February 2023

America Saves Week is just around the corner, taking place February 27 to March 3. This annual event promotes the importance of saving. We support this cause and are here to help you save for your future and what matters most to you.

Start Small, Dream Big 

Invest in your future by creating your savings journey today with a few small steps. Here are a few great ways to start or enhance your savings:

• WINcentive® Savings– When you open a WINcentive Savings account, you save money AND are entered automatically in drawings for cash prizes! You can start with as little as $5 and can earn up prize drawing entries each month when you increase your month-over-month balance by $25. Grow those savings and earn more chances to win!
• Stash Your Cash – Round up the amount of each purchase with your Affinity Plus Visa® debit card and that spare change will go straight to your selected savings account. If you choose to have your spare change go to a WINcentive Savings account, you can earn prize drawing entries. Watch the savings quickly add up!
• Superior Money Market – This savings option provides higher dividend rates for members who meet the requirements. Build your savings faster!
• Certificates – If you’re looking to invest in savings that are a bit more long-term, we offer 13- and 24-month Certificates that offer predictable earnings thanks to the rate you lock in for the entire term. Say hello to easy savings!

Take advantage of one or more of our savings options and start building a secure financial future. This America Save Week, make a commitment to your financial well-being and invest in you!

Odd text from an unknown phone number? Chances are, you’re better off ignoring it. SMS phishing, also known as “smishing,” is a growing method fraudsters use to trick you into sharing personal information. Here are common scams to avoid.

• “Wrong number” texts. Over the past year, there’s been an uptick in scammers posing as people who have texted the wrong number. This could look like: Hi Adrian, I need to reschedule our meeting tomorrow. The goal is to get you to reply, kindly letting them know they have the wrong number. But that’s just the beginning. Once you reply, the scammer will try to engage you in a conversation. The eventual goal is to get you to divulge personal information, or visit a link they’ve provided. Don’t engage in text conversations with strangers, no matter how friendly they may seem.
• Package delivery issues. You might get a text message that a shipping carrier was unable to deliver a package, or that you need to update your delivery preferences by visiting a link. These links often direct you to spoof websites where you’ll be prompted to enter personal information. If you’re concerned about the status of a package, it’s best to contact your carrier directly.
• Your bank account is at risk. We detected fraudulent activity on your account. Act now: [URL] These texts spook victims into thinking something has happened with their bank account. If you visit the link, it may prompt you to enter your card number and PIN, or it could install malware onto your phone. Don’t visit any links or share any of your personal or account information over an alarming text. Instead, contact your financial institution directly if you think something’s happened with your account. (There are all sorts of ways to contact Affinity Plus.)
• You’ve won something. Congrats, you’ve won a $100 Amazon gift card! Go to [URL] to claim your prize. This scam lures you in with the promise of a big win—but you’ll need to visit a suspicious link to claim it. Just remember: If it seems too good to be true, it probably isn’t.
  

Just Ignore It

While there are many ways that scammers try to get you to engage, the only way for them to succeed is if you take action. Don’t visit any links from unknown numbers, and ignore and delete messages that don’t seem right. 

Info Security at Affinity Plus

Building toward a better future for everyone takes work, and we’re proud of the difference the Affinity Plus Foundation made in our communities in 2022. In total, we were able to dedicate more than $370,000 to grants and scholarships to deserving students and organizations across the state!

This team effort wouldn’t be possible without our Affinity Plus members, our donors, and our nonprofit partners across Minnesota and beyond. Thank you for helping us make this impact, and for your continued support as we move into 2023. 

Foundation, by the Numbers

The Foundation provided meaningful funding resources for organizations and/or student members in every community where Affinity Plus has presence. We also increased the number of Friends of the Foundation, giving us more momentum into 2023!

37

Grants awarded, totaling more than $250,000

40

Scholarships awarded, totaling more than $120,000 

(Learn more about our 2022 scholarship and grant recipients, and how the Foundation worked with communities around the state to build toward an inclusive and hopeful future.)

1,100+

New Friends of the Foundation who joined us making a difference in 2022

$50,000+

Combined annual gifts from Friends of the Foundation, helping sustain giving through community grants and scholarships for students well into the future.

Want to join us in making this difference? Learn more about Friends of the Foundation!

Our 2022 was a success – thank you to all of our donors. We couldn’t do this without you!

We love having you as one of our valued members, which is why we’re bringing you special discounts on tax prep services that will help you ace tax season.

TurboTax – Hand off your taxes, get some help from experts or file on your own -- with TurboTax, you can count on getting your maximum refund, guaranteed. Enjoy up to $15 off – the discount will automatically be applied when you sign up or log in to your TurboTax account using the link bleow. Get started with TurboTax today!

H&R Block – Get expert tax help from H&R Block professionals who can prepare your taxes in person, with or without the office visit. New clients save $25 in-office tax prep services and returning clients of H&R Block get the Tax Identity Shield® add-on for FREE ($35 value). Get your H&R Block coupon now and save!

Visit https://taxservices.lovemycreditunion.org for offer details and disclaimers.

One of the options we give Affinity Plus members to make a difference is to donate their MyPlus Rewards™ points toward causes we can all believe in.

Many of those causes are represented by our Charities of Choice – nonprofit partners who share our values of kindness, compassion, and building toward a better future for everyone. 

We also experienced moments when our members came together to support other, singular causes, such as the war in Ukraine. When the crisis first started, our members donated $27,135 to GlobalGiving’s Ukraine Crisis Response Fund to help refugees with basic needs. 

In total, our members donated $126,845 in MyPlus Rewards points in 2022. It’s an incredible number, and we’re so grateful to everyone who gave! 

Here’s how our members donated to our Charities of Choice:

• Second Harvest Heartland: $73,420
• Junior Achievement North: $1,430
• Special Olympics of Minnesota: $13,260
• Affinity Plus Foundation: $38,165 (the $27,135 for Ukraine came from here!)

Thank you to all of our donors who chose to share their rewards in 2022!