News/Specials

We will be giving away 4- $500 Scholarships to high school graduates. Applicants must be a 2022 graduating senior and must be a member or child or grandchild of a member of Golden Circle Credit Union. Please call or stop by one of our offices for a scholarship application. Deadline is July 31st, 2022.

Golden Circle Credit Union is now working with Fraud Protection Center to monitor debit card activity. If the Fraud Protection Center suspects fraudulent activity, they will block the card and contact the card holder. Please make sure the credit union has current phone numbers for you. The Fraud Protection Center will leave a case number if no one answers, and the phone number to call them back is: 1-877-253-8964. Please have your case number available when you call, if you do not have a case number, you will need to verify your name and zip code. They will be the ones unblocking your debit card if there is no fraudulent activity. It is not necessary to give your card number over the phone.

We have been experiencing an increase in fraudulent transactions using debit cards at certain types of merchants. As a precaution to safeguard your accounts, debit transactions performed at the following merchant types will require you to use your PIN-Drug Stores, Department Stores, Gas Stations, Grocery Stores, and Convenience Stores. Signature transactions will not be permitted until further notice. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause but the safety of your account is our top priority. If you require a new PIN for your card, please contact our office and we will order one for you free of charge.

The Canton Regional and Greater West Virginia Better Business Bureau offer tips and advice for consumers to avoid fraudulent practices.

The Concern

You see a classified ad for a late model luxury used car, but the advertised price is less than what you’d expect to pay. When you call the seller, he says his family has large medical bills or credit card debt and he needs cash quickly.

You jump at the bargain, meet to inspect the car, transfer the title at the motor vehicle office and pay him the cash and you drive off in your new car. All seams well until the police knock on your door and inform you that the car you are driving is a stolen car.

You have just lost your cash and your car and joined the ranks of victims of the growing scam called vehicle identification number (VIN) cloning

The Facts

Motor vehicle offices require a VIN to register a vehicle, and the number is also recorded on the vehicle’s title. A VIN cloner takes the unique identification number from a legally owned or junked vehicle and uses it to forge documents for a stolen vehicle of a similar make and model.

CARFAX estimates that more than 225,000 of the 1.5 million vehicles stolen each year end up with VINs from a legally owned vehicle and are resold.

How the Scam Works

VIN cloners steal VIN’s from high-end vehicles and expensive SUV’s because they can get a higher price in the used car market than standard makes and models. (VIN’s are found on the driver’s side dash, driver’s side door jam, engine, or rear wheel well.)

Once the VIN is obtained, the thieves find a similar vehicle and steal it; create new documents, sometimes even create a new VIN tag and replace the one on the dash. The vehicle is then sold or traded in.

Avoid the Scam

To help prevent falling victim to VIN cloning, the Better Business Bureau suggests the following:

• Be extremely cautious if you see a late model vehicle selling significantly under normal market price.
• Do not fall for the “we need cash quickly” excuse; exercise due diligence.
• Check the VIN on the dash with the door jam, on the engine and title documents; making sure they all match.
• Closely examine the car’s title, registration, and other documents. Fake documents sometimes contain misspelled words.

If you have questions about the validity of the vehicle’s VIN, obtain a comprehensive history report.

If you think you may be a victim of VIN cloning, contact the police.

With Virtual Branch Home Banking you can have Internet Access to your credit union accounts, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, from anywhere in the world. BankIT Home Banking is free for anyone who has a checking account with Golden Circle Credit Union. If you just have a savings account, the cost of the service is just $1.95 a month if the account drops below $500.00 any time during the month.

With PayIT Bill Payment Service (includes BankIT), our bill paying service, you can pay almost any bill through your account, at any time. You can pay an unlimited number of bills each month. PayIT is a free service with any Golden Circle Credit Union checking account.

** PayIT requires a checking account that is set up with Courtesy Pay or qualify for a no cost, low interest, overdraft line of credit loan.

Stop in any of our offices for an application. (Application is required prior to accessing your account.)

Golden Circle Credit Union is pleased to announce our new Credit Re-builder Loan Program!

This loan is specifically designed to help members with credit scores below 620 re-establish responsible credit. For members who want to rebuild their credit, this program will offer interest rate rewards on both new and future loans, and will help improve their credit score.

• Initial interest rates which are higher than prime rates, but below those offered by predatory lenders.
• Good payment history qualifies you for an interest rate reduction in as little as six months.
• Good payment history qualifies you for initial interest rate reduction on future loans.
• Credit Rebuilder Program is available on all non-mortgage term loans.

Call today for more information: