CW Learning Center
Visit the CW Learning Center to view interactive, how-to demos on some of our most frequently asked questions!
CommunityWide FAQs
You can apply for membership at CommunityWide FCU either online, or by stopping into any of our 11 offices.
To open an account online, get started now or click the "Open an Account" button, conveniently located at the top of any page of our website.
You can then step through our guided process to open your new account.
You will need the following to open an account:
- Valid government issued ID, passport, or military identification showing your current address. (If the address is not correct, present a utility bill, bank statement, or paystub showing the correct address.)
- Social Security Number (SSN) or Tax ID Number (TIN)
If you would like to open your account in-office, scheduling an appointment is not necessary, as all our member service representatives are able to open a new account for you. However, if you would prefer to schedule your account opening, please feel free to use our online appointment scheduler so that we can assist you in the process.
If you need to manage the movement of an account from another institution to CW, you can also take advantage of our Direct Deposit Transfer process to assist with easier movement of funds.
Learn more about the benefits of membership with CW, and details on how to qualify for membership.
You can contact us directly at: info@comwide.com
Please note: Do not send account numbers, inquire about specific account information, or request changes to your account record when corresponding through email or the feedback form. For these purposes, please use the CWAnyWhere messaging system.
You can also use the chat bubble at the bottom right corner of your screen to begin a chat. Note that if it is outside of normal business hours you will be connected with our chat bot, C-Dubs.
Each of our individual offices have their own fax number. If you are trying to reach a particular office, please review the contact information of the location you would like to fax here.
Our main office fax number is 574-239-2705.
CommunityWide FCU is conveniently located in several cities and towns throughout Northern Indiana. We have locations in Elkhart, Goshen, Mishawaka, Plymouth, South Bend, and Warsaw.
Our member service representatives are available by phone from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM (ET) on Monday and Thursday; from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM (ET) on Tuesday and Wednesday; from 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM (ET) on Friday; and from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM (ET) on Saturday, excluding holidays. We are closed on Sunday.
In addition to this, CW is part of the Shared Branch network extending our reach to locations conveniently located throughout the country with additional office hours.
You qualify to join CW if you are a member of Michiana Goodwill Boosters, Marine Corps League of St. Joseph Valley, Habitat for Humanity Helpers, or Ronald McDonald House Charities of Michiana; if you are an employee, retiree, or donor member of any of our business associations; or as a relative or spouse of an existing member of CW.
If you do not qualify as a member of one of these associations at time of application, you can still qualify as a member, and we can assist you by accepting your qualifying membership dues (most often with a donation of $5.00 to the association of your choice).
You will need the following to open an account:
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Valid government issued ID, passport, or military identification showing your current address. (If the address is not correct, present a utility bill, bank statement, or paystub showing the correct address.)
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Social Security Number (SSN) or Tax ID Number (TIN)
Ready to join? Open an account today!
Still not sure about membership? Learn more about the benefits of being a CW member.
CW Account FAQs
For your security, we are unfortunately unable to change personal information over the phone. However, changing personal information such as address, email, or phone numbers can be done easily within CWAnyWhere, either online or through the app. Learn how with this short interactive demo.
If you are unable to change personal information through our online services, or prefer not to update through CWAnyWhere, our call center reps are able to make changes for you when using our chat service for identity verification.
If you would like to add a joint owner you can do this from CWAnyWhere within the account you would like to add the user to. Simply sign in here and then click on the account you would like to add the joint owner to from the dashboard screen and select this icon from the right side of the acount history page to complete the add process: 
If you would like to remove a joint owner from your account, the joint member being removed must come into an office and sign off the account. The primary person remaining on the account cannot remove the joint owner. They can, however, close the account and open a new one in just their name if the joint owner is unable to come into an office to sign off the account.
If the person that needs removed from an account is the primary owner, the account must be closed and the joint owner will need to open a new account in their name only.
For further information on this process, please contact us at info@comwide.com
Copies of statements can be mailed to you with a phone request, or picked up in an office, but can also be easily accessed and dowloaded from within CWAnyWhere! Learn how to find them with this short demo.
To open a payee or guardianship account, you will need to provide documentation from the Social Security office stating that you are the payee or guardian. Along with this documentation, you will need to provide the birth certificate and Social Security card for the payee; along with a state issued ID, second form of ID, and proof of address (if different from address on ID) for representative payee/guardian.
