What's New?

Do You Hear What I Hear?
You can save 1% APR* on a Works For Me Holiday Loan!

This year, manage your holiday expenses the smart way – with a Works For Me Holiday Loan from St. Louis Community.

You can borrow up to $7,000 with no collateral, extend financing up to 36 months, and enjoy a very competitive rate. With a Works For Me Loan, you can also avoid larger credit card balances and their higher interest rates.

Plus, from November 3rd through December 31st, you will also receive a 1% APRdiscount. Based on your credit history, your rate could be as low as 8.95% APR. To apply online, clickhere. You can also give us a call at 314-534-7610, ext. 5, or stop into any one of our branch locations.

*APR = Annual Percentage Rate. Offer valid November 3 through December 31, 2008, and good for amounts up to $7,000, financed up to 36 months. Rates are subject to change and based upon your credit history. Other rates and terms available. Loan example: the monthly payment for a $7,000 loan at 8.95% APR for 36 months would be $222.44.

Score the Winning Drive - Now In Overtime!
Get an auto loan now and you could be watching the big game with a new 42" Panasonic® HDTV!*

Our Score the Winning Drive auto loan promotion was so successful, we're repeating the offer! From November 12th through December 19th, when you finance an auto loan, or refinance an existing auto loan from another lender, you will also be entered to win a 42” Panasonic® 720p Flat Panel Plasma HDTV.*

Now add our interest rates as low as 4.99% APR** and this is the perfect opportunity to get the best deal on your next vehicle, or save money each and every month with a refinanced auto loan.

Don't delay -- and maybe you'll be bringing home a nice gift for the holiday season!

For more information, or to begin your savings today, please visit your local branch or give us a call at (314) 534-7610, ext. 5. Or get started now and apply online.

By the way – Congratulations to member Brian Duffey, winner of the first 42" Panasonic HDTV in our "Score the Winning Drive" promotion!

*All members who finance or refinance a qualifying loan during the promotional period will be entered into a random drawing to win a Panasonic^® 42” HDTV. No purchase necessary. Odds of winning are based on the number of entries received. Void where prohibited by law. See Credit Union for a complete list of contest rules. *APR = Annual Percentage Rate. Offer good November 12 through December 19, 2008. Minimum loan amount of $5,000 required for automatic entry into random drawing. Normal credit criteria apply. Rates are subject to change and are based on the model year of the vehicle, as well as your credit history. Offer does not apply to existing auto loans financed at St. Louis Community Credit Union. Other rates and terms available. Some restrictions apply to extended term financing for 72 months. Loan example: The monthly payment for a $10,000 loan at 4.99% APR for 60 months would be $188.67.

Give the Perfect Gift and Save, Too!*

Looking for that perfect gift this year? Then think Visa^® Gift Cards.

Visa Gift Cards can be purchased in any denomination from $10 to $500.
They can be used everywhere that Visa is accepted worldwide.
Visa Gift Cards are more convenient and flexible than other gift cards.
As our gift to you, through the end of this year, you can save $1 off the cost of each card .*

So whether you're buying for the person who seems to "have it all," a long distance family member or friend, a college graduate or just about anyone, save time and give the gift that everyone will be happy to receive – Visa Gift Cards!

*Offer good through December 1, 2008. A $3.95 ($4.95 - $1) fee per card applies. After six months from date of purchase, any unused value will be reduced by $2.95 per month until the card value is depleted.

New Twists on Phishing Scams!

Unfortunately, thieves are continually developing new methods to steal your identity, and access your accounts ... which means you also need to stay on alert. Here are a couple of new twists on phishing scams.

One method aims to obtain the three-digit security code printed on the back of VISA and MasterCard credit and debit cards. The phishers are trying to get enough information to perform fraudulent card-not-present transactions (such as Internet, telephone, and mail-order purchases).

