Account Manager
Know Your Credit Score
Protecting Your Credit

Safety on the NET

Recent news articles have brought to light a number of disturbing issues regarding teens and online games. A mom received a phone call regarding a credit check from a car dealership about an application her son had submitted for a new car. The application had been submitted during a game the son was playing on the internet. The boy was 15. The information he put on the application included sensitive information such as his social security number, phone number, date of birth, and full name.

Online games can seem to be just a fun way to spend some time, but parents need to know what games your teens are playing. Giving away this kind of information could put your children's financial (and your own) at great risk. Make sure you talk to you children about what they can and cannot give to others on the NET. Help them to understand the potential risks.

Remember when get your free copy of your own credit report (do it three times per year) check to see if there is a credit report on any of your children, too. If there is, it could be a sign that activity is occuring that should not be.

For more information about Teen Safety on the Net go to safeteens.com .

Announcing HCTA Federal Credit Union's
Annual Essay Scholarship

If you are a member of HCTA Federal Credit Union and are enrolled in college you may be interested in this opportunity. HCTA for the second year is offering a $1500 scholarship to an individual whose essay is chosen as the best. Essays are evaluated by a panel of judges, who are looking for a well researched, creative presentation. Our topic this year is :

"What are the differences between a Credit Union and a Bank, and why is the Credit Union a preferable institution to provide financial security for a lifetime?"

For a copy of the rules and application form click on the Annual Essay Scholarship Link above.

To compete for the schoarship you will need to:

1. Be a member of HCTA Federal Credit Union
2. Complete a scholarship application form
3. submit an essay of 750 words or less on the topic listed above

Essays will be judged on three criteria:

1. How thoroughly the writer researched the topic question.
2. How creative the writer was in applying the research to the topic question.
3. Spelling, grammar and following essay requirements.

General Essay Rules:

1. As a HCTA Federal Credit6 Union member who currently attends or who has been accepted to attend college you're eligible to apply. Family members of HCTA Board of Directors, Supervisory Committee or Staff are ineligible.
2. The winning scholarship will be paid directly to the college in which you are enrolled. Details regarding the college billing is to be provided to HCTA Federal Credit Union upon acceptance of the Scholarship.
3. All essays and ideas submitted for this contest become the sole property of HCTA Federal Credit Union. Permission is granted to publish photographs of the recipient or any essay, in full or in part, in conjunction with any advertisement or publishcation promoting HCTA Federal Credit Union.
4. All essays are to be submitted typed in Microsoft Word, 12 font and double spaced, 750 words or less. The applicants name and date, along with the Essay Topic are to be printed at the top of each essay page submitted. Applications and essays may be submitted via email, mail or in person.
5. Dealine for submitting the completed scholarship package is October 1, 2008. The winning recipient will be notified December 1, 2008. All decisions are final.