For members already enrolled in CWAnyWhere (Home and Mobile Banking) your account number can be found on the main page after logging in, you will need to select the three dots on the right side of the savings tile and select "Show Account Number" to see the full value . The –S0000 or –S0010 is not part of your account number (That is your share identification number).
For new members who have been approved for a loan and not enrolled in home banking the account number can be found in your new loan and membership packet. If you have not received this packet yet, please contact us. The account number can also be found on your payments coupons that are included with your statements every month. The loan ID number is not part of your account number (That is your loan note number).
If you need your account number for electronic transactions from your checking account, you may need your MICR number. To get your MICR number, login to CWAnyWhere, select your checking account and select "Account Info" and your MICR number will be listed under "Checking Account Number". This should be used in conjunction with our CW routing information for electronic transactions.
ATM FAQs
No ATM fees are charged to CW members for transactions at any CW office location, or surcharge fee ATM's using CULIANCE, Alliance One, or CO-OP designated networks.
Non-members who are not part of the above designated networks will be charged a $2 fee per transaction to use a CW ATM.
CW does not accept deposits at any of our ATMs. If deposits are made at a non-proprietary ATM (at another institution's ATM), they are held according to the policies of that institution.
If you need to make a deposit outside of our normal business hours, we recommend making a deposit to our night drop boxes located on the side of each of our branches or using our Remote Deposit Capture (RDC) process from within CWAnyWhere (This feature is currently only accessible within the CWAnyWhere app).
When depositing to our night drop be sure to include your account number and the savings account type you want the funds deposited to, and make sure a total is noted for verification.
Checks deposited to remote deposit capture or the night drop may be subject to our standard hold time policy.
CW Certificates FAQs
Yes, we do. Currently, wires can only be initiated in a CW office.
Sending a domestic wire is $20.00. The funds will arrive to the destination same day as long as the transaction is done in office before 4:30 PM. A domestic wire form must be completed and returned to the nearest office.
Sending an international wire is $50.00 and requires additional approval from management. The funds will arrive to the destination same day as long as the transaction is done in office before 3:30PM. An international wire form must be completed and returned to the nearest office.
If you need information to originate a wire to be deposited to your CW account, you can give incoming wire instructions to the financial institution you are originating the wire from. Receiving a wire transfer into your CW accounts has a fee of $10.00.
You can apply for membership at CommunityWide FCU either online, or by stopping into any of our 11 offices.
To open an account online, get started now or click the "Open an Account" button, conveniently located at the top of any page of our website.
You can then step through our guided process to open your new account.
You will need the following to open an account:
- Valid government issued ID, passport, or military identification showing your current address. (If the address is not correct, present a utility bill, bank statement, or paystub showing the correct address.)
- Social Security Number (SSN) or Tax ID Number (TIN)
If you would like to open your account in-office, scheduling an appointment is not necessary, as all our member service representatives are able to open a new account for you. However, if you would prefer to schedule your account opening, please feel free to use our online appointment scheduler so that we can assist you in the process.
If you need to manage the movement of an account from another institution to CW, you can also take advantage of our Direct Deposit Transfer process to assist with easier movement of funds.
Learn more about the benefits of membership with CW, and details on how to qualify for membership.
Rest easy knowing that your savings are safe and secure with CommunityWide Federal Credit Union. The National Credit Union Share Insurance Fund (NCUSIF) insures member deposits up to $250,000 per depositor, per ownership category at federally insured credit unions. This coverage is backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government, ensuring that no member of a federally insured credit union has ever lost a penny of insured savings.
Single ownership accounts, joint accounts, and certain retirement accounts like IRAs are insured up to $250,000 each. Additional coverage is available through proper structuring of accounts and using different ownership categories. The Share Insurance Estimator can be used to verify that all of your deposits are fully insured by NCUA.
To learn more about this federal insurance, please click here.
Interest rates on our CW Certificates vary and are based on the term of the certificate.
Please see our complete list of rates here.
A Term Share Certificate is a savings certificate entitling the bearer to receive dividends. A Certificate bears a maturity date, a specified fixed dividend rate, and can be issued in various denominations. When you open a Certificate, your money is on deposit for a specific time period. For agreeing to keep it on deposit for a specified time period, you earn more than you would in a regular savings account. If you cash it in before its maturity date, you pay a penalty.