Under this scam, a telephone call is placed to a legitimate card holder. The caller claims to be a representative from VISA or MasterCard informing the card holder of suspicious card activity. The caller provides details of an unusual transaction and asks if the card holder made this purchase, which, of course, the card holder did not. The card holder is then asked to verify possession of the card. To do so, the card holder is asked to read the three-digit security code on the back of the card. The fraudster then provides a control number in the event the card holder needs to call back with questions, making the call seem legitimate.

Since the caller does not ask for the credit or debit card number, individuals are often fooled into believing the call is legitimate. However, the fraudster already has the card number; what they don't have – but want – is the three-digit security code from the back of the card. This three-digit code is a security tool used for non face-to-face transactions. When conducting such transactions, many merchants will ask the shopper for the three-digit code to complete a card authorization. If the criminal obtains this three-digit number and already has the card number, card expiration date, and billing address, the criminal may be able to obtain authorization for fraudulent transactions.

In yet another attempt to steal someone's identity, individuals are sent a text message, often from an institution that they trust, requesting the receiver call a toll-free number. Once the individual dials the number, the receiver explains–using a variety of different reasons–that they need to verify the caller's debit card number, and that the caller should then enter their debit card number using the telephone keys.

Again, this is yet another attempt to gain personal account information from an unsuspecting person.

Loss Prevention Tips:

First and foremost: know that St. Louis Community, along with most financial institutions, will never initiate contact requesting you to provide personal information – whether by phone, email or text message.
If you have doubts about who's on the phone, call St. Louis Community or the phone number on record when from a different card company.
Be wary of any message received from an unknown sender.
Do not open unsolicited e-mails or text messages.
Do not click on any links provided in unsolicited e-mails.
Monitor financial accounts on a regular basis.
Don't display your wireless phone number or e-mail address in public. This includes newsgroups, chat rooms, Web sites, or membership directories.
Check the privacy policy when submitting your wireless phone number or e-mail address to any Web site. Find out if the policy allows the company to display or sell your information.

If you are a victim of Phishing or Vishing, take appropriate steps:

Block and reissue the compromised credit/debit cards or the account that is at risk.
Report the incident to the credit bureau, and request a copy of your credit report.

Our 8^th Branch is Open!

We are happy to announce the opening of our eighth branch – this time in Southtown, at 4435 Chippewa Street, just east of Kingshighway. The office features a fresh layout and design, with different Saturday hours than our other locations. That means in South St. Louis, we'll have Saturday office hours available to you most of the day: from 9a.m. to Noon at the South City branch, and from Noon to 3.p.m. at the Southtown branch!

We look forward to seeing you there!

Southtown Lobby Hours

M, T, Th & F 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Wednesday 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Saturday Noon - 3 p.m.

Southtown Drive-up Hours

Monday – Friday 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Saturday Noon – 3 p.m.

CEO Reports on the Stability of St. Louis Community

Dear Member:

As you may have heard in the news recently, credit unions' federal deposit insurance provided by the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) has been increased to $250,000. Add to that the $250,000 worth of private coverage provided by St. Louis Community Credit Union's Excess Share Insurance (ESI), and your account now has at least $500,000 of deposit insurance protection.

Over the past few months, economic turmoil has engulfed both Wall Street and many Main Street banks (but not St. Louis Community Credit Union), resulting in a government economic rescue package. Credit unions had no hand in creating the problems this bill aims to fix. Likewise, St. Louis Community Credit Union did not participate in the origination of sub-prime loans nor did we make any exotic investments that the government rescue plan is designed to alleviate.

Nevertheless, I'm sure you are experiencing some concerns. However, here is some great news as it relates to the state of St. Louis Community Credit Union:

At 17.69%, our capital position remains more than double that which is required by the State of Missouri – making St. Louis Community one of the strongest financial institutions you'll find anywhere.
A “credit crisis” does not exist at your Credit Union. We continue to assist credit worthy members with their borrowing needs each and every day – at very affordable interest rates. So if you need a loan, we would like to try to help.
Your fellow members have given us a huge vote of confidence by bringing more of their money to the Credit Union. Deposits continue to stream in, not out, as members took advantage of our outstanding savings rates and deposited over $2 million of their money into Certificates of Deposit last month alone.
We are an oasis from outrageous service fees and predatory lending practices. More and more members are now able to transition into mainstream “banking” because of the unique, affordable services we offer… including a Payday Alternative Loan and a Second Chance Checking Account.
Despite what's going on in the economy, we continue to grow – our eighth branch location will open the week of November 10th on Chippewa, near Kingshighway, in the Southtown neighborhood.

