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The National Coalition of Firefighters Credit Unions, Inc. (NCOFCU) Receives a 501 (C) 3 Non-Profit Designation

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FOR MORE INFORMATION
Grant Sheehan Executive Director
305-951-3306
grant@ncofcu.org

The National Coalition of Firefighters Credit Unions, Inc. (NCOFCU) Receives a 501 (C) 3 Non-Profit Designation

Miami, Florida – December 6, 2014 The National Coalition of Firefighters Credit Unions, Inc. (NCOFCU) is now a non-profit 501 (c) 3 professional association of credit unions serving firefighters and their families.

It is with this designation and community support that NCOFCU will continue to grow its ability to offer conference scholarships, affordable educational programs and disaster assistance to firefighters and credit union staff who serve their credit unions and communities.

Firefighter credit union volunteers and staffs have been meeting annually since 2001. It was at one of these annual meetings that the coalition of firefighter credit unions originally began in concept and incorporated in 2011. NCOFCU presented its first coalition supported conference in October of, 2013.

NCOFCU’s membership community and annual meeting is where firefighters from across the nation gather to discuss common issues and solutions. This fraternal relationship provides an atmosphere of open unrestricted discussion of common issues facing their credit unions and the credit union community.

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National Coalition of Firefighters Credit Unions, Inc. NCOFCU

NCOFCU is available to over 100 credit unions primarily serving 600,000 firefighters and their families. It is NCOFCU’s purpose to promote the growth, viability and unity of firefighter credit unions, to create and maintain a sharing and cooperative spirit among credit unions serving the firefighter community, to facilitate opportunities for partnership and collaboration among our membership. For more information about us, visit our website at: www.ncofcu.org

San Francisco Federal Credit Union supports local toy and coat drive « CU Insight

 

San Francisco Federal Credit Union supports local toy and coat drive

Posted on December 4, 2014

SAN FRANCISCO, CA (December 4, 2014) — San Francisco Federal Credit Union, a not-for-profit, member-owned financial institution serving San Francisco and San Mateo Counties, is hosting their annual toy and coat drive on behalf of three local organizations, Women’s Community Clinic, San Francisco Firefighter’s Toy Program, and the Central County Fire Department’s Toy Drive.

San Francisco Federal Credit Union has been a long- time supporter of the toy drive, and has been collecting donations on behalf of San Francisco Firefighter’s Toy Program for over ten years. Each year, San Francisco FCU attends the official toy drive kick-off and contributes a financial donation, as well as the new toys donated by both members and staff.

Likewise, San Francisco FCU has been sponsoring a winter wear coat drive and contributing a financial donation to the Women’s Community Clinic for over six years.

This year marks their first holiday partnership with the Central County Fire Department, following the first branch opening in San Mateo County in February 2014.

All of San Francisco Federal Credit Union branches will be collecting new or gently warn winter wear, including coats, scarves, hats, and sweaters on behalf of the Women’s Community Clinic. In addition, all branches will be collecting new toys for the San Francisco Firefighter’s Toy Program and the Central County Fire Department’s Toy Drive. Donations for both will be accepted until December 19, 2014.

To locate a branch to donate to the toy and coat drive please visit SanFranciscoFCU.com. For more information on the three local organizations or to donate directly please visit, WomensCommunityClinic.org, SFFirefightersToys.org, or CCFDToyDrive.com.

About San Francisco Federal Credit Union

San Francisco Federal Credit Union has been serving San Francisco since 1954. Today, anyone who lives, works, or attends school in San Francisco and San Mateo Counties may apply for membership. We currently serve more than 32,000 members. San Francisco FCU is federally insured by the National Credit Union Administration and is an Equal Housing Lender.

San Francisco Federal Credit Union supports local toy and coat drive « CU Insight

Overlooked Colorado law opened door to pot credit union charter - The Denver Post

 

If not for a quirky bit of law passed by Colorado legislators 33 years ago, during the dawn of the savings and loan crisis, the world's first credit union for the marijuana industry would not have been a possibility so soon.

Overlooked Colorado law opened door to pot credit union charter - The Denver Post

Firefighters Community Credit Union banking on Lorain County with latest addition - Cleveland Business News - Northeast Ohio and Cleveland - Crain's Cleveland Business

Mergers of credit unions have become increasingly common since the end of the Great Recession, Laurendeau said, especially for Firefighters, which is completing its fourth acquisition in about as many years in the transaction with Sun.

