How does overdraft work? 

For years, we've told you to "Credit when you Debit", and it is still the most safe and secure way to complete transactions at Point-of-Sale machines.  For instance, whether in the grocery or convenience store, or at a department store, signing for a transaction rather than keying in your PIN is a more secure method because it makes identity theft more difficult.

However, signing for a transaction (credit), can take longer to process through your checking account.  If your balance is low at any particular time, the best way to more accurately monitor your available funds is to either withdraw the amount needed from an ATM or use your PIN for the transaction (debit).  This will help to reduce or eliminate the number of overdraft fees that are charged to your account.  REMEMBER: if you have opted-into overdraft protection, financial institutions will not keep you from going into a negative balance, so it is your responsibility to understand the difference between an available and actual balance in your checking account.

What if you had a tool that would allow you to manage your account day or night, weekday or weekend, and would notify you if you were in danger of incurring overdraft fees?

Lucky for you, you're a Leaders Credit Union member and we offer that exact tool!  It's called Home Banking with Bill Pay, and it's 100% free to you.  With Home Banking, you can log into your account and view pending and closed transactions, view images of your checks, transfer funds between your Leaders accounts, and pay your auto, home and consumer loans with Leaders.  Not only that, but you can also set reminders to arrive to email or phone that notify you of low balances on your accounts!

Try FinanceWorks in Home Banking, and you'll be able to set budgets for yourself, view trends in your spending, and categorize every deposit and expense.  Have a question about how any of these tools work?  No problem!  Simply call 731-664-1784 and we will walk you through the process step-by-step.

Kevin Smith with Leaders Investment Services will support the STAR Center along with Proctor & Gamble as the title sponsors for the STAR Center Gala on February 5, 2011.  Kevin has been honored as one of Jackson's Top 25 in 2010 by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and is currently among the Top 10 agents in the nation, according to Investment Centers of America.

 

The Gala will be held at the STAR Center on February 5, 2011 at 6p.

Thank you sincerely for your continued membership with Leaders Credit Union.  We are continually striving to improve your experience as a member with us as well as your financial well being.  If you have any questions about the products and services that have been discussed in this email, feel free to respond to this email and we will ensure that you have all the answers you need.  Thank you again for your business, and enjoy your week!