Affinion Group

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Data Breach Preparation and Response (Podcast and Presentation)

Has your credit union considered how member relations, legal compliance and brand reputation might be affected during a data breach? In this 2012 NAFCU Technology & Security Conference session recording you will learn about the risks of data breaches and how they could impact your credit union.

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Overview

Affinion Group was founded in 1972 to provide Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) insurance to credit unions. Since that time, it has become one of the world's leading providers of insurance products and value-added programs.

Affinion focuses on what is most important to its clients: consistent, reliable service, an innovative product line and discount programs. It offers value-added insurance services such as AD&D insurance programs and Hospital Accident Protection (HAP) supplemental health care services.

Affinion Group is also a leader in ID theft protection and prevention, protecting the personal information of more than 10 million consumers. Their service offers a range of prevention tools from daily credit monitoring to protection of payment cards and personal checks.

Capturing market share, cross-selling, acquiring new and retaining existing members are major strategic imperatives with Affinion Group in the evolving financial services marketplace. It supports a comprehensive line of products and services that create an extra measure of financial security and peace of mind for the credit unions it serves .

Products/Services

Identity Theft Protection

Backed by more than 35 years of experience, IdentitySecure is a pre-eminent national identity theft protection product. It offers daily credit monitoring, identity fraud resolution support and identity theft insurance.

Marketing can be provided without cost to your credit union. It includes banners, buttons, posters, balloons and more to help you promote the program.

AD&D Plan

The AD&D Plan was created in 1974 exclusively for credit unions. You can offer your members $1,000 of 24-hour AD&D insurance without cost to them. Members can add coverage from $10,000 to $300,000 for as little as $1 a month per $10,000 of additional protection. Premiums for added protection are automatically deducted from share or share draft accounts via tape or ACH transmission provided quarterly by Affinion Group.

HAP program

The HAP Program pays cash benefits directly to the member in the event of hospitalization due to a covered accident. Insurers may receive as much as $200 for each day they are hospitalized. Members may accept a 60-day trial period at no cost before deciding to purchase the supplemental insurance.

Flex Checking

Affinion is proud to introduce Flex Checking, a powerful way to deliver a relevant retail strategy while tracking and rewarding behaviors that drive sustainable profitability for your institution. Flex Checking drives profitable behaviors while delivering value that your members expect and will pay for - resulting in deeper relationships, more non-interest income generation, and greater lifetime value. It also provides a soft-transition from free checking to a sustainable fee-based model.

To learn more about Affinion and Flex Checking, visit www.flexchecking.com.

Benefits

Insurance program (AD&D) without cost for credit union members
Easily administered and marketed program

Company

As a global leader with more than 35 years of experience, Affinion Group enhances the value of its partners’ member relationships by developing and marketing loyalty solutions. Leveraging its expertise in customer engagement, product development and targeted marketing, Affinion provides programs in subscription-based lifestyle services, personal protection, insurance and other areas to help generate increased customer loyalty and significant incremental revenue for more than 5,500 marketing partners worldwide, including many of the largest and most respected companies in financial services, retail, travel, and Internet commerce. Based in Stamford, Conn., the Company has approximately 4,000 employees throughout the United States and in 12 other countries, primarily in Europe, and markets in 15 countries globally. Affinion holds the prestigious ISO 27001 certification for the highest information security practices, is PCI compliant and Cybertrust certified. For more information, visit www.affinion.com.

The Affinion family diligently serves credit unions with the highest member service standards. Its comprehensive line of diversified insurance products, the Member Protect Program, provides an extra measure of financial security and peace of mind for the nearly 10 million credit union members it serves. It partners with 35 of the top 1,000 credit unions and has more than 35 years in the business.

NAFCU Member-only Benefits

Consulting and program evaluation at no cost.

