New Freedom Federal Credit Union Branch Coming to Baltimore County – CEO Letter

May 3, 2021

Dear Freedom Members,

In July of last year, I wrote to you announcing that Freedom Federal Credit Union was expanding our field of membership to include Baltimore County. Over the last several months, that expansion has gone very well and the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive.

In that announcement, I also made mention that we would look at opportunities to enhance access for our members, whether through technology or new, physical locations.

As a result of this, and through a comprehensive review, I am very happy to announce that Freedom will be opening a new branch in Baltimore County, in the Perry Hall/White Marsh area.
The new branch will be located at 5000 Honeygo Center Drive in the Honeygo Village Center, adjacent to Weis Markets, and across from AnyTime Fitness, and Liberatore’s Ristorante. This will be Freedom’s first branch in Baltimore County, and our sixth branch in total.

Our Honeygo Branch will feature a full-service lobby, two drive-thru lanes, a 24/7 ATM, a free coin machine, and will provide ample parking and easy traffic flow and access. Financial Service Representatives will be in-person, and onsite, to support all business and individual banking needs.

This is a significant step for our entire membership. Not only does it ensure that we provide a physical location to a thriving business and residential community that wants to do their banking in-person, but also provides us more ability to truly deliver on the Freedom Advantage, our unique service offering, to the Northeast Baltimore County communities.

Because of the way Freedom is structured, as a financial cooperative, the health and strength of the organization is dependent on the membership being engaged and utilizing our products and services. The more members that are an active part of Freedom, and using our products and services, the better the ability to offer lower cost loan options, higher deposit rates, better technology and more community support. We will be able to increase our membership, and better serve all our members, in both Harford and Baltimore County.

This past year has been a challenge for all of us. For Freedom, although much of it was focused on helping members through the pandemic, we decided to proceed with our planned expansion into Baltimore County, to give our members, and the communities we serve, more opportunities to conduct business, in the name of convenience and a better banking experience.

The Honeygo Branch, which formerly housed First National Bank, is currently undergoing renovations, and is expected to open to the public in late summer. I will share more details with you when plans are more formalized. In the meantime, please follow us on our Facebook page to see progress updates, and the latest information around the branch opening.

I want to thank all of you for your ongoing trust and confidence in Freedom, and I hope you share in my excitement regarding our new branch. I look forward to seeing you there!

Sincerely,

Michael MacPherson
President and CEO
Freedom Federal Credit Union

Freedom Federal Credit Union Opening New Branch in Perry Hall / White Marsh

May 3, 2021

The new branch will mark Freedom Federal Credit Union’s first Baltimore County location, and sixth location overall.

Freedom Federal Credit Union has announced plans to open a new full-service branch in the Perry Hall/White Marsh area. This is the Credit Union’s first branch in Baltimore County, and sixth branch within Northeastern Maryland. The new branch will be located at 5000 Honeygo Center Drive in the Honeygo Village Center, adjacent to Weis Markets, and across from AnyTime Fitness, and Liberatore’s Ristorante.

The branch will feature a full-service lobby, two drive-thru lanes, a 24/7 ATM, a free coin machine, and will provide ample parking and easy traffic flow and access. Financial Service Representatives will be in-person, and onsite, to support all business and individual banking needs.

The branch opening is the next step in Freedom’s expansion of their field of membership into Baltimore County, which the Credit Union announced in July 2020, following approval from the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA). Since then, Freedom membership has been open to businesses and any individuals who live, work, worship, volunteer, attend school, or have family in Baltimore County. Freedom now serves all of Harford and Baltimore Counties.

The expansion into Baltimore County was a logical step in the Credit Union’s evolution. Freedom was already serving over 3,000 members that are Baltimore County residents and were able to join because of some affiliation with Harford County.

“This is a great milestone in Freedom Federal Credit Union’s history, as well as a monumental opportunity for our members, and the residents of both Baltimore and Harford Counties,” stated Mike MacPherson, President and CEO of Freedom. “The Honeygo Branch provides us our first physical space within Baltimore County, and ensures that we can truly deliver the ‘Freedom Advantage,’ our unique credit union service offering, to the greater Baltimore County communities. Not only will we be able to better serve a larger group of Maryland residents and businesses who we feel are currently being underserved, but we can better enhance the progress and growth of our Credit Union, which will benefit all our members going forward.”

