. “This organization has built and maintained strong relationships with the business community and individuals that reside within it. I look forward to continuing that legacy while also leading new development activities and enjoying the collaborative team spirit and strong product and loan suite offered here. Having the ability to exceed the member’s needs with customized solutions and quick decisions provides a level of service individuals value but don't often receive any more.”

Carlos is heavily active in the community, currently holding volunteer positions including Treasurer and Executive Director of the Bristol County Economic Development Consultants, Commissioner of the New Bedford Regional Airport, Steering Committee Member of the New Bedford Waterfront Urban Renewal Plan, Past President and current Director of the Prince Henry Society, Advisor to UMass Dartmouth’s Charlton College of Business, member of the New Bedford CEO Council and a Director of Steppingstone, Inc.

Free Seminar - Improving Credit

Whether you're buying a home, a car, or applying for a credit card, lenders want to know the risk they're taking on by lending you money. Knowing your credit score will put you at an advantage by preparing you with a rating of your creditworthiness, but if your score is lower than you thought, finding approval with favorable rates and terms will be challenging. Improving your credit will require patience and discipline, but by implementing smart credit practices into your financial behavior, you'll start to see a more positive credit history and score.

At this free seminar, we will help you:

• Understand the importance of credit and how life events can impact your score
• Learn how to obtain your credit report for FREE and review the information for accuracy
• Realize the importance of Fair Isaac Corporation (FICO) Scores and the factors lenders use to
  assess your risk
• Receive best practices on how to maintain your credit score to boost your financial health.

Light refreshments will be served and all attendees will be entered into a drawing^* for a gift card.
Receive a Free Credit Kit.
Space is limited - RSVP by 9/21.

*One entry per person. Must be present to win.

St. Anne's Credit Union Members Targeted for Phone-Based Phishing

There have been reports of members becoming targets in vishing scams. Vishing (phone-based phishing) involves one spoofing their phone number to appear the call is originating from wherever they please. It is a method commonly used to steal personal information from individuals as well as businesses.
Fraudsters are spoofing their phone numbers to make it appear like a call is coming from the victim’s credit union. When the member answers the call they will be told they need to confirm suspicious debit card transactions. The fraudster will then ask the victim to verify their CVV2/CVC2 code on the back of the card as well as the expiration date. Often, fraudsters will already have a copy of the victim’s card and need this information to reset their PIN number. Once they reset the PIN number, they are free to withdraw from the victim’s account.

Simply, never give any personal information over the phone. St. Anne’s Credit Union will never request this information from you, nor would we ever need it. If you receive a phone call requesting these details from you, just hang up. Still unsure? Call St. Anne’s Credit Union directly at 1-877-STANNES (1-877-782-6637) and ask to speak with our Deposit Operations Department to confirm the legitimacy of the call.

IN HONOR OF Labor Day

All St. Anne's Credit Union branches will be closed on:

Monday, September 3

Though our offices are closed, you can bank using:

• Our Free Mobile App
• Our Free Online banking system
• Your St. Anne's Credit Union Debit Card at any of our branch locations for free
• Our Free Telephone Banking system by calling 1-800-258-8484

St. Anne's Credit Union Awards Albert E. Mercier Scholarship

St. Anne’s Credit Union was pleased to award the Albert E. Mercier Scholarship to Emma McDonnell, a sixth-grade student at Holy Name School. Emma is the ninth recipient of this $500 scholarship awarded each year. The scholarship is named in honor of Albert E. Mercier, a longtime director and past Chairman of the Credit Union’s Board of Directors who devoted over 50 years of service to the Credit Union and its members. St. Anne’s Credit Union remains committed to the future of the youth in the local SouthCoast community and for over 24 years has awarded more than $300,000 to local students through the St. Anne’s Scholarship Program. Congratulations Emma!

Pictured left to right: Albert E. Mercier, St. Anne’s Credit Union Board Member, Rev. Jay T. Maddock, Pastor/Holy Name School Director, Emma's Mother, Erin McDonnell, Emma McDonnell (Scholarship Recipient), Dr. Patricia Wardell, Holy Name School Principal, Eileen Danahey, St. Anne’s Credit Union President & CEO, Simone Garant, St. Anne’s Credit Union Board Member and Treasurer, and William R. Bouchard, St. Anne’s Chairman of the Board.

St. Anne's Credit Union Awards Deacon Bernard G. Theroux Scholarship

St. Anne’s Credit Union remains committed to the future of the youth in the local SouthCoast community and for over 24 years has awarded more than $300,000 to local students through the St. Anne’s Scholarship Program. This year is no different as St. Anne’s Credit Union awards the Deacon Bernard G. Theroux Scholarship to a deserving student each year at St. Stanislaus School in Fall River. This year’s winner is seventh-grader, Alexander Fernandes, the seventh recipient of the honorable scholarship. The $500 scholarship is named in honor of Deacon Bernard G. Theroux, an Honorary Director of the Credit Union’s Board of Directors who devoted over 60 years of service to the Credit Union and its members. Congratulations Alexander!

Pictured left to right: Alexander’s Mother, Anna Fernandes, Father Andrew Johnson, Alexander Fernandes (Scholarship Recipient), Eileen Danahey, St. Anne’s Credit Union President & CEO, Simone Garant, St. Anne’s Credit Union Board Member and Treasurer, and William R. Bouchard, St. Anne’s Chairman of the Board.

St. Anne’s Credit Union Receives Two Awards-Recognized as Best Financial Institution

St. Anne’s Credit Union is pleased to announce that they have once again been chosen as a top choice of Community Banks/Credit Unions in Swansea in The Herald News Readers’ Choice Awards. Additionally, for the second year in a row, they have been recognized as Best Financial Institution in SouthCoast Media Group’s Best of the Best Awards.

Proud to be a local, community-based Credit Union with deep roots spanning over 80 years in the SouthCoast community, they would like to extend a heartfelt thanks to their members, voters and most notably their dedicated and hard-working employees who made the prestigious awards possible and continue to drive their success.

