Your Money Insured
Your funds with us are Federally and additionally insured for $500,000 and more.
A Letter from the CEO
What is happening in the banking world?
I wanted to write to our membership to discuss what happened with Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) and Signature Bank. First, I want our members to know that your funds are safe at Thinkwise. Second, I will explain why that is the case and the differences between us and the banks that have recently closed.
Silicon Valley Bank deals mainly in the Tech Industry and with investors. As rates started to climb, using the money for risky ventures became more expensive. This change in the cost of funds made it difficult for some companies to operate, as they rely on these investors. These same companies started to withdraw large amounts of funds from SVB to cover operation costs. In keeping up with the demand, SVB started selling off long-term investments to meet the demand. Unfortunately, due to the increased interest rates, the investments sold were worth less than they are now, which meant SVB had to recognize a loss. The total loss recognized was 1.8 billion dollars. When customers got wind of what was happening, many panicked and started a massive withdrawal of funds. SVB could not keep up with the demand of the withdrawals, so it was taken over by the FDIC (Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation).
Similarly, Signature Bank's takeover by the FDIC resulted from customers being spooked by the seizure of SVB. Signature Bank also had a strong connection with Cryptocurrency and the tech industry. Customers did the same thing and started to withdraw large amounts of funds, fearing they would lose money because they had deposits totaling over the covered FDIC limit.
Here is why your funds are safe at Thinkwise:
There are regulations on what investments we are allowed to purchase
We are not allowed to place funds in the long-term investments that these banks had
We only deal with personal and small organizational membership accounts, not venture capitalists, investors, or big corporations
We are well capitalized, thanks to our loyal members
Your funds are double insured
The FDIC backs all bank institutions. The NCUA (National Credit Union Administration) backs all credit unions. Both are federal entities and will insure a primary account for up to $250,000. At Thinkwise, we have additional insurance provided by ESI (Extended Share Insurance), so all primary accounts are insured for an additional $250,000, for a total of $500,000.
Here is how it works; Bob and Sally are members with an account at Thinkwise, Bob as the primary, and Sally as a joint member (we'll call this account A). They have an additional account where Sally is the primary and Bob is the joint (we'll call this account B). Sally also has an account as a primary by herself (we'll call this account C). In this scenario, accounts B & C are combined and covered for up to $500,000 (because Sally is the primary on both). Account A is covered up to $500,000 because Bob is the primary. Our members are well protected.
Thank you for your membership and ownership! While it may seem scary, the banking system is still solid. Thinkwise board members and employees always make a decision based on a straightforward question: "What would help our members the most?"
When we make the right decisions for our members, everyone benefits and enjoys a more prosperous future.
Sincerely,
Heri Garcia
President/CEO Thinkwise Federal Credit Union
Your Federally & ESI Insured Funds
Our credit union has built a sound capital structure with careful lending and investment practices that protect your savings and deposits. Further, we provide you with as much federal government account insurance coverage as any financial institution in the United States, and an additional $250,000 in ESI coverage (for each specific type of federal coverage addressed below) beyond the federal insurance coverage limits.
For your convenience, we have provided you with ten (10) short summaries that explain the key ways we can assist you in organizing the accounts you have with us to increase the federal and ESI account insurance coverage beyond the $500,000 minimum. Should you have any questions about the federal account insurance coverage provided by the National Credit Union Share Insurance Fund (NCUSIF) or our additional account insurance coverage provided by the American Share Insurance company through its ESI (Excess Share Insurance) program, please visit or call us any- time we are open for business and we will be happy to answer your questions and assist you with all your account insurance coverage needs. You can also contact the NCUA at 1-800-755-1030 for more information about the NCUSIF (see “About the NCUA and NCUSIF” below), and ASI at 1-800-521-6342 for more information about ESI. Thank you again for being a member of our credit union. We greatly appreciate it!
Federal & ESI Account Insurance Coverage Summaries
The ten federal and additional ESI account insurance coverage summaries that follow provide you with an overview of the key ways we can assist you in organizing the accounts you have with us to increase your federal and ESI account insurance coverage at our credit union. The coverage addressed in each summary is provided by the NCUSIF and ASI separately from, and in addition to, all the other summaries explained in this piece. Therefore, these summaries provide you with a number of ways we can help you maximize the amount of federal and ESI account insurance coverage with us. Again, please contact us, the NCUA or ASI should you have any questions about the specifics of any of these federal and ESI account insurance coverages.
One Person Accounts You Have with Us
The funds in the account(s) you have by yourself (without anyone else on the account or named as a beneficiary /Payable on Death payee) with us are added together and insured by the NCUSIF and ESI up to $500,000 total.
Multiple Person Accounts You Have with Us
The funds in the account(s) you have with other people (joint accounts, without anyone named as a beneficiary/POD payee) with us, are added together and your share of the funds in the account(s) is insured by the NCUSIF and ESI up to $500,000 total.
Accounts with Beneficiaries You Have with Us
The funds in the account(s) you have by yourself or with other people that have one or more designated beneficiaries/POD payees (not including IRA or Keogh accounts) with us, are insured by the NCUSIF and ESI up to $500,000 for each different beneficiary/POD payee on the account(s).
Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) with Us
The funds in the Individual Retirement Account(s) (IRAs and Roth IRAs) you have with us, are added together and insured by the NCUSIF and ESI up to $500,000 total.
Uniform Transfers to Minors Act Accounts with Us
The funds in the Uniform Transfers to Minors Act account(s) (UTTMAs) for a specific minor with us are insured by the NCUSIF and ESI up to $500,000 for each different minor.
Business and Organization Accounts with Us
The funds in the Business and Organization account(s) with us are added together and insured by the NCUSIF and ESI up to two million total for each different business or organization.
Accounts for a Revocable Living Trust with Us
The funds in the account(s) for a Revocable Living Trust you have by yourself or with other people where a beneficiary of the trust is not also already named as a beneficiary/POD payee on any other account with us (other than IRA or Keogh accounts), are insured by the NCUSIF and ESI up to $500,000 for each different beneficiary of the revocable living trust.
Accounts for an Irrevocable Living Trust with Us
The funds in the account(s) for an Irrevocable Living Trust with us where the grantors or beneficiaries of the trust are members with us, are insured by the NCUSIF and ESI up to $500,000 for each different beneficiary of the irrevocable living trust.
Keogh Accounts You Have with Us
The funds in the Keogh Account(s) you have with us are added together and insured by the NCUSIF and ESI up to $500,000 total.
Guardian and Conservator Accounts with Us
The funds in the Guardian or Conservator account(s) for a specific protected person with us are insured by the NCUSIF and ESI up to $500,000 for each different protected person.
About the NCUA and NCUSIF
Your savings and deposits with us are insured by the National Credit Union Share Insurance Fund (NCUSIF), which is backed by the full faith and credit of the United States Government. Established by Congress to insure member share accounts at federally insured credit unions, the NCUSIF is managed by the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA), a federal government agency and our federal regulator. This federal government insurance fund for credit unions provides the same coverage as the FDIC’s insurance fund for banks. For more information about the NCUSIF and the NCUA, please contact us or the NCUA at 1 (800) 755-1030 or www.ncua.gov.