“It's just very difficult for a small credit union to survive with additional regulatory burdens (and) aging memberships. ... There are a lot of forces that make it hard to survive,” he said. “We want to be an active player, and so this is part of our growth and expansion strategy.”

Firefighters Community Credit Union banking on Lorain County with latest addition - Cleveland Business News - Northeast Ohio and Cleveland - Crain's Cleveland Business

NCOFCU - We are now a 501(c)(3) Non-Profit!

It’s Official!  NCOFCU is a Non-Profit Charitable Organization!
Our work thus far without this designation was only possible through the tremendous support from our firefighter credit union community. Now, as an official 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, we can do So. Much. More. !!
You may be asking: “Like what?” Well, allow us to share with you:

• Apply for grants – before we were severely limited as most funders want you to be a non-profit organization in the eyes of the IRS
• Accept Interns – College students can receive credit to intern with us at our conferences
• Accept Donations -- both monetary and personal property – Thank you to those who personally donated without the tax exemption, but now you can not only claim some of your previous donations, but all of the ones you will make in the future
• Solicit Donations – Most large businesses and small businesses love the opportunity to give back, you just gotta ask! …. And provide your non-profit status. Done!
• Establish Endowment Funds -- for operational and scholarship programs
• Give firefighter credit unions the ability to invest in a Charitable Donation Account (CDA) Investment which funds charitable contributions, like us!
• Provide, through the above abilities, more conference/educational scholarships to credit union volunteers and staff members as well as assisting in the cost of the educational conference

But most of all, this solidifies our commitment to our membership and empowers our sustainability to continue to be a positive force in the credit union community.
So, where do you or a friends donate? Right here! :)
Grant J Sheehan
Executive Director
*The National Coalition of Firefighters Credit Unions, Inc. (NCOFCU) is a non-profit, 501(c) (3) charitable organization. Donors may deduct contributions as provided in IRC 170(c) (3) of the U.S. Tax Code.

“Happy Veterans Day”

“Thanksgiving” is a day when we pause to give thanks for what we have.

“Veterans Day” is a day when we pause to give thanks to the people who fought for the things we have!

Richmond Fire & Police Credit Unions Join Forces

Michael Schwartz BizSense

The latest in a string of local credit union mergers is looking to bring city police and firefighters under one roof.

A deal is in the works to merge The Richmond Fire Department Credit Union and Richmond Police Department Credit Union.

The resulting institution will have 2,500 members and $21 million in assets. It will be renamed Richmond Virginia Fire Police Credit Union.

The two sides filed for state approval for the deal on Oct. 31, according to State Corporation Commission records.

Richmond Police Department Credit Union chief executive Alice Pope said she was not prepared to comment on the deal.

Wallace Garland, CEO of the Fire Department Credit Union said he could not comment at this time.

Letters to members state the credit unions hope to have the merger closed by around the first of the new year. Members of both credit unions have already approved the merger.

The Richmond Police Department Credit Union is housed in the police headquarters downtown on Grace Street. Photo by Michael Schwartz.

The Fire Department Credit Union is headquartered temporarily out of a small office at 1634 Ownby Lane, just around the corner from Richmond Fire Station #10.

It was founded in the 1920s by a handful of Richmond firefighters and currently has 1,500 members and $15.1 million in assets. It produced a profit of $82,000 through the first three quarters of the year, according to its financials filed with the National Credit Union Administration. That followed a profit of $119,000 for the full year 2013.

Richmond Police Department Credit Union has 1,000 members and $6.18 million in assets. It was founded in 1934. It operates out of the Richmond Police headquarters building at 200 W. Grace St.

It’s operating at a loss of $92,000 through the first nine months of 2014 and was in the red by $19,000 for all of last year, according to its NCUA filings.

The police and fire department deal is one of several mergers involving local credit unions in the last few years.

Many have involved larger credit unions absorbing smaller peers that were struggling to stay afloat. Others were a combination of similarly sized institutions looking to mergers as a way to expand their reach.

“Biz Lending” for Firefighter Credit Unions

As a follow up to our very successful business lending breakout session, I am posting what or sponsor Biz Lending's can do for you.

Please contact Murray Halperin 561-393-3770 or email at murrayh@bizlendingcenter.com

Down load Program at;  https://ncofcu.memberclicks.net/assets/Presentations/2014/biz-lending/blc%20presentation.pdf

Firefighters honored for heroic acts of bravery | Local News - WCVB Home

 

BOSTON —Firefighters from 10 Massachusetts communities were honored Tuesday for heroic acts of bravery during the 25th annual "Firefighter of the Year" Awards ceremony.

