Coronavirus – Important information

COVID-19 UPDATE to Our Members – Lobby Open 1/24/22

Saturday, January 22, 2022

METRO’s lobby will reopen on Monday, January 24, 2022.

We sincerely appreciate your understanding and flexibility over the last few weeks as the safety and health of our Staff, Members and Guest Members remain our primary concern.

Remember that most transactions can still be completed using our digital banking services, phone, ATM or Drive-Thru lanes.

If you have specific questions not addressed here or on our website, please reach out to us at 847-670-0456, ext. 1, during office hours.

COVID-19 UPDATE to Our Members – Temporary Lobby Closure

Tuesday, December 28, 2021

Due to increased COVID-19 infections and limited staff, our lobby will be CLOSED TEMPORARILY starting this week. The credit union’s Drive-thru hours will remain the same.

Loan and Member Services visits will be by appointment only and can be made by calling our office at 847-670-0456, ext. 1.

We sincerely appreciate your understanding and flexibility over the next few weeks as the safety and health of our Staff, Members and Guest Members remain our primary concern.

Remember that most transactions can still be completed using our digital banking services, phone, ATM or Drive-Thru lanes.

If you have specific questions not addressed here or on our website, please reach out to us at 847-670-0456, ext. 1, during office hours.

COVID-19 UPDATE to Our Members – Updated Mask Guidelines (August 2021)

Monday, August 23, 2021

Effective Monday, August 23, 2021, all METRO members and staff are temporarily required to wear masks, regardless of vaccination status, while inside METRO’s lobby in order to comply with Cook County’s updated requirements.

We continue to follow the CDC’s recommended guidelines to keep our employees and members safe. To help members maintain a safe distance, we are still utilizing decals on the floor to direct traffic flow.

We recommend making an appointment to meet with a financial advisor, Loan Officer, or Member Service Representative prior to coming to the credit union whenever possible.  You may do so by calling us at 847-670-0456 or by contacting us by email at accountservices@mcu.org.

If you have specific questions not addressed here or on our website, please reach out to us at 847-670-0456, ext. 1, during office hours.

COVID-19 UPDATE to Our Members – Updated Mask Guidelines

Friday, June 11, 2021

In accordance with the latest CDC guidelines and guidance from Governor Pritzker, we are updating the face mask requirements in METRO’s lobby effective 6/11/21.

If you have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, you are welcome to enter the lobby without a mask if you feel comfortable.

If you have not been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, please continue to wear a mask and practice social distancing.

We continue to follow the CDC’s recommended guidelines to keep our employees and members safe.  To help members maintain a safe distance, we are still utilizing decals on the floor to direct traffic flow.  

If you have specific questions not addressed here or on our website, please reach out to us at 847-670-0456, ext. 1, during office hours.

COVID-19 UPDATE to Our Members – We’re Open!

Wednesday, May 12, 2021

Come visit us in our lobby or Drive-Thru with our updated hours:

We continue to follow the CDC’s recommended guidelines to keep our employees and members safe.

To help members maintain a safe distance, we are still utilizing decals on the floor to direct traffic flow and limiting the number of people inside the lobby at one time.  

We recommend making an appointment to meet with a financial advisor, Loan Officer, or Member Service Representative prior to coming to the credit union whenever possible.  You may do so by calling us at 847-670-0456 or by contacting us by email at accountservices@mcu.org.

Remember that most transactions can still be completed using our digital banking services, phone, ATM or Drive-Thru lanes.

If you have specific questions not addressed here or on our website, please reach out to us at 847-670-0456, ext. 1, during office hours.

COVID-19 UPDATE to Our Members – LOBBY ACCESS RESUMES 2/16/2021

Tuesday, February 16, 2021

Effective Tuesday, February 16th, our Lobby will Reopen for members to conduct everyday business. We do, however, encourage members to make appointments and to utilize our alternate delivery channels listed below in the To Help Us Serve You Better section of this post.

As you may remember, this past November, Governor Pritzker issued an executive order to which METRO was advised to limit lobby traffic to appointments only. This course of action was to ensure the safety and well-being of our members & employees and to also ensure you have uninterrupted access to our banking services and staff.

After much effort, Illinois is now in Phase 4, which enables us to reopen our lobby. In order to allow for cleaning and sanitization throughout the credit union, our lobby will close 1 hour before the drive-thru. Please see the hours listed below or click HERE for current lobby & drive-thru hours.

Thank you for your commitment and understanding during this transitional period!

How We Are Reopening:

We will continue following the CDC’s recommended guidelines to keep our employees and members safe.

