Take a Holiday Break from Your Loan Payments!

Take a holiday break from your loan payment

The holiday season can get expensive, and we’re here to lend a hand! If you have a qualified loan with Schools Federal Credit Union, you can skip your loan payment and ease the financial stress.

Choose to skip your payment for November and December, or December and January—it’s up to you! Just keep in mind that interest will continue to accrue during the deferral period.

Give yourself some extra breathing room and enjoy the holidays without the worry!

Incumbents Selected to Serve New Terms

Incumbents selected to serve new terms

The nominating committee has selected three incumbents to serve a new three-year term as Board Members for our Credit Union. They are:

Yoshiko Fong has been a member of the Credit Union’s Board of Directors since 1997 and is currently the Board Treasurer. Prior to joining the Board, she served on the Supervisory Committee for seven years. Ms. Fong obtained her BS degree in Business/Accounting as well as an MBA at California State University, Los Angeles.

She worked for the Los Angeles Community College District as a Principal Accountant in both the Budget and Accounting departments. At Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), Ms. Fong first joined the District as an Auditor, later serving as the Assistant Budget Director, where one of her responsibilities was developing a budget of $3 billion. She was later promoted to Director of Accounting, where she oversaw both the General Accounting and Business Accounting functions of the District. Her final position before retiring was as the Controller for LAUSD, overseeing all of the Accounting and Disbursements Division, which also included Payroll and Municipal Finance.

Outside of LAUSD, Ms. Fong served on the Board of Trustees for the Cal State LA Foundation, the primary fundraising entity for the college. She was also a member of the Board of Directors for the LAUSD Alliance of Asian Pacific Administrators.

With a 35-year tenure at California State University, Dominguez Hills, Dr. Ball-Parker has held various roles including Director of University Outreach and Information Services, Director of Early Outreach and Family and Community Initiatives, University Registrar, and Director of the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP), Director of Alumni and Family Programs and she currently serves as the Director of the Presidential Scholars Program. Dr. Ball-Parker is heavily involved in her community.  She is an active member of the Los Angeles South Bay Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated and The Harbor Area Chapter of The Links Incorporated. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from California State University, Dominguez Hills, her Master of Science in Community Clinical Psychology from California State University, Long Beach, and her Doctorate in Educational Technology from Pepperdine University. Dr. Ball-Parker has been a Board member for 11 years.  As a proud CSU Dominguez Hills Alumna she was awarded the Inaugural Toro Award for her exemplary contributions to the CSU Dominguez Hills community.   She has also written a children’s book with her granddaughter Katelynn that will be released in September.

Dr. Antoine Hawkins started his career in education as a part-time school bus driver for the Los Angeles Unified School District. He currently serves as the Superintendent of Schools for the Evergreen School District in San Jose, California. Passionate about building great educational organizations and committed to supporting student success. For more than 30 years, he has served in education working tirelessly to improve educational outcomes for marginalized communities and creating options to enrich lives. Under his leadership, student learning improved and opportunities for students have expanded. Dr. Hawkins has managed various school system divisions and has administered district budgets in excess of $250 million dollars. He has also managed complex systems with teams of over 1000.
In 2023, Dr. Hawkins was selected and currently serves on the United States Department of Education’s Western Educational Equity Assistance Center (WEEAC) Advisory Council, which is one of four Equity Assistance Centers (EACs) funded by the U.S. Department of Education to provide technical assistance and training—to school districts, tribal, and state education agencies. By federal law the Center serves the entire western United States as well as American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and Guam.

Dr. Hawkins has a Bachelor’s degree in Management, a Master’s degree in Business Administration from the Touro University System, and a fully accredited Doctorate degree. His post doctoral research emphasis is in the field of organizational psychology and transformational leadership. He is also a graduate of the University of Southern California’s Urban Superintendent Program and he is honored to serve on the Board of Directors of the Schools Federal Credit Union.

Are you interested in possibly serving as a volunteer?

Your Credit Union is a unique financial cooperative owned and operated by its members, not for profit. This means you have a say in how the Credit Union is run!

Our Board of Directors are members like you, who volunteer their time and expertise to represent the interests of the entire membership. They guide the Credit Union’s direction, and the management team reports to them regularly, ensuring decisions prioritize member needs.

The Nominating Committee is always accepting applications throughout the year, and each application will be reviewed and considered to serve in some capacity.

Volunteer Application

Fraud Alert! Secure Your Information.

Avoid getting spoofed

It has come to our attention that fraudulent activities, such as spoofing phone numbers and emails are on the rise. Unfortunately, this trend is not exclusive to our institution; it is a widespread issue affecting financial organizations everywhere.

A good rule of thumb to follow: If you did not originate the call to the credit union, DO NOT share your personal information!

We want to reiterate that Schools Federal Credit Union will never initiate a phone call to request your personal information. Should you receive a call where the caller claims to be from our institution and asks for sensitive information like your social security number, date of birth, username, or password, please be aware that it is not us. In such instances, we advise you to promptly disconnect the call.

If in doubt, disconnect.

