At Earthmover Credit Union, your financial security is our top priority, and our mobile app makes it easier than ever to protect your account. With the app’s built-in Card Controls, you can manage your debit cards right from your phone!

Here are a few ways to stay in control:

• Freeze or Lock Your Card: Misplaced your card? No worries! With just a tap, you can freeze or lock your card to prevent unauthorized use. Once you find it, you can unlock it just as easily—no need to call or wait.
• Set Travel Notices: Traveling? Let us know through the app. Setting a travel notice ensures your transactions go through smoothly while keeping your account secure. It’s quick and simple to avoid those frustrating declined purchases while you’re away.
• Set Spending Limits & Alerts: You can set daily spending limits or receive real-time alerts for transactions. This helps you stay on top of your spending and quickly spot any suspicious activity.
• Turn Off International Transactions: If you don’t plan on using your card outside the U.S., you can block international transactions for extra peace of mind.

By using these features, you’ll have greater control over your financial security. Download the Earthmover app or sign up for online banking today and take charge of your cards anytime, anywhere!

With over 32 years of service on the Earthmover Board of Directors, it’s bittersweet we announce that Darla Mullner will be stepping down from her position on the board.

Darla worked as the Director of Human Resources at Rush Copley Medical Center for over 40 years prior to her retirement. Prior, she also held the position of high school biology teacher.

In her time on the Earthmover board, Darla served as the chairperson of the Membership Committee and a member of the Supervisory Committee, the Compensation Committee and the Executive Committee.

Thank you, Darla, for all of your time, your hard work and your expertise!

Larry Szumski, previously a board member for Peoples Energy Credit Union of Chicago, now serves on the board of Earthmover Credit Union following the recent merger. With a strong background in customer relations, Larry brings years of experience from his role as Vice President of Customer Relations at Peoples Gas and North Shore Gas.

Larry has been with Peoples Gas since 1989, where he developed leadership skills and held key positions in customer care, business development and organizational change management. He also holds a degree in communication from Southern Illinois University and an MBA from Illinois Institute of Technology.

Larry is excited to bring his expertise to Earthmover, helping guide the credit union’s growth and ensuring members receive excellent service. He’s dedicated to fostering strong community relationships and continuing the mission of providing great financial services to all Earthmover members.

International Credit Union (ICU) Day^® celebrates the global credit union movement, recognizing its history, achievements and member experiences. Earlier this month, Earthmover recognized the special day that aims to raise awareness about the valuable work credit unions and financial cooperatives do worldwide.

CU Kind Day is a special day where credit unions across Illinois come together to spread kindness and give back to their communities! Every year, on CU Kind Day, credit union employees and members volunteer, donate and take part in activities that make a positive impact.

This year, the Earthmover team volunteered at Feed My Starving Children as well as hosted a DIY dog toy project, with all dog toys being donated to Anderson Humane.

The idea behind CU Kind Day is simple: credit unions, like Earthmover, are all about “people helping people.” It’s a chance for us to show our appreciation for the community we serve by doing good—whether it’s through random acts of kindness, supporting local causes, or lending a helping hand to those in need.

At Earthmover, we love participating in CU Kind Day because it gives us an opportunity to connect with our community in meaningful ways. Whether big or small, every act of kindness counts.

In the world of finance, the terms "APY" and "APR" are everywhere. On the surface, they can appear relatively similar—but in reality, they couldn’t be more opposite of each other. Understanding them and how they can affect you is crucial to your financial well being. Let’s take a quick look at the two.

APY is short for Annual Percentage Yield and refers to the amount of interest you’ll earn on your savings or investments over a year, factoring in compounding interest. The higher the APY, the more money you’ll see in return for your savings. In a nutshell, APY is a relatively good thing and indicates a percentage of money you will gain.

On the flip side, APR (Annual Percentage Rate) is the interest rate you’ll pay on things like loans or credit cards. It shows you the cost of borrowing money. Lower APRs mean you’re paying less over time.

So, while APY helps you grow your savings, APR is what you want to minimize when borrowing. Understanding these two will help you make better financial decisions and get the most out of your credit union membership!

Speaking of which, if you’re looking for a simple way to up your APY (that’s the good stuff) then check out our new Velocity Checking Account which earns you an amazing 2.50% APY¹ plus has no monthly fees, available overdraft protection², ability to get paid up to two days early³ and more.

Go with Velocity

¹ 2.50% APY: APY = Annual Percentage Yield. Earthmover Credit Union membership required. In order to qualify for 2.50% APY on account balance, members must maintain a minimum account balance of $0.01, must be enrolled and active in Earthmover’s Online Banking, be enrolled in paperless statements (eStatements) or be 65 years of age or older, have an active Earthmover Visa Credit Card and complete at least one (1) transaction OR make a minimum of 15 Visa debit card transactions per month with a $10.00 minimum per transaction amount (does not include ATM withdrawal), and have a total direct deposit amount of at least $500.00 in savings and/or checking. Direct deposits that are not from an employer or government agency, including but not limited to check deposits, peer-to-peer transfers (e.g., transfers from PayPal, Venmo, etc.), merchant transactions (e.g., transactions from PayPal, Stripe, Square, etc.), and bank ACH funds transfers and wire transfers from external accounts, or are non-recurring in nature (e.g. IRS tax refunds), do not constitute direct deposit activity. 2.50% APY is only valid up to $5,000.00. Any balance greater than $5,000.00 will be paid at the stated dividend rate and APY for that tier. Dividends earned will be posted to the account on the second business day of the month following the dividend period. Offer and rate is subject to change without notice. See an Earthmover Credit Union team member for more details.

