SKILL.md
Lakeview Federal Credit Union Skill
Reference guide for all Lakeview FCU products, policies, and operations. Use this to assist members, draft communications, and answer internal questions with accurate context. Do not fabricate details not found here.
Credit Union Overview
Lakeview Federal Credit Union is a member-owned, not-for-profit financial cooperative chartered in 1963. Originally founded as the Municipal Employees Credit Union of Lake County, it expanded its charter in 1998 to serve the full community.
Field of membership: anyone who lives, works, worships, or attends school in Lake County, IL or Cook County, IL. Immediate family members of existing members also qualify.
Charter number: 14832 NCUA insured: Yes (deposits insured up to $250,000 per member) Assets: $1.2B Members: ~74,000 Employees: 310 Branches: 9 (7 Lake County, 2 north Cook County)
Headquarters: 400 N. Sheridan Rd, Waukegan, IL 60085 Website: https://lakeviewfcu.example.com Phone: (847) 555-0140 Routing number: 271991832
Leadership
Maria Sandoval - President/CEO. 18 years at Lakeview, previously SVP of Lending at Heartland CU. David Park - CFO. CPA, former audit manager at Plante Moran. Anita Washington - VP of Member Services. Oversees branch operations, contact center, and digital channels. Tom Keller - VP of Lending. Manages all consumer and commercial loan programs. Rachel Meyers - VP of Marketing. Leads brand, digital marketing, and community outreach.
Products
Deposit Accounts
Checking
| Account | Min. Balance | Dividend Rate (APY) | Monthly Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free Checking | $0 | 0.00% | $0 | No minimums, no fees |
| Dividend Checking | $1,000 | 0.15% APY | $8 (waived at $1,000 avg daily balance) | Earns dividends on full balance |
| High-Yield Checking | $0 | 3.25% APY on first $15,000 | $0 | Requires 12 debit transactions/mo, direct deposit, e-statements |
| Fresh Start Checking | $25 | 0.00% | $5 | For members with ChexSystems records; graduates to Free Checking after 12 clean months |
All checking accounts include: Visa debit card, mobile deposit, bill pay, Zelle, and fee-free access to 30,000+ CO-OP ATMs.
Savings
| Account | Min. to Open | Dividend Rate (APY) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular Savings | $5 (membership share) | 0.25% APY | $5 share deposit required for membership |
| Holiday Club | $5 | 0.30% APY | Auto-distributes to checking Nov 1 |
| Money Market | $2,500 | 1.75% APY ($2,500-$24,999) / 2.10% APY ($25,000-$99,999) / 2.40% APY ($100,000+) | Tiered rates, 6 withdrawals/mo |
| Share Certificates | $1,000 | See certificate schedule | Terms from 3 to 60 months |
Certificate Schedule (current as of Q1 2026)
| Term | APY | Early Withdrawal Penalty |
|---|---|---|
| 3 months | 3.50% | 30 days dividends |
| 6 months | 3.85% | 90 days dividends |
| 12 months | 4.10% | 180 days dividends |
| 24 months | 3.90% | 180 days dividends |
| 36 months | 3.75% | 365 days dividends |
| 60 months | 3.60% | 365 days dividends |
Rate note: All rates are illustrative and should be presented as "current as of [date]" in any member-facing materials. Always direct members to lakeviewfcu.example.com/rates for the most current schedule.
Loan Products
Consumer Loans
| Product | Rate Range (APR) | Max Term | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Auto | 5.49% - 9.99% | 84 months | Up to 110% LTV (covers tax, title, warranty) |
| Used Auto | 5.99% - 10.49% | 72 months | Vehicles up to 7 model years old |
| Personal/Signature | 8.99% - 17.99% | 60 months | Unsecured, up to $25,000 |
| Share Secured | 2.00% above share rate | 60 months | Borrow against savings or CDs |
| HELOC | Prime + 0.50% (floor 5.00%) | 10-yr draw / 20-yr repay | 80% max CLTV, owner-occupied |
Lending decisions use a blend of FICO score, debt-to-income ratio, and membership tenure. Members with 5+ years in good standing receive a 0.25% rate discount on consumer loans.
Mortgage Products
Lakeview FCU offers fixed-rate mortgages (15, 20, 30 year), 5/1 and 7/1 ARMs, and first-time homebuyer programs. All mortgages are originated in-house; most conforming loans are sold on the secondary market with servicing retained.
First-time homebuyer program: up to 97% LTV, reduced PMI through partnership with MGIC, $1,500 closing cost credit for members who complete the HUD-approved homebuyer education course through Lake County Housing Authority.
Business Loans
| Product | Details |
|---|---|
| Business Term Loan | Up to $500,000, fixed or variable rate, 1-10 year terms |
| Business Line of Credit | Up to $250,000, variable rate (Prime + 1.00% to Prime + 3.00%) |
| Commercial Real Estate | Up to $2M, 70-80% LTV, 5/25 or 7/25 amortization |
| SBA 7(a) Preferred Lender | Lakeview is an SBA Preferred Lender |
Credit Cards
| Card | APR | Annual Fee | Rewards | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Visa Platinum | 11.99% - 17.99% | $0 | None | Low-rate card, balance transfer option |
| Visa Signature Rewards | 13.99% - 19.99% | $0 | 1.5% cash back on all purchases | No cap on rewards |
| Visa Secured | 18.00% | $0 | None | $300-$5,000 limit secured by share deposit; graduates after 12 months of on-time payments |
All cards: no foreign transaction fees, EMV chip + contactless, free FICO score via digital banking, Visa Zero Liability fraud protection.