If you ever find yourself in doubt about the authenticity of a communication purportedly from Schools Federal Credit Union, please do not hesitate to contact us directly to authenticate the call. Additionally, it’s important to remember that you are the only one who knows the answers to security questions used for accessing online banking. We do not store records of your answers. Our online banking system employs robust security measures to authenticate access to your accounts.

Password Sharing.

We know you’ve heard it before, but do not share your passwords. If possible, update your passwords regularly, especially if you use a computer (or any device) that is shared with anyone. In fact, we recommend that you have unique passwords specifically for your account at Schools Federal Credit Union. This means that you should not use the same password you would normally use for other services, such as Netflix or Hulu.

We do make calls. What to expect.

When we do call, it is never to request access to your online account. There are several reasons why we may reach out, such as to inform you of suspicious debit/credit card activity or to provide information you have requested. However, under no circumstances will we call to collect personal information.

5 Ways to Make Money Resolutions That Stick, by Greenpath

Take Control of Your Finances

The New Year is a time for new beginnings. Are you ready to make money resolutions that stick?

Eliminating debt, learning new spending habits, or building savings are choices that can change your life. They can affect your entire well-being from stress levels, to physical and mental health.

When considered as one big New Year’s goal, it can be overwhelming to know where to begin. To make it possible in the year ahead, here are five tips to commit to your financial health.

Make a Road Map. Set a Goal (and Write It Down)

Goal setting gives you direction. You can decide on your destination and make a plan to get there. This might seem small, but it’s not. Not only is goal setting linked to higher achievement and self-confidence, but writing down your goal can also make you more likely to succeed.

Be Specific About What You Want, and Why You Want It

Getting clear on your priorities and deciding on a specific goal are two keys to success. When it comes to your money and your financial situation, set aside some time to reflect on what you really want to accomplish –and be specific. Ask yourself three “W” questions: 1- What do you want to accomplish? 2- When will you achieve it? 3-Why does it matter to you?

Visualizing a dollar amount can lead to success, whether it is a specific figure to save, pay off, or earn in the year ahead. Keep that figure alive by writing it down or tracking it in an app. A real dollar amount makes for a real goal. Give yourself a deadline while you’re at it, to motivate you even further.

Be Positive and Realistic

Goals can challenge you and help you grow into a new future. Choosing a goal that is attainable is another important part of success.

Let’s say you’ve chosen a clear goal –with a positive outcome -such as: “In five years, I will be debt free. I will pay off my entire debt of $12,000 so that I can focus on enjoying my family instead of worrying about money.”

Be sure it’s a realistic goal based on your specific situation. Given your income, debts and expenses, is it realistic to spend $200 on your goal each month? Is it possible to pay it off even faster by spending $250 a month? Or does your budget allow for $100?

Staying positive and being realistic shows you how much you can devote to sticking to achieving your goal.

Keep and Celebrate Milestones

Making your goal measurable will help it stick. Keeping track of your progress can help you stay focused and motivated.

Tracking progress on an app, spreadsheet, or a simple notebook helps you see your future getting closer and closer.

Break your goal into smaller milestones. This makes it easier to see your progress and is less intimidating. For example, a mini-resolution might be to pay off one credit card. Making smaller changes over time is often easier than making a massive change all at once.

Celebrate your success along the way. Celebrating wins actually “trains your brain” by reinforcing your new habits, which makes it easier to stay on track if you hit a bump in the road at some point.

Make (and Work) the Plan

Money resolutions often go by the wayside if they serve as a goal without a plan. A plan outlines how you will accomplish your goal.

Keep it simple. The plan might define how much you will spend toward your goal, how often you’ll make deposits on it, and the method you’ll use to transfer money toward your goal. For instance, automating monthly payments or savings goals is proven to help people stick with money resolutions.

Choose one habit to change at a time. For example, if you need to reduce your credit card spending, focus on making that change as your first milestone. Then move on to setting money aside for payoff.

Ready to Make Money Resolutions That Stick?

A New Year is a new opportunity for success. There’s good news –you don’t have to go it alone! Our partners at GreenPath Financial Wellness specialize in helping people get out of debt and improve financial wellness. Make those money resolutions stick by speaking with a financial expert. The call is free and confidential.

Save On Insurance

Save on Insurance With Trustage

TruStage® Auto & Home Insurance Program

Designed for credit union members like you, the TruStage® Auto & Home Insurance Program provides affordable top-quality protection. You could enjoy discounted rates combined with online convenience and 24/7 claims service.

Get your free insurance quote online today or call 1-855-589-2146.

TruStage® Auto & Home Insurance Program is made available through TruStage Insurance Agency, LLC and issued by leading insurance companies. To the extent permitted by law, applicants are individually underwritten; not all applicants may qualify. Discounts are not available in all states and discounts vary by state. A consumer report from a consumer reporting agency and/or motor vehicle report will be obtained on all drivers listed on your policy where state laws and regulations allow. Please consult your policy for specific coverage and limitations. The insurance offered is not a deposit, and is not federally insured, sold or guaranteed by your credit union.

© TruStage Insurance Agency

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