² Overdraft Protection Available: Qualified Earthmover members will have the ability to access a line of credit which will serve as overdraft protection. Not all members will qualify for this line of credit. If qualifications are met, the member will need to apply for it in order for the line of credit to be tied to their Velocity Checking Account. Non-qualifying members will have the option to opt in for Earthmovers’ Optional Overdraft Services which will protect your checking account when you don’t have available funds to cover a transaction. Visit our Optional Overdraft Service Opt-In Request page for complete details on this service and how it applies to you.

³ Get Paid 2 Days Early: Early access to direct deposit funds depends on the timing of the submission of the payment file from the payer. Not every employer submits and settles their payroll early. Earthmover Credit Union generally make these funds available on the day the payment file is received, which may be up to two (2) days earlier than the scheduled payment date. If you have questions on your payroll timing, please consult your employer’s payroll department.

Oswego native Janel Cabadas was recently promoted to Executive Vice President of Earthmover Credit Union. With over 20 years at the credit union, Janel has held a variety of roles, most recently Vice President of Marketing & Business Development, where she played a key role in growing Earthmover to its current asset size of $420 million, a rebrand of the credit union and a merger with Peoples Energy Credit Union of Chicago.

Janel, who started her career as a teller at Earthmover’s student-run branch, is excited about her new role. “I want to help Earthmover remain a banking powerhouse in our community,” she said. As Executive Vice President, she will guide strategic projects, including opening new branches.

A first-generation Mexican-American, Janel credits her parents for inspiring her work ethic and passion for community service. Whether it’s leading business growth or lending a hand at community events, Janel is committed to building strong relationships and helping Earthmover thrive.

We recently sat down with Janel to ask her some questions about herself, the credit union and what the future looks like for Earthmover.

Back when you were at Earthmover’s student branch, Panther Credit Union, did you ever see yourself in the position you are today?
Absolutely. Actually, it never crossed my mind. Oddly though, when I was young, and got through “I want to work at McDonald’s” phase, I did dream of becoming a businesswoman that worked in a high-rise building somewhere in a big city. So maybe I always did see it, but clearly never understood it was right in my own backyard in the suburbs.

How have you seen the financial world change since your early days at Earthmover?
So much! When I first started to work at Earthmover, it was the time when debit cards were starting to become a “thing.” We would have to explain to members to either select debit or credit. We also had many who were still writing checks. It is very different now. Everything is a lot more digital and there is definitely less physical cash being moved between people. Nowadays there is a lot more focus on technology and increasing convenience. I get it. With so many things to juggle, we need to be there to help members lives improve, not create friction.

Describe the diversity of work and positions you’ve held at Earthmover and how that multi-faceted experience in the credit union is so beneficial in this next chapter.
I have been fortunate to grow my career within Earthmover. I started as a teller in our student-run branch. Then once I graduated college, I worked as the Business Development Administrator. In this position, I visited so many of our Employer Partners in the area and met so many great members who shared their stories of joining the credit union. I also learned what new products we needed for the credit union so we could continue to earn business from the community. From there, I was promoted to Marketing Director before getting promoted to Vice President of Marketing & Business Development. Throughout my career, I have been exposed to so many sides of the business and worked one-on-one with our incredibly experienced senior management team. I wish I could just absorb all their knowledge and experience. I have been taught that even the smallest decision can affect every single department, which is a lesson I carry throughout my career. I cannot do this alone. I need a good team along my side to give me their perspectives too.

How do you approach leadership?
Leading by example. I love to see a team come together to accomplish a common goal and sometimes I feel like to accomplish something, we can’t shy away from getting our hands dirty too. We have great staff at Earthmover. They want to do well for our members, and I want to do well for our members. So together as a common force, we will do well for our members.

What does Earthmover Credit Union look like in 2034?
Earthmover will still be the powerhouse it is today. We will continue to serve the community, expand further into our field of membership, and make certain that our membership benefits along the way. I never want to lose our community touch because that is at our core.

Earthmover is excited to announce the promotion of Alex Morales to business development representative for our CORE program. With a bachelor’s degree in communication and media studies from Northern Illinois University, Alex has a strong background in financial principles and money management from working at several different financial institutions.

Originally from Aurora, Alex is a proud supporter of the local community and is bilingual in English and Spanish, making him a valuable resource for our diverse membership.

As the business development representative, Alex focuses on building strong partnerships with local businesses and our Employer Partners. He provides free financial guidance and resources to help employees through our CORE program.

What will you bring to the role as business development representative and leader of the CORE program?
I am really excited to bring clarity and excitement to our CORE program. I want all of our Employer Partners to feel secure and have a sense of financial security knowing that we are here to help.

What are you most looking forward to doing with CORE?
I am most looking forward to being a bilingual advocate for all of our current and future Employer Partners. I am also looking forward to our on-site visits and the educational aspect of CORE.

What are some highlights of your career so far?
I feel really privileged to be in a position where we focus so much on philanthropy. Helping the community is extremely fulfilling to me.

What inspires you?
I am inspired by meeting new people. I’m always amazed to hear about how far people have come.