- How to Send Money with Zelle® Safely, Zelle® is a fast, safe and easy way to send and receive money with people you trust, like your babysitter, coworkers, fellow PTA mom, or your son’s soccer coach. Whether you just enrolled with Zelle® or have been an active user for a while, there are a few tips you should always keep in mind to ensure you are being safe when sending money. , Only send money to those you know and trust , Money moves fast with Zelle®, directly from bank account to bank account within minutes,* so it’s important you know and trust the people you’re sending money to. Why? Because you can’t cancel a payment once it’s been sent if the recipient is already enrolled with Zelle®. And if you send money to someone in advance for a product or service you don’t end up receiving, you may not get your money…, Beware of payment scams , If you receive a call from someone threatening a negative action, such as fraud on your account or utilities being shut off unless you make a payment with Zelle®, slow down and think it through. This might be a scam. Scammers use fear and urgency to get people to act on impulse rather than reason. Also, keep in mind that no one from [FI Name] will ever ask you to send money with Zelle® as a test…, Treat Zelle® like cash , Did your friend change phone numbers recently? It’s easy for people to change their phone number or email address. Always make sure the name that appears on the confirmation screen matches the intended recipient. When in doubt, contact the recipient to verify the U.S. mobile number or email address they used to enroll with Zelle® before you hit “Send.” Remember, if a person has already enrolled…
- Social Media Marketing, Your target audience is just a click away – you just need to know how to hook them. While we’re not offering a secret ingredient to make your business go viral, here’s a crash course in social media and a few tips to help you manage and optimize your online presence., First of all, here’s why social media matters., Today, people who use the internet can access information and opinions about companies, industries, and events in a matter of seconds. Nearly three quarters of Americans use a major social media platform and most users have accounts on multiple platforms. Do you know anywhere else you could potentially reach 75% of the population? Neither do we. , Consumers learn about companies online – and read the reviews!, Through your social media presence, you can have more control over what those internet users may find online and how they engage with your brand. That includes everything from your products, services, and events to your reputation and consumer reviews to your local relationships and community presence. Plus, you can share real-time updates with followers if you have an exciting announcement or…, Online engagement can have a direct impact on your bottom line., Here’s the key, though. Social media gives you a way to drive public engagement with your brand through valuable interactions, relevance, and thoughtful content. Remember, if people aren’t engaging with your brand online, they’re engaging with your competitors., Learn the ropes., Social media includes nearly any site or app where people can create a profile, network, and/or gather online. That can be overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. Here are a few simple ideas to get you started., Run a search for your company., Search engines like Google have many features that also function as social media, such as: business profiles, consumer reviews, chat forums, and algorithm-based suggestions for users. Check that your company is searchable and your business profile is up to date. Then, get into the habit of replying to customers’ reviews and comments. Small, direct interactions make your company feel personable…, Decide how you want to connect., You may be thinking about getting started with Meta (Facebook and Instagram), LinkedIn, or X (formerly Twitter). Those are certainly some of the biggest channels where businesses can connect with a large population. But don’t overlook other platforms that may be popular with your consumer base, too – like YouTube, TikTok, Threads, Yelp, or Reddit. If you’re not sure where to begin, ask your…, Set a strategy when managing multiple platforms., To create an effective social media strategy, research various platforms’ strengths, policies, and how they’re commonly used. For example, if you own a bar in a college town, it would be helpful to learn Facebook’s restrictions around marketing alcohol. Or if you own a toy store, try to leverage platforms like YouTube that are frequently visited by parents and children. Familiarize yourself with…, One more thing., , Prioritize organic content over advertisements., While social media has plenty of space and potential for paid advertisements, most users don’t want their feeds overrun by ads. That’s where organic marketing comes in. Organic marketing is posting or sharing unpaid content that connects with consumers through their natural online behaviors. To put it bluntly – it’s anything other than an ad! And it doesn’t have to cost you a dollar. Consider…, Visions Federal Credit Union cannot open accounts for local governments or businesses/organizations that deposit public and/or municipal funds.
- Are you being charged per transaction?, , As a business owner, you have enough to worry about., You work hard for your money and shouldn’t be paying any extra or unnecessary costs. Instead, save yourself the expense and the hassle by finding a financial institution that has little to no fees. Take Abigail for example, a local photographer who owns a small business. When her business started doing very well, she was surprised to see new charges from her financial institution – fees they…, Shop around when you’re choosing a financial partner., Plenty of financial institutions (like Visions) offer checking accounts with: No transaction fees No monthly service fees No minimum balance requirements No minimum transaction requirements When Abigail came to Visions with questions, we were able to assist her by getting her started with our Business Checking and away from those pesky fees – no matter how active her account gets. Are you…, Visions Federal Credit Union cannot open accounts for local governments or businesses/organizations that deposit public and/or municipal funds.
