Archive for the ‘Un-banking.’ Category

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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 »

A Great Card

November 29, 2010

Every now and then at NWGACU we are reminded of just how unbelievable our products are. When you work with them everyday you sometimes forget what makes them stand out from other similar products.

Case and point: Credit Cards

I have known about our great credit card for a while. I even got to watch our credit card rise to the peak of ‘amazingness’ when the credit card rules changed and other credit cards had to start adding new fees. Our card is different…no…better. Here are some examples of what makes the NWGACU Visa Platinum card better:

Rates

  • National average: 14.74% (as of 11/29/2010)
  • NWGACU: non-variable rate as low as 9.9%*

Fees

  • no annual fee
  • no fees for cash advances
  • no fees for balance transfers

Extras

  • no surprise rate changes for any reason
  • a 25-day grace period
  • Verfied by Visa  – a free service that helps you stay safe when shopping online

Rewards

  • Travel Perks
  • Merchandise
  • Airline tickets – at the 20,000 point level! Most credit cards require 25,000-30,000 points.
  • Gift cards will be available soon with your points!

It’s just an honest card that is easy to use. You won’t ever be overwhelmed by surprise fees or changes to your card. And you can transfer a balance today with no fees at all!

 
 
 
*This rate is NWGACU’s best rate for qualified members. All loans subject to credit approval. Some restrictions may apply. Your APR may vary depending on your creditworthiness. Please ask a Financial Services Officer for details.

Posted in Un-banking. | Leave a Comment »

Keeping It Simple

October 4, 2010

Becoming an adult isn’t an easy process for some of us, especially in the financial department. It takes time to learn what is going to work for you and making mistakes along the way is just part of the journey. 

With that in mind, I wanted to share some easy tips to help you simplify your finances and get things in order:

Use direct deposit. You’ll never have to stand in to line to cash or deposit your paycheck again. Let your credit union automatically put your paycheck in your account so that it’ll be in your account waiting for you on payday. 

Set up automatic withdrawals to your savings account. You don’t even have to remember to save money anymore! The credit union can remember for you. It’s the easiest way to build up a solid savings without having to remember to pay yourself each month.

Keep track of your money.  Whether you check your Online Banking account or the check register in the back of your checkbook, you’ll need to know what’s exactly in your account to avoid overdraft fees. And checking your balance online pretty regularly will allow you know if fraud ever occurs on your account sooner rather than later.

Create a payment calendar. We all know that late bills can cause big problems, so create an easy-to-read calendar that reminds you when bills and payments are due. Using Online Bill Pay can help since you can set up bills to be paid automatically each month if you’d like. You can also rearrange dates that certain bills are due each month to allow for a more balance payment schedule.

 Cut back on credit cards. Having lots of credit cards can be handy, but paring it down to two or three can keep things simple. Choose cards with a great rate, few fees, rewards, and excellent customer service. And, of course, I would be talking about the NWGACU Visa Platinum card. I really do think we have the best card around, but whichever ones you choose, just be sure they are easy. Simple is key when you’re dealing with finances.

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

5 Ways NWGACU Can Save You Money

July 19, 2010

It’s a tough world out there right now, which means it’s a particularly good time to be a credit union member. The latest stats indicate that credit unions save member households $159 a year over bank customers*–and that’s just an average! NWGACU is no exception. Here’s our top 5 ways that NWGACU can save you money:

1. Credit card interest. Most Americans carry some amount of credit card debt, and a whole lot of them are paying high interest or being whacked with exorbitant fees. Even though recent legislation has ended most of the outright abuse on consumers by credit card companies and banks, many consumers are still paying way too much in interest. Our interest rates on credit cards are darn good, and we don’t charge balance transfer fees or cash advance fees. How about you? Are you carrying balances on a credit card with rates over 12% APR? Consider transferring your balance to us.

2. Loan interest rates. Besides credit cards, our loan rates are usually better than banks. Oftentimes, we come across people who don’t realize that they can refinance their existing loans to the credit union. If you have an auto loan, a home loan, or even an unsecured loan somewhere else, let us quote you a rate. Refinancing is easy and is almost always worth your time.

3. Member discounts. We offer our members a host of discounts to other places, like Sprint, Carfax, and renting cars at Enterprise Rent-A-Car. Just sharing the love.