I encourage you to read the two blogs that appear on our home page. One is called The P.A., which features my thoughts on the Credit Union and other areas of interest. And the other is the Economic Update, written by our CFO Kirk Mills, that does a great job of explaining what's going on in today's economy in terms that all of us can easily understand.

Finally, I would like to inform you that we are getting ready to implement some additional enhancements and safeguards to our operations as part of our ongoing efforts to protect you and your account from Identity Theft. These enhancements will expand our ability to monitor your account and further analyze it when unusual activity is taking place.

Now more than ever, the time is right for you to increase your account relationships with St. Louis Community Credit Union. Thanks to our capital position and our conservative investment philosophy, we are absolutely safe and stable. We also offer great savings and loan rates, low fees, and helpful service – which add up to outstanding value for you and your family.

If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to contact us at 314-534-7610.

On behalf of our Board of Directors, management and staff, thank you for your continued support. As stewards of your hard-earned money, we take that responsibility very seriously.

Sincerely,

Patrick K. Adams
President & CEO

Get Ahead With Our Free-In-10 Home Loan

Like the tortoise, are you tired of crawling along with that 30-year mortgage? With our Free-In-10 Home Loan, the hare wins the race!

Free-In-10 is a way to quickly and easily transform your long-term mortgage to a low, fixed-rate loan. You'll save thousands of dollars in interest, and shave years off your existing term, by paying off principal at an accelerated rate.

Low, fixed rate of 5.99% APR*
Total closing costs of no more than $499
No out-of-pocket expense to you
Save yourself thousands of dollars in interest
Own your home in just 10 years

Example: $125,000 Loan

30-Year Mortgage Free-In-10 Mortgage

Monthly Payment
$813.34

$1,022.00

Annual Percentage Rate

6.75%

5.99%

Years Remaining
15

10

Total Interest Paid
$55,014

$30,789

Total Interest Saved
$24,225

Your mortgage has never looked so good! So get ahead with a Free-in-10 Home Loan to save yourself thousands of dollars, and own your home that much sooner. It's quick and it's easy – so apply today.

For more information or to apply for a Free-In-10 Home Loan, give our mortgage expert Angela Booker a call at (314) 534-7610, ext. 130.

*APR = Annual Percentage Rate. Free-In-10 Home Loan offer for mortgage refinances only. Maximum Loan to Value (LTV) of 80%. Closing costs of no more than $499, which can be rolled into new mortgage loan, no out-of-pocket expenses at time of loan issuance. Factoring in closing costs, APR = 6.108%. Other restrictions may apply. Rates may vary based upon your credit history, and are subject to change without notice. Certain geographic restrictions apply. See Credit Union for complete details. Equal Housing Lender. Payment example: A $125,000 mortgage rate of 5.99% for 10 years would have a principal & interest payment of $1,022.00.

Text MYCOOP and find the nearest CO-OP Network free ATM

Now you have the power to find CO-OP Network ATMs in the palm of your hands -- literally! It's simple and easy.

Here's how:

1. Send a text to MYCOOP (692667) from any mobile phone.* In the body of the text, enter an address (with city, state), zip code or intersection (with city, state).

2. In about 30 seconds, the service will reply with the CO-OP Network ATM nearest to that location.

3. If you want more ATM locations, simply reply MORE to the message and additional ATM locations will be sent to your mobile device.

This service if FREE - only standard text-messaging rates apply.

*Service for Verizon users available June 1.