The ceremony that was held at the John F. Kennedy Library and Museum in Boston also honored two Boston firefighters who died earlier this year in a Back Bay fire.

Watch report | Uncut: Amazing Grace performed

Firefighters honored for heroic acts of bravery | Local News - WCVB Home

NCOFCU Annual Report to the Membership

Credit Unions Dominate Apple Pay List

Firefighter credit unions on the list! check them out at: Quora, a user-sourced question and answer website. 

On the launch day of Apple Pay, NCUA Vice Chairman Rick Metsger said the majority of financial institutions involved with the technology are credit unions.

“An initial list of financial institutions signed-up for Apple Pay on its launch day reveals that more than two-thirds are credit unions,” Metsger said in a keynote address to the American Institute of CPAs’ annual conference on credit unions in Denver Monday.

“This demonstrates that America’s credit unions are ready, willing and able to meet the needs of American consumers for secure mobile payment systems,” he added.

To date, Apple has not publicly released the names of participating financial institutions. However, a list recently surfaced on Quora, a user-sourced question and answer website. The unsourced list showed that the majority of the more than 500 financial institutions listed are credit unions.

Credit Unions Dominate Apple Pay List

Ebola Preparedness and Firefighter Credit Unions

To all staff and volunteers,

The IAFF Has released the below video/s of interest to all firefighters and EMS personal related to Ebola education and response.

Since our credit unions serve those who are first responders, I felt it important to make these videos available to you, your staff and volunteers so that you can better understand any precautions your credit union should take.

Take a moment to watch and learn from these excellent presentations.

Grant Sheehan Executive Director
NCOFCU

What is Ebola:     http://youtu.be/4cL-BZw6u3E

Stand Down Statement from IAFF GP:      http://youtu.be/4AFtdMYI6tk 

Additionally, the IAFC has provided an excellent resource page with links to; Background, Infection Control Guidance, Ebola Preparedness,  http://www.iafc.org/ebola 

CUNA: 500 FIs commit to Apple Pay, says CEO Cook

 

News Now

Products

500 FIs commit to Apple Pay, says CEO Cook

CUPERTINO, Calif. (10/17/14)--With commitments from 500 financial institutions, Apple said Thursday that Apple Pay, its much-discussed electronic wallet, will become available to U.S. consumers on Monday.
Through ApplePay, iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus use Touch ID for purchases in stores and within apps. Touch ID authorizes purchases using the device owner's fingerprint, which is also used to access the device. Users of the just-announced iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 3 will be able to use Touch ID on their devices for Apple Pay within apps. The new service will be enabled by a free software update to iOS 8.
Apple Pay is designed to protect the user's personal information. It doesn't collect any transaction information that can be tied back to a user, and payment transactions are between the user, the merchant and the user's bank. Apple doesn't collect purchase history. Actual card numbers are not stored on the device, instead, a unique device account number is created, encrypted and stored in the secure element of the device.
Apple Pay supports credit and debit cards from the three major payment networks: American Express, MasterCard and Visa.
CO-OP Financial Services is in active negotiations with Visa and MasterCard to bring the lowest aggregated issuer fees to credit unions ( News Now Sept. 11). Brookfield, Wis.-based Fiserv has said that all Fiserv-processed debit and credit issuers have tokenization capabilities--the security measure used by Apple Pay--available to them through the Visa Token Service and MasterCard Digital Enablement Service.

CUNA: 500 FIs commit to Apple Pay, says CEO Cook

Firefighters Credit Unions San Diego Conference

Over 170 firefighters, credit union executives and their guests gathered in San Diego for NCOFCU’s annual meeting and conference. It was another very successful year with many comments, “the best ever!’

Updates from Diana Dykstra CEO, CA League, Elizabeth Whitehead, Director Region V NCUA, Jennifer Stockett, Senior Advisor in the Office of Financial Institutions CFPB, Steve Rick, Chief Economist for CUNA Mutual Group, as well presentations from Kevin Mahan of CUBED, Prescott Ford, Managing Director Regulatory Affairs First Empire Securities, Inc., credit union CEO’s combined with roundtable discussions on working loan products and services made the conference a tremendous success!.

We are now looking forward to the “Go To Conference” in Nashville TN . This will be the “Year of Collaboration” amongst firefighter’s credit unions!

Save The Date  October 7-10,2015