The Inside Scoop on Your Finances

Transcription

1 Issue No 14 December 2018 The Inside Scoop on Your Finances Inside this Edition The Gift of Membership $200 exclusive offer for friends & family. Happy holidays! Celebrate the holidays with family & friends. Dream fulfilled Make home happen with TDECU Mortgage.

2 Contents Community Corner The 2019 TDECU Board Election. Life is Good. Make it Great! Live your best life with a TDECU Personal Loan. The Gift of Membership $200 exclusively for your friends and family. Caller ID Spoofing How to avoid scammers using caller ID Spoofing. Save the Date TECH Day Events Calendar Tuesday, December 18, 2018 On-site experts are available to help you set up online & mobile banking, bill pay, mobile deposit, touch ID and more! Discover more at tdecu.org/tech-day. Available at all TDECU Member Centers. Holiday Closings Christmas Eve Monday, December 24, 2018 All Member Centers will be open until noon with the exception of our Gears, Seadrift and Marathon locations, which will be closed for the day Year-end Financial Checklist Close out 2018 and plan for the future with TDECU Wealth Advisors. We're Listening Your Member Experience matters to us, so share your voice to help us track, measure & improve your experience. Get access to more financial tips, tools and resources from TDECU Your Credit Union: Christmas Day Tuesday, December 25, 2018 All Member Centers will be closed in observance of the federal holiday. New Year's Eve Monday, December 31, 2018 All Member Centers will be open with the exception of our Victoria Mall location, which will close early at 6:00 PM and our Seadrift location, which will be closed all day. New Year's Day Tuesday, January 1, 2019 All Member Centers will be closed in observance of the federal holiday. Visit our or check out blog.tdecu.org! channel Our Members say it best I WAS IN A PINCH AND NEEDED A LOAN QUICKLY. THE LOAN OFFICER AT TDECU WAS AMAZING. EVERYTHING WAS VERY PROFESSIONAL, HASSLE-FREE & FAST. MY PROBLEM WAS SOLVED IN NO TIME AT ALL! Deelia G. Member since TDECU Connection December 2018

3 2019 TDECU Board Election Community Corner TDECU s Board Nominating Committee has nominated three incumbents to run for the three expiring board seats. The candidates listed in alphabetical order by last name are: Peggy Miltenberger David Sikora Edward Speed TDECU Bylaws allow a Member who is in good standing and was not nominated by the Board Nominating Committee to gather a petition signed by one percent (1%) of TDECU Members as of June 30 of the current year. Membership as of June 30, 2018, totaled 289,799. Therefore, the Member s petition must have signatures from 2,898 TDECU Members to support his or her nomination. If you wish to be nominated by petition, you must: 1. Obtain a petition form prescribed by the Texas Credit Union Department from TDECU s board liaison by calling x Gather the name, address, signature and last four digits of the signing Member s TDECU Member Number 3. Submit a brief statement of qualifications and biographical data 4. Mail or drop off the completed petition, statement of qualifications, and biographic data by 12 PM CST, December 31, 2018, to: Linda Matcheski, Board Liaison TDECU 1001 FM 2004 Lake Jackson, TX Please note: Nominations will not be accepted from the floor at TDECU s Annual Meeting. Results of the election will be announced at the annual meeting on Thursday, March 28, 2019, at the Dow Academic Center located at the entrance to Brazosport College in Lake Jackson, TX. Santa Loans are coming to town The TDECU Santa Loan lets you do it all this holiday season. Take a dream vacation, wrap up holiday shopping even consolidate debt! Don t delay! Offer ends December 24, HO! HO! HO! Apply today! Visit any Member Center or call Credit approval required. Rate/term based on credit score. TDECU Connection December