You qualify to join CW if you are a member of Michiana Goodwill Boosters, Marine Corps League of St. Joseph Valley, Habitat for Humanity Helpers, or Ronald McDonald House Charities of Michiana; if you are an employee, retiree, or donor member of any of our business associations; or as a relative or spouse of an existing member of CW.
If you do not qualify as a member of one of these associations at time of application, you can still qualify as a member, and we can assist you by accepting your qualifying membership dues (most often with a donation of $5.00 to the association of your choice).
You will need the following to open an account:
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Valid government issued ID, passport, or military identification showing your current address. (If the address is not correct, present a utility bill, bank statement, or paystub showing the correct address.)
-
Social Security Number (SSN) or Tax ID Number (TIN)
Ready to join? Open an account today!
Still not sure about membership? Learn more about the benefits of being a CW member.
CW Checking FAQs
Special overdraft service (S.O.S.) is available for members that meet the following criteria:
- Members must have at least 3 consecutive and consistent direct deposits into the account. The amount of overdraft the account is approved for is based on the amount of the direct deposits. If deposit amounts drop or vary, the amount of overdraft the member can have access to will adjust accordingly. (Max $300.00)
- Direct deposits going into the account must be weekly, biweekly, or monthly.
- If there is a personal, auto, or mortgage loan attached to the account it cannot be more than 30 days delinquent.
- Member cannot have any other withdrawals/deposits from other payday/cash advance companies.
For more information on CW S.O.S. click here . If interested in S.O.S. feel free to contact us or email info@comwide.com.
Yes, we try our hardest not to hold funds, but in some cases a hold may be required.
Reasons why a check could be put on hold include but are not limited to: a large check, an out of state check, a remote deposit check, or an unfamiliar check. The decision to hold a check will be made by the checking department in the case of remote deposited checks, or the Office Manager of the branch where the deposit is made. In the case of a branch, the manager will notify you at the time of deposit if a hold will be placed, and if so, for how long. The funds will be held in the savings account and may last up to 14 business days, or in some cases longer. Checks deposited through mobile deposit may be subject to longer hold times.
If you need to have your number for making electronic payments with your checking account (often referred to as your MICR number), you can find this by going to CWAnyWhere and clicking on your checking account from the dashboard and selecting "Account Info" and it will be listed under "Checking Account Number" on the right side of the information screen.
CW Checking accounts come with ID Protect and there is no monthly fee to maintain a CW Checking account. There is also no minimum amount needed to maintain the account, but we do require a $5 deposit to open the account, along with enough to cover the cost of any checks ordered. We require some activity every month to prevent the account from going dormant. If interested in return fees, stop pay fees, or any of our other service fees, click here.
CommunityWide FCU’s Routing/ABA number is 271291855
The routing number also known as an ABA number is unique to each financial institution and is the same for all accounts. You can find the routing number in the bottom left corner of your checks, as noted below.
For your convenience, it is also located at the bottom of every page of our website along with our contact information. If you would like to set up direct deposit and need this information to do so, please complete this form: Printable/Downloadable direct deposit form
If you find that your checks are lost or have been stolen follow these steps:
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Determine the check number or check number ranges of the checks that are missing.
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Contact us with this information to fill out a stop payment authorization. The stop payment form does require a signature which can be completed through email or in office, and must be signed before the stop payment is completed. This will prevent any checks that may have been stolen from posting to your account. (A fee for a stop payment may be assessed if checks are lost rather than stolen).
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If checks are stolen personal account information is listed on the checks, so for security we do recommend that at a minimum the checking account is closed and a new one opened.
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If checks are stolen, file a police report.
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If the account is closed and reopened be sure to update your direct deposit or electronic withdrawal information with any companies that use this information.
CW Debit Card FAQs
Yes, our cards are VISA cards and are accepted outside the United States, however, you must have a travel notification set on your account indicating the location you will need access for if you will be travelling to other countries or states and using your card, to ensure you are approved for those areas. To set a travel notification, please login to CWAnyWhere and navigate to the "Cards" option and follow the steps here for completing this process or contact us so that we can assist you.
This is a standard fraud fighting action that we require of all members.
Cancel your CW Credit Card and/or CW Debit Card and order a replacement by going to CWAnyWhere and selecting the "Cards" option, then highlight the card you want to cancel, and select "Settings" then "Report Card lost or stolen" and complete the process. Once the new card is ordered, you will have immediate digital access to the new card information should you need it, until your card is received in the mail.
