Your friends and family members can join LAFCU, then enjoy the same credit union benefits and privileges you do. When they donate a minimum of just $1 to the Los Angeles Charitable Association, Inc. (LACA), they’ll automatically be eligible to join LAFCU. For a LACA Membership Application, which is now part of our regular LAFCU Membership Application, visit www.LAFCU.org or stop by any LAFCU branch.

LAFCU was recently awarded a “4-Star Excellent Performance” rating by Bauer Financial, Inc., the nation’s leading independent credit union rating firm. This places us on Bauer’s list of “Recommended” financial institutions and earns us our 79th consecutive “Recommended” quarterly rating since 1990. Only 26% of the nation’s credit unions have earned this rating. The rating recognizes LAFCU for its capital safety levels, quality of loan portfolio, ability to meet members’ needs, historic financial performance, and profitability. Bauer only recommends 4 and 5-Star financial institutions. For details about Bauer’s rating system, call (800) 388-6686 or visit www.BauerFinancial.com.

Due to changes in the Federal Reserve’s check processing, LAFCU has amended its “Funds Availability Policy” (also called “Regulation CC”). The effect is that, in some instances, checks presented for deposit will be available to you quicker…but in no instance delayed longer. Depending on the type of check you deposit, funds may not be available until the second business day after the deposit. In some cases, we may delay the availability of your funds beyond the standard hold. For LAFCU’s complete Funds Availability Policy, visit www.LAFCU.org/site/other_disclosures.html.

If you are having a difficult time making your home or vehicle loan payments, LAFCU may be able to offer you low monthly loan payments and flexible repayment terms. Plus, if you are recovering from credit challenges and want to borrow money, we have a “Step-by-Step” Credit Repair Loan Program that will help you pay off delinquencies with your creditors: Loan proceeds are sent directly to your creditors and your payments are automatically made via payroll deduction or Direct Deposit. After your delinquencies have been reduced or paid off, we will gladly consider any reasonable loan requests you may have. For details, visit www.LAFCU.org and click “Step-by-Step Credit Repair” from the “Search by Page Name” list.

The LAFCU Investment Services (LIS) team can help you develop & stick to a budget for your expenses, increasing the likelihood that your retirement will be a financially secure one. For a complimentary appointment, call Ms. Anush Haddadian (Glendale & Van Nuys branches), phone ext. 6375, aHaddadian@LAFCU.org, or Ms. Miriam Levy (LA Mall & Culver City branches), phone ext. 6722, mLevy@LAFCU.org, or Mr. Z Girma (Gardena & El Monte branches), phone ext. 6400, zGirma@LAFCU.org.

*Investment products and services offered through CUSO Financial Services, L.P. (CFS), Member FINRA “Financial Industry Regulatory Authority” / SIPC “Securities Investor Protection Corp.” and SEC Registered Investment Advisor, are offered by CFS and NOT Los Angeles Federal Credit Union (LAFCU), are NOT NCUA / NCUSIF insured, are NOT guaranteed by LAFCU, and MAY lose value. Financial Advisors and Representatives are employed and registered through CFS. LAFCU is not affiliated with CFS. Representatives are registered to conduct securities business and licensed to conduct insurance business in limited states. Response to, or contact with residents of other states will only be made upon compliance with applicable licensing and registration requirements. This information is for U.S. residents only and does not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to purchase brokerage services to persons outside the United States.

There are many reasons why LAFCU stands out among other financial institutions. We are a not-for-profit financial cooperative owned and controlled by our members, and governed by a volunteer board of directors elected by and for the members. Regardless of how much money a member has on deposit, each member has equal ownership and one vote. In contrast, banks are owned by stockholders and controlled by a compensated board of directors. Since banks prioritize the needs of their stockholders, they charge as much as the market will allow for services, in order to maximize returns to the stockholders. LAFCU does not issue stock or pay dividends to outside stockholders. Instead, earnings are returned to LAFCU members in the form of lower loan rates, competitive savings rates, and lower fees or in some cases, no fees for many products and services.

The March of Dimes “March for Babies” fundraising walk event marches into town starting at 8:30am on Saturday, April 24 at Exposition Park next to USC, just south of Downtown Los Angeles. For the 15th consecutive year, LAFCU will again sponsor “Checkpoint #1” at the charity walk. Join us in supporting healthy babies by making a donation at a LAFCU branch or by sponsoring a walker. All proceeds go toward fighting premature birth, birth defects and infant mortality nationwide. To donate or sign up for the walk, visit www.marchforbabies.org/teams/LAFCU.

The suffering people of Haiti will have their circumstances brightened a bit….thanks to the recent generous donations from LAFCU members. Beginning just days after the devastating 7.0 earthquake on January 12, and continuing until February 26, over $3,800 was collected in our branches and 100% was sent to the CUAid.coop organization. CUAid is providing basic necessities for the 175 credit unions serving 404,000+ members who live in Haiti. In other donation news, LAFCU contributed $5,000 to the Clinton-Bush Haiti Fund, and sent an additional $500 to CUAid.

At its recent annual meeting, the Los Angeles Charitable Association, Inc. (LACA) voted to divide donations made to LACA in 2010 amongst the following “501(c)3” charities: AIDS Project Los Angeles, American Red Cross of Greater Los Angeles, Children’s Miracle Network (Children’s Hospital LA), City of Hope Hospital, Los Angeles Regional Food Bank, Make-A-Wish Foundation, March of Dimes, LAFCU College Scholarship Fund, Toys for Tots, and the Glendale Police Officers Association.

Effective June 1, 2010, LAFCU is going green with notices for Non-Sufficient Funds (NSF), overdrafts and transfers. Instead of sending these notices to you in the US Mail, LAFCU has FREE, 24/7 ways for you to verify changes to your accounts, such as using e-Branch online or by calling VoiceTel-24 (contact us for a free PIN). You can easily monitor account activity inside e-Branch or by calling VoiceTel-24, or set up “e-Lerts” inside e-Branch to notify you (with a text message sent to your mobile device, or with an email) when changes occur to your account (such as when a certain check clears, or when your balance goes above or below an amount you designate).