Cooperative Federal has openings for the right people. Engage in a daring struggle against the forces of neglect. Learn community development finance working in the most funky, diverse, and vibrant neighborhoods in Syracuse. Join a dedicated team of community activists posing as bankers. Together we will assist members with low levels of economic resources to build financial strength.

Job Opening: Executive Assistant.

Are you looking to start or grow your business? Nourish your ideas with expert advice at these free workshops.

Topics include:

• Creating a Winning Marketing Strategy (2 part seminar)
• Organizing Your Workspace
• Credit Building for Entrepreneurs
• Build a Business: From Ideas to Realities
• Opportunities for Minority & Women-Owned Businesses

(PS: Interested in accounts, loans, or one-on-on advising? View our Business Services page.)

Workshop Details

Organizing Your Workspace
Tuesday, May 29th
6:30 pm to 8:30 pm
South Side Innovation Center (2610 South Salina Street)
Learn tips and techniques for decluttering your office in 6 easy steps.You’ll also learn how to maximize space and efficiency by discovering Your Four Operating Zones, and get a crash course on good filing systems and records retention. Instructor: Lisa DeVeau, Owner of Completely Organized, Inc.

The Credit Union is closed on Tuesday, May 1, International Workers Day.
La Cooperativa está cerrada martes, el 1ro de Mayo, para el Día Internacional del Trabajador.

May Day, May 1, is International Workers Day. This credit union may be the only financial institution in the U.S. to close for May Day, but we're not alone. Thousands of credit unions around the world will be closed for May Day, and for good reason. Credit Unions are part of the movement to empower ordinary people. It is this movement that May Day celebrates.

By know, most of our members surely know all the reasons to move your credit card to Cooperative Federal's VISA Classic. Besides for the great rates and fair terms, there's the all-important fact that when you pay interest to Coop Fed, you're supporting community-based finance and financial education -- not a "big bad bank."

Well, now there's ANOTHER reason to move your money.

When you transfer at least $1,000 to your Cooperative Federal credit card, you'll get a chance to win your choice of a Kindle Fire or a $100 Gift Card. One winner will be selected for every 50 entries!

Download a Credit Card application now.

(Already have a Coop Fed credit card? Great! You can still get entered into this drawing. Call 473-0242 or talk to any teller.)

Limited Time Offer

Cooperative Federal's 2011 Annual Report is here!

For a short-and-sweet look at our work over a longer period of time, also check out our Community Impact Summary 2006-2011.

Our credit union overcame challenges and made significant progress in 2011. While the global financial meltdown of 2009-2010 left us battered, we were not defeated. We continued to implement plans to restore profitability, and though we still had a loss for the year, we began to see positive earnings each month starting in September. Our financial performance improved by $173,065 over 2010, and by $297,901 over 2009.

Meanwhile, we maintained our commitment to providing fair, community-based access to accounts, loans, and financial education & counseling. Get the details -- and hear from some of the people whose lives have been changed by the credit union -- in our 2011 Annual Report.

The Annual Report features striking cover art from Jason Evans and [re]think Syracuse.

Vote for 2012 Common Cents awards!

Ballots are available at any office and online (pdf), or, you can email your ballot to info@coopfed.org or fax to 315-476-0567.

Please remember - if you vote for the same organization 3 times (1st, 2nd, and 3rd) - only your 1st vote will count.

Voting ends June 1st!

About Common Cents

Members of several credit unions have reported receiving emails supposedly from Enfact, a branch of Fiserv dedicated to alerting members to suspicious transactions. These emails have been confirmed as fraudulent phishing emails. Do not respond or click on any of the links included.

Below is a sample email.

It's tax season again ... beware of the tax-prep vultures! Many for-profit companies will offer to file your taxes for free, in hopes of selling you a costly Refund Anticipation Loan. They call it "fast cash" with no out-of-pocket fees, but what they don't tell you is that the fees deducted from your tax return amount to totally exorbitant interest rates – usually ranging from 40% APR to 1000% APR! That’s predatory lending.

Here are three tips for a money-smart Tax Season.

1. Get help that’s REALLY free.

On February 18, 1982, the newly formed Syracuse Cooperative Federal Credit Union was recognized and insured by the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) as Charter #23865. The credit union opened to its members and issued its first shares on April 3, 1982.