“We are thrilled to receive this recognition,” said Eileen M. Danahey, President & CEO of St. Anne’s Credit Union.“We are especially proud of the talented team of professionals who have contributed to the great success we have had in the communities we serve, and we are optimistic about our growth and momentum thus far in 2018. Credit unions are an integral part of every community, and our role is not merely to further people's material well-being—though that is vitally important. The value of credit unions runs deeper, including financial inclusion—access to basic financial products and services – that we will continue to offer, along with low loan rates and personalized service.”

St. Anne’s Credit Union understands that when it comes to banking services, value and convenience are critical. From their tellers to their boardroom, everyone at St. Anne’s is dedicated to making their members their first priority. Their banking professionals will work with you to help make managing your money easy.
To learn more about how they can help you achieve your financial goals, please call 1-877-STANNES (877-782-6637).

Shown in the picture is St. Anne’s Credit Union’s Fall River-South Main Street Branch Manager, Elizabeth Carreiro accepting the SouthCoast Media Group’s Best of the Best award.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION - MOBILE BANKING

Beginning July 1, 2018, Apple devices should be operating on iOS 10 or higher for optimal performance when using the St. Anne’s Credit Union Mobile Banking App.

What does this mean?

• On July 1, 2018 and thereafter,
  
  • iOS 9 (or lower) operating systems
    
    • will not be supported
    • may interfere with Mobile Banking performance
  • The St. Anne’s Mobile Banking App will continue to function and existing users will still be able to use the App.
• If you continue with iOS 9, Mobile Banking may not operate at maximum efficiency and we will not be able to resolve problems with connectivity.

Although there will be no immediate impact, we advise that all Mobile Banking users upgrade to IOS 10. Click here for instructions to upgrade to iOS 10.

If you have any questions, please contact us at 1-877-STANNES (1-877-782-6637).
Thank you for banking with St. Anne’s Credit Union.

St. Anne’s Credit Union Sponsors 24th Annual Free Summer Concert

Despite the rising temperatures, the 24th annual free summer concert sponsored by St. Anne’s Credit Union attracted nearly a couple thousand people to Heritage State Park on Fall River’s waterfront Saturday, June 30. Headlining this year’s show was The Great Escape, a Journey tribute band, with The Mike Moran Band opening up the day’s festivities. St. Anne’s brings this free event to the community in cooperation with WSAR and the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation.

As part of the celebration, St. Anne’s employees handed out beach towels to concert attendees and invited them to enter a raffle for a chance to win several gift cards that St. Anne’s President & CEO Eileen Danahey and WSAR radio personality Hector “Happy Hec” Gauthier handed out during intermission. Mad House Grill’s bright pink food truck was present, serving up food and refreshments while The Fall River Boys and Girls Club were selling snacks for donation, supported by a $500 donation from St. Anne’s. A representative from the local Department of Children and Families was also in attendance, to give information about strengthening families and helping children in need across the Commonwealth.

Check back to our Facebook page to learn more about upcoming St. Anne’s Credit Union events like this as our page is updated frequently with specials, events, and community news.

St. Anne's Credit Union Sponsors June Business After Hours Event

St. Anne’s Credit Union was honored to sponsor the Bristol County Chamber of Commerce’s Business After Hours event at The Cove on June 27. It was a busy night for business owners from a variety of industries in the SouthCoast community as they made new connections, and showcased their businesses to the chamber and the community. The Business After Hours event provided an excellent opportunity to mingle with local companies, meet potential customers and make new connections. Eileen Danahey, President and CEO of St. Anne’s and First Vice Chair of the Bristol County Chamber's Board of Directors, thanked the Chamber and members of the community for supporting the event. The night was a success for many; catching up with old friends and developing new relationships, but was an even bigger achievement for the local community - strengthening the businesses that work and operate within the SouthCoast.

Show in picture left to right are: Edmund Moniz and Timothy Souza, St. Anne’s Mortgage Originators; Gerald Rego, Vice President of Commercial Lending; Luisa Rochester, Vice President of Residential Lending, and Eileen M. Danahey, President & CEO of St. Anne’s Credit Union.

How to Activate Your ATM/Debit Card and Change Your PIN Number

You can easily activate your ATM/Debit Card at any St. Anne’s Credit Union location or any ATM most convenient to you. You can also activate your ATM/Debit Card over the phone as well as change your PIN number utilizing our automated telephone service. Note: You will need to know the original PIN number assigned to your St. Anne’s ATM/Debit Card in order to create a new PIN number by phone.

To activate your ATM/Debit Card at St. Anne’s ATMs:

1. Enter your ATM/Debit Card and PIN number.
2. Select ‘Balance Inquiry’ or any other action to activate your card.

To activate or change your ATM/Debit Card PIN over the phone:

1. Call toll-free 1-800-992-3808.
2. Follow the prompts to enter your card number and the security responses to verify yourself. Once your identity has been confirmed, you are then able to set a new PIN number or activate your card.

Note: if you are unable to validate your personal information, you will then be transferred to a Call Center Representative who will be able to assist you.

IN HONOR OF Independence DAY

All St. Anne's Credit Union branches will be closed on:

Wednesday, July 4

Though our offices are closed, you can bank using:

• Our Free Mobile App
• Our Free Online banking system
• Your St. Anne's Credit Union Debit Card at any of our branch locations for free
• Our Free Telephone Banking system by calling 1-800-258-8484

St. Anne’s recognized as a top provider of Overall Quality, Member Service, and Community Contribution in Banking Choice Awards

St. Anne’s Credit Union has been recognized as a top provider of Overall Quality, Member Service, and Community Contribution in the first annual Banking Choice Awards.
The Banking Choice Awards – developed in conjunction with The Warren Group and Customer Experience Solutions – celebrates the many financial institutions in Massachusetts that provide outstanding service to their members based exclusively on customer feedback. The awards celebrate the various institutions that surpass the competition in serving their customers in four categories: member service, technology, contribution to the community, and overall quality.

