News & Announcements
Your CU Now Offers CARFAX!
Let Us Show You The CARFAX!
CARFAX is a provider of vehicle history information. Using the vehicle identification number (VIN) found on vehicle dashboards and title documents, CARFAX can instantly generate a detailed Vehicle History Report on any used car or light truck.
Your Tuscaloosa VA Federal Credit Union is offering you CARFAX Vehicle History Reports for only $17, 50% less than you'd pay to receive the report at other online CARFAX providers. CARFAX Vehicle History Reports™ provide information that can impact decisions about a used car or truck. A CARFAX Report may include:
• Title information, including salvaged or junked titles
• Flood damage history
• Total loss accident history
• Odometer readings
• Lemon history
• State emissions inspection results
• Number of owners
• Service records
• Lien activity, and/or
• Vehicle use (taxi, rental, lease, etc.)
The exclusive CARFAX Buyback Guarantee reduces the risk involved in buying a used car. If CARFAX fails to include a DMV-reported incident (salvage, fire, flood damage, odometer problems, lemon history) in a CARFAX Report, CARFAX may buy the vehicle back for the full purchase price.
Consider obtaining a CARFAX Vehicle History Report as a way to protect yourself. Contact the credit union at 205.556.7819 to see how you can order your CARFAX before you purchase your next vehicle!
Opt In For Paid Overdrafts
New Rules for Courtesy Pay (Changes on ATM and One-Time Debit Card Transactions) New rules give ATM and Debit card users additional options regarding overdrafts. Tuscaloosa V.A. Federal Credit Union will be providing all members that have a checking account with the ability to make decisions about overdraft services for transactions made with your ATM or Debit cards.
Affecting All Checking Account Holders
Key Things You Need to Consider When Reading the Notice
The Basic Facts
An overdraft may occur in several ways such as (1) the payment of checks, electronic funds transfers or other withdrawal requests such as ATM and debit card transactions; (2) payments authorized by you; (3) the return of unpaid items deposited by you; (4) the assessment of service charges; or (5) the deposit of items which, according to your credit union’s Funds Availability Policy, are treated as not yet available or finally paid. We are not obligated to pay any item presented for payment if your account does not contain sufficient funds. However, if you maintain your account in good standing (defined as making regular deposits and bringing your account to a positive balance at least once every 30 days) and there are no legal orders outstanding and no delinquent TVAFCU loans, we may approve your reasonable overdrafts. This is what is known as Courtesy Pay and is the last option presented to cover an overdraft.
There are other overdraft options before accessing Courtesy Pay that we strongly recommend. We would recommend that you apply for a TVAFCU line of credit to cover transactions when you overdraw your account. A line of credit comes with an interest rate that you only pay on outstanding balances used. We encourage you to set up this service as the first option for overdraft protection as they will be less expensive than the Courtesy Pay service.
Courtesy Pay was provided on your account as a backup to the service mentioned above. If an item is returned, not only are there usually NSF fees charged (whether it is paid or not), but there may also be expensive fees and other ramifications from the merchant. The Courtesy Pay program was intended to save you money and embarrassment in these situations.
Your Options
Standard Courtesy Pay
Standard Courtesy Pay will remain and you will be automatically enrolled 30 days after opening a checking account and will remain if you continue to be a member in good standing. (Again, a member in good standing for these purposes is considered as clearing the overdraft amount within 30 days and having no significant deposit returns or delinquent loans with TVAFCU.)
Courtesy Pay Opt-in Option for ATM and One-Time Debit Card Transactions
In the past, TVAFCU and other Financial Institution’s standard procedures would be to automatically enroll you in their standard Courtesy Pay program for all types of transactions when you opened a new checking account. Under the new rules, TVAFCU and other Financial Institution’s must first get your permission to apply these services to everyday debit card and ATM transactions. To grant this permission and to receive the same peace of mind you have for other overdraft transactions, you will need to respond to the notice and opt in (agree).
If you want us to authorize and pay overdrafts on ATM and one-time debit card transactions, complete the opt-in form and return to TVAFCU as soon as possible. Click here to access the OPT-IN FORM.
Existing Accounts
Beginning August 15, 2010, if you do not opt in (agree), TVAFCU Courtesy Pay program won't apply to your everyday debit card and ATM transactions. These transactions typically will be declined when you don't have enough money in your account; no overdraft fees will be assessed.
