SECOND QUARTER 2005 Vol.3, Issue 2 Insights

A Quarterly Customer Newsletter

Check Your Credit Report, Free of Charge

A new federal law allows you a free, once-a-year look at your credit report so you can check for errors before they cause financial trouble. Since your credit history affects every- thing from your purchasing power to your ability to get a reasonable loan rate or land a job, it’s important to keep your report as clean as possible.

It pays to check your credit Consumers have been paying report and request the correc- up to $9 per credit report A Message from tion of errors before you’re from Equifax, Experian and our Chairman wrongly denied credit or have TransUnion, the three major to spend valuable time clear- credit reporting agencies. Now Greetings from OneUnited ing up your credit. Your you can request a free copy Bank. We are pleased to pro- report could be flawed with from each credit reporting vide you with Insights, our false accounts, late payments agency once every 12 months quarterly customer newsletter. or other delinquencies due to through the Annual Credit Through our newsletters, we identity theft or information Report Request Service. The share our progress as we mix-ups. Even if your report new rule has been imple- serve the banking needs of is clean, it may be helpful to mented gradually in states Residents of California have urban communities and pro- learn your credit score, espe- across the country, beginning had free access to their credit vide ideas that may help you cially if you’re shopping for a in December 2004 with report through the Annual achieve financial security. house or other large purchase Western states and reaching Credit Report Request affected by your score. You nationwide eligibility in Service since Dec. 1. Florida Because we value our Mem- can request your score for a September 2005. residents have free access as bers, we do everything we can fee at the time you order your of June 1. In addition, to make sure our products free credit report. Massachusetts currently and services meet your needs. allows free credit report In an effort to make banking access mandated by state law. with us even more convenient Free Credit Report Rollout Dates and affordable, there are a The Annual Credit Report number of changes underway Request Service is your only this year. source for free credit reports with no strings attached, so In February we launched check don’t be fooled by other offers. imaging for all OneUnited Simply go to www.annual Bank Members. This service creditreport.com, a website provides you with images of Dec. 1, 2004 sponsored by all three major checks in statements rather March 1, 2005 credit reporting agencies, or than the actual checks. Check June 1, 2005 call 1-877-322-8228 to Sept. 1, 2005 continued on page 3 request your free credit report.

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Make Safety No. 1 When Banking Online

Online banking and bill pay can be easy, convenient and effi- cient ways to manage your finances. And OneUnited Bank safeguards your Internet transactions with the most up-to-date security features.

When you log on to online banking or bill pay, you must enter a username and password, thus preventing others from accessing your information. The highest level of encryption available scrambles information being sent from your computer and can be decoded only by the Bank’s servers. We also use firewalls to stop outsiders from hacking into our system and stealing your money, account numbers, personal information, etc. In addition, our employees are held to strict standards to protect your private information.

OneUnited Bank has strict standards to protect your private information, including using firewalls to stop outsiders from hacking into our system.

Protect Yourself To further safeguard your online transactions, follow these simple steps.

Create a strong password. Use at least eight characters in 1 a combination of lower- and uppercase letters, numbers and symbols. Choose a different password for each website. Also, change your password every few months. Never store your password on or near your computer or bank informa- tion, share it with others or transmit it through unsecured e-mail. OneUnited Bank will never ask for your account log-in information via e-mail or by phone.

Regularly download updates for antivirus and other Bookmark the Bank’s correct web address, software. This helps protect your computer and network 2 www.oneunited.com, and use this to link to our site each 4 from becoming infected with viruses that can steal your time. This way, you won’t misspell the address and land on sensitive information. a look-alike site. Similarly, never use links in e-mails to financial institutions’ sites. Many identity thieves set up Monitor your accounts regularly. Check all monthly fraudulent web pages with names, addresses and designs financial account statements for accuracy. Notify similar to legitimate financial websites to lure users into 5 OneUnited Bank immediately if you find discrepancies. providing their personal financial information. (Please Note: You can also reach our website at www.oneunitedbank.com) Your common-sense precautions coupled with our security system mean you can safely take advantage of the benefits of online Verify that you are using a secure web page. The URL banking and bill pay. If you have questions about our online 3will begin with “https” and look for a closed padlock icon. tools, call one of our customer service representatives, go to www.oneunited.com or visit one of our branches.

We Keep the Person in Personal Service

If the big banks were honest, this is what you’d hear on the automated phone system: Thank you for calling MegaBank. To check your account balance, please press 1. To transfer funds, please press 2. If you have a question or problem requiring interaction with a human being, we’re sorry. Please hang up and call OneUnited Bank at 1-877-ONE-UNITED (1-877-663-8648).

At OneUnited Bank, we know that our services such as online and phone banking, direct deposit and automatic bill pay help you conveniently manage your finances. We’re proud to offer these timesaving tools. But, unlike some financial institutions, we’re never so busy promoting our high-tech services that we forget to provide the friendly, personal service that you deserve.