4 Budget for holiday expenses FINrgy Financial Fitness Program At TDECU, we believe improving lives starts with helping our Members achieve personal financial fitness. And with the holiday season upon us, it s no secret it s easy to overspend. Don t accidentally overdo the gift-giving and go into debt! Stay on track with your budget this holiday season by using our FINrgy program designed to energize your finances. Use the interactive modules to learn ways to budget, save and manage your money. Plus, you can also learn what it takes to finance a new car, house or save for higher education. Get started today at tdecu.org/finrgy to learn how to get and stay financially fit. Don t miss out on your chance to win 1 of 5 $100 Visa gift cards! Simply complete one of the Financial Planning playlists to be entered. Life is good. Make it great! TDECU Personal Loans help you live your best life Get the money you need to move you forward. It s that simple. Pay for new appliances, take a ski trip, spend the holidays with your family even consolidate debt before the New Year. Whatever you want, whatever you need. You get the idea. Plus, you'll enjoy: Affordable payment options No collateral required No surprise payment increases or timeline changes Apply today! Visit tdecu.org/personal-loans, stop by a Member Center or call As low as 3.74% APR* Flexible loan amounts No collateral required *APR = Annual Percentage Rate. Rate include 0.25% reduction for automatic payment from a TDECU savings or checking account. Lowest standard APR is 3.74% and is based on credit score. Rate and terms of this offer may change without notice. Credit approval required. Contact TDECU for full terms/conditions. 4 TDECU Connection December 2018

5 What s better than the gift of membership? Putting the bow on top with $200 exclusively for your friends & family At TDECU Your Credit Union, we are especially grateful for you and your membership during this holiday season. And we hope you re enjoying the Member-owner experience. We would also like to take this time to tell you about a special, limited-time holiday offer we re extending to your friends and family to earn up to $200 with a new membership at TDECU. Here s how it works: Get $150 with Direct Deposit New Members setting up recurring direct deposits of $100 or more will receive $150 funded to their Savings Account 60 days after opening. 1 Earn $50 when you open a Credit Card Rates as low as 7.99% APR; 0% APR for 6 months on purchases & cash advances, plus receive more for less when you save 10 a gallon on fuel at Buc-ee s with a TDECU Credit Card! 2 TDECU Membership & up to $ the best gift all year! Simply pass this information along to any friends or family who may be interested in membership and earn up to $150! We ve even made it easy for them to join by visiting tdecu.org/join. TDECU membership required. Incentive offers good through December 31, Other restrictions may apply; see credit union for details. 1 $150 will be deposited into new Member s Saving account 60 days after opening. Offer is valid for new Members only with a new membership established; limit one (1) $150 incentive per new Member. 2 APR = Annual Percentage Rate. Your exact rate is based on creditworthiness. Credit approval required. 0% introductory rate is good until the first day of the billing cycle that includes the 6-month anniversary date of the opening of the account. $50 incentive will be deposited into Savings Account at the time of Credit Card account opening. Buc-ee s fuel discount offer is subject to change without notice and is not valid with other discounts. Quick & easy account access with TDECU Allpoint ATMs At TDECU Your Credit Union, we strive to be accessible whenever and wherever you need us with access to more than 55,000 surcharge-free Allpoint ATMs worldwide. That s on top of our 35 Member Centers throughout Texas! To find an ATM location, please visit tdecu.org/find-a-location-atm. TDECU Connection December

6 Ho Ho holiday fun 6 TDECU Connection December 2018

7 Add savings to your list Before you get distracted with the latest sales, sparkles and glitter of holiday shopping, be sure you're focused on your wallet. First and foremost, set a holiday shopping budget and stick to it. In fact, use a convenient app like Santa's Bag or Pennies to help you set a budget and monitor spending all from the convenience of your smart phone. The Amazon app also lets you compare prices on items to ensure you're getting the best deal. And above all, don't wait until the last minute! Rushing around to ensure you get to everyone on your list makes it easy to veer off course and overspend. Share the spirit It's time to face the holiday facts: we don't have the same help in our quest for holiday perfection as the TV hosts we've been binge-watching. Between holiday parties, teacher gifts and trimming the tree, there always seems to be something going on. So make the most of the season and share in the joy by hosting a holiday 'get it done' party with your closest friends. Wrap gifts. Decorate cookies. Add that extra touch of tinsel to the tree. It's a great way to check off everything on your list while having a few laughs before Santa slides down the chimney. And you might even learn a thing or two from that extra crafty friend (we all have one) on how to take the season to a whole new level! Make memories This holiday season, create a new tradition by asking each family member to pick a local event or activity to take part in. Consider activities like outdoor ice skating, holiday concerts, volunteering at a local non-profit or a Christmas light scavenger hunt. The idea is to let each family member celebrate the season in their own way by focusing on an activity that brings them joy. And be sure when it's their event, they get to choose everything from the music to serenade you with on the car ride to where you'll grab a bite to eat. Keep it in check, though. You can't exactly have candy for dinner - no matter how much someone begs! Happy Holidays! TDECU Connection December

