Welcome to all our new Vantage Credit Union members! Now that the merger is complete, we know there will be questions about some of our services, and some accounts will still need some tweaking. To help answer these questions, several of our support staff are going to stay late this week to help out with the enrollment process for MyVantage online account management and assist with other questions. We will be here until 9:00 p.m. CST each night via our live chat service.

We have had several members with accounts that have been previously closed at Spirit earlier in the year call Vantage wondering why they’re now receiving Vantage account information via US Postal Service. The reason for Vantage having to create new accounts for these members, even if their accounts were previously closed at Spirit, is because these accounts still need to exist for tax reporting purposes through the end of 2009.

As you know, as of December 1, 2009, your Spirit checking account will automatically become a checking account under your new Vantage account number.

Making the transition:

1. You will receive your first box of Vantage checks free of charge the week of November 23, 2009. Please begin using your Vantage checks starting December 1, 2009.
    
2. Be assured, your Spirit checks written prior to December 1, 2009, will still clear through your new Vantage checking account after that date.
    
3. To make the transition as smooth as possible, we ask that you discontinue using your current supply of Spirit checks as of November 30, 2009. You may bring your remaining Spirit checks to any Vantage branch to be destroyed after that date.
    
4. Please do not begin using your Vantage checks before December 1, 2009. They will be void until that time.

Dear Valued Members,

It’s my pleasure as President/CEO of Vantage Credit Union to welcome all Spirit of St. Louis Credit Union members to the Vantage family!

It’s an exciting time for all of us. We’re very proud to be partnered with such a respected financial institution and look forward to serving our new members. I’m sure you’ll find our member service exceptional and our numerous financial services both helpful and convenient.

One of the great benefits Spirit of St. Louis Credit Union members will gain as a result of the merger with Vantage Credit Union is access to a number of branch and ATM locations across the Greater St. Louis area. Vantage Credit Union has 16 branches and over 30 ATMs, now including our Eureka and Des Peres locations, plus nearly 300 CO-OP Network ATMs across the area. Because of this, they haven’t had the need to be a part of the Shared Branch network. In fact, several Vantage branches are conveniently located close to existing Shared Branch outlets. Therefore, we will no longer require an affiliation with the Shared Branch network.

Dear Valued Member:

On August 19, 2009, the Board of Directors of Spirit of St. Louis Credit Union voted to merge with Vantage Credit Union. Your credit union considered many options for our merger partner, including credit unions within our Shared Branch network. After much deliberation, we believe Vantage was the best fit for Spirit and our members.