Freedom Federal Credit Union was founded in 1953 as MATCOM Federal Credit Union. The Credit Union started in Baltimore and later moved to Harford County in support of the Edgewood Arsenal, which became part of Aberdeen Proving Ground. Freedom received their Harford County community charter in 1999 and changed their name to Freedom of Maryland Federal Credit Union in 2000.

MacPherson continued: “I think it’s important to emphasize that Freedom has not only risen to the challenge of the day, but even in the worst of times, continues to move forward in our vision and mission. While much of this last year has been focused on helping members through the pandemic, we decided to proceed with our expansion into Baltimore County, which will further allow us to offer lower cost loan options, higher deposit rates, better technology and access, and more community support across both Harford and Baltimore Counties. Our focus has been on expanding and enhancing every avenue and technology to allow our members more access to conduct business wherever needed, in-person, or online, all in the name of creating a better member experience.”

The new site in the Honeygo Village Center, which formerly housed First National Bank, is currently undergoing renovations, and is expected to open to the public in late summer with a grand opening event to be announced at a later date.

About Freedom Federal Credit Union

Freedom Federal Credit Union is a community-chartered federal credit union offering consumer financial services to those who live, work, volunteer, worship, attend school, or have family in Harford and Baltimore Counties. Additionally, Freedom offers a full-line of banking services for all businesses, associations, and other organizations that are based in Harford and Baltimore Counties. To learn more, visit freedomfcu.org.

#NationalNursesWeek

LET’s CELEBRATE NATIONAL NURSES week!

WIN A $25 Amazon eGIFT CARD FOR A HARFORD OR BALTIMORE COUNTY NURSE – 5 CHANCES TO WIN!

Look for our #NationalNursesWeek Nomination Post on our social media pages starting May 6th, 2021 running until 12 pm Wednesday, May 12, 2021.

If you are a nurse or would like to nominate a nurses who lives or works in Harford/Baltimore County…

1. POST the nurse’s name and agency/organization in the comments on our Facebook, Twitter , or Instagram (@FreedomFedCU) post
(Feel free to include a picture or comment about your nomination!)

2. FOLLOW our social media page

3. SHARE our social media post

We will draw a winner Wednesday, May 12th in the afternoon!

Full Contest Rules / Details

Visit us on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram to get started.

*Nurses may live and/or work in Harford or Baltimore County. Nurses are welcome to enter themselves. One nomination per person, but nurses can be entered multiple time by other individuals to increase their chances of winning.

#TeacherAppreciationWeek

LET’s CELEBRATE Teacher appreciation week!

WIN A $25 Amazon eGIFT CARD FOR A HARFORD OR BALTIMORE COUNTY TEACHER – 5 CHANCES TO WIN!

Teacher Appreciation Drawing — Look for this post on Freedom’s Social Media Accounts

Look for our #TeacherAppreciationWeek Nomination Post on our social media pages starting May 3rd, 2021 running until 12 pm Friday, May 7, 2021.

If you are a teacher or know a teacher who lives or works in Harford/Baltimore County…

1. POST the teacher’s name and school in the comments on our Facebook, Twitter , or Instagram (@FreedomFedCU) post
(Feel free to include a picture or comment about your nomination!)

2. FOLLOW our social media page

3. SHARE our social media post

We will draw a winner Friday, May 7th in the afternoon!

Full Contest Rules / Details

Visit us on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram to get started.

*Teacher may live and/or work in Harford or Baltimore County. Teachers are welcome to enter themselves. One nomination per person, but teachers can be entered multiple time by other individuals to increase their chances of winning.

Credit Cards: Reading the Fine Print

Q: How do I read the fine print from my credit card issuer?

A: Fine print often has information you can’t afford to miss. Here’s the big deal on the small print found on credit card paperwork:

What do all those terms mean?

