COVID-19 Information Center

Updated as of: 01/28/2023

Latest COVID-19 Updates

7/8/21:

Golden State Stimulus Payment (GSSP):

As you may heard, California will provide the Golden Status Stimulus payment to families and people who qualify. This is a one-time $600 or $1,200 payment per tax return. We want to provide you with some helpful information. Please see some FAQs below: 

When can I expect to receive my GSSP? 

• The California Franchise Tax Board will issue stimulus payments monthly after eligible 2020 tax returns are processed.
• Direct deposits: Allow up to 45 days
• Paper checks: Allow up to 60 days
• Payments are anticipated to begin mid-April 2021.

We encourage all members who receive a physical check to use our Cal Coast Mobile App to deposit the check remotely using mobile deposit. 

Who will receive a payment?

• Visit the California Franchise Tax Board website for detailed information on eligibility.

How do I know a payment has been received?

• The easiest way to monitor receipt of any payments is by accessing your account online via Cal Coast Online Banking or the Cal Coast Mobile App. 

How do I protect myself against fraud?

• Do not provide your personal information through email, text, or incoming calls. Cal Coast will never contact you directly to verify your account information or security information.

For additional information about the GSSP, please visit the State of California Franchise Tax Board website.

Financial Relief Programs

To help alleviate financial strain caused by the COVID-19 crisis, California Coast Credit Union recently deferred (postponed) applicable Vehicle Loan, Personal Loan/Lines of Credit, Mortgage Loan, and Credit Card payments, including automatic payments.^1,2  If you have a mortgage loan serviced by Midwest Loan Services, click here for more information.²

This was a temporary suspension of monthly loan and/or credit card payments. The automatic deferral ended on June 30, 2020 and monthly payments resumed on their regularly scheduled due date in July 2020. 

Our COVID-19 temporary fee waiver program ended as of June 15th. 

Services & Member Perks

• Network of 30,000 surcharge free CO-OP^® ATMs nationwide 
• Direct Deposit 
• Free Cashier’s Checks⁴
• Free overdraft protection from a Cal Coast line of credit⁵
• Balance and Transaction Alerts on our Mobile Banking App⁶
• Cal Coast Online Banking for 24 hour account access

Products to help you avoid fees

• Free Checking with eStatements
• Extra Value Checking which refunds the fee on two withdrawals each month at ATMs outside our CO-OP® Network⁷

Loyalty Rewards Program

When you become a Cal Coast member, you're automatically enrolled in Cal Coast Loyalty Rewards and it’s free.⁸ With Cal Coast Loyalty Rewards you are eligible for:

• Refunds on ATM out-of-network fees
• NSF or courtesy fee credit
• Overdraft transfer fee credit
• Check order fee Credit
• And so much more!

San Diego Small Business Relief Fund – COVID19

Thank you to all those who donated to the San Diego Small Business Relief Fund – COVID19 in support of small businesses in our community. California Coast Credit Union and the Cal Coast Cares Foundation, in partnership with the City of San Diego, San Diego Grantmakers and GoFundMe are happy to announce that fundraising efforts have resulted in a total raised of over $700,000 for the relief fund. Because of your contributions, many local small businesses will be receiving much needed grant funding to assist them during these difficult times. Thank you for supporting our collaborative efforts and helping us to strengthen our small business community.

Insurance Premium Financial Relief

For our members with life or AD&D insurance policies – your policy will not be cancelled or non-renewed for failure to pay premiums for a period of 90 days. There is no need to contact us, TruStage or provide any documentation – a missed payment will trigger the moratorium on cancellation and nonrenewal. No late fees or penalties will be charged. This became effective on March 12, 2020. For more information, please visit the TruStage COVID-19 page. 

For members with personal auto insurance, you will receive an automatic 15% refund on two months of your auto premium. Fewer cars on the road means fewer accidents and Liberty Mutual has launched a Personal Auto Customer Relief Fund to do their part in helping alleviate some of the financial burden. Please see the Liberty Mutual COVID-19 page for more information on the fund and when to expect the refund.

Fraud & Scam Alerts

Criminals are attempting to exploit the COVID-19 pandemic through various scams and fraud attempts. Please be on high alert to protect yourself and your family. Some of the scams reported include:

Cash App Scams

While they’re an easy way to send money to friends and family—unfortunately payment platforms like Cash App, PayPal, Venmo, Apple Pay and others are also vulnerable to scams that can result in losses to the user. Victims can be scammed out of hundreds, if not thousands of dollars because the apps are connected directly to debit card and/or bank accounts. 

