Black Friday is just four days away – are you ready? Are your finances?
In addition to staying within your budget this holiday season and finding the perfect gift for your mom, be sure your holiday spending is safe and secure with a few important tips from our partners at Kasasa.
We like to find just the right thing for everyone on our list, but sometimes that items we are eyeing online is coming from a website or vendor overseas. As part of the security of Dakota West Card Services, we watch for purchases from online stores based overseas, but it is also a good idea to know the retailer from which you are making your gift purchases.
Avoid purchasing from ads embedded into social media websites, such as Facebook or Twitter. Instead, search for the item on a known website such as Amazon, or even through a local seller. In addition to protecting your finances, it may also be protecting your identity.
Scams and frauds also increase during the holidays, so be certain where you are sending donations. Lastly, never purchase gift cards or eCards for someone you don’t know – they may be trying to take advantage of your being on Santa’s “Nice” list.
As always, if an offer or a deal or a website sound too good to be true, call your local branch and we will be willing to help you make the best choices to keep you, and your finances, safe this holiday season.
Happy Thanksgiving from everyone at Dakota West Credit Union!
Prepare For Your Holidays With Travel Alerts
What are your plans for the holidays? It may still be a little early to finalize where you’ll be sitting down to your Thanksgiving dinner or where you’ll be unwrapping presents this Christmas, but there is one way to make sure your holidays are not filled with unwanted surprises: call your local branch and set up travel alerts for your Dakota West Mastercard® Debit and Credit cards.
While we monitor your usage for charges that may be unexpected, we also want to be sure your card is fully accessible if you are going to be visiting family across the state, or back home from your current work location. By providing specifics of where you will be during this increased travel season, we can be sure your cards are always available when you need them.
Of course, because there is often more activity on your card, the risk of a fraudulent or unapproved transactions can be prevented when card controls and travel alerts are in place. In addition to notifying us before you hit the road, you can also take advantage of the MY Cards mobile app to set locations based on your travel, transaction alerts, and even turn your debit or credit card on and off in real time.
While many of our members may decide not to travel far this season, It's still a good idea to take control of your Dakota West cards with an extra layer of protection this holiday season. Even if you are just traveling to Fargo to see your new grandbaby or headed to Deadwood for New Year’s Eve, as soon as your plans are final, give us a call before you go. Let us help keep your cards, and your money, safe.
Member Calendar - November 2020
Welcome to Autumn – officially – although the weather of late still feels a bit like the previous season. So what! The fall fun is underway in many of our communities, and looking at the November Calendar, it is time to start planning for your Thanksgiving meal. It’s been a year to truly give thanks for what is most important in our lives: our families, our freedoms, our health, and our traditions.
Whatever November holds for you, we are here to provide you with the guidance you need to plan for the coming holidays, to express our gratitude to our members, and to enjoy the first fall of snow together. Happy Birthday North Dakota, and Happy Thanksgiving to you!
Say Farewell Gift Cards
You may be thinking about purchasing a Visa® gift card this holiday season for someone on your shopping list. Dakota West currently offers Visa® gift cards available in any dollar amount, however, this offering will be ending when supplies have been sold out. With the ability to purchase gift cards directly through many online retailers and websites, we know there are other products and services we can offer to our members to serve you better.
This time of year, whether shopping online or in person, with increased spending and activity, it is important to remember smart security tips when using your Dakota West Mastercard® Debit or Credit Card, too. We keep up-to-date on ways hackers and thieves attempt to access information, and share with our membership the practices Dakota West follows to secure your identity or alert you to possible fraudulent activity. Most importantly, we always recommend to be mindful of your surroundings and your usage, check online regularly for recent transactions, and contact your local branch at 800.411.7590 if you have any questions.
Wherever you travel, whatever your plans, we want you to enjoy the holiday season, from Thanksgiving through Christmas, and into the New Year. We will be here to serve you, to keep your finances secure, and to celebrate another year having you as our members.
