An Unbelievable Card

May 29, 2012 by

VISA® Platinum Credit Card

I’ve got my eye on a mini Coach bag.  Or, I might save up and get the Char-Broil Terrace gas grill.  Although, the Polaris Trail Boss 2×4 ATV does look pretty sweet.  I’m not going to be shelling out the big bucks for these though.  These are all items I can get with my ScoreCard Bonus Points that I earn when I use my Northwest Georgia Credit Union VISA credit card.  The ScoreCard points are just one of the awesome advantages of having your credit card with us.

You earn ScoreCard Bonus Points for every single purchase you make with your NWGACU VISA.  What’s more is that we have a bonus point promotion where you can earn double points.  Seriously.  Since May 1st (through the end of July), I’ve been earning double points at the gas station.  August through October, I’m going to be earning double points just for putting my groceries on my credit card.  And just in time for Christmas, I’m going to earn TRIPLE bonus points when I purchase my gifts from department stores, electronics stores, and discount stores!  Heck, I could even redeem my ScoreCard points for Christmas presents.  There are 11 different bonus point levels with 15 items in each category.  That’s 165 different things to choose from; almost anything from a Wilson NFL football in level one, or the above mentioned 4-wheeler in level 11.

That’s not all, folks!  I haven’t yet mentioned our non-variable interest rates of 9.9% or 11.9% (depending, of course, on what you qualify for).  Who else offers rates like that?  The non-variable part means that your interest rate isn’t going to skyrocket if you’re one day late on your payment.  In fact, it’s not going to change one bit. You even have 10 days after the due date before you’re charged a late fee.  Also, we have a 25 day grace period meaning that if you pay the balance in full within this time period, you won’t pay any interest. Pretty cool, huh?

To top it off, there’s no annual fee and there are several super easy ways to make your payment.  First of all, if you’re making the payment from your NWGACU checking or savings account, you can just give us a call and we can transfer it for you.  You can visit eZCardInfo not only to make your payment, but to view your account balance and transactions, too.  If you’re the traditional type, you can always mail your payments to the payment center listed on your statement or even mail them to the credit union.  And, if you get to feelin’ lonely and miss our lovely smiles, you can always just walk right on in and make your payment in person!

Applying is easy too!  Just stop by one of our offices or go to our website and see why our credit card is the best way to Un-bank.

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Summer Boredom Solved

May 21, 2012 by

T-minus four days until Floyd County Schools are out for the Summer and I’m willing to bet it will be about a week before you hear “I’m bored”. Don’t worry, we’re here for you!

Rome actually has a lot of great options to keep kids busy during those long Summer days.

Rome-Floyd Parks and Rec. offers camps that will be fun for kids with all kinds of interests. They offer swim camps, gymnastics camps, fitness camps, golf camps, and tennis camps for the athletic types. You can also choose from indoor activities like violin lessons or LEGO camp. Or if your kids just want to play with their friends all day, there are camps at the Anthony or Thornton Centers with crafts, food, and games.

WinShape is an awesome overnight or day camp option located right here in Rome.

Darlington offers all types of overnight or day camps as well. Anything from dance camp to etiquette  camp and all kinds of sports camps.

Ever heard of Wellspring Georgia? It’s an overnight weight loss camp located right here at Berry College! Fun outdoor and indoor activities on a gorgeous college campus.

The Rome-Floyd YMCA offers day camps for kids ages 6-12 with so many activities that will wear them out by bedtime.

So, what will your kids be doing this Summer?

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Northwest Georgia Credit Union Announces Scholarship Winners

May 16, 2012 by

Northwest Georgia Credit Union is proud to honor two outstanding high school seniors. Kristen Shiflett of Armuchee High School was chosen as the recipient of the Tom Nunn Memorial Scholarship and Jacey Boyd of Pepperell High School was chosen as the recipient of the Progressive Leader Scholarship.

Michelle Stricklin, President/CEO presents Tom Nunn Memorial Scholarship to Kristen Shiflett.