- Connections to help you succeed, Believe it or not – we don’t have all the answers. Sure, we’re an excellent resource for financial knowledge, products, and services, but there’s more to running a business. Here are a few other resources and opportunities, unaffiliated with Visions, that you may want to consider to support your small business goals., National resources for your business, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), Don’t be fooled by the name. The CFPB doesn’t just help consumers – they support business owners, too! They work to help small businesses access the credit they need and deserve by increasing awareness in the small business lending marketplace. Explore the CFPB’s site to learn about equal credit opportunities, support for starting a business, and access additional resources for minority-, veteran…, SCORE, The nation’s largest network of volunteer, expert business mentors, with 10,000 volunteers serving all 50 U.S. states and territories – SCORE has helped more than 11 million current and aspiring entrepreneurs start, grow, or successfully exit a business. The path to small business success is different for every entrepreneur. For some, access to small business funding and key resources is…, America’s SBDCs, “Nurturing dreams and growing futures,” America's SBDC is the association that represents America's nationwide network of Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs). Contact your local SBDC for no-cost business consulting and low-cost business training. Use their search feature to make the connection ., Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), As a trusted authority on all things work, SHRM is the foremost expert, researcher, advocate, and thought leader on issues and innovations impacting today’s evolving workplaces. Ensure your human resource practices are up to date, develop your employee handbook, certify your hiring team, and more. Becoming a member of SHRM can provide access to tools and education that could help you build a…, Trade associations and local networks, Want to connect with successful business owners, mentors, and tools that can help your business succeed? Tap into trade networks and, invest your time in building key relationships, . To start networking, look into local chapters, memberships, and events with: Chambers of commerce Emerging leaders or young professionals Business incubators Trade associations Labor unions Also, you could expand your network and open new doors to growth opportunities by joining a volunteer board or service organization, such as your local: United Way Rotary Kiwanis Arts council Humane…, Understand your account options, Where you park your money is just as important as how you spend it. That’s why it’s critical to, establish a banking relationship with an institution you trust, . Common items to look for include: Direct deposit for your employees Long-term planning for you Merchant processing Point of sale solutions Transaction costs Visions offers a number of business account options that could suit your needs, and you can find out requirements for account opening and loan processing here . -, Visions Federal Credit Union cannot open accounts for local governments or businesses/organizations that deposit public and/or municipal funds.
- Point of Sale and Payment Processing, Card payments are essential to growing a business., Online and in-person, credit card and debit card transactions outpace other forms of payment year after year. To accept those payments, your business will need to find solutions for payment processing and point of sale (POS). These essential technologies can impact business both in terms of day-to-day processes and long-term scalability., Here are some thoughts to consider when approaching card payments and POS solutions., Industry Compatibility This may sound obvious, but not every POS will be compatible with your industry. Many POS solutions are developed for specific industries, which may make them less ideal for others. Plus, financial regulations can vary by industry, and processing companies and payment vendors sometimes have restrictions or prohibit certain business types from utilizing their products or…, Here's a good place to start, – research a few POS solutions that were specifically developed for your industry and compare them with other POS types that are industry non-specific. That’ll give you an idea of industry tools that are currently on the market, and you’ll discover which service providers offer additional features or unexpected services like: Digital storefronts HR management Payroll processing Analytics and…, For next steps, , reflect on the relevant hardware and software that add value compared to those that may be an unnecessary expense. Some features may help your business establish a customer base to build upon today, while others could be convenient enhancements down the road. You can avoid overspending by considering your wants vs. your needs and how they align with your five-year plan. Processing, Fees, and…, Interchange fees, – The business is charged per transaction while the payments are processing and the rate is based on the type of payment processed. Often, it’s a flat fee per transaction plus a percentage of the transaction amount , Payment processing fees, – The business is charged a monthly service fee or a service fee per transaction, Chargeback fees, – The processor could charge the business for processing disputes and returns …and other fees for monthly statements, minimum requirements, etc. After card payments have processed, the funds require additional time to deposit to the business’ account at their financial institution. To have an idea of this potential delay, business owners should ask payment processors how long their deposits may…, next-day deposits, – making sure you can access those payments as early as possible! Our Merchant Services Our solutions are flexible and customizable to suit many industries. Depending on your business needs, our team can help you with: Customizable point of sale Digital storefront Payment terminals Payment processing Next-day deposits Local service Free setup assistance …and more! We encourage business owners…, Visions Federal Credit Union cannot open accounts for local governments or businesses/organizations that deposit public and/or municipal funds.
- Endicott, NY – Three directors were elected to Visions Federal Credit Union’s Board of Directors at its 58th Annual Meeting. Michael A. Mullen, Mary C. Robinson, and Denise B. Stoughton were reelected to three-year terms on the Board which also includes Jill M. Bennedum, Kenneth H. Kidder III, James J. Lewis, Christopher H. Marion, Kelly A. Roche, and Laurie Schorno. During the meeting,…, About Visions, Visions Federal Credit Union is a not for profit financial institution completely owned by its members. Established in 1966, Visions proudly serves over 250,000 members in communities throughout New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. Services include banking as well as auto, home, personal, and business loans. Federally insured by NCUA. Equal Housing Lender. Ref: Visions FCU press release, 2024…