In addition, we will continue the following precautions with our employees and members:

• All employees and members are required to wear face masks in the lobby
• All employees and members are asked to respect social distancing
• Employees will sanitize and disinfect stations frequently
• Every station is provided hand sanitizer for members to use before and after transactions
• Employees are required to stay home if feeling sick
• We encourage our members to wash/sanitize their hands before coming to the credit union, and — most importantly — stay at home if you are feeling sick

To help members maintain a safe distance, we are still utilizing decals on the floor to direct traffic flow and limiting the number of people inside the lobby at one time.

If you have specific questions not addressed here or on our website, please reach out to us at 847-670-0456, ext. 1, during office hours.

COVID-19 UPDATE to Our Members – LOBBY ACCESS

Thursday, November 27, 2020

During this pandemic, it has been a challenge to find the perfect balance between providing quality member service and maintaining measures to protect the health of our employees, members, and guest-members. 

Because COVID-19 cases continue to rise not only in Illinois but also nationwide, we have decided to service the majority of account transactions thru the drive-thru.  While the lobby remains available, EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY, METRO Federal Credit Union will keep the front door locked and all withdrawal, deposits, loan payments, and other account transactions will be handled through our drive-thru.  

Loan appointments, New Account appointments, and certain other account servicing items can still be handle inside the credit union lobby.

To Help Us Serve You Better:

• Please make an appointment to meet with a Financial Advisor, Loan Officer, or Member Service Representative prior to coming to the credit union whenever possible.  You may do so by calling us at 847-670-0456 – ext. 1 for Member Services or ext. 2 for the Loan Department.
• Remember that most transactions can be completed using our digital banking channels, phone, ATM’s or Drive-Thrus.

The safety and health of our members, guest-members, and employees remain our primary concern, so we appreciate your understanding and flexibility as we navigate the ever-changing COVID-19 guidance and recommendations.  We will continue to monitor the latest reports from federal, state, and health agencies.

Click HERE for METRO’s current Lobby and Drive-Thru hours.

COVID-19 UPDATE to Our Members – LOBBY ACCESS

Thursday, November 12, 2020

Due to recent rising COVID-19 cases in Illinois, EFFECTIVE NOVEMBER 12th, METRO Federal Credit Union will keep the front door locked.  METRO Members may enter the lobby by ringing the doorbell located to the right of the front door.  CO-OP Shared Branch Guest Members will continue to be serviced in the Drive-thru lanes only. 

 

To Help Us Serve You Better:

• Please make an appointment to meet with a Financial Advisor, Loan Officer, or Member Service Representative prior to coming to the credit union whenever possible.  You may do so by calling us at 847-670-0456 – ext. 1 for Member Services or ext. 2 for the Loan Department.
• Remember that most transactions can be completed using our digital banking channels, phone, ATM’s or Drive-thru lanes.

The safety and health of our members, guest-members, and employees remain our primary concern, so we appreciate your understanding and flexibility as we navigate the ever-changing COVID-19 guidance and recommendations.  We will continue to monitor the latest reports from federal, state, and health agencies.

 

Click HERE for METRO’s current Lobby and Drive-Thru hours.

COVID-19 UPDATE to Our Members – LOBBY REOPENING MONDAY, JUNE 1st

Saturday, May 30, 2020

We are excited to announce that we will be reopening our lobby doors for our members EFFECTIVE MONDAY, JUNE 1st. We will do so in adherence to guidance set forth by our public health experts and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Click HERE for METRO’s updated Lobby and Drive-Thru hours.

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW:

We want to proceed with caution, so we ask that you continue to practice safe and healthy illness prevention methods inside our facilities moving forward.

To ensure safety, we ask all staff and members to:

Clean hands often – Wash your hands with soap and water or use hand sanitizer, especially after touching frequently used items or surfaces.

Avoid close contact – Please maintain social distance in our facilities by allowing 6 feet of space between yourself and others. Please no hugs or other exchanges that could jeopardize our collective health.

Wear a Mask – We ask that all persons entering the lobby wear a mask before entering the credit union. If you do not have a mask, one will be provided to you at the door.

Clean & disinfect – We will continue to follow proper cleaning protocol of our facilities, ATMs, electronics and soft surfaces.

Stay home when ill – Please stay home if you are feeling ill and use our many remote banking options instead.

We’re committed to being responsive to the needs of our members and staff as we cautiously transition back to usual business operations. We’ll keep you informed if further changes in protocol are required.

REMOTE BANKING OPTIONS:
During times like these, we encourage you to get familiar with our remote banking options. Should you feel ill, we ask that you remain home and conduct your financial business virtually until you feel well again.

As a reminder, you can access your accounts remotely in the following ways:

• Online Banking
• Mobile Banking

ATMs
Access your accounts using any ATM on our networks. Click Here to locate one near you.

DRIVE-THRU
If you aren’t comfortable coming into the lobby, remember our drive-thru lanes offer the convenience of banking from your car!

