News

News, events, and promotions from Freedom Federal Credit Union

Chamber of Commerce Foundation Scholarships

Scholarships Available to Harford County Residents

Each year the Harford County Chamber of Commerce Foundation awards scholarships to local residents. Scholarships are available to recent Harford County high school graduates and adults who want to attend college. In 2017 the Chamber gave 10 scholarships to adults, veterans and high school seniors.

Chamber scholarships fund a wide range of studies. High school seniors may received funding from the following scholarship types:

  • Arts, Media and Communication
  • Business, Finance and Information Technology
  • Health and Human Services
  • Service, Engineering and Technology
  • Technology/Trade
  • Chuck Boyle Business Scholarship
  • William B. Seccurro Teacher Education

Scholarships available to adults include a veterans scholarship, a Technology/Trade scholarship, and a general scholarship.

To download this year’s Scholarship application go to: http://www.harfordchamber.org/resources/scholarships/

We’re Here to Help

Impacted by the Storm? We Can Help.

The recent storms may have caused damage to your home, car or other property. What if that damage isn’t covered by insurance? If that’s the case, or if you’d like to begin repairs before your claim in processed, our Anything Loan or Homestyle Loan can help. With a rate as low as 6.99% APR*1 and payments deferred for 90 days, they’re a great option.

Need to get lots of odds and ends to clean up or make small repairs? Our Visa Platinum or Platinum Rewards credit cards, now at 0% APR for 15 months2, can also help meet your needs.

To learn more about a loan or credit card, please visit one of our five branches, or call 1-800-440-4120. Or apply for a Anything Loan, Homestyle Loan, or Credit Card online!

We’re here if you need us.

*APR is ANNUAL PERCENTAGE RATE. Rate is effective January 15, 2018.

1 Applies to purchases and balance transfers done in the first 90 days after the new VISA credit card account is opened. A 3% fee is applicable to these balance transfers. This offer is available on VISA Platinum and VISA Platinum Rewards credit cards only.

2 The introductory rate will revert to the current standard rate as applicable after the promotional period. That is 8.99% APR to 16.99% APR based for VISA Platinum, or 10.49% APR to 18% APR, based on individual credit worthiness. Rates quoted are effective 12/15/2017 and are subject to change. Rate will vary with the market based on Prime

America Saves Week 2018: Feb 26 to Mar 2

Boost Your Savings America Saves Week 2018

Join Freedom during America Saves Week 2018: February 26 – March 2. When you join as a new member and deposit $50, we’ll match your deposit; and we will match $25 for a new young member account.*

Deposit match details:

The deposit match is available to all new Freedom members:

  • $50 for new member adult savings accounts opened with a $50 deposit.*
  • $25 for new member youth savings accounts opened with a $25 deposit.*
  • We will honor matches until March 15th

Take Part in America Saves Week!

  • Take the Pledge
  • Assess your savings
  • Take advantage of our match!
    • Become a member by opening a savings account.
    • Already a member? Refer your friends and family to Freedom so they can get the match!
  • Enter the #ImSavingsForSweepstakes

#ImSavingForSweepstakes

Enter to win $500 in the #ImSavingForSweepstakes by pledging to save!

  • Tell America Saves your savings goal by taking the America Saves Pledge.
  • Increase your potential prize by $250
    • Share your goal, personal story, or favorite savings tip on social media
    • Use the hashtag #ImSavingForSweepstakes.

*Bonus funds will be placed on hold and released for availability after 60 days. If after 60 days the new member account has not been activated, the funds will be withdrawn and no bonus will be paid out. This special is only available through March 15, 2018.

Tax Season Brings Fraud

Guard Against IRS-Themed Scams

Tax season brings fraud. In one common scam a person pretends to be an IRS agent and threatens to arrest you if you don’t immediately pay a tax debt. Or scammers may claim you have a refund and need to provide your bank or credit card information to receive it. Scammer may contact you by phone, email, letter or online.

The IRS will never initiate contact with individuals by telephone, text messages, email or social media. If you get a call, email or text from someone claiming to be from the IRS it’s fraud.

  • If you get a call from someone claiming to be from the IRS, hang up immediately.
  • Don’t click on any links or content within an email claiming to be from the IRS. Delete it.
  • Only sites that contain “www.irs.gov” URLs should be treated as legitimate. If you come across a non-irs.gov website, social media link or pop-up window, close it.
  • If you have unresolved business with the IRS, call them directly at 800-829-1040.