Eileen M. Danahey, St. Anne’s President & CEO said, “On behalf of the Credit Union, I’d like to thank our dedicated members for voting us a top winner in these categories. Our employees’ dedication and excellence earned this honor for our company. Not only are St. Anne’s employees great bankers, they are great community bankers who take great pride in their work, and also in devoting their time, effort and money to improve the communities they serve and in which they live. Since 1936, St. Anne’s has been focused on strengthening the local communities and we are humbled to be awarded these honors alongside our repeated recognition as a leading lender and a readers’ choice best financial institution. From our tellers to our boardroom, everyone at St. Anne’s is committed to making our members our first priority. We will continue to enhance our member service, technology, community contribution and overall quality to bring the best in banking to our service areas and help individuals achieve their financial goals.”

The results are based upon 98,392 reviews of financial institutions by their own customers, collected in the Massachusetts Banking Benchmarks. The Benchmarks are conducted by Customer Experience Solutions and gather objective customer and prospect feedback for over 300 banking institutions across the State. The ratings and local rankings on 53 banking metrics are provided to subscribers in January and July every year.

“St. Anne’s Credit Union has set the standard for serving their customers,” said Tim Warren, CEO of The Warren Group. “This award is a testament to their never-ending pursuit to set the bar for excellence in the banking community.”

7 Tips for First-Time Homebuyers

Buying your first home can be overwhelming, making you experience a range of emotions from nervousness to excitement and everything in between.
Preparation is key. Here are some tips to improve your chances of having a good experience:

1. Know your credit
   Your first important step is to monitor your credit. Get familiar with your credit history and make sure all of the information in your credit reports is accurate. You are entitled to one free credit report a year from each of the credit reporting agencies (Equifax, TransUnion, Experian). This will give you enough time to deal with any errors that may be on your report or improve your credit before you buy. Also hold off on big purchases for now as they impact your debt-to-income-ratio. Changes to this number may affect your ability to qualify for the loan amount you require. If you have credit cards with high balances, try to pay them down to show that you’re not using all of your available credit, which sends up a red flag for most lenders. If possible, you should keep your balances at 30% of your total credit limit — or less.
2. Get pre-approved for a mortgage
   Homebuying does not begin with home searching – getting a pre-approval from a lender before house hunting is important for many reasons, the biggest being that it provides proof of the ability to obtain financing.
3. Stick to your budget
   Determine your budget and the monthly payments you can afford and qualify for early on – and stick to it. Also consider the cost of property taxes and homeowners insurance into your budget.
4. Time the end of your lease
   If you currently rent, try to time your house closing and moving with the end of your lease. As you begin to search for a home, revisit your lease agreement. See when the lease expires and learn about penalties for breaking the lease in case it comes to that (and options that are available in case you need to extend your lease for a month at time).
5. Hire a local agent & determine your requirements
   If you’re interested in owning a home in a specific area, connect with a local real estate agent that is familiar with that area. He or she will have invaluable experience and knowledge about the neighborhood and local matters such as schools and any issues. Carefully consider the kind of home you want, and separate the needs from the wants. This will narrow down your search for a more effective homebuying process.
6. Look for down payment assistance & remember closing costs
   Some programs offer no-interest loans or grants as down payment assistance. Contact one of our mortgage lenders here for more information about Massachusetts Housing Finance Agency (MHFA) loans because if you qualify, many offer lower down payment percentages. Also remember that it’s not just the down payment you need to save up for, but also all the added closing costs. Transfer tax, escrow fees and prepaid interest have also caught many first-time homebuyers off guard. Currently, St. Anne’s Credit Union is offering $11,000*** in down payment assistance or to use towards closing costs to those eligible. Find out more by clicking here.
7. Inspect the home – before and after
   You’re making a huge investment – have it inspected by a reputable home inspector while under contract – and don’t forget to do your final walk-through inspection on the day of closing.

St. Anne’s Credit Union can help you through each step of the loan process, from improving credit scores, providing pre-qualification to closing and beyond. We know the area and understand your needs and the entire process. We will work with you to achieve your home ownership goals. We are also offering for a limited time a $500 home improvement gift card** when approved for a St. Anne’s Credit Union mortgage! Click here for more information.

Sources: time.com, Better Homes and Gardens

St. Anne’s Credit Union Congratulates Linda Gendreau on Her Retirement

St. Anne’s Credit Union congratulates Linda Gendreau, former Assistant Branch Manager of St. Anne’s Somerset office, on her retirement after thirty-eight years of exceptional service.
Linda began her career at St. Anne’s Swansea office in 1980 as a Teller shortly after getting married and was naturally drawn to pursue a career in the banking and finance industry as Math is her forte.

In 2009, Linda transitioned to the Somerset office as Assistant Branch Manager where she remained until her last day. Linda attributes her most enjoyable moments working at the Credit Union to the members and employees she met throughout her career. “Members love Linda – asking for her by name as she is friendly, warm and takes the time to understand their needs,” says Darlene Sampson, Somerset Branch Manager.

Linda is looking forward to her retirement and plans to keep busy caring for her 14-month old granddaughter. St. Anne’s Credit Union thanks Linda for her years of service, and wishes her all the best.

**Main Office ATM Unavailability on 5/12*

St. Anne’s Credit Union will be performing upgrades on Saturday, May 12. During a short period that afternoon, our Main Office ATM will be temporarily unavailable-however our South End Branch drive-up ATM down the street at 2031 South Main Street will be available. Thank you for your patience and if you have any questions, please call 1-877-STANNES (877-782-6637).

