With great rates and lower fees, it is no secret that Maine credit unions save consumers money. However, there is another way that CUs help their members save green – for the environment! Credit unions can help you conserve energy, as many Maine credit unions offer special rates on loans for fuel efficient cars, and on home equity loans to make your house more energy efficient.

Credit unions also offer a variety of services that allow employees and members to cut back on the paper used to conduct transactions. Debit cards are not only convenient, they save paper needed for checks. Direct Deposit saves time and resources, not to mention

late payment fees, while online bill pay will save both paper and the cost of a stamp! Many credit unions also provide the option of E-Statements, sending your CU statement to your email inbox instead of your mailbox. Some credit unions also offer eAlerts, a service which allows the credit union to electronically notify you about account transactions that you want to know about, such as a deposit, withdrawal, or when your account balance drops below a preselected amount.

Visit your local credit union to check out the many ways your CU can help you protect the environment. To find a credit union, visit www.mainecreditunions.org.