For more information from the IRS read this IRS-themed scam alert. You can report scam calls by calling 800-366-4484, or report them online.

For information on current scams and alerts, read our Fraud Alerts page. Subscribe to the newsletter and alerts by clicking the link at the upper-right corner of the section.

Credit Union College Scholarship Program

College Scholarship Contest Underway

$12,000 Credit Union Scholarship ProgramMaryland/DC Credit Union College Scholarship program

The Maryland/DC CU Foundation is once again offering a college scholarship contest for credit union members. Each of the 12, $1,000-scholarships goes toward college or trade school tuition. Freedom members entering their freshman through senior year of college or trade school are eligible.

The Credit Union College Scholarship Program is underway now! Eligible credit union members may apply for one of 12 scholarships in three categories. Options include 10 essay-based scholarships, a video-based scholarship, and one photo-based scholarship. Eligible members may even apply in all three categories!

The deadline for applications is March 31, 2018. Awards will be announced in May 2018.

This year’s essay topic is “Describe the value found in credit union membership”.

2017’s Video Challenge is to “Create a 60-second credit union ad to attract young members (age 16 – 24)”.

The Photo competition theme is the credit union core value, “Community”.

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Freedom is dedicated to giving back to the Harford County Community. Our participation is the MD/DC Credit Union Scholarship Program is just one part of that. We also offer a scholarship to a student at Harford County Community College, as well as scholarships for Harford County educators.

Take a look at our work in Harford County. See why when you join Freedom, you really are joining something special!

Fund Drive Benefits Kids

Miracle Network Fund Drives Raises over 1K

Freedom recently participated in a Children’s Miracle Network fund drive! The Miracle Jeans Day-Credit Union for Kids benefit raised money for our local Children’s Miracle Network hospital. Staff and members donated throughout September to benefit Johns Hopkins Children’s hospital.

Miracle Jeans Day 
The Miracle Jeans Day-Credit Union for Kids fundraiser began with employees. Freedom employees were encouraged to donate $5 for the opportunity to go “Casual for Kids” by wearing jeans. The one-day event took place on September 13. Proceeds support John’s Hopkins Children’s Hospital’s greatest needs, including include life-saving research, treatments, equipment and charitable care.

Collection Boxes in all Branches 
Fundraising continued through the end of September. So many employees and members gave that we collected a total of $1,081.44!

Sponsorships and Giveback
It’s important to us to give back. To support the Harford County Community, we provide free financial education, support local organizations, and routinely volunteer in the community. It’s all about making Freedom a special place to work and a special place to bank.

FTC Addresses Equifax Scams

Scams Follow Equifax Breach

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has sent out an article about a new scam exploiting the Equifax hack. See the article below. To stay current on the latest scams and what to do to avoid them, review our Fraud Alerts page. This page is continually updated with the latest information and advice from many sources.

Equifax isn’t calling

September 14, 2017, by Lisa Weintraub Schifferle
Attorney, FTC, Division of Consumer and Business Education

Ring, ring. “This is Equifax calling to verify your account information.” Stop. Don’t tell them anything. They’re not from Equifax. It’s a scam. Equifax will not call you out of the blue.

That’s just one scam you might see after Equifax’s recent data breach. Other calls might try to trick you into giving your personal information. Here are some tips for recognizing and preventing phone scams and imposter scams:

  • Don’t give personal information. Don’t provide any personal or financial information unless you’ve initiated the call and it’s to a phone number you know is correct.
  • Don’t trust caller ID. Scammers can spoof their numbers so it looks like they are calling from a particular company, even when they’re not.
  • If you get a robocall, hang up. Don’t press 1 to speak to a live operator or any other key to take your number off the list. If you respond by pressing any number, it will probably just lead to more robocalls.

If you’ve already received a call that you think is fake, report it to the FTC.

If you gave your personal information to an imposter, it’s time to change any compromised passwords, account numbers or security questions. And if you’re concerned about identity theft, visit IdentityTheft.gov to learn how you can protect yourself.

For more information about the Equifax breach, visit Equifax’s website, www.equifaxsecurity2017.com or contact their call center at 866-447-7559.