First, let’s take a look at 10 basic credit card terms that are important to know but are often misunderstood:

Accrued interest – The amount of interest incurred on the credit card balance as of a specific date.
Annual Percentage Rate (APR) – The rate of interest paid on a carried credit card balance each year.
Annual fee – The yearly fee a financial institution or credit card company charges you for having the card.
Balance – the amount of money owed on a credit card.
Billing cycle – The amount of time between the last statement closing date and the next one.
Cash advance – Money withdrawn from your credit card account, usually with higher interest rates and attached fees.
Credit limit – The maximum amount of money that can be charged to your credit card.
Grace period – The time the consumer has between making a purchase and being charged interest.
Late payment notice and fee – These will alert you to a missed payment and its fee for missing it.
Minimum payment – The smallest amount of money the consumer can pay each month to keep the account current and avoid fees.

Do I need to read the small print on my credit card application?

Those microscopic letters on your credit card application contain important information. Here are some common claims you might find on an application and what the small print below these claims actually says:

Claim: Sign-up bonus: $950!

Fine print: Must spend $3,000 on the card within the first three months of ownership.

Claim: Interest-free offer!

Fine print: Expires after 18 months, and then a 22.5% interest rate kicks in.

Claim: 0% balance transfer!

Fine print: But there is a $300 balance transfer fee.

Claim: Cash advance of up to $1,500!

Fine print: With 20% interest and a $200 cash-advance fee.

How do I find the fine print on my credit card application or statement?

Read the fine print before you sign up for a credit card. You’ll find this information on the credit card’s paper or digital application under a label marked “Pricing and Terms” or “Terms and Conditions.” You can also find this information when researching credit cards online; it may be labeled as “Interest Rates and Fees” or “Offer Details.”

If you’ve already signed up for the card, you’ll find these conditions on the “Cardmember Agreement” that generally comes with a new credit card.

Your credit card statements will also have lots of fine print, though most of it will be on the back of the bill. The information there will include everything in your application, as well as some additional information about your monthly bill.

Your Turn: Have you ever regretted missing the fine print on your credit card paperwork? Tell us about it on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. @FreedomFedCU

About Freedom Federal Credit Union

Freedom Federal Credit Union is proud to be your financial partner. Freedom serves and is open to anyone who lives, works, worships, attends school, volunteers, or has family in Harford or Baltimore County, MD. As a credit union, we are committed to putting you first, not shareholders, and helping you achieve your financial goals.

Learn more at freedomfcu.org/personal/credit-cards or call us 800-440-4120 to see how we can help.

Payment Protection Program Scams

The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) has been one of the most important pieces of legislation signed into effect since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The unsecured loans through the Small Business Association (SBA) have enabled our favorite retail shops, restaurants and small businesses to stay afloat, even as the coronavirus devastates sectors of the economy.

Not surprisingly, scammers have been using the PPP for their own purposes, mainly to con struggling business owners out of money. In these scams, they’ll pose as SBA representatives or legitimate lenders to ask for personal information from the borrower. They may also send bogus emails appearing to be from the SBA to lead the victim into downloading malware.

Scammers are getting smarter all the time, but so are we! Here’s how to avoid PPP scams:

Know how PPP loans are processed

Ready to apply for a PPP loan? Fill it out the SBA PPP loan application, and submit it to an SBA-approved lender. You’ll also need to provide some documents, such as tax returns for 2019, verifiable payroll expense documents, your most recent mortgage or rent statement, etc.

If you’re applying for a Second Draw PPP Loan, you will also need documentation that shows how you have used, or plan to use, your original PPP funds.

After you’ve submitted your application, just sit back and wait for approval.

How can I protect my business from PPP fraud?

Do:

Be wary of any individuals demanding immediate payment or asking that you make immediate contact to be eligible for a PPP loan. These are likely scammers.
Only use a lender that is accredited by the SBA. You can find all SBA-approved lenders here.
Look for the .gov at the end of each email or website allegedly from the SBA or another government entity.
Report any suspected scams to the Better Business Bureau (BBB). Don’t let those crooks walk free!