IN HONOR OF Memorial DAY

All St. Anne's Credit Union branches will be closed on:

Monday, May 28

Though our offices are closed, you can bank using:

• Our Free Mobile App
• Our Free Online banking system
• Your St. Anne's Credit Union Debit Card at any of our branch locations for free
• Our Free Telephone Banking system by calling 1-800-258-8484

Tips for Starting Your Own Business

• Research the industry to get a sense of how you’ll compare to competitors, and identify the competitive edge you’ll offer to make your new business stand out
• Write out your business plan which will serve as a roadmap for you - defining the structure, layout of operations, and objectives that will eventually lead to success and growth
• Use your business plan to calculate how much you can personally contribute to funding your business, then explore borrowing options and backing programs
• Choose whether your business will run as a brick-and-mortar location or online presence - this will impact many decisions you’ll have to make and must be decided in the initial stages of planning
• Register your business, obtain and pay for Federal and State Tax IDS, and any additional licenses or permits required to operate your business
• Establish a business banking account to track business-related expenses and stay legally compliant and protected

St. Anne’s Credit Union Sponsors $1,000 Scholarship for UMass Dartmouth Center for Marketing Research

The Center for Marketing Research at UMass Dartmouth held their 18th Annual Celebrity Scholarship Dinner recently, featuring guest speaker - retired New England Patriot Rodney Harrison. For the third year St. Anne’s sponsored a $1,000 scholarship for an undergraduate marketing student at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth Center for Marketing Research – contributing to the $200,000 the Center has given out in scholarships to more than 260 students in the last 18 years.

Eileen M. Danahey, St. Anne’s President & CEO, is “proud to partner with such a reputable institution to further the education of students in our local community. The Center for Marketing Research at UMass Dartmouth does a commendable job of providing real on-the-job experience with local employers and St. Anne’s is supportive of their efforts.”

St. Anne’s Credit Union is committed to the future of the youth in the local SouthCoast community. In addition to this scholarship, for over 25 years the St. Anne’s Scholarship Program has awarded more than $300,000 to local students, including graduating high school seniors and grade school students at Fall River’s St. Stanislaus and Holy Name schools.

Shown in the picture left to right at this year’s Center for Marketing Research Celebrity Scholarship Dinner featuring Rodney Harrison are: Robert E. Johnson, UMass Dartmouth Chancellor; UMass Dartmouth student and scholarship recipient Rachel Bellantoni, Rodney Harrison and Bernard J. McDonald III, St. Anne’s Credit Union Board of Director.

Take These First Steps to Improving Your Financial Literacy

• List out your monthly expenses and scrutinize how your money is being spent to help you better understand your spending habits and identify areas in need of improvement
• Use a mobile app to track and categorize your expenses straight from your bank account
• Understand your credit score and what that communicates about you to lenders or creditors
• Make saving a habit by automatically transferring part of your income into a savings account – every week
• Visit one of our local offices and talk to a Branch Manager to ask questions, discuss financial objectives, etc.

St. Anne’s Credit Union Holds FREE Homebuyer Seminar for Community

St. Anne’s Credit Union recently held a free homebuyer seminar for the local community at Bishop Connolly High School in Fall River. Recognizing that purchasing a home can be both an exciting and intimidating process, St. Anne’s wanted to share tools and resources members of the community could take advantage of to make better informed financial decisions.

Over forty individuals attended the seminar, listening to experienced speakers that included St. Anne’s Mortgage Originator, Tim Souza and seasoned local Realtor and Insurance Broker, Jennifer Preston of Frank Smith Insurance & Real Estate. With over fourteen years of lending, banking, sales and credit analysis experience, Tim provides members with financial perspective and expertise and presents options to assist members in achieving their goal of homeownership. Jennifer, a licensed Insurance Producer in Property Casualty, Life & Accident and a Real Estate Broker in MA and RI, has served several years on the Fall River Board of Realtors and earned the title “Realtor of the Year” in 2001.

The topics presented covered the basics of home buying, MassHousing and Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) Equity Builder assistance programs to consider, an overview of down payment and other closing costs, finding a reputable agent and home inspector – as well as the step-by-step process from pre-qualification and beyond. Attendees had the opportunity to ask the professionals questions about how to start the home buying process, what factors impact your credit score, and what to expect along the way.

Shown in picture: Tim Souza, St. Anne’s Mortgage Originator and Lee Zupkofska, St. Anne’s Vice President of Marketing.

St. Anne’s Credit Union Offers Assistance to Make Homeownership a Reality

St. Anne’s Credit Union recognizes the various challenges associated with purchasing a home and can provide assistance as an approved member of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston’s Equity Builder Program – a program assisting local income-eligible homebuyers in purchasing homes they intend to occupy as their primary residence.

The program offers grants for down payment and closing costs, rehabilitation costs associated with acquisition, and reimbursement of homebuyer counseling programs. Borrowers are eligible to receive up to $11,000 on a first-come, first-served basis, and must complete a homebuyer counseling program and have individual or household income equal to or below 80 percent of the HUD median income based on their future address to qualify for assistance. Restrictions apply. Speak to a representative today to learn more.

Since 2003, the Equity Builder Program (EBP) has awarded more than $35 million in EBP funds assisting 3,150 income-eligible households in purchasing a home. Eligible to receive up to $110,000 for 2018 depending on the availability of funds, St. Anne’s Credit Union can offer members the assistance they need to make homeownership a reality.

Please contact an originator or stop by one of our branches to learn more

Steps to Take if your Online Banking Access is Restricted

Effective April 23, 2018, a change will be made that may affect your ability to access online banking. In order to provide an internet connection that offers the most secure encryption protocols, St. Anne's Credit Union will mandate the use of Transport Layer Security (TLS) v1.2. TLS is a layer that ensures that connection from the app to the platform is secure, encrypted and safe from attacks. To access online banking, you must use one of the following Browsers or Operating Systems:

Microsoft Edge, Microsoft IE Desktop and mobile version 11, Microsoft IE Desktop versions 9 and 10 (when run in Windows 7), Firefox 27 and higher, Google Chrome 38 and higher, Oracle Java version 107 and higher, Mobile Safari versions 5 and higher, Microsoft Windows Server 2008 RS and higher and Microsoft Windows 7, 8.0, 8.1 and 10.

