Hello Chaffey Members!

I might normally start this newsletter by saying “Happy Spring,” but it appears that 2026 may feel like a year of eternal summer!  A nice respite from the heat was watching the Milan Winter Olympics on television.  Did you know there was a new sport at the Olympics called ski mountaineering?  This event involves uphill and downhill skiing and quick changes of equipment, in both sprint and relay formats.  I felt this sport is a good metaphor for finances:

• Uphill skiing: Athletes need to focus on their breathing, their form, and rely on their training to be successful during this difficult leg of the journey.  In financial management, there are times when we really need to push ourselves to climb a financial mountain.  Sometimes this means handling a major unplanned expense, sometimes it means working through a debt reduction program, and sometimes it means managing through a period of unemployment or reduced income.  Like the athletes, during these times focus on breathing and the fundamentals to keep your form and avoid injury.
• Downhill skiing: Athletes “glide” through the downhill portion, yet they are constantly aware of their surroundings to know when a competitor is closing in on them and looking ahead to see the curves in the course.  Financial curves are not always as easy to spot (if only!) so in managing our finances we need to be aware of the possibilities and lean into the curves when they come up.  Services like our Chaffey Plus checking account provide you with tools to monitor your credit score and take advantage of savings options, and our Summer Savers Club makes it easy to “glide” money into savings, allowing you to weather the changes in the course.
• Sprint vs. Relay: Ski mountaineering races can be in an individual or a team format.  The individual sprints last 2.5-3 minutes, and in the relay each athlete completes the course twice!  Both formats require quick changes from skis to boots and back to skis, with the relay adding the complexity of quick handoffs between relay legs.  Of course, no athlete competes alone; there is a multitude of sources of support, from coaches to doctors to nutritionists to family members.  When it comes to finances, some circumstances will feel like a sprint, with others feeling like a marathon.  Whether you are climbing or “gliding,” Chaffey FCU is here to help you keep your footing.

Speaking of sports (but bringing it closer to home), Chaffey FCU is excited to announce a partnership with the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes for the 2026 season!  Be on the lookout for information on finding Chaffey FCU at a game, and plan to join us on May 7 for Chaffey FCU night at the Epicenter!  There may or may not be a baseball related door prize at the annual meeting on April 23…

 Chaffey FCU has had a good start to 2026, and we can’t wait to share more exciting moments with you—on the field, in our branches, and anywhere your financial journey takes you!

As always, thank you for your membership!

Diane Kotlewski
Chaffey FCU, Chief Executive Officer

Chaffey’s 63rd Annual Meeting

Chaffey FCU is owned entirely by our Members and we’re guided by a team of volunteer Board Members. The Annual Meeting is a Meeting of the Membership! It invites Members like yourself to connect with your credit union. Join us for a celebratory night of Chaffey FCU accomplishments, prizes, board of directors voting, and more!

Thursday, April 23, 2026, 6pm
Chaffey FCU Rancho Cucamonga Branch

• Receive updates and initiatives from our Chief Executive Officer
• Hear from speakers from across the credit union
• Vote for our Board of Directors
• Win limited edition Chaffey FCU travel coolers 
• Enter into our exciting door prize drawing 
• Nominate Chaffey FCU members and staff for recognition
• In-person attendees can enjoy complimentary food and dessert 

Save Your Seat!

April is Credit Union Youth Month

Grant Life Changing Wishes with Make-a-Wish Orange County and The Inland Empire

Credit Union Youth Month celebrates uplifting our youngest members with financial empowerment. In honor of Youth Month, we are proud to give back to children across our communities who could use some extra support. That’s why we’ve partnered with Make-a-Wish Orange County and The Inland Empire.

When you use your Chaffey FCU Visa^® Debit or Credit Cards, Chaffey FCU donates a portion* to Make-a-Wish Orange County and The Inland Empire.

Spend to grant life changing wishes now through April 30, 2026!

Learn More

*Chaffey FCU will donate $0.03 for each debit card purchase and $0.10 for each credit card purchase to the Make a Wish Foundation of Orange County and The Inland Empire from 4/1/26 through 4/30/26. The total donation amount is capped at $6,000.

Rancho Cucamonga Quakes

Building Healthy Lives

At Chaffey FCU, we value building healthy lives through the choices we make everyday. We believe that healthy lives begin with healthy finances, but there are opportunities we face daily that help us strengthen ourselves.

We are proud to announce our partnership with the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes. As we take on this new journey of athletics, activity, and community, we hope to encourage healthy choices.

Thanks to every Member who helped us fund student dreams!

During the 2025 Holiday Season, Chaffey Members helped us donate $6,000 to Chaffey College scholarships!

In the 2025 holiday season, Chaffey FCU Members had the opportunity to support local college students while shopping. A portion of each transaction made with a Chaffey FCU Visa® Debit Card or Credit Card, was donated to Fund A Dream.
With the help of Chaffey FCU Members, we donated $6,000 to fund local student dreams!

*Chaffey FCU donated $0.03 for every Debit Card transaction and $0.10 for every Credit Card transaction. The donation period was active from 11/28/2025 through 12/25/2025. Total donations capped at $6,000.

My First Nest Egg

Dive into Lending During Credit Union Youth Month

It’s Credit Union Youth Month, and we’re celebrating by helping families build confidence around borrowing. Youth Month’s activity: Dive Into Lending!

