WHAT IS A TRUSTED CONTACT?
A Trusted Contact is someone that you authorize Merck Employees Federal Credit Union to contact if the credit union has a reasonable belief that the member’s account may be exposed to possible financial exploitation or fraud. A Trusted Contact person must be age eighteen (18) or older. They do not have to be a member of the credit union, but could be an existing member, too.
WHY WOULD THE CREDIT UNION CONTACT A TRUSTED CONTACT PERSON?
While not obligated to contact a Trusted Contact person, Merck Employees Federal Credit Union would normally do so if/when it became concerned over issues involving the member or transactions in the member’s account, including but not limited to the following:
- Addressing possible financial exploitation or fraud in the member’s account;
- Confirming the member’s current contact information if the credit union cannot reach the member;
- Confirming the member’s current health status if the credit union staff suspects the member is sick or suffering from diminished capacity; or
- Confirming the identity of any legal guardian, executor, trustee, or holder of a Power of Attorney on the member’s account.
DOES THE TRUSTED CONTACT(S) HAVE ANY AUTHORITY OVER THE ACCOUNT OR ACCESS TO PERSONAL INFORMATION?
No, assigning a Trusted Contact person does not grant any authority to the Trusted Contact to conduct transactions, request withdrawals or to access personally identifiable information. By providing a Trusted Contact person, the member is granting permission to the credit union to use their discretion to contact the Trusted Contact(s) and disclose information about the member and their accounts.
It is important to note that appointing a Trusted Contact(s) is not the same as granting a Power of Attorney to an Agent. An Agent under a Power of Attorney is authorized to conduct transactions in the member’s account as set forth in the Power of Attorney. A Trusted Contact is not authorized to conduct transactions in the member’s account or to obtain information including personally identifiable information from the credit union.
