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Archive for the ‘Un-banking.’ Category

What are ScoreCard Points?

March 28, 2012

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!

Tags:credit card, rewards
Posted in Making Cents, Un-banking. | Leave a Comment »

It’s Tax Time!

March 12, 2012

Well it’s “T” time again, and I don’t mean the kind with the warm, soothing beverage and the sugary little cookies. Nor is it that special, reserved time of day when men gather in cute little cars on pristine grass with their over-priced graphite rods and little white balls. No, this is the ever dreaded, yet inevitable time of year that all good Americans participate in–Tax time. If you planned right and you haven’t had any big hiccups in your life, you may not have to pay any additional taxes this year. Or if you are even more fortunate, you may do better than breaking even, you may get money back; that ever blessed refund that so many of us dream of and have spent 15 times over in our heads before it’s ever even calculated!!

I’m never really sure how I feel about exemptions and withholding…do I want to have less withheld so that I have more monthly cash flow to work with and then risk having to pay additional taxes at the end of the year? Or should I pay an extra amount to withholding from each paycheck to ensure that I don’t have the shock of having to come up with tax money in April and maybe get more back in a refund?(granted, Uncle Sam would get to use my money all year long that way.) I’ve had years where it worked out one way and then years where it worked out the other. I guess with the way that tax laws are always changing you never know which way is going to work better for you.

And speaking of tax laws…. About five years ago I started using TurboTax because NWGACU offered the software program at a discount, and they still do – check out the member discount page. This took all of the guesswork out of the changing laws. It walks you through all of the possible deductions, and exemptions, and whatnot. Lots of questions I wouldn’t even think to consider. If there is something that you can claim or can’t claim, I feel pretty confident that TurboTax will find it. I did take my taxes to a “professional” for two years but they didn’t get me any more of a refund than I was figuring out on my own. Since I’m all about saving money, I’m back to doing my own taxes at half the price of having someone else do them and I never had to leave my house! Cool! Doing taxes while sipping tea in time for tee-off! Now that is what I call Un-banking!

Tags:budget, Saving, taxes, Turbo Tax
Posted in Better than a Bank, Making Cents, Un-banking. | Leave a Comment »

Win One of Two $100 VISA Gift Cards

February 15, 2012

We all have experiences that have shaped our opinion and definition of the word ‘banking’. So, what does ‘banking’ mean to you? Depositing, withdrawing, borrowing? Yep, that about sums it up. But what if banking could be more?

We believe in un-banking…something you can only find at a credit union. We believe that banking is all about relationship. We care about your financial well-being because we want to see you succeed—no strings attached. Because our members are the owners of the credit union, when you do well, we do well.

Financial services should be affordable and convenient. It should be about a relationship with people who will go out of their way to help you out and keep things uncomplicated. It’s all the conveniences of a bank without the hassle of, well, the bank. It’s being smart, savvy and responsible with your money. It’s called un-banking, and it’s pretty unbelievable.

So, how do you un-bank? Do you find deals or coupons online? Do you go to the grocery store on a full stomach? Do you bargain shop? Tell us about it on Twitter between February 15 and March 1, and you will be automatically entered to win one of two $100 VISA gift cards! Follow @NWGACU and mention us with the hash tag #UnBank. We will be looking for your tweets!

Tags:tweets, twitter
Posted in Better than a Bank, Contests, Un-banking. | 2 Comments »

Decorating a room with a $100 budget

February 6, 2012

I don’t know about y’all, but this unseasonably warm weather has given me spring fever. When I start thinking about spring, I start thinking about spring cleaning. I find that spring cleaning is the perfect opportunity to do a little decorating as well. Think about it- one of the easiest ways to decorate your home, especially when you’re on a budget, is re-purposing items that you already have! Here are some ideas for decorating a room with a $100 budget.

One easy way is to create an accent wall. Choose one wall in the room and paint it a different, but coordinating color. It can be bright and funky, like lime green or yellow for your kitchen, or deep and elegant, like maroon or eggplant for your living room. You’re out what? A gallon of paint or two, a drop cloth, and a paint brush, if you don’t already have these out in the garage. Think about checking out the paint center at your local home improvement store to see if they have any “oops” paint. You may just find your perfect accent color at a discount!

While we’re talking paint, what about painting or staining an existing entertainment center, dresser, or cabinets? You can even play around with some of the fancier textured paints and still come out way cheaper than buying a new piece of furniture or replacing your kitchen or bathroom cabinets. While you’re at it, you can easily change out the hardware for a spiffy new look.

Here are a few more quick ideas:

Cover framed pieces of canvas with pretty scraps of fabric or frame sheets of scrap book paper for wall art.
Add or change a lamp. Look for lamps at your local thrift and discount stores. If it’s not exactly what you’re looking for, keep in mind that a new coat of paint or a new lamp shade can do wonders to transform it.
Cover an old vase with craft glue and wrap it with pretty ribbon or yarn.

Get inspired! You can make a big impact on your room, with a small impact on your wallet!

Tags:budget, decorate on a dime, unbank
Posted in Making Cents, Un-banking. | Leave a Comment »

New and improved online banking coming!

January 20, 2012

Online banking is about to get even better. On January 24th, we will be converting to a new online banking system with some pretty cool new features. Here’s the skinny on the updgrade.

The new online banking system will allow you to manage your finances and pay all of your bills, in one place, with one password and just a few easy clicks. It’s always convenient and secure. More than just your basic online service, Online Banking with Bill Pay lets you transfer money between accounts, pay virtually anyone without writing a check, set up alerts, turn off paper statements, and much more. Best of all, Online Banking and Bill Pay will now have a single sign-on! No more remembering two separate logins and passwords. Now, you will be able to access Bill Pay through Online Banking, with your current Online Banking login information.