Kristen is the daughter of Richard and Lisa Shiflett. She involves herself in the community by offering her time to youth summer camps. She also participated in the Atlanta Half Marathon and served as the team leader for the National Honor Society’s October fundraising project. Shiflett is also involved in her school’s varsity tennis and cross country teams. Shiflett will apply her scholarship toward her education at the Georgia Institute of Technology, where she plans to study industrial engineering. The Tom Nunn Memorial Scholarship was created in memory of Mr. Tom Nunn, a late Director of Northwest Georgia Credit Union. This scholarship honors a commitment to excellence in academics, service, and community involvement.

Michelle Stricklin, President/CEO presents Progressive Leader scholarship to Jacey Boyd.

Jacey Boyd, the recipient of the Progressive Leader Scholarship, is the daughter of John and Amy Boyd. She attends Pepperell High School and plans to attend the University of West Georgia in the fall to study human resource management and business administration. The Progressive Leadership Scholarship honors a student with leadership skills, an entrepreneurial spirit, and a passion for a cause of their own with the skills to make it happen. Boyd’s cause is organ donation and she is using her skills to meet needs in our community. As an active proponent of organ donation, Boyd worked to bring the non-profit organization, Donate to Life, to Rome. She and the group conducted an awareness campaign at her church and school.

Congratulations and best wishes to both of these exceptional students!

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Summer Savings

April 30, 2012 by

Summer is right around the corner.  While this usually brings to mind thoughts of cold swimming pools on a sweltering day, vacations to the beach, and chasing the slushy truck down the street, it can also bring to mind higher power bills, gas prices, and daycare expenses.  Don’t give yourself a headache thinking about those higher bills because we’ve got some tips to help you save this summer.  Besides, if you’re like me, your headache is gonna come from drinking that slushy too fast!

Power bills can be brutal during the summer.  Here are some of my favorite tips for keeping your cooling costs down.

  • Set the thermostat to the best temperature. 78 degrees is the best setting during hot months.
  • Keep the filter clean.
  • Close blinds and drapes to keep the sun out.
  • Use ceiling fans or portable fans to keep the air circulating.
  • Turn the air off & open the windows if it’s a nice day outside!

Have you been cringing when filling up at the pump lately?  I know I have.  Gas is expensive, but you’ve got to get to work, get the kids to ballet lessons and ball practice, and maybe, just maybe, even sneak a vacation in somewhere.  While it may seem impossible, there are ways to save on gas this summer too.

  • Drive slower.  I’m not talking 15 in a 55 (unless you like getting honked at &/or having unsavory words thrown your way).  I’m talking that driving just 5 mph slower can reduce your fuel consumption by 7%.
  • Drop extra weight.  This is a no-brainer.  Are you driving around with heavy boxes in the trunk that you keep forgetting about?  Take ‘em out.  The heavier the car, the more gas you use.
  • Check your air filter (look familiar?).  Replacing your car’s dirty air filter can improve your mileage up to 10%.
  • Use cruise control if you have it.  Keeping at a constant speed means you’re accelerating less, which means you’re using less gas.

Don’t want to blow your budget on a vacation this summer, but still wanna have some fun?  Check out my last blog to get some ideas on how to save money.

Some additional ideas from one of our branch tellers, Amanda S.: First Friday concerts, Rome Braves Games, biking the Silver Comet Trail, and growing your own garden instead of buying all of your produce at the grocery store!

How do you cut costs during the summer?  Leave us a comment and let us know.  We’d love to hear your ideas!

Photo credit: www.foxbusiness.com

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Protecting Yourself Against Identity Theft

April 23, 2012 by

No one wants to deal with the repercussions of having their identity stolen.  At best, it can cost time and hassle.  At worst, it can cost big bucks.  And, as Benjamin Franklin said, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”.  So what are the best ways to avoid identity theft in the first place?

According to the Federal Trade Commission, awareness is an effective weapon against many forms of identity theft. Be aware of how information is stolen and what you can do to protect yours, monitor your personal information to uncover any problems quickly, and know what to do when you suspect your identity has been stolen.

Being aware of how thieves steal information is the first step in protecting your identity.  Thieves can find account numbers and other information in a variety of ways. It could be as simple as stealing your wallet or going through your trash.  Make sure you shred all sensitive information, such as account statements and papers containing your social security number, and report any theft of your wallet or personal information immediately.