There is no charge for making a purchase with your VISA debit card.
There is no fee for using your debit card to withdraw cash at any CW ATM or any of our shared access ATM network ATMs. However, out of network ATMs may charge their own fees for use. For a complete list of ATMs in network near you, click here.
Debit cards have no initial fee for access. However, we do charge $5 for replacement cards if lost. To see our complete fee schedule, please click here.
Limits on debit cards are assigned for security purposes, to prevent loss if someone were to get access to your card. The card limits for each member can vary depending on a variety of account factors. To find out what your debit limits are, feel free to contact us. We are always able to look at increasing your limits for you or even doing a temporary increase for a larger purchase if needed. We recommend if you need a limit change, that you contact one of our offices to assist you.
Financial Literacy FAQs
The best way to establish good credit is to make your payments and to make them on time. To establish good credit, you need a steady work record and continued residence at the same address. If you do not have a checking account, open one, and be careful not to bounce checks.
If you have low or no credit or are looking at improving your credit but are having trouble getting approved for a loan, but have a small amount of money saved, you can improve your credit by opening a share secured loan or a share secured VISA credit card and making consistent payments. This is where your own funds are used as collateral in order to obtain the loan or credit card. The interest rates for these are often much lower than a personal loan. If interested in this, feel free to contact us or apply here.
Maintaining low balances as well as paying more than the minimum on your payments, especially on credit cards, will also help.
Additionally, we've partnered with Greenpath which can also assist you with building credit and removing debt. As a member of CommunityWide you can contact them for a free consultation at 1-877-337-3399.
Click here for more information on how to improve your credit score.
Teaching your child financial literacy is a great way to help them gather the knowledge they will need to make smart financial decisions in the future. CommunityWide FCU is now sponsoring a new financial literacy app called Zogo, which is aimed toward kids ages 13-18. Zogo provides over 300 bite-sized educational modules designed by Duke University professors. As your teen completes the modules, they accumulate points that can be redeemed for gift cards to places like Target, Starbucks, Amazon, and more!
The Zogo app is available for Apple devices in the App Store and for Android devices in Google Play.
To join, use access code: COMWIDE
Our partnership with Greenpath Financial Wellness offers a variety of services including budgeting assistance. As a member of CommunityWide you are able to contact them for a free consultation by calling 800-550-1961. They will provide you advice on improving your financial health and help you improve your budget. If your not quite ready to take that next step, this resource will give you more information about budgeting to point you in the right direction.
Cosigning on a loan can sometimes be a tough decision. You may be caught in the middle of trying to help someone who is close to you, but not wanting to risk your credit. Cosigners lend their names and good credit histories to the primary applicant. Should the primary applicant die, lose a job, or otherwise fail to make payments, all responsibility for meeting the terms of the loan transfers to the cosigner. An often-overlooked aspect of cosigning a loan is the fact that the loan appears on both the primary applicant's and cosigner's credit reports.
It is important to remember that when you cosign for a loan you are taking on the same responsibility as the primary borrower with promising to pay the loan in full. When a loan is reported as current or late to the credit bureau it affects each borrower the same. So if a payment is missed or a loan is charged off both borrowers' credit will suffer. Since the loan will show on your credit report it will increase your debt to income ratio, even though you may not be the one making the payments. Debt to income ratio is something that is looked at when you apply for a new loan or credit card, and in some cases, can be a reason for denial.
It might be tempting to view your 401(k) as a source of emergency funds, but before you dip into your retirement account for cash, explore alternatives. As a general rule you want to avoid borrowing or withdrawing funds from your 401k unless there is absolutely no other option. If you take cash out of your 401k before reaching the age of 59 ½ you will face a 10% penalty as well as pay taxes on the withdrawal. You will also miss out on the potential growth that those funds would have had if left in the 401k until retirement. Learn more about this option here.
To make this decision, calculate your monthly payments and your total net cost. When you compare these amounts, you can determine which option is right for you.
Below is a list of commonly held documents and how long they should be kept:
Receipts: Receipts for anything you might itemize on your tax return should be kept for three years with your tax records.
Home Improvement Records: Hold these for at least three years after the due date of the tax return that includes the income or loss on the home when it’s sold. If you plan to sell the house, and you have made improvements to it, keep receipts for those improvements for seven years — you may need them to lower the taxable gain on the house when you sell it.