Get your free adventure map and video guide at any Chaffey FCU branch to: 🐠 Explore real-world loans like credit cards and auto loans, 🦈 Spot risky lending traps in Loan Shark Lagoon, 📊 Learn how interest works in simple, clear terms.

3 Ways to Start Teaching Kids About Lending

• Borrowing Has a Cost. When you borrow money, you repay it — plus interest. Even young kids can understand: “If you borrow 10, you may pay back 12.”
• Loans Should Have a Purpose. A home, education, or reliable car can help build a strong future. Teach kids to ask: Is this helping me move forward?
• Read the Fine Print. Interest rates, terms, and fees shape the total cost. Understanding the fine print builds lifelong financial confidence.

Dive Into Lending

Visa Rewards? We’ve Done That for Years!

The days of making credit card purchases without earning additional benefits are long-gone: credit card rewards are the standard in card transactions. There are few things better than earning rewards on purchases you’d make anyways. Chaffey FCU credit cardholders know the feeling! Visa Rewards¹ are a staple on Chaffey FCU credit cards: all the benefits of Visa, plus rewards!

Join the hundreds of Chaffey FCU members who earn rewards with every purchase. Plus, with fixed rates as low as 9.90% APR² and no costs to participate in our rewards program, you have even more to celebrate.

Build points

Earn 1 point for every dollar spent

Paying bills or grocery shopping doesn’t have to be boring. Start earning points for your regular purchases.

Great Rewards

Get closer to your next reward

Chaffey FCU Visa Rewards points can be redeemed for hundreds of rewards. Cash back, electronics, event tickets, and more!

Easy Access

Any time, Anywhere

Redeem your Chaffey FCU Visa Rewards points directly from the Chaffey FCU Mobile app.

¹1 point earned for every $1 spent. Cash advances and balance transfers are not eligible. Must have a Chaffey FCU Visa Credit Card to participate in Visa Rewards. Account must be in good standing to earn Visa Rewards. Business accounts are not eligible. Points are good for 3 years. Speak with a representative or visit chaffey.com/visa-rewards.

²APR: Annual Percentage Rate. Rate accurate as of 3/26/25. Rates are subject to change at any time and are not guaranteed. Loan approval is subject to credit and income evaluation. Review the Chaffey FCU Credit Card Agreement and Disclosure Statement for complete terms and details

fraud prevention

Imposter Scams:

“It’ll never happen to me!”  These five words are easy to believe, but often turn into “I can’t believe this happened!”  Here at Chaffey FCU, we hear this a lot from our members who are victimized by scams. In just the past few months, there are at least three members that we are aware of who have been targeted by fraudsters.  I emphasize the “that we are aware of” for a reason: many fraud cases do not get reported out of embarrassment or shame. 

Allow me to share the story of one of our members, whom I will call Betty.  Betty is in her late 70s and has been a long time member of Chaffey FCU.  She received a call from “Charles” who claimed he was a senior security officer of the credit union conducting an investigation, and needed her assistance.  Charles sent her a photo of his badge, which included the credit union’s logo, and read off Betty’s account balances to her to legitimize his request.  Charles instructed Betty to go to Chaffey’s Rancho Cucamonga branch, “walk in with confidence” and withdraw over $20,000 in cash.  While Betty was in the branch to conduct the transaction, Charles was connected to a call on Betty’s phone; Betty had been instructed to leave her phone in the car while she was in the branch. 

Thankfully, Betty never actually got the cash.  When she came into the branch, the Chaffey staff recognized the classic signs of an imposter scam.  Betty herself had felt that something was not right, and when questioned by the Chaffey staff, Betty shared the details of what had brought her in.  While “Charles” remained on the phone in her car for over an hour, the Chaffey staff worked with Betty to document the situation, contact the authorities, and take immediate action to protect Betty’s account from further compromise.

In the first nine months of 2025, the FTC reports receiving nearly 21,000 reports of business and/or government imposter scams, for losses totaling $78.6 million dollars in California alone!  These types of scams have increased more than four-fold since 2020. 

The best way to protect yourself from scams such as this is to recognize the red flags that you are being victimized.  Visit the FTC’s website for more information on how to spot and avoid an imposter scam.  Fraudsters are very good at using emotional impact to get victims to act quickly.  Emotion often overrides logic in stressful situations, so know that the Chaffey FCU staff is trained to ask questions and take steps to help you shed light on your potential situation.  For certain large withdrawals, you may be asked to complete a questionnaire to alert you to the potential risks of your transaction.  While the credit union cannot make a decision on what you ultimately do with your money, our duty is to make you aware of the risks and protect you where we can.

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Keep yourself SAFE by taking these steps:

• STOP: Check if you are acting on emotion or fact
• ASK: A family member or trusted resource to verify the legitimacy of the situation
• FEEL: If something does not seem right, listen to your instinct!
• EDUCATE: Know common scam indicators and how to protect your information

Chaffey FCU will NEVER ask for your personal or sensitive information, including your account number, social security number, username, password, one-time passcode (OTP), or card number.  When you share your information, you are giving the fraudsters all the tools they need to access your account.  If an individual or company is demanding that payment be sent by wire, Zelle, gift card, or cryptocurrency, that is most likely a scam.

Stay vigilant and stay safe.

Attorney General Bonta Warns Californians of Investment Scams on Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. Read On.