In the event you are unable to access online banking, here are the steps you need to take to update your browser:

Microsoft Internet Explorer

1. Open Internet Explorer
2. From the menu bar, click Tools > Internet Options > Advanced tab
3. Scroll down to Security category, manually check the option box for “Use TLS 1.1” and “Use TLS 1.2”
4. Click OK
5. Close your browser and restart Internet Explorer

Google Chrome

1. Open Google Chrome
2. Click Alt F and select Settings
3. Scroll down and select Show advanced settings...
4. Scroll down to the Network section and click on Change proxy settings...
5. Select the Advanced tab
6. Scroll down to Security category, manually check the option box for “Use TLS 1.1” and “Use TLS 1.2”
7. Click OK
8. Close your browser and restart Google Chrome

Mozilla Firefox

1. Open Firefox
2. In the address bar, type about:config and press Enter
3. In the Search field, enter tls. Find and double-click the entry for security.tls.version.min
4. Set the integer value to 3 to force protocol of TLS 1.3
5. Click OK
6. Close your browser and restart Mozilla Firefox

Opera

1. Open Opera
2. Click Ctrl plus F12
3. Scroll down to the Network section and click on Change proxy settings...
4. Select the Advanced tab
5. Scroll down to Security category, manually check the option box for “Use TLS 1.1” and “Use TLS 1.2”
6. Click OK
7. Close your browser and restart Opera

Apple Safari

There are no options for enabling SSL protocols. If you are using Safari version 7 or greater, TLS 1.1 and TLS 1.2 are automatically enabled.

Learn More

Questions? Call 1-877-STANNES (782-6637) 

St. Anne's Appoints New Mortgage Lending Team

Eileen M. Danahey, President & CEO of St. Anne’s Credit Union, along with its Board of Directors, are pleased to announce the new mortgage lending team for St. Anne’s Credit Union. Edmund Moniz has been appointed to Mortgage Originator for the Swansea and Somerset areas, Nina Despres to the Fall River and Rhode Island area and Timothy Souza to the New Bedford, Fairhaven, Dartmouth, Plymouth and Barnstable areas. In their roles, each will be responsible for providing their expertise in every area of mortgage lending from purchase to refinance including construction, rehabilitation and renovation lending – and other lending solutions personalized to borrower needs.

"Our new mortgage lending team has a combined 50+ years in the industry and have really proven their lending skills in the South Coast area. The Credit Union recognizes and celebrates the hard work of our mortgage professionals as they put their clients through the home loan process and we are committed to making homeownership a reality for families throughout our service area. Due to their extensive experience and knowledge, Ed, Nina and Tim know the area and will work with individuals to achieve their goal of homeownership,” said Eileen M. Danahey, President & CEO of St. Anne’s Credit Union.

Timothy Souza has over 14 years of lending, banking, sales and credit analysis experience and has been with St. Anne’s Credit Union as a Mortgage Originator since 2010. He provides members with financial perspective and expertise geared toward a better financial standing, and provides options to assist members in achieving their goal of homeownership. Prior to his role at St. Anne’s, Tim was a VP/Regional Sales Manager at a local financial institution for several years. Active in the community, Tim has been a mentor with Junior Achievement for nearly 20 years and is a member of theSoutheastern Massachusetts Business Network and he frequently brings Financial Literacy to the community on the topic of home buying. He holds a political science degree from Bridgewater State College.

Nina Despres has over 22 years of experience in residential lending - assisting originators & borrowers in the mortgage process - from origination to closing. Nina has been with the Credit Union since 2010 as a Mortgage Processor – acting as a liaison between borrowers, underwriters, loan originators and lenders. Prior to this role at St. Anne’s, she worked as an REO/Eviction Specialist and District Sales Assistant for reputable companies in Massachusetts. Nina is a current member of the Southern New England Credit Grantors Association.

Ed Moniz, previously a Business Development Officer at St. Anne’s, has 15 years of lending experience that will aid him in providing superior service to those looking to purchase a home or refinance in the South Coast area. In his capacity as Business Development Officer, Ed developed new business prospects, maintained business portfolios and worked in the Commercial Lending Department,developing and soliciting commercial loans. Prior to this role, Ed owned his own small business and assisted three other area financial institutions with their lending services for 10 years. Ed is active in the community, serving as an ambassador of the Bristol County Chamber of Commerce and a Loaned Executive for United Way of New Bedford.

St. Anne's Credit Union helps our members through each step of the loan process, from improving credit scores, providing pre-qualification to closing and beyond. We are deeply rooted in the community and understand home buying needs and the entire process. For more information about St. Anne’s Credit Union’s mortgage programs and resources, click here or contact Ed, Nina or Tim directly:

St. Anne’s Donates $5,000 to United Way of Greater New Bedford

St. Anne’s Credit Union recently donated $5,000 to the United Way of Greater New Bedford to aid the non-profit in supporting their community-based assistance efforts throughout the year.

St. Anne’s is proud to collaborate with this local United Way and help them fulfill their mission of providing health, education and financial stability to people in the SouthCoast community. In addition to this donation, St. Anne’s employees also support several other United Way endeavors including their Annual Clambake fundraiser, Days of Caring, Loaned Executive Program and Hunger Heroes event, where Credit Union employees volunteer to help package Thanksgiving meals for families in need.

Eileen M. Danahey, St. Anne’s President & CEO, is “happy to contribute to the United Way of Greater New Bedford’s campaign efforts as they strive to create partnerships and provide resources to strengthen our community. They do a commendable job of providing quality programs and initiatives that achieve positive results and align with our own philanthropic objectives here at St. Anne’s.”
Shown in picture left to right are: Sarah Henry, Director of Corporate Relations of United Way of Greater New Bedford; Eileen M. Danahey, President & CEO of St. Anne’s Credit Union, and Michelle Neves Hantman, President & CEO of United Way of Greater New Bedford.

St. Anne’s Promotes Luisa Rochester to Vice President, Residential Lending

Eileen M. Danahey, President & CEO of St. Anne’s Credit Union, along with its Board of Directors, officially announced the promotion of Luisa Rochester to Vice President of Residential Lending. Ms. Rochester has been with St. Anne’s Credit Union for 19 years, most recently serving as Assistant Vice President of Residential Lending where she managed all mortgage loan fulfillment functions. In this role, Ms. Rochester will continue to be responsible for the Credit Union’s staff of mortgage originators, mortgage assistants, and underwriting personnel. Additionally, she will focus on leading the mortgage team in prospecting new business, identifying new opportunities, and cultivating and maintaining relationships with centers of influence.

