The Bottom Line
Small business is important to Central Oregon, and to Mid Oregon. Find tips and resources for business, and information about Mid Oregon’s commercial services and business members.
Call for Funds for CA Fires
Central Oregon has been hard hit by wildfires the last couple of months. But we haven’t faced the kind of devastation seen from hurricanes on the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts. More recently, and closer to home, Northern California has experienced horrendous losses from wildfires. Mid Oregon Credit Union would like to share with you an appeal from our regional association- The Northwest Credit Union Association (NWCUA) and our Foundation (NCUF)– will provide funds for CA fires to help some of those impacted by the recent California fires.
To learn more about the current conditions of the wildfires, read the LA Times article, “Fire loss total surges to 8,400 structures in Northern California“.
From the NWCUA
In recent weeks, natural disasters have devastated communities across our nation. From Puerto Rico to the Northwest, these disasters have left our friends and neighbors without food, water, and shelter.
The onslaught of these disasters has left many reeling, and your Northwest Credit Union Association and Foundation staff continue to be overwhelmed by the outpouring of generosity and support coming from our member credit unions. From branches collecting care packages for hurricane victims to the generous monetary donations coming from across our region to support those impacted by Northwest wildfires, we are reminded daily of the impact this Credit Union Movement can have when we rally to support our communities.
In lockstep with your own generosity, your Northwest Credit Union Foundation committed funds to support Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria. We also seeded a match fund for Northwest wildfires that was quickly surpassed due to your generosity.
Today, the Northwest Credit Union Foundation is once again committing funds and asking you to join us in supporting our credit union family impacted by the wildfires raging through California. We have been in close communication with our colleagues in the California/Nevada League, and have heard how dire the situation is for so many credit unions and credit union people. Hundreds of credit union employees have experienced a total loss of their homes, and credit unions have lost branches to these devastating fires.
Please join us once again in supporting our credit union family during this time of unfathomable loss. The Northwest Credit Union Foundation is committing $5,000 to the National Credit Union Foundation’s CUAID campaign. We know you have already been so generous over the past few weeks, and we appreciate any support you can provide to help victims of the California wildfires.
Donation Details
If you wish to donate to this fund, click here. Note: You will have the opportunity to choose from the following for your donation to provide funds for CA fire victims:
- General Disaster Relief (Calif. Wildfires, Harvey, Irma and/or Maria Relief)*
- Hurricane Irma Relief
- Tropical Storm Harvey Relief
* The General Disaster Relief Fund goes to credit union people affected by any disaster, now or later, giving the Foundation flexibility to direct funds to where they are needed most. The Irma & Harvey options are for donations designated to credit union people affected by that disaster specifically per National Credit Union Foundation policies.
eStatements: Simplify, organize, and protect
With the click of a button, you can save resources, organize your financial records, and reduce paper waste—and you might even reduce your risk of identity theft.
We’re all looking for ways to make life simpler and save a few steps on those things we manage every day. Our members tell us they want more convenience, and look to their credit union to help them keep their accounts and personal information streamlined, safe, and secure.
That’s why Mid Oregon provides FREE electronic account statements. Our eStatements help you reduce paper clutter by allowing you to view them securely in Online Banking whenever you want—keeping paper statements out of the mail and reducing your risk of identity theft.
All your account statements, anywhere you have an internet connection
Need to view a past statement, or print several statements for a loan or tax preparer? No problem—you can view and print multiple statements whenever you like! You’ll always have access to 24 months of archived statements, right at your fingertips.
Get your statements faster
Plus, your statement will be available to view a day or two earlier than mailed statements, and you’ll save yourself the hassle of having to shred those old statements. Statistics show that most identity theft still happens through pretty old-fashioned methods, including finding account numbers and personal information through stolen mail. You can avoid all that with eStatements. You’ll receive an email message when they’re ready, and you can log in and view your statements when it’s convenient for you. What could be easier?
To get started, simply log into Online Banking right on the Mid Oregon home page, and look for eStatements in the Accounts tab. Click to switch to eStatements and you’re set. You can choose to opt back into paper statements whenever you like—just log back in and switch!
If you’re not using Online Banking yet, give us a call at 541-382-1795 and we’ll set up your PIN and help you get logged in!
Equifax Breach Update
Equifax disclosed a data breach on September 7th that spanned from Mid-May through July 29, 2017. It is reported that approximately 143 million consumers were affected by this breach. Names, social security numbers, dates of birth, addresses, and in some instances, driver’s license numbers were obtained. All this sensitive information is what is needed by fraudsters to commit identity theft, as detailed in this Equifax breach update.
Information put at risk by the data breach is separate from credit union data, but we will be vigilant in helping our members protect both. Here are actions you can take to monitor your situation and better protect yourself.
FTC and Equifax Information
Visit the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), which explains how youcan find out if your information is at risk, what steps you can do to protect yourselves, and how you can obtain free credit monitoring. Here is a link to the FTC’s release on the Equifax data breach which contains helpful information on how members may protect themselves against identity theft.
Visit Equifax’s website, www.equifaxsecurity2017.com. On the Equifax website, U.S. consumers can get a year of free credit monitoring and other services. You have until Nov. 21, 2017, to enroll. You also can access frequently asked questions at the site.
How to Protect Yourself After a Data Breach
- Monitor your existing credit card and bank accounts closely for charges you don’t recognize. With online and mobile banking, you can review your account as often as you like. If you notice any unauthorized activity, contact your financial institution immediately. Mid Oregon members also have the benefit of CardNav, a mobile app which allows you to control your debit card in several key ways which can minimize exposure to fraud. You can also receive real-time, in-app alerts.
- Check your credit reports from Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion for free by visiting annualcreditreport.com. Accounts or activity that you don’t recognize could indicate identity theft. Visit IdentityTheft.gov to find out what to do.
- Understand the impacts of placing a credit freeze on your files. A credit freeze makes it harder for someone to open a new account in your name. Keep in mind that a credit freeze won’t prevent a thief from making charges to your existing accounts.
- Consider placing a fraud alert on your files. A fraud alert warns creditors that you may be an identity theft victim and that they should verify that anyone seeking credit in your name really is you.
- File your taxes early — as soon as you have the tax information you need, before a scammer can. Tax identity theft happens when someone uses your Social Security number to get a tax refund or a job. Respond right away to letters from the IRS. Visit Identitytheft.gov/databreach to learn more about protecting yourself after a data breach.
There are ways you can be better informed, be more protected from fraud and better secure your information. Visit Mid Oregon’s Security and Fraud Center for up-to-date information and tips.