INVESTMENTS

LCEF is the Lutheran Church Extension Fund, a unique ministry-through-investment organization that offers Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod members the opportunity to invest their money, earn interest, and help build churches and schools at the same time.

Investments in LCEF serve a dual purpose: to earn a competitive rate of return for investors and to provide low-cost loans to LCMS ministries that wish to spread the Good News of Jesus. Your dollars (invested or gifted) also earn the “ministry dividend,” the benefit of knowing that your dollars are helping ministries support the Great Commission.

LCEF has assets of more than $1.6 billion. We maintain a strong capital position to support growth, operations, and to protect our investors against losses. Investors can be assured and confident that LCEF recognizes the need to maintain a strong capital position and carefully monitors this position.

Since the 1950s, people have invested dollars at LCEF, and they have received a competitive rate of return on their investments while also putting this money to work for the Church.

LCEF is a nonprofit religious organization. Therefore, our investments are not bank deposit accounts and are not insured by the SIPC, FDIC, or any other federal government agency. As with many investment products available today, LCEF investments are subject to risk including possible loss of principal.

For complete information about LCEF, see our current Offering Circular or request an Offering Circular by calling 1-800-843-5233.

LCEF offers a variety of investments including StewardAccount, Dedicated Certificates, Fixed Rate Term Notes, Floating Rate Term Notes, and IRAs. You’ll find that LCEF rates are competitive; that way loan rates are reasonable, also. For current rates, call 1-800-843-5233. Or select Current Rates online.

Investments can be made to Demand Accounts, the StewardAccount, and Floating Rate Term Notes. Investments can be made electronically (a form is required) via MyAccount, LCEF’s online financial service, or by sending a check with an investment slip to LCEF.

Partial redemptions can be made from Demand Notes at any time (principal and/or interest). Redemptions of accumulated interest can be made at any time from Term Notes. Otherwise, redemptions from Term Notes may be made at the expiration of their terms. LCEF is not required to redeem any Note prior to its maturity date. However, as a matter of policy and practice, LCEF has redeemed Notes at the request of investors upon a showing of need. When LCEF agrees to redeem a Note, interest penalties may apply.

Partial redemptions can be made via telephone, fax, e-mail, mail, or by sending a secure e-mail through MyAccount (LCEF’s online financial service, which requires a completed MyAccount application). For security purposes, refer to your investment by only indicating the last four digits of the account number. If you have a StewardAccount, you may request funds by writing a check or using your debit card.

Remember, redemptions require signatures from all owners on accounts with joint ownership.

If the account is a non-IRA, your named beneficiaries are reflected on the Investment Certification acknowledgement that you receive from our office. Beneficiaries named on IRA’s are reflected only on the IRA beneficiary form that you are required to complete. It is suggested that you retain a copy for your files. If you would like to confirm beneficiary information about existing accounts, simply fill out our contact us form or call an LCEF Information Representative at 1-800-843-5233.

LCEF requires an amendment form signed by the custodian to authorize the change and to obtain the signature(s) of the current owner(s). You can request the change by calling 1-800-843-5233.

Complete the Automatic Investment Authorization form, or call our office at 1-800-843-5233 and request an authorization form. This form must be completed and returned to LCEF before the change can be implemented.

Custodian accounts are set up by completing item “C” in step 1 of the Individual Investment Application.

Provide our office with a copy of the owner’s death certificate and a letter signed and dated by the surviving owner requesting the ownership change to the trust. A Trust Certification Form is also required. A Trust Certification form can be downloaded or requested by calling 1-800-843-5233.

Normally it takes two business days for the electronic transfer to show in your account.

A demand account is an LCEF investment account in which you can open the account for $100, make additional investments of any amount, redeem without penalties, and interest is paid to the account. We also refer to them as Dedicated Account and the StewardAccount. Learn more about this and other investment products.

LCEF maintains your congregation membership and what congregation you would like your investment to support. Your member and supporting congregation may be changed at any time by contacting us by calling 1-800-843-5233 or fill out our contact us form.