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How NWCU Protects your Money

Northwest Community Credit Union is committed to the safety and security of your money.

We use several different methods, systems, and trainings to ensure our products and our people are working to keep your money safe. Here’s some information on how we work as an organization to protect your accounts.

Knowing Our Members

At Northwest Community Credit Union, we believe in Uncommon Care, which starts with building strong relationships with our members. We pride ourselves in knowing our members and understanding how they generally use their accounts, which helps us identify unusual activity. This awareness helps stop and prevent fraud from happening.

We will always verify your identity to ensure we keep your account information private. Verification happens with current and valid photo ID, either in person or with additional security questions by phone.

Did you know that you can add a verbal password to your account? This is a password that you can set up for when you call in. A password can help us verify your identity and ensure we’re speaking only with you, not someone else who may have all your information.

Training for Safety

Our employees receive ongoing trainings on ways to prevent fraud and stay current on fraud trends. We also educate employees on spotting financial abuse.

Fraud scams are unfortunately too common. Staying current on different scams helps us ask the right questions to keep you safe. We may ask about new checks and transactions, which may consist of sending out money to receive money. Taking time to help uncover any potential scams encourages extra protection on your account.

Elder abuse is something we always watch out for. This is the abuse of any adult aged 65 and over or adults with developmental or physical disabilities. A common sign of this is seen through financial exploitation. You can feel confident knowing that as you or loved ones get older, we will be looking out for your best financial interests.

We are trained to detect abusive behaviors, whether from a friend, family member or a caregiver. We will take extra care in monitoring accounts when unusual or forced activity is present. When necessary, we work directly with Adult Protective Services to ensure safety and security of your accounts and perhaps your overall situation. You can trust that NWCU will do our part to keep you or a loved one protected from financial exploitation.

Online and Mobile Security

Accessing your account online or through a mobile device can raise concerns when it comes to the security of your information. You can have confidence that when you sign on to NWCU eBanking or our mobile app that your account is protected.

NWCU keeps your account secure online by staying current on industry best practices. This means that we stay up-to-date on changing technology and continuously implement advancements in information security, equipment, and operations.

Multiple points of security help protect your account’s integrity. Two-factor authentication is a combination of using a password along with a phone number or email for additional verification. If you have ever signed into our eBanking, you will have gone through two-factor authentication when you get a Secure Access Code.

Secure Access Codes are a security step that provides an added degree of protection by requiring another piece of information that only you will know and physically have with you. This makes it harder for potential intruders to gain account access and provides our members with a secure digital banking experience.

Security and Loss Prevention

Garrett, the Security, Risk and Loss Prevention Manager at NWCU, says, “We rely on more than just technology, we have a team of people monitoring fraud on a daily basis.”

Our Security and Loss Prevention team monitors fraud trends, investigates suspicious activity, and helps process disputes on your accounts. They also invent and implement new ways to prevent fraud and stop it quickly. The Security and Loss Prevention team are the first people you may speak with if you notice anything unauthorized on your account.

“We have a team of people monitoring fraud on a daily basis.”

When fraud does happen, we work with you to help find resolution. We work directly with our members if they become victims of fraud. We will help to recover any losses and work with law enforcement to help aid in prosecution when necessary. “I enjoy what I do because I feel I am able to help others who are being taken advantage of,” said Diana, a Financial Crimes Investigator at NWCU.

Secure Services

Services like direct deposit and mobile pays are another way we help keep your accounts and card information secure. Mobile pays are a secure payment method because they don’t share your card information with merchants and Card Control allows you to turn your card on and off anytime.

Protecting Your Money

Not only does NWCU work hard to implement innovative ways to prevent fraud and safeguard your accounts, but we also have federal systems in place, too. We insure your deposits with NCUA Federal Insurance, up to $250,000.00*.

More about the NCUA insurance: “The National Credit Union Share Insurance Fund is the federal fund created by Congress in 1970 to insure member's deposits in federally insured credit unions. Administered by the National Credit Union Administration, [it] provides members with at least $250,000 of insurance at a federally insured credit union. The Share Insurance Fund is backed by the full faith and credit of the United States. Credit union members have never lost a penny of insured savings at a federally insured credit union.”

You can place your money at any NCUA-insured institution with confidence, knowing that your money is protected, whatever happens economically.

To learn more about how your funds are federally insured, you can visit the NCUA Website directly.

$250,000 Balances are insured up to $250,000 through the National Credit Union Share Insurance Fund (NCUSIF), a federal fund backed by the full faith and credit of the United States government as administered by the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA). Accounts not separately insured. Northwest Division accounts are insured by the NCUSIF as accounts of TwinStar Credit Union