Turning the Page to a New Year
The turn of the year is always a special time of reflection, an opportunity to take inventory of accomplishments and to focus on the future with infinite possibilities. This year carries a special significance with the retirement of current President/CEO Dean Marchessault. Simply stated, American Eagle realized the most prosperous years under Dean’s leadership as evidenced by meaningful outcomes for our members and employees.
The good news for our members and market is that Dean and I prepared well for this transition. Our team engaged in significant work over the last year to ensure continuity for members and employees. You can continue to count on American Eagle to deliver on our values of caring, trust, and dependability. We will serve you and your community in the ways you have come to expect during our rich history over the last 86 years.
As a child in a Navy family, I was immersed in a life of leadership and change. As I moved across the globe every two or three years, I began to understand change and all the opportunities that arrive along with it. I also learned the value of relationships and what it means to serve others. These lessons of leadership, change, relationships, and service correlate so naturally to the credit union movement. I am fortunate to have worked in Connecticut credit unions for the last fifteen years and to understand the special stature of a not-for-profit on the financial services platform. Know that I am honored to be called to lead American Eagle as the next President/CEO and to deliver on the mandate to provide increasing value for our community.
As we turn the page to a new year, change is evident in so many facets of our lives, without any real signs of a slowdown in the environment. One thing that will not change is that American Eagle is here to serve you — our members. It is also important to understand that we are working hard to identify new ways of engaging with you, anticipating your financial needs and deepening our relationship. Thank you all for your engagement in our Credit Union, I look forward to the year ahead and hope to see you soon in our community!
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Howard Brady
President & Chief Executive Officer
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Howard Brady Appointed President & CEO of American Eagle FCU |
American Eagle Financial Credit Union (AEFCU) announced that Howard Brady has been appointed to the role of President & CEO. Brady succeeds Dean Marchessault, who in mid-2021 publicly announced his intent to retire after 22 years of service to Connecticut’s largest community credit union—seven as President & CEO. Brady has served as Senior Vice President and Chief Lending Officer at AEFCU since 2015. |
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Stay on Top of Your Credit Score and Credit Report |
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Credit Sense Tool in Online and Mobile Banking |
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Credit Sense is a tool available free to Online and Mobile Banking users. Use it to see your current credit score, get access to your credit report, provide credit monitoring alerts, get tips on improving your score, and learn ways to save money on loans.
Your credit score will be updated every month and displayed on your online banking screen. Credit Sense pulls your credit profile from TransUnion, one of the three major credit reporting bureaus, and uses VantageScore 3.0, a credit scoring model developed collaboratively by the three major credit bureaus — Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion — to provide consumers a better picture of their credit health.
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Take Advantage of Our Visa Balance Transfer Offer |
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Get a 0% promotional APR* for 12 months on balance transfers to your existing American Eagle FCU Visa® Credit Card through February 28, 2022.
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Stop paying high rates and expensive finance charges on other credit cards. Transfer your balances to your existing American Eagle FCU Visa credit card today! There's no minimum balance transfer amount and the maximum balance transfer amount is up to your available credit limit.
There is a 3% fee of the transferred balance ($10 minimum). Any outstanding balance from the balance transfers will revert to your Standard variable APR after 12 months.
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Enroll in Electronic Documents |
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Get Faster and Safer Access to Year-end Tax Forms in Online Banking |
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American Eagle FCU offers members faster, safer, and more efficient access to certain year-end tax forms and other financial documents in Online Banking.
- Form 1098 (Mortgage Interest Paid)
- Form 1099-INT (Interest Income)
- Form 1099-R (IRA Distributions)
- Overdraft notices
- Certificate maturity notices
- Consumer loan payment notices
- Form 5498 (IRA Contributions)
Register for e-documents in a few easy steps:
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Log into Online Banking.
- Select “Accounts” from the top menu bar.
- Select "Documents."
- Select “View Documents” under the Documents section and follow the prompts.
Important information about e-documents:
- You will not receive a tax form if you earned less than $10 interest on that account.
- Only the Primary account owner will have access to e-documents.
- You will receive an email notification when new e-documents are available.
- All e-documents contain the same information as the paper documents.
- You may view, save, or print the documents for retention and use.
- Documents will be available electronically for 18 months from the issue date.
- Once enrolled for e-documents, you will no longer receive a paper copy.
- You may change between electronic and paper documents at any time.
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American Eagle Is Soaring in the Community |
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Nearly $29,000 Donated in Fourth Quarter's Cash Back to the Community |
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American Eagle Financial Credit Union announced the recipients of $28,794 in donations from its participatory funding program, Cash Back to the Community. Total 2021 donations from the program were $105,364.
Congratulations to nonprofit organizations Connecticut Cat Connection, Cans-4-A-Cause of Greater Middletown, and Angel of Edgewood, each received a $9,598 donation for earning the most votes in AEFCU’s fourth quarter Cash Back to the Community program. A total of 170 organizations were nominated and nearly 3,000 votes were cast by AEFCU members and the general public.