STEPS WE ARE TAKING FOR SAFETY, SECURITY, AND PREVENTION

Uninterrupted Safety and Security
All security measures in place have and will continue without interruption, including fraud protection.  METRO is a federally insured financial institution through the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) and your money is safe and secure!

Monitoring and Adapting
Our team is closely monitoring the situation and has an agile response plan in place.  In addition, review and execution of existing preparedness and business continuity plans have occurred.  We are monitoring the information provided by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the NCUA, and local authorities.  Employees have been encouraged to familiarize themselves with the information and follow the recommended guidelines.

Increased Cleaning and Sanitizing
We have distributed additional hand sanitizer and personal protective equipment throughout the credit union and have put additional cleaning and sanitizing rotations in place.

Employee Support
We are committed to supporting our employees during this time and are working to ensure processes are in place to continue to do so.  We have encouraged our employees to continue to monitor their health and have direct communication for sharing any issues or potential exposure concerns.  

We appreciate all of our Members’ support and understanding during this time!

COVID-19 UPDATE to Our Members – Extended Operating Hours for Drive-Thru and Phones

Saturday, May 2, 2020

Effective Monday, May 4th, METRO will be extending telephone and Drive-Thru operating hours to:

MONDAY-FRIDAY: 8am-5pm

SATURDAY: 8am-1pm

For the health and safety of our members and employees, and through guidance from the Illinois Governor’s office and Center for Disease Control, METRO’s lobby will remain closed through the Stay at Home order extension of 5/31/2020. We appreciate your patience and cooperation with us at this unprecedented time!

We understand that economic issues may occur because of the impact of the coronavirus. If you encounter financial difficulties, we encourage you to contact a Member Service Representative at 847-670-0456, ext. 1, to discuss your specific situation.

Stay well!

COVID-19 UPDATE to Our Members – Continuation of Reduced Hours and Drive-Thru Access
Tuesday, March 31, 20 20

As of the announcement today for the extension of Governor Pritzker’s Stay-at-Home Order, METRO will continue to have reduced hours and suspension of in-lobby transactions.  The credit union’s drive-thru will remain OPEN Monday-Friday from 8-4 pm and Saturday from 8-12 pm.  We sincerely appreciate everyone’s cooperation during this time!  If you have any questions or concerns, please contact a Member Service Representative at 847-670-0456, ext 1, or email us at accountservices@mcu.org.

COVID-19 UPDATE – Skip-A-Payment Form

If you or your family have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, please fill out this emergency Skip-a-Pay program form that will allow up to 2 months of loan payments to be skipped. We understand that during these unprecedented times you may be facing some financial challenges—METRO is here to help. To take advantage of the Skip-a-payment, complete the following information and submit to METRO for processing by email to accountservices@mcu.org or by fax to (847) 670-0401. For questions, or more information, please contact the office at 847-670-0456. 

Skip-A-Payment Form   If your hardship is expected to last longer, please complete a Hardship Form.

COVID-19 UPDATE to Our Members – Reduced Hours
Friday, March 20, 2020
Due to the recent Stay-at-Home Order made by Illinois Governor, J.B. Pritzker, METRO will be taking additional precautionary measures, as recommended by the State of Illinois.

Our top priority is the safety and well-being of METRO Members and Employees. As an essential business to the communities we serve, we are reaching out to our Members to confirm that METRO Federal Credit Union WILL REMAIN OPEN, however, additional steps will be taken to stop the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, while continuing to serve you with as minimal disruption as possible.

Effective Saturday, March 21, METRO will be reducing telephone and Drive-Thru Operating hours to:

MONDAY-FRIDAY: 8am-4pm

SATURDAY: 8am-12pm

During this time, METRO’s Phones and Drive-Thru will be open with the above limited hours, while the lobby will remain closed. You may contact us at 847-670-0456, ext. 1, for assistance.

COVID-19 Update to Our Members – Suspension of Lobby Transactions
Tuesday, March 17, 2020

Helping protect the health and safety of METRO employees and continuing to serve our Members are our top priories as we monitor and respond to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Due to events rapidly changing, and to do our part in slowing the spread of the virus, it is clear that this unprecedented pandemic warrants an appropriate response.

We have determined it is in the best interest of Members and employees to temporarily suspend in-person lobby transactions beginning Wednesday, March 18th. *Please note that our lobby will be accessible by appointment for special circumstances only.

Your money is safe and available for you; we are just temporarily shifting how we serve you.

METRO’s phones and Drive-Thru will remain open during regular business hours, and you may contact us at 847-670-0456, ext. 1, for assistance.