Medical Bills: Keep receipts for medical expenses for one year, as your insurance company may request proof of a doctor visit or other verification of medical claims. For tax purposes, it is recommended to keep medical records for three years.
Paycheck Stubs: Keep pay check stubs until the end of the year, and discard them after comparing to your W-2 and annual Social Security statements. Keep W2s for 7 years.
Utility Bills: Keep for one year and then discard — unless you’re claiming a home office tax deduction, in which case you must keep them for three years.
Credit Card: Keep until you’ve confirmed the charges and have proof of payment. If you need them for tax deductions, keep for three years.
Investment and Real Estate Records: Keep for three years, as you may need the documentation for the capital gains tax if you’re audited by the IRS. These records help track your cost basis and the taxes you owe when you sell stocks or properties. Once you receive the annual summaries, you can shred your monthly statements.
Account Statements: You’ll need statements for up to three years if you are audited by the IRS. CW provides online statements, so you can switch to receiving your documents online and cut down on paper. CW electronic account statements are automatically stored in the CWAnyWhere statements section of the mobile app and desktop banking. Instructions on how to view your past statements can be found in the FAQ: "How do I get a copy of my statement?"
Tax Returns: The IRS recommends that you “keep records for three years from the date you filed your original return or two years from the date you paid the tax, whichever is later.” If you file a claim for a loss from worthless securities or bad debt deduction, keep your tax records for seven years.
Records of Loans that Have Been Paid Off: Keep for seven years.
Active Contracts, Insurance Documents, Property Records or Stock Certificates: Keep all these items while they’re active. After contracts are completed or insurance policies expire, you can discard these documents.
Marriage License, Birth Certificates, Wills, Adoption Papers, Death Certificates or Records of Paid Mortgages: Keep these documents forever.
Zogo is a new, FREE financial literacy app sponsored by CommunityWide FCU. Zogo is available to anyone age 13 and up, so everyone can learn financial literacy and earn rewards! This app features over 300 bite-sized educational modules designed by Duke University professors. Each module contains a brief lesson on a financial topic, followed by a five-question quiz to gauge comprehension of the topic. As the modules are completed, you will earn points. The points can then be redeemed for gift cards to stores such as Starbucks, Amazon, Addidas, and more! You can also earn real money by referring friends to try Zogo - for each friend who signs up using your code, you will receive $1!
The Zogo app is available for Apple devices in the App Store and for Android devices in Google Play.
To join, use access code: COMWIDE
General Product and Service FAQs
Yes, we do. Currently, wires can only be initiated in a CW office.
Sending a domestic wire is $20.00. The funds will arrive to the destination same day as long as the transaction is done in office before 4:30 PM. A domestic wire form must be completed and returned to the nearest office.
Sending an international wire is $50.00 and requires additional approval from management. The funds will arrive to the destination same day as long as the transaction is done in office before 3:30PM. An international wire form must be completed and returned to the nearest office.
If you need information to originate a wire to be deposited to your CW account, you can give incoming wire instructions to the financial institution you are originating the wire from. Receiving a wire transfer into your CW accounts has a fee of $10.00.
For your security, we are unfortunately unable to change personal information over the phone. However, changing personal information such as address, email, or phone numbers can be done easily within CWAnyWhere, either online or through the app. Learn how with this short interactive demo.
If you are unable to change personal information through our online services, or prefer not to update through CWAnyWhere, our call center reps are able to make changes for you when using our chat service for identity verification.
You will find that CW pays the highest rates and charges the lowest fees.
For our full account dividend rates, please click here.
We are proud to offer multiple electronic options for self-service on your account. These options include: online banking; our mobile banking app, CWAnyWhere, available for iOS and Android; and our phone banking platform, CWConnect - which now features our new interactive IVR voice response system, JOY!
CWAnyWhere FAQs
For your security, we are unfortunately unable to change personal information over the phone. However, changing personal information such as address, email, or phone numbers can be done easily within CWAnyWhere, either online or through the app. Learn how with this short interactive demo.
If you are unable to change personal information through our online services, or prefer not to update through CWAnyWhere, our call center reps are able to make changes for you when using our chat service for identity verification.
