Be Informed and Prepare when Away from Home

Apr 20, 2023 | Education, Advisory

Be Informed and Prepare when Away from Home

In a recent FCC advisory, travelers were warned about juice jacking, a cyber-attack method used to harvest personal data from personal devices at public charging stations, oftentimes found in airports and infected with malware aimed at stealing your data.

To guard against being a potential victim of juice jacking, the FCC offers the following tips:

If using a public port and prompted to “share data”, select “charge only”.
Use an AC power outlet instead of a public USB charging station.
When traveling, remember to bring your own USB cables and AC/car chargers.
Consider using portable chargers and external batteries.
Find a trusted supplier to purchase a charging-only cable to prevent data from transmission during charging.

“We don’t want to scare members, but we do want our members to be prepared to make the right decisions,” says Support Services Manager Travis Uchino who is concerned with raising member awareness about security threats. “Juice jacking can happen at any public charging station, not just those at airports, but it is more apt to happen in a situation where people are desperate for a charge.”

A Feline Friendly Home

Apr 27, 2023 | Advisory, Home Loans

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A Feline-Friendly Home.

A dream made possible through Hawaii Central’s First-time Homebuyer’s Program.

“I never imagined I would be buying a home in Hawaii,” said Marshall D. who recently closed on his new home, made possible through our First-Time Homebuyer’s Program.

“Unlike a conventional loan, which customarily requires 20% down, through our First-Time Homebuyer’s Program, the dream of homeownership is becoming a reality for Hawaii Central FCU members who have 10% down,” said Loan Officer Irene Ayling. “A huge advantage of this program is that no mortgage insurance is required.”

Pet-friendly and, to be more specific, feline friendly was top on the list of priorities for Marshall as he searched for a home. The place he found was much more than just a home for Mulder and Mahina –a.k.a. “Murder and Mayhem”. The smile on his face said it was a dream come true.

Marshall attended his first Board meeting the week after getting his keys, but since he was so new, he missed the deadline to put his name in the running for Board openings.

They missed out on a great fit. Marshall works for HNL Plumbing and Mechanical, performing facilities maintenance for local businesses and residences.

Marshall shared, although the new home is move-in ready, he has plans to put his skillset to work and make his place as efficient as possible with LED fixtures and light bulbs. “I try to be green,” he said. “A low flow toilet with a bidet is an absolute must, and the sofa is on the way!”

At a sales price of just over $330,000, Marshall’s new home, conveniently located in the heart of Downtown Honolulu, came with amenities including laundry facilities, a meeting room, a heated pool, and an exercise room! When asked if he will be taking advantage of the amenities, his response was “Oh, Yah!” Learning that the maintenance fee included central air conditioning, hot water, sewer, water, and other common expenses was just icing on the cake.

From your family at Hawaii Central, congratulations Marshall and thank you for letting us help!

Learn More About Home Loans

Video Freedom & Safety with Hawaii Central FCU Video Banking

Apr 5, 2023 | Education, Advisory, Video Banking, Press Room

VIDEO FREEDOM & SAFETY WITH HAWAII CENTRAL FCU VIDEO BANKING

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Launched in 2021 to accommodate members during the pandemic and keep our kupuna and other at-risk populations safe, Hawaii Central Federal Credit Union (Hawaii Central FCU) is well into year two of the Video Banking program. Hawaii Central FCU President Drake Tanabe says, “We recognize our at-risk and kupuna populations may still feel more comfortable conducting business from home, and we are currently working on a broadcast project to continue to get the word out to those in need of these services.” The program has also seen success with members who are traveling abroad.

Available during normal business hours, Video Banking services are convenient and allow members to conduct most cashless transactions from home and across the globe. Services include opening an account, applying for a loan, e-signing certain documents and enjoying virtual in-person assistance. A link on the Hawaii Central FCU website’s homepage will connect members and those interested in becoming members to a video chat where they will be greeted by one of our video banking specialists.

“The feedback we have received is remarkable,” says Marketing Supervisor Mila Miyata. Whether the need arises from health-related issues, because members are abroad, or because members are simply unable to come into the branch, end-users are overwhelmingly satisfied with the convenience and member service. The digital services suite, along with Video Banking, includes online and mobile banking with remote check deposits. Convenience and safety are high on the list of priorities for Hawaii Central FCU with Co-op shared branching services and surcharge-free access to First Hawaiian Bank ATMs also offered as an alternative to coming into the branch.