Now you can pay for college the smart way with three great repayment options and competitive interest rates!

The Ripco Credit Union Smart Option Student Loan® by Sallie Mae® is an ideal solution to help bridge that gap between federal loans and the cost of your education expenses.

To learn more or to apply, please get started here.

The Smart Option Student Loan® features and benefits:

1. We now offer competitive fixed interest rates in addition to our low variable interest rates providing even more choice and flexibility.
2. Borrow up to 100% of school certified education costs (minimum $1,000)
1. Multiple in-school repayment options available
2. Borrower benefits available – like rewards and interest rate reductions
3. Rates that reward creditworthy borrowers
4. Applying with a creditworthy cosigner may help you qualify and/or receive a lower rate
5. Fast Online Application. Our easy-to-complete application takes about 15 minutes. It's quick and easy.
6. 24/7 online account management
7. No prepayment penalty.

To learn more or to apply, please get started here.

*We are compensated for the referral of Smart Option Student Loan customers.

Several credit union members have recently received text messages asking them to call a certain phone number due to an urgent matter. The messages urge immediate action and provide a phone number to call. Upon calling the number, the member is then prompted to enter the pin number of their debit/ATM card.

Members have also received fraudulent phone calls with automated messages requesting their card and account information. Some of the automated messages claim that there is an urgent problem with the member’s debit card. Others request the member’s account number. Thankfully, in all of the incidents we’ve heard of so far, members did the right thing by not providing any personal or financial information and by contacting the police to report these text and automated phone messages.

REMEMBER: we will never contact you requesting your PIN or account numbers. NEVER give this information to anyone unless you have initiated the contact and you are certain who you are dealing with.

Thanks,
Diane A. Sowinski, CCUE

By March 1, 2013, everyone getting the following federal benefits by paper check is required to switch to electronic payments – direct deposit to a bank or credit union account or to the Direct Express^® Debit MasterCard^® card:

• Social Security
• Supplemental Security Income
• Veterans Affairs
• Railroad Retirement Board
• Office of Personnel Management
• Department of Labor (Black Lung)

For more information, please speak with one of our friendly Member Service Representatives or visit one of the following websites: 

• www.godirect.org
• www.fms.treas.gov

We have recently undergone some significant changes to our checking account number formats.  We want to make certain that everyone knows the proper routing numbers and checking account number format for electronic transactions and ACH (Automated Clearing House) deposits.

This does not mean that you have to change ACH payments and deposits that you have already set up, nor will you need to order new checks.  When your current check supply runs out, please make certain to either order your new checks directly from Ripco (you will almost certainly save money as compared to another check vendor) or let us tell you what your new MICR (Magnetic Ink Character Recognition) line should be.

You can help ensure prompt and accurate posting of your payments and deposits if you use the following information when initiating any new ACH withdrawals/payments or direct deposits.

Checking Account numbers – for ALL accounts
(originating in BOTH Rhinelander and Eagle River)

For accounts opened as Ripco accounts:

Your checking account number for electronic and ACH transactions will now be 14 digits long (the same as the MICR code which will be found on all new check orders).  This enhanced format is needed for electronic processing purposes only, and will not affect the number/login you use for online banking.

The enhanced/electronic format will start with “1” and will be immediately followed by as many zeroes as are needed to create 14 digits when preceding the account number, account type and check digit.

For example: An original Ripco account number 1111-045 would have a new MICR line reading 1000001111045X. It will start with a one, then five zeroes, then the “1111” member account number, the “045 indicating the checking account type, and the “X” which represents your check digit. The “X” will be a number between 0 and 9, and may not be the same check digit as you had prior to the new format.

For accounts opened as Nicolet Credit Union accounts:

Your checking account number for electronic and ACH transactions will be 14 digits long (the same as the MICR code which will be found on all new check orders).  This enhanced format is needed for electronic processing purposes only, and will not affect the number/login you use for online banking. 

The enhanced/electronic format will start with “100” and will be immediately followed by your new 7-digit Ripco account number, your Ripco account type and check digit.  Your new Ripco account numbers all start with a “4” followed by as many zeroes as are needed to create a seven-digit number.  This seven-digit number is the same as your initial username for home banking login purposes.

For example: An original Eagle River account number of 1818-8 (checking account type 70) would have a new Ripco Account number of 4018188 and a MICR line reading 1004018188047X. In this example, we have the leading “100” followed by your seven-digit Ripco account number “4018188” followed by your checking account type “047” followed by “X” which represents your check digit. The “X” will be a number between 0 and 9.

We realize this can be very confusing, and apologize for any inconvenience.  For fastest service, please don’t hesitate to call us for assistance at 715-365-4800 or toll-free at 1-877-365-4800.

Ripco will never initiate a call or an e-mail asking you for your account numbers or personal information. Protect yourself by suspecting any unsolicited message that suggests your accounts or debit/credit cards are in danger of being “blocked” or closed, no matter what the medium or apparent source. Rather than calling a number given in any unsolicited message, you should directly call us (or the institution named), using a number that is known to be valid (from the phone book or from an Internet search). We recommend you notify us or the other identified financial institution of any suspicious attempt to obtain information. It is always a good idea to frequently monitor your account activity and promptly report any suspicious transactions.

*Phishing is a way of attempting to acquire information such as usernames, passwords, and credit card details by masquerading as a trustworthy entity in an electronic communication, usually by email. Vishing (voice or VoIP phishing) is an electronic fraud tactic which attempts to trick individuals into revealing critical financial or personal information to unauthorized entities. Vishing works like phishing but does not always occur over the Internet and is carried out using voice technology. A vishing attack can be conducted by voice email, VoIP (voice over IP), or landline or cellular telephone. For more information, please see the Federal Trade Comission’s report on “How Not to Get Hooked by a Phishing Scam” at http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/alerts/alt127.shtm