“Luisa joined the Credit Union in 1999 and has served in a variety of roles in the lending department”, stated Eileen Danahey, President & CEO of St. Anne’s Credit Union, “we anticipate the growing demand for residential mortgages here in the South Coast will only get stronger. Having the right people in place to help meet that demand is of utmost importance, and Luisa possesses an in-depth knowledge of our market area and works tirelessly to provide solutions for every individual’s financing need.”
Luisa obtained an Associate’s degree from Fisher College and is a member of the Southern New England Credit Grantors Association

Patriot’s Day – Branches Open Regular Business Hours

All St. Anne's Credit Union branches are open regular business hours today (until 4 pm today). Our Drive Ups are open until 5 pm.

St. Anne’s Promotes Michelle Marcos to Senior Vice President, Human Resources

Eileen M. Danahey, President & CEO of St. Anne’s Credit Union, along with its Board of Directors, officially announced the promotion of Michelle Marcos to Senior Vice President of Human Resources. Ms. Marcos has been with St. Anne’s Credit Union for 23 years, most recently serving as Vice President of Human Resources and supporting all facets of HR including management, benefits, employee relations, performance management, and training and development in support of St. Anne’s employees. In this role, Marcos will continue to work as a consultant and business partner with the senior management team in designing Human Resource programs that assist the Credit Union in achieving its overall business plan.
“Michelle joined the Credit Union in 1995 and since that time has taken on increasing levels of responsibility and management within the HR Department-she has been an indispensable part of our senior staff and management team for many years”, stated Eileen Danahey, President & CEO of St. Anne’s Credit Union, “she is responsible for our current HR structure and program, and has initiated several key programs within the company to raise the effectiveness in taking care of our staff. This promotion recognizes her commitment to St. Anne’s, and most importantly, her tireless devotion to our most important asset, our employees.”

Michelle obtained her Associate’s Degree in Business Administration from Bristol Community College and is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management at UMass Dartmouth. She is actively involved in the community, serving as a Board of Director for the Greater Fall River Food Pantry since 2004 and the Treasurer of the Board of Directors for Steppingstone, Incorporated since 2008.

Jo Ann Bentley - New St. Anne's Board Member

Eileen M. Danahey, President & CEO of St. Anne’s Credit Union, along with its Board of Directors, are pleased to announce the appointment of Jo Ann Bentley to Board Member.

“Jo Ann is an accomplished business leader and an experienced board member in both the public and non-profit sectors,” said Eileen M. Danahey, President/CEO of St. Anne’s Credit Union. “We are confident that she will add great value to our Board of Directors and that the Credit Union will benefit from her insight, judgment and expertise. Herknowledge will prove invaluable as we progress through our strategic plan and continue to make our mark adding value for our members and the communities we serve. We are very fortunate to have such a strong Board by our side as we continue to strengthen communities in theSouthCoast.”

“Ms. Bentley brings a new perspective and a great wealth of experience and knowledge that will add to a strong team already comprised of many talented individuals. Her addition will assist us in enhancing every member’s experience by representing the diverse interests of our field of membership,” added St. Anne’s Board Chairman, William R. Bouchard.

Jo Ann is a registered architect in Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut as well as the National Council of Architectural Registration Board, American Institute of Architect (AIA) and Boston AIA. She holds dual Bachelor degrees in architecture and fine arts from the Rhode Island School of Design.
A Fall River native, she currently works at Bristol Community College (BCC) as the Director of Design and Construction. Previously, she owned and operated a Supplier Diversified Office (SDO) Certified Woman Business Enterprise - Jo Ann Bentley Architect, Inc. - an architectural design company for commercial and residential architecture for nearly 12 years, and has over 37 years’ experience in the design and architecture field, working at numerous corporations as architect and engineer.

Ms. Bentley is actively involved in the community, currently serving as the Co-Chairman of the Fundraising Committee of the Rotary Club of Fall River where she has also served as President, and is a Board of Director for multiple non-profit organizations: Salvation Army, Family Service Association, McNamara Scholarship Fund, Stevens Treatment Center of Swansea and Narrows Center for the Arts. Due to her extensive volunteer services to charitable organizations and the community, Jo Ann is a two-time recipient of the Rotary Club of Fall River Paul Harris Fellow award, Rotary Club District Significant Achievement award, John S. Brayton, Jr. Memorial Outstanding Community Service award, BCC Alumna of the Year Award, and BCC Alumni Paragon Award.

Richard Kane Joins St. Anne's Team as Vice President, Commercial Risk

Eileen M. Danahey, President & CEO of St. Anne’s Credit Union, along with its Board of Directors, are pleased to announce the appointment of Richard Kane to the newly created position of Vice President, Commercial Risk.

In this role, Kane will be responsible for the overall strategic direction and leadership of the Commercial Risk function, to help grow St. Anne’s commercial banking business while ensuring that the portfolio continues to meet the Credit Union’s high credit standards, including developing risk control products and services that align with St. Anne’s underwriting tactics for various product lines and customer segments. Richard will play an instrumental role in building a comprehensive risk management process that positions St. Anne’s for future growth.

"Richard is a great addition to our team and brings a wealth of experience in merging and integrating risk management practices, policies and procedures. His deep credit experience and knowledge will be a valuable asset as St. Anne’s continues to expand in commercial banking," said St. Anne’s Credit Union President & CEO, Eileen M. Danahey. “His proven analytical, technical and strategic skills, coupled with his strong risk management experience, made him the ideal candidate for this position. His role at the Credit Union exemplifies our commitment to top-quality risk management, and on behalf of the executive team and Board, I welcome him to the Credit Union and look forward to his positive contributions.”

Richard Kane brings with him nearly 20 years of financial experience, most recently working as First Vice President, Commercial Lending at Rockland Trust, the largest publicly traded commercial bank headquartered in Massachusetts, with more than 8 billion in assets and 85 branches. In this role, he was responsible for commercial lending and overall loan portfolio management in Falmouth and Martha’s Vineyard. Prior to this position, he served on the senior management team for several other financial institutions in New England in various roles. A Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), Mr. Kane obtained his B.A. in Economics from Ithaca College, is a graduate of the Prochnow Institute Graduate School of Banking at University of Wisconsin and has also obtained RMA’s Credit Risk Certification (CRC).