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Connecticut Cat Connection |
Connecticut Cat Connection began as a one-person rescue in the 80s. Its Windsor Adoption Center opened in 2010 with the mission of finding loving homes for cats that are strays, abused, abandoned, surrendered, or impounded. The Center currently places about 700 cats a year.
The nonprofit is run entirely by volunteers and funded by individual contributions and fundraising events. Every dollar raised is used for veterinary bills, spaying and neutering, adoption center expenses, cat food, litter, and fundraising.
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Cans-4-A-Cause of Greater Middletown |
Cans-4-A-Cause was started in 2018 to educate Connecticut residents and businesses about the bottle deposits. The organization partners with volunteers and other groups to collect unredeemed cans and bottles in the Greater Middletown area and redeems them for cash, which is donated back to the community.
Past donations have supported the Amazing Grace Food Bank, Portland Food Bank, Warm the Children, St. Vincent dePaul, New Horizons domestic violence shelter, veteran programs, holiday toy drives, and more.
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Jendayi Scott-Miller, known as the "Angel of Edgewood," is a community leader in North Hartford. She started Angel of Edgewood when COVID-19 hit by cooking meals for hungry seniors out of her kitchen.
With the help of a grant, volunteers, and community organizations, she opened a commercial kitchen that now serves meals to thousands of hungry people in the Greater Hartford community. Individuals regardless of their circumstances are all welcome - elderly, disabled, veterans, unemployed, underemployed, poor, working poor, migrants, and homeless.
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First Quarter 2022 Nominations Will Begin January 24 through February 13, with Voting March 7-20.
During 2022, AEFCU is donating one percent of its credit and debit card interchange income to three nonprofit and/or 501(c)(3) organizations each quarter through the Cash Back to the Community program. Funding for the program is generated each time members use an American Eagle credit or debit card. At the end of each quarter, one percent of the total interchange income–the fee paid for credit and debit card transactions–is distributed to the top three nonprofits receiving votes. Since the programs' inception in 2020, the Credit Union has donated $191,789 among 24 nonprofits.
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Credit Union Spreads Holiday Cheer to Groups in Hampden County, MA |
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American Eagle Financial Credit Union celebrated the season of giving by delivering baskets of holiday cheer to Hampden County families with loved ones who faced challenges from the pandemic or illness this past year. AEFCU representatives presented baskets filled with holiday treats, gifts, and tickets to Bright Nights at Forest Park to special education teachers at West Springfield High School, families staying at Ronald McDonald House of Springfield, and patient care staff at Baystate Children’s Hospital.
In addition, Bright Nights tickets and gift cards were delivered by Springfield radio stations on the Credit Union's behalf to Shriners Children's New England and the Boys & Girls Club of Springfield.
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West Springfield High School
Pictured left to right: Tony Roda, Hampden County Mortgage Loan Originator at American Eagle Financial Credit Union (AEFCU); Jeanne Williams, Bob Colbert, and Principal Pat Danby of West Springfield High School; and Lisa Rood, AEFCU Regional Branch Manager.
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Ronald McDonald House
Pictured up front, left to right: Celine Hamilton Quill, House Manager at Ronald McDonald House of Springfield; and Vanessa, a recent guest of Ronald McDonald House. Pictured back row, left to right: Rosemarie Zello, Development Manager at Ronald McDonald House of Springfield; Vanessa’s mother, Catherine; Lisa Rood, Regional Branch Manager; and Tony Roda, Hampden County Mortgage Loan Originator, both from American Eagle Financial Credit Union.
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Baystate Children's Hospital
Pictured left to right: Nancy Rines, RN, Director Patient Care Services; Kristy Parker, RN, Manager PICU/PPU; Lisa Rood, AEFCU Regional Branch Manager; Tony Roda, AEFCU Hampden County Mortgage Loan Originator; Becky Larsen, ANM, CHAD; and Jen Siewers, ANM, CHAD.
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Employees Volunteer at Holiday Light Fantasia to Benefit Channel 3 Kids Camp |
American Eagle employees volunteered over three nights in December at Holiday Light Fantasia at Goodwin Park in Hartford.
The Credit Union was a sponsor of the event and also donated 50 tickets each to Klingberg Family Centers of New Britain and Boys & Girls Clubs of Hartford.
Manchester Branch Manager Nancy Berube (pictured here) was one of several employees working the ticket booths and directing traffic as hundreds of cars entered the gates each night to enjoy the popular annual light show.
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Easterseals Veterans Rally Point Receives $5,000 Charitable Grant |
As part of American Eagle's celebration of veterans, their families, and the organizations that support them, the Credit Union donated $5,000 from its Donor-advised Fund at the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving to Easterseals Capital Region and Eastern CT Veterans Rally Point—a program committed to the successful reintegration of Active Military, National Guard, Reserve, Veterans, and their families into all aspects of civilian life.