New Accounts
If you open a new account on or after July 1, 2010, TVAFCU and other Financial Institution’s cannot approve transactions for everyday debit card and ATM transactions when you do not have sufficient funds to cover the full amount of the transactions unless you opt in (agree). If you do not opt in and do not have sufficient funds in your account at the time of the transaction, the transaction will be declined; no overdraft fees will be assessed.
If you open a new account before July 1, 2010, TVAFCU will treat you as an existing account holder; you will receive a notice about your overdraft services and will have to decide if you want them for everyday debit card and ATM transactions.
Flexibility
Whatever your decision, the new overdraft rules give you flexibility. If you opt in (agree), you can cancel at any time. If you do not opt in, you can do so later.
Checks and Automatic Bill Payments
The new rules do not cover checks or automatic bill payments that you may have set up for paying bills such as your mortgage, rent, or utilities. TVAFCU may still automatically enroll you in their standard Courtesy Pay services for these types of transactions.
Courtesy Pay Waiver
If you do not want the standard Courtesy Pay service or coverage for ATM and one-time debit card transactions, you may request to have the Courtesy Pay service removed from your checking account altogether.
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Check Your VISA Balance 24|7
Here are some simple instructions to follow after dialing: Press 1 to continue in English, then press 2 for account information. | ||||
Fee Schedule
Service Fee Changes - Effective 08/01/11
As a non-profit financial cooperative, we believe all members have a responsibility to share reasonable costs. Fees are charged to members using specific services, rather than the total membership incurring the costs. The following is a list of current fees and related services.
Check it out!
If you are interested in purchasing or bidding on a vehicle, please use our Online Bid Submission form. If you prefer a printable PDF version of the form, please click here.
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Tip of the Month
How To Keep Your New Year's Resolutions This Time Around
You wake up on New Year's Day feeling like a herd of goats spent the night in your mouth, and with a considerably lighter wallet. As you stagger to the bathroom, you catch sight of your tummy, enlarged from weeks of eggnog and holiday cookies. "Ugh. I've got to get a grip", you muse and this year's set of New Year's resolutions is born.
Sound familiar? Making New Year's resolutions is a noble, and universal, pursuit. Turns out that 58 percent of those younger than 45 said they would vow to improve an aspect of their life in a Maris poll last December. They, and you, can succeed in cutting back on cookie and credit card consumption, stick to a budget and even save for a car or house, even though it isn't always easy. Here are some tips to make those resolutions reality.
1. Moderation is the better part of valor.
If you set the bar too high, you're setting yourself up for failure. "But I really want to save $5,000", you protest. OK, that's a long-term goal, so how about approaching it in reasonable stages? Vow to save $500 by June. Then when you find yourself succeeding or even ahead of schedule, you'll be so juiced, continuing to put money away won't seem as onerous.
2. Make a specific plan.
So you're going to save $500 by June? Figure out the exact way you'll do it. You could ask your HR department to put $50 per paycheck in your savings account (assuming you are paid twice a month) and bring your lunch to work one or two days a week, as one example.
3. Harness the wisdom of crowds.
Tell your friends you've decided to save money and will be skipping those pub crawls and fancy-schmantzy restaurants. Enlist them in the effort. That way they won't unknowingly sabotage you by issuing tempting invitations. You could have potlucks instead, killing two birds with one stone by saving money and calories by making economical and nutritious dishes. And for sure, include your significant other.
4. Get real.
This applies both to making the resolutions and keeping them. Deep in your heart, you know how much is too much. Or if you don't, buckle down and make a budget. This Money Management Planner can help.
Maybe you're a sharp dresser and tend to spend too much on clothes. You know you can afford to buy a new item of clothing every couple of weeks but not every week. Write it down so you know what you can and can't do.
5. Go heavy on the carrot, not so much on the stick.
If you end up blowing your budget on a hot date, so be it. Pretend you're talking to a friend: Hey, we all slip up sometimes. Remember, all last week you brought your lunch to work! Then, when you scrupulously skip that grande mocha peppermint cappuccino the next day, pull out your favorite DVD and enjoy it as a reward, or check out that book you've wanted to read from the library. Pat yourself on the back. You've earned it!
The above article is provided by BALANCE.