Welcome to the Selfreliance Family

Frequently Asked Questions

What does this mean for USNEFCU members?

The merger with Selfreliance Federal Credit Union aligns with Ukrainian Selfreliance New England Federal Credit Union values and promises an upgrade in service quality. Through this partnership, members can expect expanded access to new ATMs, products, and technologies, facilitated by a larger, stronger combined credit union. With a shared focus on member needs, this merger offers:

1. Expanded Products and Services:
   Access to deposit and loan products often offered at more competitive level rates, a larger variety of services that smaller credit unions do not offer, business banking, investment property loans, and more.
2. Improved Convenience and Account Access:
   Over 85,000 surcharge-free ATMs and extended call center hours for enhanced accessibility.
   Member Call Center:
   10:00 am – 7:00 pm EST Monday, Wednesday, Thursday
   10:00 am – 8:00 pm EST Tuesday and Friday
   10:00 am – 2:00 pm EST Saturday
   In addition, Selfreliance FCU offers in-branch instant-issue debit card eliminating the need to wait for the card to arrive in the mail and allowing members to start using their debit cards immediately.
3. New Member Service Technologies:
   Access to modern online and mobile banking technologies:
   
   • Zelle person-to-person transfers
   • Credit Journey and FICO Credit Score tracking
   • High-limit mobile check deposits
   • Online account and loan applications
   • Online domestic and international wire initiations
   • Latest technology for credit and debit cardholders: Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, Google Pay, and touchless "tap-to-pay."
   Discover additional self-service options by exploring the Selfreliance FCU website at selfreliance.com.
4. Community Support:
   
   • Establishment of a "New England Community Support and Local Marketing Fund" to bolster community initiatives and marketing efforts, managed collaboratively by a dedicated advisory committee. An annual budget of $75,000 shall be allocated to the New England Fund.
   • Since 1951, Selfreliance Federal Credit Union has been a strong supporter of the Ukrainian community in the US. In 2005, the institution established the Selfreliance Foundation to focus on community initiatives. In 2023, during the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Selfreliance FCU promptly responded to the urgent needs of Ukrainian immigrants, allocating $888,700 to support churches, organizations, and schools. Overall, the Selfreliance Foundation has donated $7,580,000 to aid the Ukrainian community. Additional information about the Selfreliance Foundation.

Will my deposits and accounts continue to be insured?

Yes! Selfreliance Federal Credit Union and Ukrainian Selfreliance New England Federal Credit Union are both federally insured by the National Credit Union Administration. After the partnership is completed, each Member will be federally insured to at least $250,000, which is backed by the full faith and credit of the federal government through the NCUA.

Will there be any changes to branch locations and services?

Yes! You will have access to more branches! All three existing locations of Ukrainian Selfreliance New England Federal Credit Union will become part of Selfreliance FCU’s nationwide branch locations. Visit selfreliance.com/locations to see all existing Selfreliance branches.

Will the branches be open on Saturday?

Yes! No immediate changes to the current scheduled hours. We plan to evaluate the expansion of hours after the operation merger.

Will the phone number be the same?

Branch phone numbers will remain unchanged.

When can I start utilizing Selfreliance FCU services and branches?

Once the operational merger is completed, members will have full access to all products and services rendered by Selfreliance Federal Credit Union.
For more detailed information and assistance, please visit our Helpful Merger Information webpage.

When do you plan the operational merger?

The operational merger and banking system update is scheduled from February 1 to February 3, 2025. During this period, all branches and Online Banking services will be temporarily unavailable. Please note that branches will close early at 5:00 PM ET on January 31 to prepare for these updates.
For more detailed information and assistance, please visit our Helpful Merger Information webpage.

Will our rates change or stay the same?

Selfreliance prides itself on offering very competitive deposit and loan rates. Soon after the merger approval, rates on Savings and Money Market accounts will be increased to match rates currently offered by Selfreliance FCU. Your existing certificate and loan rates will remain unchanged. New certificates and loans are subject to rates available at the time of application.

How will my credit and debit card be affected?

As part of the operational merger all USNEFCU credit and debit card holders will receive a new Selfreliance FCU Visa® Preferred Credit Card and a new Selfreliance FCU Visa® Debit Card in January 2025.
For more detailed information and assistance, please visit:

• New Credit Card Guide
• New Debit Card Guide

Will my account numbers, direct deposit, and checks stay the same?

• Account numbers:

  Yes, your account number will be updated to match Selfreliance FCU’s numbering system. This means the number “89” will be added to the beginning of your account number, and zeros will be added in front of the remaining digits to make it 8 digits long.
  For example: If your current account number is 123, it will become 89000123. Or if your account number is 1234, the new account will be 89001234.

• Direct deposit:

  No, your direct deposits, payroll deductions, and automatic payments will continue as usual, with funds directed to your account as requested. However, we recommend updating your direct deposit and automatic payment information with your new account and routing numbers after February 4, 2025, to ensure uninterrupted service.

• Checks:

  No, you will not need to order new checks. The MICR number on your current checks will remain the same after the upgrade.
  For more detailed information and assistance, please visit our Helpful Merger Information webpage.

Will my online/mobile banking login be the same or change? What will happen with my existing automatic bill payments?

Yes, you will need to enroll in Selfreliance FCU’s Digital Banking and a new Bill Pay system on or after February 4, 2025. Your existing USNEFCU login and password will not transfer.
Please make sure to download all Bill Pay information prior to January 30, 2025. No information will be transferred from Bill Pay.
For more detailed information and assistance, please visit our Helpful Merger Information webpage.

Will the fees be the same?

Selfreliance prides itself on providing services to members at low cost. The following services are free of charge: No monthly service fees on accounts, no overdraft fees, no overdraft protection transfer fees, no non-sufficient funds returned item fee, no online stop payment fee, no incoming wire fee, no fee for the first three official bank checks and money orders per month. Banking shouldn’t cost you money!

Please review our schedule of fees and charges for a comprehensive list of all charges.

Can I still access ATMs without additional fees?

After the operational merger occurs, you will have access to 85,000 surcharge-free ATMs nationwide that belong to the following networks: AllPoint, CO-OP, and Money Pass. Please visit www.selfreliance.com to locate the nearest ATM.

Who should I contact if I have additional questions or concerns?

Please reach out to us at 860-296-4714.

We'll carefully review all our products to assess any potential changes. If there are any changes, we'll make sure to notify you well in advance, so you'll have time to adjust if needed. There might be some slight adjustments to certain fees. However, rest assured that if any fees do change, we'll provide full disclosure well before they come into effect, as we always do.