Digital Banking
- Online banking and mobile app (iOS / Android)
- Mobile check deposit (limits: $5,000/day for members in good standing 90+ days)
- Zelle person-to-person payments
- Bill pay with eBills
- Card controls (lock/unlock, transaction alerts, travel notifications)
- External account transfers (ACH)
- Budgeting tools powered by MX
- Paperless statements
Contact center hours: Mon-Fri 7am-7pm CT, Sat 8am-1pm CT. After-hours card support available 24/7 through Visa.
Fee Schedule (key items)
| Fee | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| NSF / Overdraft | $25.00 | Max 3 per day; no fee on items $5 or under |
| Overdraft Transfer (from savings) | $0 | Free automatic sweep |
| Stop Payment | $25.00 | |
| Wire Transfer (domestic outgoing) | $25.00 | Incoming wires: free |
| Wire Transfer (international outgoing) | $45.00 | |
| Cashier's Check | $5.00 | Free for Dividend Checking and above |
| Account Research (per hour) | $25.00 | For requests requiring manual research |
| Dormant Account (after 12 months inactivity) | $5.00/month | |
| ATM (out-of-network) | $0 from Lakeview | Surcharges from ATM owner may apply |
| Returned Deposit Item | $10.00 | |
| Early Certificate Closure | See certificate schedule |
Lakeview does not charge monthly maintenance fees on Free Checking or Regular Savings accounts.
Policies and Compliance
Regulation Summary
Lakeview FCU complies with all applicable federal regulations including but not limited to: TILA (Reg Z), ECOA (Reg B), EFTA (Reg E), BSA/AML, OFAC, HMDA, Reg CC (funds availability), and the NCUA's Part 707 (Truth in Savings).
Key Internal Policies
- Funds availability: First $225 of any deposit available next business day. Local checks: full availability by second business day. Non-local checks and amounts over $5,525: up to 5 business days. New accounts (first 30 days): extended holds may apply per Reg CC.
- Dispute resolution: Members must report unauthorized EFT transactions within 60 days of the statement date. Provisional credit is issued within 10 business days of a filed dispute per Reg E.
- Dormant accounts: Accounts with no member-initiated activity for 12 months are classified as dormant. A $5/month fee applies. After 3 years of dormancy, accounts are escheated to the State of Illinois per the Revised Uniform Unclaimed Property Act.
- Deceased accounts: Require certified death certificate and Letters of Administration or Affidavit of Small Estate. Joint accounts with right of survivorship pass to surviving owner without probate.
- CTR filing: Currency transactions over $10,000 require a CTR. Structuring awareness training is completed by all member-facing staff annually.
- SAR filing: Suspicious Activity Reports are filed by the BSA Officer (currently David Park) for transactions meeting SAR criteria. Staff must never disclose SAR filings to members or third parties.
- Loan delinquency: 10-day grace period on all loans. Late fee of $25 or 5% of payment (whichever is less) applies after grace period. Collections process: 15 days past due (automated reminder), 30 days (phone contact), 60 days (written notice), 90 days (referred to collections department), 120+ days (charge-off evaluation).
Branch Locations
| Branch | Address | Drive-Through | Hours (Mon-Fri) | Saturday |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Main / Waukegan | 400 N. Sheridan Rd, Waukegan | Yes | 9am-5pm | 9am-12pm |
| Gurnee | 6201 Grand Ave, Gurnee | Yes | 9am-6pm | 9am-1pm |
| Libertyville | 115 W. Cook Ave, Libertyville | No | 9am-5pm | Closed |
| Mundelein | 20 E. Hawley St, Mundelein | Yes | 9am-5pm | 9am-12pm |
| Vernon Hills | 700 N. Milwaukee Ave, Vernon Hills | Yes | 9am-6pm | 9am-1pm |
| Waukegan South | 2500 Washington St, Waukegan | Yes | 9am-5pm | 9am-12pm |
| Zion | 2701 Sheridan Rd, Zion | No | 9am-5pm | Closed |
| Evanston | 1800 Central St, Evanston | No | 9am-5pm | 9am-12pm |
| Skokie | 4855 Oakton St, Skokie | Yes | 9am-6pm | 9am-1pm |
Shared branching: Lakeview participates in the CO-OP Shared Branch network (5,000+ locations nationwide).
Voice and Tone Guidelines
Lakeview's brand voice is: approachable, knowledgeable, community-rooted, and straightforward.
When writing member-facing content:
- Use "you" and "your" - speak directly to the member
- Lead with the benefit, not the feature ("Keep more of your money" not "Our High-Yield Checking offers 3.25% APY")
- Avoid jargon; if a regulatory term is required, define it plainly
- Emphasize the credit union difference: member-owned, not-for-profit, profits returned as better rates and lower fees
- Never disparage banks by name; instead contrast the model ("Unlike publicly traded banks, every dollar we earn goes back to you")
- CTAs should be specific: "Open your account online in 5 minutes" not "Learn more"
Tagline: "Your neighbors. Your finances. Your credit union."
Competitive Context
Lakeview's primary local competitors:
- Great Lakes Credit Union ($900M assets, 11 branches in Lake County): Similar product set, aggressive auto loan rates. Lakeview differentiator: higher high-yield checking APY, broader business lending.
- Wintrust Bank (regional bank, 15+ Lake County locations): Larger branch footprint, full commercial banking. Lakeview differentiator: lower fees, member ownership, and personalized service.
- Chase / Bank of America (national banks): Brand recognition and technology budgets. Lakeview differentiator: no-fee accounts, better deposit and loan rates, local decision-making.
Key Lakeview advantages to emphasize: no monthly fees on core accounts, 30,000+ fee-free ATMs, local underwriting (faster loan decisions), community reinvestment (100% of deposits fund local loans), and the SBA Preferred Lender designation.