CEO Letter: Staying in Touch and Keeping Your Finances Safe

Oct. 1, 2018

Computers are great for processing transactions, but it usually takes a person to solve problems. While we have an excellent mobile and desktop banking system available 24/7, earlier this year I wrote about expanding the hours for members to contact us. You can now call, chat, text or email us 8am-8pm Monday-Friday and 10am-2pm Saturday. These expanded hours have been great for helping members solve those financial problems that happen in today’s real-time world.

I’d like to also bring to your attention an online product we have that helps keep those financial transactions safe. It is called CardValet. If you use mobile banking, CardValet is an excellent way to know what is happening in your account.

While it is a separate app from our main mobile app, it is one of those you set up and forget about. The most useful feature is the text notification when your card has been used. When I drop by Freddies on the way home, within minutes of paying for my purchase, I get a text letting me know that purchase was conducted. Not so important when I’m the one doing it. It’s when I get that text that an online purchase just occurred, I can check in with my wife to see if it was her activity or if someone may have compromised my account. I can then pull up CardValet and turn the card off, so it cannot be used until I determine that I’m okay — or not.

I can also set spending limits (good for teenagers learning money management, or to protect from large unauthorized purchases). I can also block types of transactions.

If you haven’t taken a look, you might download the CardValet app and see if this can be one more tool in your financial security toolbox.

— Tom Griffith, CMA, Chief Executive Officer