Skilled identity thieves might call you or send you an email pretending to be a representative from your financial institution or a company you do business with in an attempt to get you to willingly give them your personal information.  Don’t give out personal information on the phone, through the mail, or on the Internet unless you’ve initiated the contact and are sure you know who you’re dealing with.

Monitoring your personal information is a crucial step in protecting yourself.  Check bank accounts often and access your credit report at least once a year.  You can do this for free at www.annualcreditreport.com. Keeping an eye on things will give you a head start if you do discover something out of the ordinary, minimizing the damage a thief can do with your stolen information.

Finally, know what to do if you suspect your identity is stolen.  There are four specific steps you should take if you discover that your information has been stolen.  First, place a fraud alert on your credit reports, and review your credit reports.  Second, close the accounts that you know, or believe, have been tampered with or opened fraudulently. Third, file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission. Finally, file a report with your local police or the police in the community where the identity theft took place.

For more information about identity theft and how to protect yourself, visit the Federal Trade Commission’s Identity Theft website at: http://www.ftc.gov/idtheft.

Photo credit: www.thedigeratilife.com

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Floyd’s Mobile Mammography Coach coming to NWGACU!

April 16, 2012 by

The Mobile Mammography Coach will be on site at Northwest Georgia Credit Union’s Redmond Road location on April 20th from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m.!  It will only take 15 minutes of your time to get your mammogram and Floyd Medical Center will file your health insurance for you.  If you are due your annual mammogram, please take advantage of this very important health screening.  If you do not have health insurance, you may qualify for a free screening. Call Floyd’s Financial Counselor at 706-509-6943 to discuss this.  Appointments are preferred.  Please sign up by calling us at 706-291-9290 to reserve your appointment time. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to take charge of your health!

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Need $1,000 For College?

April 9, 2012 by

You may have already noticed that NWGACU loves education. We serve educators and we teach financial literacy whenever we get the chance, and one of our favorite ways to help in education is to offer scholarships to brand new college students. We know how hard it is to save for college, so we want to help where ever we can.

The Tom Nunn Memorial Scholarship is given in honor of late Director Mr. Tom Nunn, a gentleman committed to excellence in his work and service the Greater Rome community.

The Progressive Leader Scholarship was created in honor of the credit union movement, which was founded by innovative leaders who strongly believed that the banking industry was not serving people as it should. This scholarship honors the entrepreneurial, progressive student leader who believes in her or her own cause and does something about it.

These two $1,000 scholarships are awarded to two graduating high school seniors with plans to attend college in the fall. I can imagine that an extra $1,000 seems pretty exciting with all those college expenses already starting to roll in.

Download the 2012 Tom Nunn application package here.

Download the 2012 Progressive Leader application package here.

Applications are due Friday, April 20. Good luck!

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Easter Egg Extravaganza!

April 3, 2012 by

We invited our Little Sprouts and Acorn Club kiddos to join us in some serious egg hunting. And you know kids are serious about their prize-filled eggs.

The Little Sprouts impressed us with their speed. They collected a lot of eggs in a very short time.

When the hunting was all over, every kid sat down with their new treasures to see what they got. Lots of candy, a few stickers, some coins, and one lucky winner walked away with a $20 prize egg!

It was a very successful first Egg Hunt for our kids clubs, and we’re hoping for more fun events in the future! Happy Easter!

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What are ScoreCard Points?

March 28, 2012 by

As a teller I get to know our members. I know when they are going on vacation, when they are paying their VISA bill, and I hear about their families.  This is all good and I love it! I also absolutely love helping members save on things like vacations or buying gifts by showing them how to use available VISA ScoreCard points. I love explaining to our members that their VISA Platinum card has so many benefits.  When I ask, “Did you use your ScoreCard points for this purchase or trip?” the responses are frequently the same, “What are ScoreCard points and how do I get them?” Just recently, a member visited with me at our branch office.  She was not at all familiar with the VISA ScoreCard points program.  I was able to explain to her what they were and how to use them.  She had over 42,000 points to use. That is a lot of points! She had just booked a cruise and had no clue these points could have paid for that cruise.