Don’t:

Pay for a program that promises to process or expedite a PPP loan request if the organization behind the program is not accredited by the SBA.
Share any personal information with an unverified caller or email contact. If it’s personal info, make sure to keep it that way!
Click on links or download files from an unfamiliar email address.

Stay safe!

Freedom has made the Paycheck Protection Program available to its current members. Applicants must have established a business or personal membership with Freedom on or before December 27, 2020. Visit freedomfcu.org/business/ppp/ for more details.

Your Turn: Are you a small business owner who has applied for a loan under the Paycheck Protection Program? Tell us about it on Facebook, LinkedIn,Twitter, or Instagram @FreedomFedCU.

Show Us Your Snow Day Pics

SHOW US YOUR Best Snow Day pics!

Win a $25 Amazon Gift Card!

Look for our #SnowDay Photo Contest on our social media pages starting February 2, 2021 running until Friday, February 5, 2021.

If you live, work, worship, or have family in Harford or Baltimore County…

1. POST your photo in the comments on our Facebook or Twitter post
(Or direct message @FreedomFedCU on Instagram)

2. FOLLOW our social media page

3. SHARE our social media post

We will draw a winner Friday, February 5, at about 3pm!

Full Contest Rules and Details

Visit us on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram to get started.

Breathe 379 Wins Freedom Federal Credit Union’s #FreedomToHelpChallenge

Credit Union Awards $1,000 to Small Local Non-Profit to Support their Hope Center

Bel Air, MD – Freedom Federal Credit Union is pleased to congratulate Mike Nolan, Founder, Executive Director, and volunteer for Breathe 379, for winning the 3^rd annual #FreedomToHelpChallenge. The six-week social media contest called for entrants to post pictures celebrating Harford or Baltimore County volunteerism for a chance to win $1,000 and other weekly prizes for their local charity of choice. Each week individual volunteers and non-profit organizations posted pictures showcasing local volunteerism in an effort that reached all corners of the two counties. Weekly winners and the Grand Award winner were chosen during public voting periods on Freedom’s Facebook page.

“I have to be honest, I’m completely blown away by it. I wasn’t even going to enter thinking we didn’t have a chance to win, but on a whim, I posted a submission of our amazing volunteers, and our supporters took it from there. We are so grateful for the Freedom To Help Challenge, for giving us the opportunity to showcase and thank our volunteers, and for everything Freedom has done for us in the wake of winning, not just in donations, but with publicity for our cause,” stated Mike Nolan. “This award will now allow even more members of our community and beyond to be served by Breathe’s Hope Center! Thank you, Freedom Federal Credit Union, for helping us help others!”

Officially founded in 2016, Breathe 379 is based in the simple notion of helping others, whatever the need. Breathe’s Hope Center, based in Edgewood, Maryland, looks quite different from most food and clothing pantries, providing a relaxing environment and complimentary coffee bar to help ease stress and offer the hope that is very much needed in everyone’s life from time to time. The organization is probably best known for their B379 Toy Drive, which distributes thousands of toys to local Harford County children in need during the holidays.

Mike Nolan and volunteers Nick Nizer, Vice President and Manager of the Well at Breathe, Bailey Alampi, Manager of Bailey Sue’s Country Market at Breathe, and Cheryl Andrews, Manager of The Cabin at Breathe, were all recently honored in a check presentation held at Breathe’s Hope Center with the $1,000 grand award. The Hope Center is located at 2124 Nuttal Ave. in Edgewood, Maryland and is open each Wednesday from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. and the second Saturday of every month from 12 p.m. until 4 p.m. Learn more at breathe379.com.

About Freedom Federal Credit Union

Freedom Federal Credit Union is a community-chartered federal credit union offering consumer financial services to those who live, work, volunteer, worship, attend school, or have family in Harford or Baltimore County. Additionally, Freedom offers a full-line of banking services for all businesses, associations, and other organizations that are based in Harford or Baltimore County. Freedom has been in business since 1953 and has five locations throughout Harford County. To learn more, visit www.freedomfcu.org