Educational Resources

Data Breach Preparation and Response (Podcast and Presentation)
Has your credit union considered how member relations, legal compliance and brand reputation might be affected during a data breach? In this 2012 NAFCU Technology & Security Conference session recording you will learn about the risks of data breaches and how they could impact your credit union.
Data Breach Preparedness and Response – A Handy “How-To” (Blog Post)
With the recent headlines about yet another data breach affecting credit unions and their members, I wanted to point you to a resource that might help you respond effectively. Because this isn’t the first data breach and it certainly won’t be the last. Read more of this NAFCU Services Blog post.
Striking the Right Balance: Free vs. Fee Checking Account Strategies (Webinar)
To help address challenges of replacing lost fee income, maximizing member value and attracting new members, credit unions are reevaluating their account structures. They are taking a close look at free checking programs and other account benefits and pricing strategies through the retail channel. Watch a recently recorded webinar to learn strategies that leading credit unions are employing that are not only profitable for the credit union, but meet the needs of members as well.
On-boarding and Delighting New Members (Webcast)
Credit unions spend a lot of time and energy on finding and acquiring new members, but what they do once they get those new members deserves just as much attention. In this webcast, we discuss the initial interactions that your credit union has with new members and how those interactions are critical to building trusting and lasting member relationships.
Designing Accounts to Deliver Member Value (Webcast)
With recent financial reform regulations, credit unions have been faced with some tough decisions when it comes to their product and service offerings. Among those is the question of offering free or fee-based checking accounts.
Evolution of Identity Theft and Ensuring Your Members' Protection (Webcast)
There have been nearly 50 million cases of id theft in the last five years and almost 20 million in the last two years. This equates to a cost of about $56 billion annually or $6,000 per person on an anual basis. In this webcast we are joined by Todd Werner, VP Marketing for Affinion Group, to discuss the evolution of identity theft including disturbing examples of how easy it is to steal someone's identity.
Trends in Identity Fraud (Webcast)
It is nearly impossible to go a full week without opening up the newspaper and seeing a story about some case of identity theft or breach of a security system due to identity theft. In this webcast we are joined by Todd Werner, VP, Marketing for Affinion Group as he reviews recent research findings on identity theft from several sources and offers insight into ways credit unions can help members prevent and detect identity theft.
Best Practices for Member Engagement (Webcast)
It is no surprise that credit unions face critical challenges in attracting new members, retaining their existing members and, in particular, building and maintaining trust in their organization as a financial institution. At their core, each one of these challenges require a high level of member engagement. In this webcast you will learn about what member engagement is as well as best practices to maximize member engagement at your credit union.
Engaging Members in Tough Times (Article)
In the July/August issue of The Federal Credit Union Magazine , Wayne Conte of Affinion Group helps credit unions understand how to engage members in a tough economy.
The Changing Landscape of Identity Theft (Podcast)
For credit unions, maintaining the most up-to-date online security is like playing a game of cat and mouse. Every time one problem is solved, another one pops up. This is no different in helping to protect members against crimes of identity theft.
Beyond Lock-downs: Comprehensive Strategies to Protect Your Members from ID Theft (Podcast)
An astounding 264 million pieces of individual personal information were exposed by either identity theft or fraud in 2007. Odds are that your personal information will at some point be compromised, either by something you do or by something that someone you do business with does.
Learn Best Practices for Profitable Deposit Acquisition (Podcast)
Everyone wants to grow, the question is how, particularly when today's financial services environment poses tremendous competitive challenges. This podcast features an interview with Todd Werner, Vice President of Marketing at the Affinion Group, who will discuss what other credit unions are doing successfully to grow their deposits from an expert in the field, and how you can apply it to yours.

News

Affinion Group, Allied Solutions and Insuritas Win NAFCU Services’ 2011 Innovation Awards (June 27, 2011)
SAN FRANCISCO — NAFCU Services Corporation today announced the winners of its 2011 Innovation Awards at NAFCU’s 44th Annual Conference & Exhibition at the Moscone Convention Center in San Francisco. Each year, NAFCU Services recognizes three of its Preferred Partners for outstanding, innovative solutions recently introduced to the credit union market.
NAFCU Services and Affinion Group Provide Free Webcast on Trends in Identity Fraud (October 7, 2010)
NAFCU Services Corporation today posted a free webcast for credit unions titled “Trends in Identity Fraud” with its Preferred Partner, Affinion Group. The webcast reviews recent research findings on identity theft from several sources and offers insight into ways credit unions can help members prevent and detect identity theft.
NAFCU Services and Affinion Security Center Unveil New Identity Theft PSAs for Credit Unions (July 21, 2010)
WASHINGTON — NAFCU Services Corporation (www.nafcu.org/nafcuservices) and Affinion Security Center today announced that two new customizable public service announcement (PSA) videos are now available for NAFCU members free of charge to be used on local television, online and in other venues to deliver tips on preventing identity theft to their local communities.
Deluxe, Affinion, and Securian Receive NAFCU Services 2009 Innovation Awards (July 6, 2009)
WASHINGTON —NAFCU Services Corporation today announced the winners of its 2009 Innovation Awards, which recognize excellence and innovation in Preferred Partner solutions for credit unions and enhance their ability to compete in a crowded financial services marketplace.
NAFCU Services and Affinion Release Educational Podcast on Changing Landscape of ID Theft (February 11, 2009)
WASHINGTON — NAFCU Services Corporation and Affinion Security Center, NAFCU Services’ preferred partner in providing identity theft solutions to credit unions, recently released a free podcast that offers the latest information on identity theft, the fastest growing crime in America.
Affinion Wins Innovation Award From NAFCU Services (August 5, 2008)
Affinion Group, a leading global affinity marketer, has received the inaugural 2008 Innovation Award from NAFCU Services Corporation, recognizing excellence and innovation in Preferred Partner solutions for credit unions, and enhancing their ability to compete in a crowded financial services marketplace.
Affinion and NAFCU Services Release Free Podcast: 'Beyond Lockdowns: Comprehensive Strategies for ID Theft Protection' (May 27, 2008)
Affinion Group (a NAFCU Services Preferred Partner) and NAFCU Services Corporation have unveiled a free podcast discussing the best ways for credit unions to protect their members for a variety of ID theft scenarios.