So, to help our members save I have compiled some of the most common questions members have asked about VISA ScoreCard Points.

What are ScoreCard Points?
ScoreCard points are points that you earn for using Northwest Georgia Credit Union’s VISA Platinum Credit Card.

How do I earn ScoreCard Points?
Every time you use your Northwest Georgia Credit Union Visa Platinum Credit Card you earn one point per dollar spent.  Some merchants give you double points. You can also accrue more points when purchasing online at Scoremore or by looking on our website for double points promotions for that month.

How do I know I have ScoreCard Points and how many?
If you have our VISA Platinum Credit Card and used your card you have points. Look on your statement in the box that says ScorePoints and that tells you how many points you have.

How do I use ScoreCard Points?
First you need to register your card on the ScoreCardRewards site. Then you are off to plan a vacation, buy gifts, or treat yourself.

What can ScoreCard Points be used for?
Merchandise, Electronics, Home & Personal Items, Sports, Recreation, and Travel, to name a few categories.

Now that we know the what, when, and how of VISA ScoreCard Points, let’s see an example.

Using my available ScoreCard Points (7,863) we are going to go on a trip to DisneyWorld with our two children.  The hotel is a total of 5,500 points for two nights including continental breakfast. We will also be getting two Orlando Kids Eat Free cards for 900 points per card. These cards retail at $20 per card. This is a savings of $246.90 for the hotel and an estimated savings of $96 for the kids to eat for three days. That is a total of $246.90 in savings, just from using VISA Platinum Card Score Points!

  Score Card Points Approximate Cash Value
Hotel (2 nights) 5,500 $110.90
2 Kids Eat Free Card 1800 $40.00
Kids Meals Free with Card $96.00
                       Total                           7300 $246.90 Savings
 

Happy saving!

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Save money this spring break

March 19, 2012 by

The weather’s getting warmer, the bees are buzzing, and the flowers are starting to bloom.  I’m pretty sure this means that spring is in the air (or at least the pollen is).  And the very best part of spring?  Spring break, of course!  Whether you’re planning a weeklong trip or a staycation, there are ways to have a good time without completely busting your budget.

For the trip takers, planning ahead can mean big savings.  You can often find better deals and discounts on hotels if you book in advance.  Also, if you’re planning on flying to your destination, sometimes you can get a better rate if you book your flight and hotel at the same time.  Take a look at websites like hotwire.com and travelocity.com before you book to compare rates.  Of course, if you have NWGACU’s VISA Platinum credit card (hint, hint, wink, wink), you could use all those Scorecard points you’ve been racking up!  Scorecard offers discounts on air travel, hotels, car rentals, cruises, well, you get the point.

Once you reach your destination, there are still some ways to save a little cash.  Christi, our head teller at the branch, shared one of her favorite tips: her family doesn’t go out to eat for every meal while on vacation.  They pack sandwiches for the trip so they don’t have to stop at fast food restaurants while they’re traveling.  If you’re staying somewhere that has a kitchen, pack a cooler of things to cook yourself or visit a local grocery store when you get there.  You might even be able to afford an extra activity with all the money that you’re saving!

Now, for those of you planning a staycation, there’s still plenty of fun to have and money to save!  Consider getting an Atlanta CityPASS.  For $69 for adults and $49 for children (ages 3-12), you can visit five Atlanta attractions:  World of Coca Cola, Georgia Aquarium, Inside CNN Studio Tour, High Museum of Art or Fernbank Museum of Natural History (one of my faves!), Zoo Atlanta or Atlanta History Center.  The credit union also has discount tickets for Six Flags and White Water.

Camping is one of my favorite ways to vacation on the cheap.  Hot dogs just seem to taste better when they’re roasted over a campfire.  And while I love camping in a tent, I think yurt camping looks pretty cool!  If you don’t know what that is, you can check it out at http://www.gastateparks.org/Yurts and make your reservations.

Don’t forget to ask about group rates and student discounts too.  And remember your sunscreen!

Photo credit: www.mint.com

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