Cancel your CW Credit Card and/or CW Debit Card and order a replacement by going to CWAnyWhere and selecting the "Cards" option, then highlight the card you want to cancel, and select "Settings" then "Report Card lost or stolen" and complete the process. Once the new card is ordered, you will have immediate digital access to the new card information should you need it, until your card is received in the mail.
Don’t have time to make it into an office? Checks can be easily deposited from within our CWAnyWhere mobile app with our remote deposit capture product. (Checks deposited through CWAnyWhere may be subject to holds.) Learn how with this quick interactive demo.
Copies of statements can be mailed to you with a phone request, or picked up in an office, but can also be easily accessed and dowloaded from within CWAnyWhere! Learn how to find them with this short demo.
You are able to log in to online banking two different ways:
- By downloading our CWAnyWhere app from the App Store or Google Play;
- Or, by going to comwide.com and clicking on the yellow "Home Banking Login" button at the top of the page. You will then be taken to the login screen where you are able to input your username and password.
The CWAnyWhere mobile app versions also have face recognition, PIN, and fingerprint recognition capability if you have a device with these options. Learn how to set it up with this interactive demo.
Checks can be ordered either by phone, in branch, or online.
We do not require checks to be ordered from us, but should you choose to purchase checks elsewhere, please ensure you have provided the check order company with you MICR number for check ordering, not your CW account number. This can be found by looking at the value at the bottom of a current set of checks, or logging into CWAnyWhere, navigating to your checking account and selecting it, then selecting "Account Info", and it will be listed as "Checking Account Number".
If you have never ordered checks before with us, we recommend you contact us for you initial check order.
If you prefer to order online or just need a reorder, you can learn how to order checks online through CWAnyWhere with this quick interactive demo.
If you are having trouble logging into home banking, double check that both the username and password are inputted correctly. These are both case sensitive so it is a good practice to also make sure the CapsLock on your keyboard is off or on, depending on your password.
We recommend using complex usernames and passwords including combinations of letters and numbers for each if possible to limit login issues and improve the security of your account.
If you are unsure of your username or password, you can reset these by selecting the "Need Login Help?" link on the login screen.
NOTE: CW will never ask you for your password or MFA authorization code and you should never give these out to anyone.
Loan and Credit FAQs
- Online or Mobile Banking External Account Transfer - No processing fee
- With CWAnyWhere online or mobile app, from your account at another financial institution. This ACH option is recommended. Payments can be authorized as one time or recurring. Payment fees are avoided and account information is available 24/7. Previously entered payment information and current loan status and history will be available. You will need either the login information for your financial institution or the routing and account number to your external account. Pre-authorization may be required upon first use and can take up to three business days to process if required.
- Online or Mobile Banking Direct Transfer - No processing fee
- With CWAnyWhere online or mobile app
- Direct transfer from your CW Checking or Savings.
- Debit Card - Online or by phone - $5.00 processing fee
- With CWAnyWhere online or mobile app
- Call us at 1-800-729-6808, press option 2 for loans; option 1 for payments
- External Account (ACH) Transfer - By phone - $5.00 processing fee
- Call us at 1-800-729-6808, press option 2 for loans; option 1 for payments
- Please note: You will need the routing and account number to your external account. Pre-authorization is required upon first use and can take up to three business days to process.
- Mail - No processing fee
- CommunityWide FCU, 52550 Fir Rd. Granger, IN 46530
- Please send a payment coupon from your monthly statement and include your account and note number on the memo line of your check.
- In Person
For step-by-step tutorials on how to make payments and more, visit the CW Learning Center!
No, unfortunately we do not provide copies of credit reports to applicants. However, CW members with CW Checking accounts can get a free copy of their credit report with their ID Protect membership. Simply login here to initiate getting access to your credit report.
CW does not fund student loans.
Members with CW Checking accounts can get a free copy of their credit report with their ID Protect membership (enrollment required).
Additionally, if you do not have a CW Checking account, but would like access to your credit report, the federal government requires that each of the three national credit-reporting agencies—Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion—gives you a free credit report every year. You can request a free copy of your credit report by visiting AnnualCreditReport.com.
According to the Federal Trade Commission, consumers should be aware that there are many sites out there that claim to offer “free” credit reports but often charge you for another product if you accept the report. To request your credit report by phone, call (877) 322–8228. To request your credit report by mail, write to Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281. Do not contact the individual credit-reporting agencies.