Other features include:

• View your deposit and loan balances all in one place
• Make and schedule transfers
• Strengthened password length
• Initiate stop payments
• Access your NWGACU Visa credit card information and redeem points
• Set up automatic email alerts
• Secure messaging
• Bill Shrink
• Download activity into your preferred financial management software
• Create and manage payees – send payments to anyone anywhere, 24/7
• Manage recurring and automatic payments
• Customize your account display

As always, secure Online Banking and Online Bill Pay are FREE!

Check out the demo here.

Please note: you may experience an interruption in Online Banking and Bill Pay service Jan. 23 and Jan. 24 while we upgrade. Watch the website for more details; we’ll let you know as soon as we’re up and running.

*Current Quicken users: As Northwest Georgia Credit Union completes its new online banking system conversion, you will need to modify your Quicken settings to ensure the smooth transition of your data. Please download the instructions for your Quicken version below.

Quicken for Windows 2009-2011
Quicken for Windows 2010-2012
Quicken for Mac 2005-2007
Quicken for Mac 2010

Posted in Making Cents, Un-banking. | 1 Comment »

In Case You Haven't Heard

July 14, 2011

Northwest Georgia Credit Union announced last week that in addition to nearly 100 local employers who offer NWGACU membership to employees and family, now anyone who resides in Floyd County can join the credit union!

We have been granted a Residential Common Bond by the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance. This means that NWGACU’s membership is more readily available than ever before!

So now it’s your turn to spread the word to your friends who need to Un-bank! Here’s how to join.

Posted in In the Community, Un-banking. | Leave a Comment »

Fun Facts About Our Credit Card

June 28, 2011

Have you heard about the best credit card around?

The Visa Platinum Credit Card is a simple, honest card that is totally free of ridiculous fees that have become so common with banks and credit card companies. Here are some fun facts about our credit card:

Non-variable rate as low as 9.9% – our card holds one of the lowest rates in the country!
No annual fees
No surprise rate changes
A 25-day grace period

Member Benefits:

No default penalty rate for late payment
No fees for cash advances or balance transfers
Make payments online or in our branches
Earn ScoreCard Bonus Points with every purchase

ScoreCard Bonus Points are earned on every purchase, and they can be redeemed online for:

Travel Perks
Gift cards
Merchandise
Airline tickets – at the 20,000 point level! Most credit cards require 40,000 – 50,000 points.

Right now is a great time to transfer your credit card balance for 5.9%APR* and get a free sock monkey while supplies last! *Some restrictions apply.

Money-Saving Tip of the Day

HouseholdTipNo.11: Turn off tap water when you’re brushing your teeth or shaving. Every minute the water is running, you are using up to 2.5 gallons, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

Posted in Better than a Bank, Making Cents, Un-banking. | Leave a Comment »

Our Unbelievable Checking

June 3, 2011

Our checking is unbelievable because…

It’s totally free!
It comes with free eBranch services, free Teller Line, and a free Visa Debit Card.
No minimum balance requirements.
Direct deposit and payroll deduction available.

I see a pattern here… the word free, maybe? You’re missing out on a lot if you don’t already have our checking. Get the details here.

50 Tips in 50 Days

GroceryTipNo.36: Stick to the outer aisles of the supermarket. You’ll find the widest selection of unprocessed foods, which also happens to be less expensive and healthier!

Posted in Better than a Bank, Making Cents, Un-banking. | Leave a Comment »

Friday Quiz Challenge

March 18, 2011

Do you really know the difference between banks and credit unions? Take our quiz to find out:

1. Who owns a credit union?

A. Stockholders

B. Members

C. Board of Directors

2. Credit union boards of directors are monetarily compensated for their time and service.

A. True

B. False

3. Credit unions are:

A. Not-for-profit

B. Non-profit

C. For-profit

4. Credit union boards of directors are:

A. Members of the credit union just like you–local professionals who want the same things you want from your financial institution.

B. Not necessarily members of the credit union–they are just local professionals offering guidance.

5. Service at a credit union is more personal and meaningful than a bank. Why?

A. Because we’re nice folks.

B. Because banks so many customers, so they are simply too busy to spend time with you.

C. Because members are the owners, we’re freed up to focus on our mission of helping people, rather than preserving a profit.

Ready for the answers?

1. B, 2. B, 3. A, 4. A, 5. C

Posted in Better than a Bank, Education, Un-banking. | Leave a Comment »

What is the Credit Builder Loan?

March 16, 2011

Zero credit? Or damaged credit? Thankfully, the credit union has thought of a way to help. If you haven’t heard about our Credit Builder Loan, allow me to introduce you.

You: Maybe you’re young and have no credit history–not good, not bad, just nothing. You’re looking to establish a positive history, but you don’t necessarily want to do it with a credit card. Or perhaps you’ve made mistakes or difficult circumstances fell in your lap, and your credit history took a hit. You want to improve your score, but you’re having a hard time getting approved for loans AND you know better than to visit a payroll lender.

Meet Credit Builder Loan: It’s a $500 loan that has payments of $50 and a reasonable 14% interest rate. You pay the loan back in full and on time through payroll deduction, and a year later, we send positive repayment history to the credit bureaus. Before you get the loan, we also take the time to talk with you and help you understand the basics of credit, just to make sure you start out on solid footing.

You can read the official info on our website here, and you can even apply online. Of course, we’d love to see your smiling face in person too.

Posted in Education, Life at the Credit Union, Making Cents, Un-banking. | Leave a Comment »

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