Mobile Banking Scams

As we change our banking habits due to COVID-19, it’s more important than ever to be vigilant about potential scams. The FBI warns that hackers are using the upsurge in app-based banking as an opportunity to scam unsuspecting mobile banking users. To combat potential app-related threats, the FBI recommends only downloading banking apps from official app stores (like the Google Play Store for Android and the Apple App Store for iOS), or directly from the financial institution’s website, and to always use strong passwords. If you encounter something in your banking app that looks suspicious, contact Cal Coast or the financial institution for the app right away.

Contact Tracking Scams

The California Attorney General issued a warning to be on the lookout for a new scam involving phony COVID-19 contact tracing. Contact tracing is an important tool that helps local public health departments identify and inform people who may have been in contact with a COVID-19 infected individual. In this new fraud scheme, scam artists pretend to be contact tracers in order to trick Californians into divulging their private personal information such as Social Security Numbers, financial information, or health insurance information. These scam artists are contacting Californians by phone, email, and/or text.

Legitimate contact tracers will never ask for personal or financial information—they will only ask about your medical symptoms and the people you have been in contact with. If a contact tracer asks you for personal or financial information, or tries to charge you money, it’s a scam. You can report contact tracing scams to the California Office of the Attorney General.

Employment Offer Scams

Scammers are taking advantage of those who are seeking income or new employment. Be cautious of companies requesting money, either up front or after accepting the offer. Sometimes they will say it’s for background checks, position guarantee, supplies, or even part of the job requirement. Do not send cash, checks or buy gift cards for potential employers. Do your research on the company, visit their website and contact them directly via phone to verify legitimacy. 

Unemployment Claim Scams

Fraudsters often steal people’s personal information in order to make false unemployment claims in their names. The fraud is often discovered when the individual receives a notice from the Employment Security Department (ESD) about a claim they did not submit. If you believe you may have been the victim of this scam, here’s what to do next:

1. Contact your Employer(s)
2. Contact the California Employment Development Department (EDD) to submit an Unemployment Insurance fraud report. If you live in a different state, contact the unemployment department for your state of residence.
3. Contact your local police department to determine if you should file a fraud report.
4. Contact the three major credit bureaus, Experian, Transunion and Equifax, since the breach involves social security numbers, birth dates and other personal information.

Money Mule Scams

Scammers often use unsuspecting victims to receive and move stolen funds for them. If you help a scammer move fraudulent money, whether or not you know it’s a scam, you could be prosecuted for being what law enforcement calls a “money mule.” These scams are often perpetrated through online offers of employment, dating scams, or prizes. Scammers will send money to you, then ask you to send a portion of it to someone else. Learn more

Coronavirus Stimulus Check Scam Warning

According to the Better Business Bureau, government imposters are making fraudulent calls to people regarding the COVID-19 relief. These callers may suggest that you qualify for a special COVID-19 grant, but must first provide personal information or banking details. The scheme may come through text messages, social media posts/messages or phone calls. Be wary of unsolicited messages and remember that government agencies do not communicate via social media avenues. Stimulus checks are free money from the government. You don’t need to spend money to receive your check. Learn More

Costco Stimulus Check Text Scam

If you receive a text message offering freebies for Costco Wholesale members that’s part of a “COVID-19 stimulus package” be aware that this is a scam. Do not click on any links in the message as they may include malware or ransomware. Learn More

Employment Scams

Scammers are taking advantage of those who are seeking income or new employment. Be cautious of companies requesting money, either up front or after accepting the offer. Sometimes they will say it’s for background checks, position guarantee, supplies or even part of the job requirement. Do not send cash, checks or buy gift cards for potential employers. Do your research on the company, visit their website and contact them directly via phone to verify legitimacy. Learn More

For more information on new or increased scams relating to the COVID-19 pandemic, visit the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) site.

If you believe you’re a victim of a scam or attempted fraud relating to COVID-19, you can report it by contacting the National Center for Disaster Fraud.

Loan Modification & Foreclosure Scam Alert

According to the California Department of Business Oversight, scammers are telling homeowners that by transferring the deed to their home to a third party, they will no longer be responsible for their mortgage payments. This is NOT true. Transferring a title will not relieve a borrower of their mortgage payments. For more information on this scam and the most recent consumer alerts, click here.