Because the federal government requires that each of the three national credit-reporting agencies—Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion—gives you a free credit report every year, consider staggering the receipt of each of your credit reports. That way, you'll get a continuous picture of how your credit picture looks, because the three bureaus feed each other the latest information. You’ll also be able to clean up errors as you find them (because errors can drag down a credit score) and you'll also keep an eye on identity theft.
To get a free copy of your credit report, visit AnnualCreditReport.com.
A signature loan is a loan without material collateral such as a car or home. The maximum amount you can borrow is $5000 (determined based on credit review factors). You can use this loan for just about any purpose.
Miscellaneous FAQs
As of January 1, 2012, paper savings bonds are no longer sold at financial institutions. This action supports Treasury’s goal to increase the number of electronic transactions with citizens and businesses.
Additionally, CommunityWide Federal Credit Union does not cash savings bonds.
Click here for details about purchasing savings bonds electronically.
No, CommunityWide FCU does not offer safety deposit boxes at this time.
We are always accepting new applications and looking for qualified staff. Come be a part of our team! You can come in to any of our offices and request an application or complete our online application and we will follow up with you as soon as we can.
Yes, we do. Currently, wires can only be initiated in a CW office.
Sending a domestic wire is $20.00. The funds will arrive to the destination same day as long as the transaction is done in office before 4:30 PM. A domestic wire form must be completed and returned to the nearest office.
Sending an international wire is $50.00 and requires additional approval from management. The funds will arrive to the destination same day as long as the transaction is done in office before 3:30PM. An international wire form must be completed and returned to the nearest office.
If you need information to originate a wire to be deposited to your CW account, you can give incoming wire instructions to the financial institution you are originating the wire from. Receiving a wire transfer into your CW accounts has a fee of $10.00.
Credit unions are non-profit and exist to help people, not to make a profit. As such, all earnings are returned to their members in the form of high-interest savings and low rate loans.
A volunteer board of directors, elected by the members, governs a credit union. With their vote, each member has a direct impact on the direction of the credit union. Also, "people helping people" is the credit union philosophy.
A credit union's goal is to serve all of their members equally and provide charitable contributions to their community. Credit unions are owned by their members. Each member gets one vote and an equal say in how the credit union is run.
To learn more about the advantages of being a member of CW, click here.
Rest easy knowing that your savings are safe and secure with CommunityWide Federal Credit Union. The National Credit Union Share Insurance Fund (NCUSIF) insures member deposits up to $250,000 per depositor, per ownership category at federally insured credit unions. This coverage is backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government, ensuring that no member of a federally insured credit union has ever lost a penny of insured savings.
Single ownership accounts, joint accounts, and certain retirement accounts like IRAs are insured up to $250,000 each. Additional coverage is available through proper structuring of accounts and using different ownership categories. The Share Insurance Estimator can be used to verify that all of your deposits are fully insured by NCUA.
To learn more about this federal insurance, please click here.
CW IRA FAQs
Yes, you can maintain both types of IRAs at the same time. You can even make contributions to both types of IRAs in the same year. But your contributions to both Roth and traditional IRAs cannot exceed the maximum contribution limit for all IRAs.
There are limits on the amount of income one can make during a given year—and the limits change from year to year.
Please visit the IRS website for details.
It might be tempting to view your 401(k) as a source of emergency funds, but before you dip into your retirement account for cash, explore alternatives. As a general rule you want to avoid borrowing or withdrawing funds from your 401k unless there is absolutely no other option. If you take cash out of your 401k before reaching the age of 59 ½ you will face a 10% penalty as well as pay taxes on the withdrawal. You will also miss out on the potential growth that those funds would have had if left in the 401k until retirement. Learn more about this option here.
- Waiting more than 60 days to deposit the 401K check into a new IRA. - If the check has been made payable directly to you by the plan administrator, it must be deposited into another retirement account by the 60th day or it becomes taxable income for that year.
- Doing multiple rollovers in the same 12 month period. – In most cases the IRS limits you to one rollover per year involving the same IRA. If you do complete a second rollover in the same year the IRS can assess an early withdraw penalty and add the untaxed portion of your IRA funds to your taxable income for that year. There are some exceptions to this rule, including:
- Rollovers from an employer sponsored plan where the rollover is completed by the plan administrator
- Conversions where you roll over from a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA
- When a trustee, such as your credit union, completes the transfer from one IRA to another IRA on your behalf
- Valid government issued ID, passport, or military identification showing current address. If the address is not correct, bring a utility bill, bank statement, or paystub showing the correct address.
