Rewarding Members with Prizes, Learning, and Advanced Security

Cornerstone League recognizes member credit unions and chapters for their growth and community endeavors to exemplify the “people helping people” philosophy.

TFCU Member Wins $14,750 Auto Loan Payoff

Tinker Federal Credit Union recently announced Chris Atkinson of Perry, Okla., as the latest TFCU Great Auto Loan Payoff winner. TFCU paid off his auto loan for $14,750 on his 2012 Cadillac CTS. Each quarter, members with a TFCU auto loan are automatically entered into the sweepstakes and selected randomly as part of the TFCU Great Member Giveback.

“It's the only choice,” said Atkinson. “Even before we won, we recommended people to TFCU. The credit union is the right way to go in my mind. Having people that look out for your best interest and put that forward, that's where it's at for us.”

With $6 billion in assets and more than 460,000 members, TFCU looks for ways to give back to its members all year. The TFCU Great Auto Loan Payoff is just one of the ways members win with TFCU throughout the year.

To view past winner stories, review the official rules, and learn more about the TFCU Great Auto Loan Payoff, visit TinkerFCU.org/great-auto-loan-payoff. To learn more about Tinker Federal Credit Union, visit TinkerFCU.org.

Lucky Education First FCU Member Wins $10,000 in Swipe & Win

Beaumont, Texas-based Education First Federal Credit Union member Timothy O’Neill won $10,000 just for swiping his totalREWARDS VISA Debit Card. The credit union recently created a promotion to encourage members to use their Education First debit or credit cards for in-person or online purchases for a chance to win $10,000. Every swipe or online purchase counted as an entry into the contest, and for O’Neill, it paid off in a big way.

In addition to the allure of the $10,000 grand prize, Education First members earn rewards on every purchase using their totalREWARDS debit or credit Card. If a member has both cards, the points can be combined to supercharge the number of rewards available for use. Points can be used for cash back, travel, gift cards, and more.

During the promotional period of March 1 to June 30, 2024, Education First members accrued over 2.1 million entries. The winner was selected in a random drawing of qualified entries last month, and O’Neill was notified shortly thereafter.

O’Neill has been a member of the credit union since his parents opened a savings account for him 39 years ago. Although he no longer lives in Southeast Texas, he “continues to bank with Education First because of the excellent member service and trusted relationship.”

“With our robust suite of digital banking tools, physical proximity to one of our branches is no longer a requirement,” said Carolyn Ridout, VP of marketing. “Our ultra-secure technology allows members to deposit funds remotely, pay bills, link to external accounts, apply for loans, make payments, and even build and track a budget. Members can also chat with us securely and have all their questions answered, no matter their location. O’Neill’s lucky swipe occurred when he paid for his lunch on June 19, proving to us all that there actually is such a thing as a free lunch.”

Telcoe CU Partners with High School in New Campus Branch

Scholars in the Telcoe Federal Credit Union Academy of Business and Service at Maumelle High School will gain hands-on, experiential learning, thanks to Telcoe’s new “Hornet” branch on the campus. Alongside school staff, students can learn from banking professionals in account services, loan services, marketing, and more.

The partnership between Maumelle High School, the Pulaski County Special School District, and Telcoe, a Little Rock credit union with $452 million in assets, dates to May 2023 as part of the Academies of Central Arkansas.

Telcoe is committed to providing students with enhanced learning opportunities throughout their four years at Maumelle High School. The credit union will also provide guest speakers for all grades, participate in the annual career expo event, host students and teachers on industry field trips, and provide job shadowing and internship opportunities. 

“We are thrilled to partner with Maumelle High School to launch our student-led branch,” said Telcoe SVP Michele Beasley. “This initiative reflects our commitment to empowering young people with practical financial skills and real-world experience.”

Read more.

TDECU Improves Member Security with System-Wide ATM Upgrades

TDECU, Houston’s largest credit union, will continue to extend ATM fee reimbursements at non-TDECU locations to all its members for one more month as it enters the final stages of its ATM upgrade project. The not-for-profit credit union, with $4.8 billion in assets and 376,000 members, is upgrading its entire ATM system with new machines and innovative technology designed to provide greater financial security for members.

Members may experience some logistical delays as the ATM at their local TDECU member center is taken offline, but the inconvenience will lead to an improved member experience. In May 2024, TDECU began installing DN Series ATMs from Diebold Nixdorf, providing the most secure self-banking experience. The new machines feature the ActivEdge Premium reader, which requires users to enter cards long-edge first. This prevents the installation of skimmers (devices that steal ATM card information), while additional detection technology can provide real-time alerts and stop fraudulent activity before it starts.

_{TDECU’s new ATMs require users to enter cards long-edge first. Photos Courtesy: TDECU}

“Protecting our members is our top priority, and when we realized the security these new ATMs provide, we knew we had to make the change,” said Ashish Chopra, TDECU’s chief information and technology officer. “We have shifted to an ATM-as-a-service model and know that if one of our machines goes down, we can rely on Diebold Nixdorf to repair it quickly. This is something our members deserve.”

The upgrade covers all TDECU ATMs, including those in Buc-ee’s locations, and is scheduled to be completed by Sept. 13.

In addition to TDECU reimbursing any ATM fees a member incurs when using machines at other banks during the upgrade, members can access over 55,000 fee-free ATMs nationwide through the Allpoint Network. Members who need to make deposits when a local ATM is unavailable are encouraged to deposit checks from anywhere using the TDECU mobile app or drop off cash or checks in the night deposit box at the nearest member center.