“We are honored to partner with American Eagle Financial Credit Union to offer a hand up to our military service members,” said Robin Sharp, President & CEO of Easterseals Capital Region and Eastern CT. “Those who have protected and served need our support now more than ever, and we are grateful for our corporate partners like AEFCU.”
American Eagle’s donation coincided with its second Honor Roll of Veterans, which appeared on its website throughout November 2021.
With services based out of Norwich and Rocky Hill, Easterseals Veterans Rally Point provides a wide range of assistance to current active duty and retired veterans and their families, most of which are free of charge. The grant from American Eagle will be used to fund Veteran Rally Point’s behavioral health services, Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits consultation, employment and resume assistance, education and job skill training, and financial assessment and coaching, as well as the organization’s computer center, clothing closet, food pantry, peer groups, case management, and health and wellness programs.
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American Eagle Member Wins Second Prize in Statewide Charitable Foundation Raffle |
AEFCU member Richard Wilson won Second Prize in the Credit Unions Building Financial Independence Foundation Raffle on December 10, 2021. Two other AEFCU members won $100 gift cards.
AEFCU members and employees purchased $6,400 in tickets to benefit the Foundation. Credit unions across Connecticut sold over 10,000 tickets raising over $50,000 to support student financial education.
Pictured left to right: Dave Hinchey, Director of Community Impact, Credit Union League of Connecticut; Richard Wilson, and William Jara, South Windsor Branch Manager at American Eagle.
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Employees Donate Nearly $13,000 to Charity during Fourth Quarter 2021 |
American Eagle Financial Credit Union employees donated $12,766 through weekly payroll deductions during the fourth quarter ending December 31, 2021.
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Mary's Place of Windsor received $2,670 to support children and families grieving the death of a loved one.
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Credit Unions Building Financial Independence Foundation received $2,670 to continue its financial education initiatives to students throughout Connecticut.
AEFCU employees generously donated $49,473 to community nonprofits in 2021.
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Employees Volunteer Sorting Toys at Salvation Army WTIC Holiday Store |
American Eagle employees volunteered three days in December at the Salvation Army WTIC Holiday Store at Homewood Suites in Glastonbury. The Credit Union is a long-time sponsor and volunteer of the annual toy drive.
Member Contact Center Supervisor Jessica Martel (pictured here) was one of several volunteers sorting toys for donation to families struggling to provide holiday gifts for their children.
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Buyer Beware When Shopping Online |
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If you have been shopping online, we are sure you have seen the enticing “buy now and pay later” offers on many retail websites such as Afterpay, Affirm or PayPal’s Pay in Four. It offers the buyer a chance to break up the cost of a purchase, typically into four equal payments due over the upcoming months. Offering four small payments seems more affordable than one intimidating big payment, but buyer beware!
Be sure to check the details on each “buy now and pay later” offering since not all retailers use the same services and each one may have different rules. Some might charge interest depending on the purchase amount and late fees may vary. Returns may also be tricky since you need to get the credit from the “buy now and pay later” service; not the retailer! Using your VISA debit or credit card now seems like the easier and more efficient option, especially if you encounter an issue with the purchase.
What happens when it comes time to pay the bills?
If you cannot afford the payments or forget them, the consequences will be expensive! Unlike with credit cards, there is no way to pay minimums and stretch out your payments. Buyers will face late fees, interest charges and an impact on your credit score. To make matters worse, these plans offer little protection in case of a dispute with a seller or a request for a refund unlike the options available with a VISA debit or credit card.
Before you fall for these enticing low payment deals, consider the consequences. To help manage the payments, be sure to set up an automatic payment plan for the remaining payments so you don’t forget and make sure you have the funds in your bank account so you don’t get charged an overdraft fee. This is one deal that benefits the retailer and the “buy now and pay later” companies, but not necessarily YOU!
Source: excerpts from The Savage Truth, Hartford Courant
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2022 Federal Holiday Closings |
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American Eagle Financial Credit Union will be CLOSED
- Monday, January 17, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
- Monday, February 21, Presidents' Day
- Monday, May 30, Memorial Day
- Monday, June 20, Juneteenth Day
- Monday, July 4, Independence Day
- Monday, September 5, Labor Day
- Monday, October 10, Columbus Day
- Friday, November 11, Veterans' Day
- Thursday, November 24, Thanksgiving Day
- Monday, December 26, Christmas Day Observed
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Access your accounts 24/7 with online banking, with mobile banking, and at thousands of Allpoint and SUM ATMs across the U.S. Take the Credit Union with you wherever you go. We're never more than a call or click away.
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American Eagle Financial Credit Union
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American Eagle Financial Credit Union will never solicit confidential information about your accounts through email. If you receive a suspicious email asking you to open an attachment or click on a link to provide personal information, do not take action. See privacy and security policy. Federally Insured by NCUA.
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