How to Work from Home

The coronavirus pandemic has taken the world as we know it and turned it upside down. Hospitals are scrambling to meet the needs of their patients as the federal and local governments are issuing stricter guidelines to help stop the spread of the virus.

Shopping malls that were filled with crowds just a week ago now stand vacant. Universities and schools have emptied out and students are continuing their education online to diminish the spread of the virus. Small businesses have shuttered their doors as they choose their health and the health and safety of their customers over profit.

As part of this upheaval, millions of Americans have been sent home from work with laptops in hand and instructions to remotely tend to their usual workload. Unfortunately, this can prove to be a lot harder than it sounds. If you find yourself struggling to complete your workload from home during the outbreak, we can help!

Here are some tips on how to stay focused, on-task and productive as you work from home.

IMCU Valentine’s Candy Poem by Elizabeth Wade

Valentine’s Day has come around
And I find myself stuck without a crown.
I’m still searching for my perfect half
A Jolly Rancher; the Kit to my Kat
I’ll even take a Nerd or maybe a Smartie Pants.

My guy needs a little Crunch to his life
Hopefully not a Milk Dud full of Strife.
My name’s not Mary Jane; I’m not waiting for any letter
I just want someone who won’t Krackle under pressure
I know I’m sometimes a Butterfinger
But I promise, my Snickers never linger

National Credit Education Month

Why it pays to check your credit report

When was the last time you checked your credit report? Because access to credit is such an important aspect of everyday life, money-management experts recommend that everyone should check their reports at least annually.

In simple terms, a credit report is a summary of the credit accounts you have and how you’ve used them. When you have a loan or a credit card, the lender tracks how you make payments, and then shares that information with what’s known as a credit reporting agency. The credit reporting agency keeps that information up-to-date, and when you apply for a new credit card or loan, the lender will review your credit information to see if you make payments like you’re supposed to and use credit wisely. The information in your credit report is also used to create your credit score.

Tax Tips for the Self-Employed

Whether you’re a seasoned business owner, newly self-employed or testing out a side-gig, TurboTax has you covered on tax tips, deductions, and tax forms for your business income. Indiana Members Credit Union breaks down a few ins and outs.

National Self Check Month

Time to give yourself a checkup

Everyone wants to stay healthy and learn to take better care of themselves. That’s the inspiration between National Self-Check Month, an annual effort to remind people to play more active roles in their own healthcare.

Seeing a doctor and paying attention to your own health is important. By performing self-checks and noticing changes in our health, we can detect potential problems and seek medical help before they become serious.

Which self-checks and wellness tests are right for you? Find out with a quick visit to selfchec.org. There you’ll discover tools and resources that will show you how to perform simple self-checks, address healthcare-related fears and concerns, and even know what to ask at your next doctor visit.

National Hobby Month

What hobbies and savings have in common

Are you a quilter? Race radio-controlled cars? Maybe you spend your spare time gardening, painting, or collecting coins from around the world. For many of us, hobbies and special interests offer a great way to use our free time, learn more about subjects that interest us, and even unleash our creativity. Hobbies are good for us, too. One clinical study showed that time spent pursuing hobbies and similar leisure interests could lower blood pressure and reduce people’s stress levels.

January is National Hobby Month, and it’s a great time to celebrate our members’ hobbies. Two things about hobbies remind us of Indiana Members Credit Union’s family of savings programs. First, both provide a satisfying sense of accomplishment. We’re proud when we create something new, and we’re just as proud when we achieve a savings goal. The other thing is the wide range of hobbies our members enjoy. Just as there are many choices of hobbies, there are so many different ways to save.

Member Security Alert

Members have reported receiving calls purportedly from Indiana Members Credit Union Fraud Department requesting to verify debit card transactions.  The caller will then ask the member to validate a code sent by text message, which allows them access to your digital wallet.

Indiana Members Credit Union will never ask you to provide your full card number, PIN or a security code when validating a transaction, and will never ask for information to be shared via text message.

If you are ever concerned about a text message or phone call you’ve received, please hang up and contact your local IMCU branch, or our member services department at 317-248-8556 or 800-556-9268.

Click here for a listing of IMCU locations and hours:  http://www.imcu.com/Locations-and-Hours.aspx

National App Day

Putting technology resources in your hands

“There’s an app for that!” When you hear that line, you may remember the commercials Apple ran back in 2009 to promote one of the biggest benefits of its iPhone: the many applications created to simplify users’ lives and provide entertainment.

Smartphones have become such an important part of our daily lives that it’s easy to forget they didn’t exist until Apple unveiled the first iPhones in mid-2007. Now we count on the many types of smartphones to manage our schedules, answer our questions, plan our favorite TV programs no matter where we are, and even monitor our health.  In fact, they’ve become so important that December 11 has become known as National App Day!

3 TIPS FOR SAFE ONLINE SHOPPING THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

Stay Safe This Holiday Season

Cybercriminals successfully take advantage of the increase in online activity during the holidays.  The Association of Certified Fraud Examiners reports that the incidence of fraud increases by 20% during the holiday season.  The Department of Homeland Security offers the following suggestions to be safe this holiday season:

Member Security Alert

Indiana Members Credit Union values your identity.  Be aware of scams where fraudsters send text messages alerting you to click a link to unlock your debit card due to unusual activity.  Indiana Members Credit Union will never send links out in regards to your personal account.

If you are ever concerned about a text message or phone call you’ve received, please hang up and contact your local IMCU branch, or our member services department at 317-248-8556 or 800-556-9268.

Click here for a listing of IMCU locations and hours:  http://www.imcu.com/Locations-and-Hours.aspx