Our Knowledgeable Staff Whether over the phone or face-to-face, our personable staff is available to address any of your financial concerns and questions. Whether over the phone or face-to-face, our From completing a basic deposit or withdrawal transaction, personable staff is available to address any of to helping you apply for a mortgage, to assisting you with your financial concerns and questions. retirement or estate planning, we enjoy putting our expertise at your disposal. Think Bigger Is Better? Think Again Our Valued Customers As financial institutions merge, service often suffers. At At OneUnited Bank, you’re not just a number – you’re a Member. OneUnited Bank, our mergers have brought new services such When you come to one of our branches, you’ll often hear us calling as online banking and the new Visa® Debit Card. Friendly, customers by name. We know you and respect you. personal service is always a top priority with us.

A Message from our Chairman... continued from page 1 images can help you track regarding our new online OneUnited Bank has big plans community development. To your finances, and the service services, and hope to con- for the rest of the year, as well. find out more about OneUnited is already generating positive tinue finding ways to simplify We are currently developing a Bank products or to provide feedback among our Members. your banking experience. cash management service for feedback to us, please explore business Members and a new our website, call us or drop We also recently launched In May we introduced a Visa® debit card, both of by your local branch. our new website including revised Membership Program which will be introduced later OneUnited Bill Pay and that allows customers to get this year. We are also devel- Thank you for your continued OneUnited OnLine, our online even more value from their oping a new single family support. banking service. Visit us relationships with us. The mortgage program – the Kevin Cohee, online at www.oneunited.com required minimum balance details will be coming soon. to see our new look and enjoy was lowered so more Mem- Chairman and easy navigation of our web- bers can avoid Membership These new programs will Chief Executive Officer site. We have received a great fees on our Savings and provide better service to response from customers Choice Memberships. our Members and support

Stay in the Black to Avoid Overdraft Fees OneUnited Bank Locations SECOND QUARTER 2005 Since the Check Clearing for the 21st Century embarrassment associated with overdrawing Massachusetts Vol.3, Issue 2 (Check 21) Act took effect, checks now clear your account. Federal (Headquarters) Insights more quickly than in the past. Therefore, it’s 133 Federal Street important to keep an accurate current balance in To stay on top of your balance, follow these Boston, MA 02110 your check register to help avoid the fees and steps: Roxbury A Quarterly Customer Newsletter • Record all transactions in your check register 2343 Washington Street Roxbury, MA 02119 at the time you make them. Then, subtract/add the amount to your running balance. Include Florida fees, too. Miami • Remember automatic bill payments you may 3275 NW 79th Street Miami, FL 33147 have set up for utilities, insurance or loans. Lauderdale Lakes • Review your account statement each month. 2412 North State Road 7 In between statements, you can verify trans- Lauderdale Lakes, FL 33313 actions through online or phone banking. California Corporate Office / Crenshaw At some point you may overdraw your account. 3683 Crenshaw Blvd. If you do, deposit money into the account as Los Angeles, CA 90016 soon as possible in the amount of the item plus Compton applicable fees. 205 E Compton Blvd. Compton, CA 90221 Overdraft Protection Options Stocker 4143 Crenshaw Blvd. At OneUnited Bank, we offer a variety of safety Los Angeles, CA 90008 nets in the event you overdraw your account. Ladera Please call us or stop by to discuss the details 6810 La Tijera Blvd. of each option in order to choose the best one Los Angeles, CA 90045 for you. Pasadena 1335 N Lake Avenue Pasadena, CA 91104

Introducing OneUnited Bank’s Visa® Debit Card If you have any questions, please contact us at Using a debit card, credit card jumped the most dramatically, 1-877-ONE-UNITED or automatic payment is the growing at an annual rate of (1-877-663-8648) fashionable way to pay these 23.5%. Credit card use www.oneunited.com days, as check-writing declines. increased only 6.7% annu- For telephone banking, In 2003, electronic payments ally, but credit cards still call the Link Line exceeded check payments for outrank debit cards (19.0 bil- fill up the gas tank, consider 1-877-56-UNITY the first time, according to the lion to 15.6 billion) as the using online bill pay or the (1-877-568-6489) Federal Reserve. Electronic most often used form of elec- new OneUnited Bank Visa payments were used 44.5 bil- tronic payment. Checks were Debit Card. You’ll discover lion times that year, compared the only payment instrument what many of your friends with 36.7 billion checks paid. used less frequently in 2003 and neighbors already know This publication does not constitute legal, accounting than in 2000. – electronic payments are the or other professional advice. Although it is intended to be All forms of electronic pay- easy, secure and convenient accurate, neither the publisher way to pay. Visit your local nor any other party assumes ments increased from 2000 to If you still write checks to liability for loss or damage 2003, but debit card use pay bills, buy groceries and branch for more details. due to reliance on this material. ©2005 Priority Publications, Inc. Source: “The 2004 Federal Reserve Payments Study,” www.federalreserve.gov.

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