Weather Advisory Notice

St. Anne's Credit Union may have a delayed opening, shortened business hours or not open for business Wednesday, March 21 or Thursday, March 22 depending on the severity of the storm. We encourage our members if possible to transact online for FREE through our online banking or mobile app. Any changes to our normal business hours will be posted through our social media channels or you can call (877)-782-6637 for the latest branch delay or closing updates. For more information about our banking services, click here. Thank you for banking with us.

Inclement Weather Update

All St. Anne’s Credit Union branches will be open regular business hours on Wednesday, March 14; our drive thrus will have a delayed opening of 8:30 AM. Thank you for banking with us.

WEATHER ADVISORY NOTICE

St. Anne's Credit Union will be closed on Tuesday, March 13 due to the storm. We encourage our members if possible to transact any necessary banking business online for FREE (online banking or mobile app). Any changes to our normal business hours will be posted through our social media channels or you can call (877)-782-6637 for the latest update on branch delays or closings.

Scam Alert

The Fall River Police Department has issued a warning to the public as well as financial institutions regarding a scam which targets banking customers on social media. This particular scam targets users through Snapchat and offers money in exchange for the user opening a bank account. Once the account is created, the scammer establishes access and is able to withdraw money from the victim’s account. This could also potentially allow the victim to have their personal information compromised.

Never give your personal information to an unknown party. Scammers can spoof their phone numbers to appear like it is coming from your bank, the IRS or other party. If you are skeptical about a phone call you received asking for personal information, hang up and call directly to ensure the legitimacy of the call. Scammers may also contact you claiming you won a prize and just need to open a bank account or send money to them. A legitimate party will never request these tasks.

Email is a very popular platform for scammers to try to get information from you. Attackers can pose as a trusted person, or company to trick you into sending information. These emails can look very convincing at first glance. Always check the sender’s email address to verify their identity. If still skeptical, call the company with the number listed on their website to inquire about it.

Scheduled Maintenance – February 25, 2018

St. Anne’s Credit Union will be performing system maintenance on Sunday, February 25, 2018 from 2-4 AM. During this time, our Mobile Banking App may be temporarily unavailable. Thank you for your patience and if you have any questions, please call 1-877-STANNES (877-782-6637).

National Lost Penny Day – February 12th

Sprinkled on sidewalks, pressed between cushions, rattling within washing machines – pennies are seemingly everywhere and with more than 300 billion pennies minted since 1787, there’s no foreseen shortage of the one-cent coin. Also Abraham Lincoln’s birthday, today is the day to pay homage to one of the nation’s most noble leaders and his legacy preserved on two forms of American currency. Despite its small value, the penny has endured the lengthiest and most evolving history of any United States issued coin:

• (1787) – Benjamin Franklin designed the first U.S. penny, known as the “Fugio” cent, composed of pure copper and over five times heavier than today’s issue, depicting a meridian sun over a sundial with the words “Mind Your Own Business” on the obverse (heads) and “We Are One” surrounded by 13 chains on the reverse (tails).
• (1856) – The “Flying Eagle” cent was produced with a change in chemical composition (88% copper, 12% nickel) and included the word “Liberty” after it was mandated in 1792 to be included on all U.S. coins.
• (1909) – President Roosevelt chose to honor the nation’s 16th president on his 100th birthday by including him in the revision. Sculptor and engraver, Victor David Brenner was commissioned for the design, adapting the likeness of a bronze plaque he had previously created based on a photograph of Lincoln. This is most likely the reason Lincoln is the only coin produced with the figure facing to the right. While the original coin bore Brenner’s initials “V.D.B” along the bottom rim, it was removed after complaints were received it detracted from the overall design. Brenner’s initials were restored in 1918 and can be found in microscopic form just below Lincoln’s shoulder.
• (1943) – To conserve copper for the war efforts, pennies were produced using zinc-coated steel.
• (1959) – In honor of Lincoln’s 150th birthday, the reverse (tails) was revised to render the Marble Lincoln Memorial.
• (2009) – Celebrating Lincoln’s 200th birthday and 100th anniversary of the Lincoln cent, four designs portraying different phases of Lincoln’s life were issued.
• (2010) – The modern Lincoln cent features the union shield on the reverse with 13 stripes, symbolizing the 13 colonies and a single bar at the top with the motto “E Pluribus Unum” (Latin meaning “One out of many”).

Big unknowns about the small change:

• Present day chemical composition of the coin is 97.5% zinc and 2.5% copper.
• The single letter sometimes found beneath the issue date on the penny is called the Mint Mark and details where the coin originated: Denver (D), San Francisco (S). The absence of a letter indicates it was minted in Philadelphia.
• The Lincoln cent was the first one-cent denomination to include the motto “E Pluribus Unum” meaning “One out of many”.
• Coins to this day are produced with the “Coin Turn” method, meaning the reverse (tails) is upside down relative to the obverse (heads). This is done as a means to preserve tradition although historians have been unable to determine the reason for this strange production method.
• A 1974-D aluminum penny was discovered, resulting in a 2 year court battle for right of ownership between the U.S. Mint and two California residents. The U.S. Mint won arguing the aluminum cent was never produced as legal tender. Even more peculiar is the fact that no aluminum pennies are on record as being produced at the Denver Mint facility.

Dust off all those pennies (and other coins) hiding in the nooks and crannies of your house and car and put them to good use:

• Convert them into cash and open a savings account
• Flip a penny to let Lincoln make your decisions for you today
• Look for rare pennies
• Donate to a good cause

IN HONOR OF President's DAY

All St. Anne's Credit Union branches will be closed on:

Monday, February 19

Though our offices are closed, you can bank using:

• Our Free Mobile App
• Our Free Online banking system
• Your St. Anne's Credit Union Debit Card at any of our branch locations for free
• Our Free Telephone Banking system by calling 1-800-258-8484

Tips for Tax Identity Theft Awareness Week

You’ve worked tirelessly all year and been looking forward to your well-deserved tax refund, but there’s one dilemma: Someone other than you (a Tax Thief) already filed your taxes!