4. Checking fees. Free checking became all the rage over the last decade…and now with Bank of America leading the charge to end free checking, you can bet your sweet bippy that other banks will follow suit in the months to come. We, on the other hand, are not ending our free checking. If you want a simple, straightforward checking account with no service fees or minimum balance, then we’ll be your new BFF.

5. ATM fees. Did you realize that NWGACU has over 25,000 free ATMs around the country? We’re part of the CO-OP network, so before you leave Rome, find the surcharge-free ATM you can use by searching online, texting your location (zipcode, address or intersection) to MYCOOP, or downloading the free CO-OP iPhone app.

*Source: Cuna.org

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

Fighting Breast Cancer through Team Tawny

June 29, 2010

Meet Tawny:

Tawny is the head teller at our Redmond Road branch, and she is hardcore about the fight against breast cancer. So much so, that she has committed to raising $2,300 to walk in the Breast Cancer 3-Day with Team Tutus for Tatas in October. Tawny represents all of us who love someone who has battled this form of cancer–Tawny’s mom is a survivor, and Tawny is walking in honor of several others.

Thankfully, Tawny works at a credit union that is also committed to women’s health issues. In fact, it’s a cause we have specifically purposed to support. (You can read more about that in our PEOPLEMatter Community Relations Guide.) We’re doing things all summer to help Tawny reach her lofty goal, and we need our members to get involved!

Our first fundraiser was a Pink Pancake Breakfast for the staff. Tawny, with the help of Dana Gallagher, served pink pancakes (while wearing a pink tutu) for a minimum $2 donation. The credit union bought the food, and our staff gave generously in return.

Next up is Donation Jar Day. On Friday, July 30 and again on Friday, October 15 we’ll be decking out in pink and collecting cash or check donations from members and employees. You’ll even be able to donate through the drive-thru!

On Friday, August 20, we will be hosting a bake sale for members, full of homemade-only treats baked by your credit union’s staff.

And if you just can’t wait to give (and you want a tax write-off), you can give online at Tawny’s fundraising page.

We hope you’ll help us support Team Tawny! We’ll remind you about the festivities throughout the summer.

Posted in In the Community, Life at the Credit Union, Un-banking. | 1 Comment »

We're Hands On Through Communities in Schools

June 22, 2010

Did you know that five NWGACU staff mentored local students in the 2009-2010 school year? We don’t just say we’re committed to education–we live it. Take a look at our stories. Mentoring takes no special skills and not a lot of time, just a willingness to be there for a student who really needs you.  Call our local Communities in Schools at 706.378.1118 to get trained and paired up!

Emily

About her mentee: A first grade girl at East Central Elementary

What made it great? “My mentee needed consistency and friendship. I drew with her, talked with her, and just provided a stress-free time so she could put her energy into her schoolwork. I think my proudest (and funniest) moment was when she would show me off to the adults in the school and say, ‘This is the mentor my mom ordered me–isn’t she great?’ I hope to mentor her in the fall.”

Rebekah

About her mentee: A second grade boy at Garden Lakes Elementary

What made it great? “It was awesome to watch my mentee transition from not wanting to read at all to later picking out his own books and get excited about reading. I am definitely going back to mentor him in the fall.”

 Kelly

About her mentee: A sixth grade boy at West Central Elementary

What made it great? “I was so proud when he graduated from elementary school- not just that he finished, but that his teacher spoke so highly of his character. It was rewarding for me to see his growth, and I’m excited to see what he will accomplish in middle school!”

Kendra

About her mentee: A second grade girl at Anna K. Davie Elementary

What made it great? “She was student who was having trouble with math and reading. After a few sessions and practicing– her Math improved by the next report card from a low C to a high B (2 points from an A).  We read Junie B. Jones chapter books (one of her favorites), and she said she was going to continue to read this summer. Just for fun, I purchased puzzles with the theme of High School Musical (another favorite of hers) and we spent time putting together a 300-piece puzzle.”

 Tiffany (that’s me)

About my mentee: A first grade boy at West Central Elementary

What made it great? I loved seeing the huge potential in someone so small, and knowing that maybe, just maybe, I can help him overcome his circumstances. My breakthrough moment with him came on the day that he chattered nonstop. I knew he finally felt comfortable to be himself. I am definitely planning to mentor him again as a second grader.

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

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