In addition to Drive-Thru and phone service, there are a number of ways to continue to do business with METRO during the temporary lobby closure:

ELECTRONIC SERVICES
You can also continue to use all electronic services, including:

• Virtual Branch Online Banking – check balances, view account history, perform transfers and loan payments.
• Online Bill Pay – located within online banking – pay bills electronically.
• Call-24 Audio Response #800-543-1257 – phone banking to check balances, view account history, perform transfers.
• Mobile Deposit – remotely deposit checks to your METRO account.
• ATM services – withdraw cash and perform transfers, and also make deposits at participating ATM’s.

CO-OP SHARED BRANCHING
Our Shared Branching Network is available to process basic transactions.

• Find a location convenient for you by clicking HERE.
• Please make sure to bring a valid government-issued ID along with your METRO account/member number.
• We recommend that you contact the Shared Branch location to verify hours and availability.

ADDITIONAL STEPS WE’RE TAKING

• Extra cleaning and sanitizing – our regular cleaning schedule has been increased to protect members and staff.
• Electronic Signatures – our DocuSign technology allows members the ability to sign important documents from their home computer, tablet, or mobile phone.
• Member Support – we are working on plans to help accommodate those affected financially by recent events.

Our hearts go out to all those impacted by COVID-19 – this includes not only those diagnosed with the virus, but also their friends and family, those whose jobs and schools have been impacted and so many more.

We understand that there may be instances where members find themselves facing financial difficulties. METRO is here to help, and we encourage any member who may be impacted or need assistance to reach out to discuss and find a solution for you. If you have been directly impacted and need financial assistance for any of your METRO Loans, please contact a Loan Officer at 847-670-0456, ext 2, during business hours.

We will continue to monitor this situation and evaluate the need to maintain this status as new information becomes available. We hope to return to normal business operations as soon as it is deemed safe to do so. We will continue to update you by email as well as posting updates on our website at mcu.org/coronavirus-important-information.

Thank you for your loyalty and understanding,

 

Salvatore Fragale

President/CEO

 

IMPORTANT MESSAGE ON THE CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19)

Saturday, March 14, 2020
METRO Federal Credit Union is committed to the well-being of our members, partners, and employees. We understand this is a time of much concern and uncertainty as the coronavirus (COVID-19) situation evolves. It is our top priority to be responsive to the needs of our members and partners and we want to share the ways in which we remain dedicated to you.

During this time, we would like to remind you that you can always access your accounts 24/7 online by logging in at www.mcu.org or through our mobile banking app. You can also access your accounts  through Call-24, our telephone banking system, by calling 1-800-543-1257. METRO is here to support  and protect our members that may be impacted, and we encourage you to use our digital tools and  resources.

Unless otherwise directed by federal or state authorities, METRO Federal Credit Union plans on business as usual. If you  do  decide to visit our office, you may notice a couple of things that look a little different. When visiting  our tellers, you may notice that one or more of our tellers are wearing latex gloves. The decision to  wear the gloves is teller-dependent and based on guidance received by the World Health Organization  concerning how long the Covid- 19 virus may stay active on currency.  Again, since they’re handling cash  all day, the tellers are observing an abundance of caution regarding cash handling. You may also notice  hand sanitizer placed around the office along with seeing staff actively wiping down surfaces.

For more information on the Coronavirus, visit the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at www.CDC.gov.
Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) 

 

Sign up for our online banking and download our mobile app 

• Check your balance and transactions at any time of day or night.
• Transfer money between accounts.
• Schedule account alerts (email and/or text).
• Organize and pay your bills online.
• Send and receive money securely.
• Apply for a loan.
• Send and receive secure messages.
• Change your contact information, security questions and password.
• Find nearby Shared Branching locations and surcharge-free ATMs.
• Enroll for Remote Deposit.

 

If you haven’t already:
Download the METRO Federal Credit Union Mobile Banking App today!

Coronavirus Outbreak Fraud Precautions

By: MaryAnne Colucci, Director, Fraud & Risk LSC

Opportunistic fraudsters will exploit anything for personal gain, including the fear, anxiety and the unknown surrounding the coronavirus. Fraud attempts can come via phone calls, texts, emails, websites, and even mail or faxes.

Email and phone scams include phishing for personal information by impersonating health officials. Donation requests to fund emergency plans have also been reported. Emails falsely claiming the virus is in the recipient’s area encourage clicking a link and entering an email password to read more.

How can you prevent being a target of a phishing scam?

• NEVER respond to an email asking you to verify or update your personal information.
• Delete any unsolicited email in your email accounts – don’t even open them!
• Never give out your personal or financial information on the phone or online unless you initiated contact.
• Verify the HTTPS on the address bar.
• Check the email address by hovering over it.
• Watch for suspicious or misleading domain names.
• Hang up and call back if you receive a phone call with a known phone number.
• Research the company and their phone number; do not use any number or link that was given in an email.
• Update security software/firewalls.
• Back up your data.

Visit the Federal Trade Commission website for more information on “How to Recognize and Avoid Phishing Scams.”