This was not the news you wanted or expected to hear, yet it is becoming more of a reality for many individuals during tax season. Tax thieves steal your personal information, such as your Social Security number and use it to get a tax refund or obtain a job. According to the FTC, tax-related fraud has been the most common and fastest growing category of identity theft for the past five years. During 2016, the FTC received over 3 million complaints (42% fraud, 13% identity theft and 45% other complaints) with 29.2% of identity theft cases qualifying as tax fraud.

Massachusetts alone reported 7,287 complaints of identity theft with 38% or 2,742 victims of tax fraud for the past year. Don’t let yourself become another statistic:

Know the Warning Signs

• You’ve received a letter from the IRS stating more than one tax return was filed in your name or using your Social Security number
• You owe additional tax or have collection actions taken against you for a year you did not file a tax return
• Debt collectors are contacting you about debts that are not yours
• Records show you received wages from an employer you don’t know or didn’t perform work for
• Your health plan won’t cover you because medical records show a condition you don’t have or you’ve been billed for medical services you didn’t receive
• You’ve stopped receiving your mail and bills

How Tax Thieves Get Your Personal Information

• Dumpster Diving & Mail Theft – someone goes through someone else’s garbage or mail to obtain personal identifiable information off items typically found in trash (i.e. credit card bills, utility bills, bank statements, and medical insurance).
• Phishing Schemes – fraudulent emails and look-alike websites posing as legitimate in order to lure individuals into providing personal or financial information, such as passwords or credit card numbers. These scams oftentimes include threats to terminate or deactivate accounts or services if immediate action is not taken.

Outsmart Tax Thieves

• File your return as early as possible, before thieves have an opportunity
• Use a secure internet connection and not public Wi-Fi (if filing electronically)
• Get recommendations and referrals for trustworthy CPAs
• Shred all documents containing personally identifiable information with a cross-cut paper shredder prior to disposal or go paperless with eStatements and receive statements and bills electronically
• Refrain from sending sensitive information via email or text message
• Check your credit report annually at annualcreditreport.com to make sure no accounts you’re unaware of have been opened in your name

Recover from Identity Theft

• If you believe you’re a victim of tax identity theft contact the IRS Identity Protection Specialized Unit at 800-908-4490
• File a report at IdentityTheft.gov where a personal recovery plan and account will be created to walk you through each step and track your progress
• File a police report
• Complete the IRS Identity Theft Affidavit
• Place a fraud alert by contacting one of the three credit bureaus and review your report for any accounts or charges you don’t recognize (the company you report to will alert the two other credit bureaus)
• Consider placing a credit freeze to prevent fraudsters from using your information to apply for a credit card (you’ll need to call all three bureaus)
Additional reminders this tax season:
• If mailing your tax return, always remember to mail from a post office instead of a home mailbox to reduce the risk of mail tampering
• IRS Scams -The IRS initiates most contact through postal mail delivery. The IRS will not call to demand immediate payment using a specific payment method. The IRS does not initiate contact with taxpayers by text message, email or social media channel to request personal or financial information. If someone claiming to be from the IRS contacts you through one of these methods ignore it and forward it to phishing@irs.gov.
• Confirm the authenticity of any IRS notices you receive by mail by calling the toll-free number: 800-829-1040
The FTC is hosting a series of free webinars and Twitter chats to help consumers and businesses prepare for the tax season and reduce their chance of becoming a victim of tax fraud. Visit ftc.gov to learn more.
Sources: FTC, FTC Consumer Sentinel Data Book-2016, IRS

Scheduled Maintenance

St. Anne’s Credit Union will be performing system maintenance on Sunday, January 28, 2018 from 2AM-6AM. During this time, our Mobile Banking App may be temporarily unavailable. Thank you for your patience and if you have any questions, please call 1-877-STANNES (877-782-6637).

Online Banking Temporarily Unavailable

St. Anne’s Credit Union’s Online Banking system is experiencing delays – please refer to the FREE St. Anne’s Credit Union Mobile App at this time. We are working to resolve this issue and we thank you for your patience. If you have any questions, please call 1-877-STANNES (877-782-6637).

Scheduled Maintenance on January 22, 2018

St. Anne’s Credit Union will be performing system maintenance on Monday, January 22, 2018 from 12AM-6AM. During this time, our Online Banking may be temporarily unavailable. Thank you for your patience and if you have any questions, please call 1-877-STANNES (877-782-6637).

St. Anne's Credit Union Annual Meeting

Sunday, March 18, 2018 at 2pm
White's of Westport
Westport, MA

For the purpose of: Committee Reports, Election of Officers, Amendment of Bylaws and any other business to come before the meeting.

This is a meeting for St. Anne's Credit Union. You must be a member to be eligible to vote. Please bring your passbook or other evidence of membership.

Scheduled Maintenance on January 18, 2018

St. Anne’s Credit Union will be performing system maintenance on Thursday, January 18, 2018 from 12AM-6AM. During this time, our Mobile App, Online Banking and Business Banking will be temporarily unavailable. Thank you for your patience and if you have any questions, please call 1-877-STANNES (877-782-6637).

Closed on 1/15/18 for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

All St. Anne's Credit Union branches will be closed on:

Monday, January 15

Though our offices are closed, you can bank using:

• Our Free Mobile App
• Our Free Online banking system
• Your St. Anne's Credit Union Debit Card at any of our branch locations for free
• Our Free Telephone Banking system by calling 1-800-258-8484

Inclement Weather

Due to inclement weather, all St. Anne’s Credit Union branches will be closed today, January 4. Though our offices are closed, you can bank using:

• Our FREE Mobile App or FREE Online Banking system
• Our FREE Telephone Banking system by calling (800) 258-8484

For more information about our banking services, click here. Thank you for banking with us.