Spring 2026 RRCU Chronicle

Fred Milton inducted into the Credit Union House Hall of Leaders!

In March, Fred Milton was inducted into the Credit Union House Hall of Leaders in Washington, DC.  The Hall of Leaders Award recognizes individuals who have made exceptional contributions to the credit union movement at the local, state, and national level. A member since 1969, Mr. Milton joined RRCU's Supervisory Committee in 1990 and continued to serve on the committee until his election to the Board of Directors in 1995. Mr. Milton continues to serve on the Board of Directors and has been Chairman since 2008.

Throughout all of his years volunteering with RRCU, Mr. Milton has remained committed to not only RRCU employees, but also all RRCU members continually advocating for the credit union industry and credit union members. Mr. Milton volunteers with America’s Credit Unions and the Cornerstone Credit Union League to represent credit unions in Washington, DC with visits to members of Congress. Mr. Milton truly embodies the credit union philosophy of People Helping People.

Thank you, Mr. Milton, for all of your years of service to RRCU, to our local communities and to the credit union movement. Congratulations on your well-deserved recognition!

Credit Union House Hall of Leaders inducts 18 champions | America's Credit Unions

RRCU Gives: Special Offer on Water Park Season Passes!

We're excited to announce that RRCU Gives is offering season passes for the Big Dam Water Park – and they're available for just $59! Use Code: RRCUGF26

Here's the best part:

• FREE Mini Melts on your first visit!
• $5 of the purchase of each season pass goes back to your organization.
• Free parking included.

These passes are available for any member at most lobby branches.

Don’t miss out on this unbeatable deal – come grab your season pass from an RRCU branch today!

Offer valid through May 23, 2026

Looking for a Safe Way to Grow Your Money? Consider a MYGA!

A MYGA works similarly to a certificate of deposit (CD), but it’s offered through an insurance company and often provides competitive guaranteed interest rates for a set period, typically 3 to 10 years. During that time, your interest rate is locked in, helping protect your savings from market volatility.

One key advantage of a MYGA is tax-deferred growth, meaning you won’t pay taxes on the interest earned until you withdraw the funds. This makes MYGAs an appealing option for individuals looking to grow retirement savings while maintaining stability and protection of principal.

At RRCU Financial Services, our licensed professionals can help you explore whether a MYGA fits into your overall financial strategy and retirement goals.

Tuition Discount for Members!

Empower Your Future with Lifelong Learning

It's time to register for classes at TAMU-T!  Apply today and access the TAMU-T Tuition Discount and embark on a journey of educational excellence with RRCU's support.

To qualify, RRCU members must:

• Maintain Good Standing
• Have an Active Personal Checking Account (Basic Checking, Teal Advantage, or Varsity Checking)
• Meet Either Criteria within the last 30 days:
  • Receive at least $500 in direct deposits, or
  • Conduct a minimum of five debit card swipes using their RRCU checking account.

By fulfilling these requirements, members unlock valuable financial support for their education at TAMU-T, reflecting RRCU's commitment to lifelong learning and academic success.

CLICK HERE for details and to submit a request for the discount.

Notice of Annual Business Meeting 2026

Red River Employees Federal Credit Union's 83rd Annual Meeting will be held Tuesday, April 14, 2026, 6:00 p.m., in the lobby at the Summerhill Road Office located at 4405 Summerhill Road Texarkana, TX.

The Business Meeting will be strictly business; there will be no entertainment, give-a-ways, or prize drawings; the election will be by acclamation since there were no nominations submitted by petition.
  
In accordance with the credit union bylaws, the Nominating Committee of Red River Employees Federal Credit Union filed the following individuals to serve three-year terms: Frank Buchanan, Selena Jefferies, and David Walls. Bios are available in the RRCU Winter Newsletter.

The 2025 Annual Report will be available on our website, and copies will be available at your nearest branch lobby after the meeting date.

On behalf of the Board of Directors, Management and Staff, please accept our appreciation for your membership as we pledge to continue this level of service to you and your families.

How to Spot Fraud and Protect Yourself

⚠️ Rising Threat: Credit Union Members Falling Victim to Online Account Takeover

Online account takeover (ATO) continues to surge, putting both credit unions and their members at significant risk. Fraudsters are exploiting stolen credentials, social engineering, and increasingly sophisticated automation to gain unauthorized access to member accounts—often before victims detect a problem.

📈 ATO on the Rise

The scale and frequency of ATO attacks are accelerating:

• In 2025, digital verification fraud rates exceeded 4%, with impersonation fraud making up over 85% of all attempts, demonstrating how heavily attackers rely on identity mimicry. [veriff.com]
• About 29% of U.S. adults—77 million people—have been victims of account takeover, highlighting its mainstream impact. [chargebacks911.com] 
• ATO attacks grew 24% year-over-year in 2024, showing consistent upward momentum. [miteksystems.com]

These trends underscore that ATO is not an isolated occurrence but a widespread and growing threat impacting financial institutions of all sizes.

🔍 How Criminals Take Over Accounts

Fraudsters rely on a combination of stolen data, manipulation, and automation. Key methods include:

1. Reused or Stolen Credentials
   About 70% of credentials used in ATO incidents come from reused passwords, making credential stuffing a highly effective attack method. [chargebacks911.com] In addition to credential stuffing, fraudsters also use stolen data from breaches, phishing and malware.
2. Social Engineering & Impersonation
   The FBI reports over 5,100 ATO complaints and $262M in losses in 2025 alone, driven largely by criminals impersonating financial institution employees to steal login credentials or MFA codes. [ic3.gov]
3. Phishing Websites
   Fraudulent banking sites—often boosted through artificially manipulating site rankings—trick customers into entering their credentials. [ic3.gov]

• Automated Credential Stuffing Attacks
  Kasada observed a 250% increase in ATO attacks in 2024, compromising more than 6 million accounts, even among businesses using bot detection. [kasada.io]

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💬 Impact on Members

• Unauthorized fund transfers
• Account lockouts
• Long recovery timelines
• Elevated risk of identity theft

Veriff emphasizes that ATO can irreversibly damage the customer–institution relationship, particularly when victims feel unprotected or unsupported. [veriff.com]

✔️ Bottom Line

Account takeover is now one of the most prevalent and costly fraud threats facing financial institutions. With attack volumes rising and tactics evolving. members must stay vigilant in safeguarding their information and staying educated.

Take advantage of RRCU Digital Banking security alerts. We have over twenty scenarios you can choose from to receive text and email alerts. Log in to Online Banking, click Settings, then Alerts to access security alerts. 

Community Corner

2026 Awards

We are excited about the recognition and support for RRCU and the following branches: 

• ALT Magazine's Readers' Choice 2026 - "Best Credit Union"
• Four States Living Magazine Readers' Choice 2026 - "Best Credit Union"
• Paris News Readers' Choice 2026 - "Best Credit Union" in Lamar County
  • Melanie Palmer - Best Loan Officer in Lamar County
  • Haley Ferrell - Best Teller