Should I Take My Money Out of My Credit Union?

Is my money safe

Q: With all the economic uncertainty now, I’m wondering if it’s safe to keep my money in my Freedom FCU accounts. Should I be withdrawing my funds to keep them safe?

COVID-19 has pummeled the economy in an unprecedented way, and financial experts say the economic fallout of the pandemic is just beginning. But that doesn’t mean you need to start hoarding your money under your mattress.

The economic picture in the country is grim. Anyone following the stock market knows it’s been on a wild ride since the novel coronavirus reached American shores. In just over a month, the market dropped 10,000 points and was subject to its worst day since 1987. And that’s just the stock market. Small businesses are gasping for relief as they struggle to turn a profit and meet payroll in a nearly comatose economy.

Laid-off and furloughed workers are stressing over paying their bills and covering their most basic needs as they wonder when, and if, they’ll be back to work. The health care system is overtaxed and underfunded as it races to combat the pandemic and keep up with the overwhelming demand for medical equipment and supplies.

With all that, though, you don’t need to worry about the money you have at Freedom FCU. The country may be battling a raging pandemic and the economy might be barely limping along, but neither of these factors affect the security of your funds at Freedom FCU.

As always, Freedom FCU is federally insured up to $250,000 by the National Credit Union Administration. This means your money is protected here no matter what’s happening on Wall Street or to the global economy. There’s no need to withdraw the money you keep in your Freedom FCU accounts.

The economy might be unstable right now and the immediate future of the country still unknown, but there’s one thing you can count on: Your money is secure at Freedom FCU.

County Teachers Win Golden Apple Awards

Golden Apple Awards Reception Held June 22

Freedom Federal Credit Union President and CEO, Mike MacPherson, with 2018 Golden Apple Annual Education Awards recipients
Freedom Federal Credit Union President and CEO, Mike MacPherson, with 2018 Golden Apple Annual Education Award recipients. (L to R): Jacob Bennett, Kathleen Ford, and Tara Recor

Freedom hosted a reception at the Credit Union’s Park Avenue branch to celebrate this year’s Golden Apple Awards winners. Kathleen Ford, a music teacher at the John Archer School won this year’s grand prize. Ms. Ford received the $2,000 prize for her plan to better connect students with disabilities through music and song. One of Ms. Ford’s goals is to purchase a complete set of Music K-8 magazines and CDs. Her entry also calls for adapted instruments, assistive devices and software. These items will better enable students with severe physical challenges to produce music independently.

Although we received a record number of submissions this year, Ms. Ford’s thoughtfulness and creativity in considering how the award could affect positive change for her students, school, and community made her application standout.

Additionally, two runners-up were selected: Jacob Bennett, Kindergarten Teacher at Havre de Grace Elementary, and Tara Recor, Gifted &Talented Resource Teacher at Prospect Mill and Halls Cross Roads Elementary schools. Both Mr. Bennett and Ms. Recor will receive $500 each to fund initiatives at their respective schools.

The Golden Apple Educator Award benefits Freedom members who work for HCPS and have a creative vision for education that can only be met with community support. Contest applicants must submit an essay demonstrating how their idea would serve their students, class, school and the Harford County community. A panel of Freedom employees, board members, and community leaders judges each year’s entries.

Empty Stocking Fund Collection Drive

Empty Stocking Fund Collection Begins October 6Empty Stocking Fund Collection

Join us in helping to make the holidays a little brighter for Harford County’s families in need—donate to the Empty Stocking Fund! Bring new unwrapped toys, food goods, or monetary donations to any of our five branches. The collection drive kicks off October, 6th and continues through the end of the year.

Collection bins for new unwrapped toys and food items will be available at all five Freedom branches. Collected items go to Empty Stocking headquarters as the bins fill. Before the holidays, volunteers then pull together a “stocking” full of of donated items specially chosen for each child on the Fund’s list. Bring in a gift for a baby, a teenage boy, or a toddler girl. Stockings are given out to kids of all ages and with all interests!

Get in the holiday spirit and make a donation to The Empty Stocking Fund this season!