- Social Security Number or TIN
- Opening deposit of $2,000 minimum
- Beneficiary information (Name, address, Social Security number, birthdate)
- If completing a rollover, bring your most recent statement from current IRA or 401K account.
- IRA accounts require special processing and cannot be completed online at this time. Please contact the credit union directly if you wish to open an account of this type or schedule an appointment so we may assist you with the requirements needed to process such a request.
A Roth IRA is an individual retirement account created by the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997. Roth IRA accounts are traditionally used as retirement savings accounts. They allow limited contributions to be made throughout the tax year and can be withdrawn within 5 years after establishing the account provided you are aged 59 1/2 or older.
Anyone can contribute to a Roth IRA account, if they have income derived from work efforts or are the spouse of someone with income derived from work efforts and compensation in the form of wages, tips, salaries, bonuses or professional fees.
No. The amount you contribute to your 401(k) or other employer-sponsored plans will not be affected by your Roth IRA.
Security FAQs
ID Protect is comprehensive identity protection that provides tools for preventing and detecting identity theft, such as credit file monitoring and debit/credit card registration. Also, should you ever become a victim of identity theft, ID Protect will provide you with access to a case manager who provides end-to-end recovery support on your behalf until your identity and credit are completely restored.
This is an optional service included with all CW Checking accounts - at NO additional cost to you!
To learn more about ID Protect, click here.
If you are a current CW Checking account holder and would like further information on how to enroll in ID Protect or if you are interested in becoming a member with CW, please contact us.
Phishing is the act of sending an e-mail to a user falsely claiming to be an established legitimate enterprise in an attempt to scam the user into surrendering private information that will be used for identity theft. The e-mail directs the user to visit a website where they are asked to update personal information, such as passwords and credit card, social security, and account numbers that the legitimate organization already has. The website, however, is bogus and set up only to steal the user’s information.
CommunityWide FCU will never contacting you requesting you to provide personal information into a website via a link. If you are ever emailed and asked to provide personal information from anyone claiming to be a representative at CommunityWide, please do not respond or click on any links in your email and call 1-800-729-6808, and provide us as much information about the email as you can, so we can provide this information to other potential victims and the proper authorities.
Vishing is the telephone equivalent of phishing. Vishing is the act of using the telephone in an attempt to scam the user into surrendering private information that will be used for identity theft. The scammer usually pretends to be a legitimate business, and fools the victim into thinking he or she will profit.
CommunityWide FCU will never contacting you requesting you to provide personal information. If you are ever called and asked to provide personal information from anyone claiming to be a representative at CommunityWide, please hang up and call 1-800-729-6808, and provide us as much information as you can about the caller, so we can provide this information to other potential victims and the proper authorities.
If you feel you have been a victim of identity theft and are a member of ID Protect, contact an ID Protect agent to begin an investigation. ID Protect is a free service to all members with a CW Checking Account, however you must enroll in the service to benefit from coverage.
It is also recommended that you contact the FTC’s Identity Theft Hotline toll-free at 1-877-IDTHEFT (438-4338);
or by mail: Identity Theft Clearinghouse, Federal Trade Commission, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20580
If your wallet has been lost or stolen, and you are a member of ID Protect, you may contact them to assist you with protecting your accounts.
If you are a member of CW and have a CW Checking Account, you are automatically eligible for this free ID protection coverage, but you must enroll to activate your service.
Cancel your CW Credit Card and/or CW Debit Card and order a replacement by going onto CWAnyWhere and selecting the "Cards" option, then highlight the card you want to cancel, and select "Settings" then "Report Card lost or stolen" and complete the process. Once the new card is ordered, you will have immediate digital access to the new card information should you need it, until your card is received in the mail.
If you are not a member of ID Protect it is also recommended that you do the following:
- Call the three major credit reporting agencies (Equifax: 1-800-525-6285, Experian: 1-888-397-3742 and Trans Union: 1-800-680-7289) and ask them to immediately place a Fraud Alert on your name and Social Security number. The alert means any company that checks your credit knows your information was stolen and they have to contact you by phone to authorize new credit.
- Notify the SSN national fraud hotline at 1-800-269-0271.
- File a police report the same day, if at all possible, in the jurisdiction where your wallet was stolen.