8 Our dream fulfilled TDECU helped us build more than a home The team at TDECU Mortgage was kind & compassionate. They took the time to understand our needs. When looking for the right lender, there isn t a perfect box you have to fit in We wanted this to be our forever home where we d raise our children, and TDECU Mortgage made our dream happen! Make home happen at TDECU Mortgage with our special limited-time offers:* Receive up to $1,500 off closing costs Up to 100% financing John & Tonya P. Members since 2017 No money down $250 Rate Match Promise Apply online today! Download our app, visit tdecu.org/mortgage or call to get pre-qualified. *Must apply online to be eligible to receive this offer. Credit approval required. Certain terms and conditions may apply. Additional loan options available for primary residence, second homes, investment properties and refinances. Purchase and refinance transactions will be eligible to receive a closing cost credit based on three tiers: up to $1,500 lender paid closing cost credit for loans $250,000+; $750 lender paid closing cost credit for loans $150,000 - $249,999; $500 lender paid closing cost credit for loans $85,000 - $149,999. We require a copy of the Loan Estimate and Closing Disclosure from the competitor for comparison purposes in order to receive the $250 if we can t meet or beat your qualified rate. Visit tdecu.org/mortgage for complete requirements. Offer valid October 24, 2018 January 31, 2019, and cannot be combined with any other TDECU Mortgage offer. 8 TDECU Connection December 2018

9 Don t fall victim to Caller ID Spoofing Ever received a phone call from a number that looked local, but wasn t? If so, you ve likely been a victim of Caller ID Spoofing where a caller uses technology to misrepresent the phone number transmitted to your caller ID display. Fraudsters do this to protect their identities and to increase the chance you'll answer their calls and questions. Their goal is typically to gain access to your personal information to assist them in either stealing your identity or illegally selling information to other parties. These criminals may even spoof your phone number to trick people, and will also spoof the numbers of local businesses. It s difficult to tell when a call you receive is from a spoofed number, so always be cautious: Be mindful when answering calls and avoid unknown numbers, even local ones. Never give personally identifiable information to a caller. If you do business with the company claiming to call and you are concerned, hang up and call them back on a trusted phone number. Don t answer questions from an unknown caller even yes or no questions. Don t use your keypad to opt out of phone calls. Instead, just hang up. Never conduct a financial transaction over the phone with someone who has called you. Don't answer phone calls from unknown sources. Never give away personally identifiable information. If you're unsure of the validity of a caller, hang up. REMEMBER: TDECU will never call to ask for account or personally identifiable information nor will we contact you by phone or requesting credit or debit card numbers or three-digit CVV codes from the back of your card. If you receive a seemingly fraudulent phone call from a number appearing to be TDECU, hang up and call Member Care directly at TDECU Connection December

10 Year-end financial checklist As 2018 comes to a close, you may already be looking forward to what lies ahead in the new year. Before you take on 2019, don t forget to take time to make a plan for your finances: Get your yearly income taxes in order before April Keep track of your charitable giving Review your investment portfolios for potential tax-savings Review retirement accounts which can provide tax benefits If you d like to get your year-end finances in order, but feel overwhelmed, let us help! The TDECU Wealth Advisors team is here to help you close out the year and plan for the future. Get in touch today by visiting tdecu.org/wealth-advisors or by calling Not NCUA Insured Not Credit Union Guaranteed May Lose Value Securities and Advisory Services offered through LPL Financial, a registered investment advisor. Member FINRA/SIPC. Insurance products offered through LPL Financial and its licensed affiliates. TDECU, TDECU Wealth Advisors, LLC are not registered broker/ dealers and are separate entities from LPL Financial. Avoid these common holiday mishaps Easy ways to prevent incidents The holiday season is a hectic time, which can lead to accidents and other unfortunate events. Be sure you re not only proactive, but you have the right coverage needed to protect you from the unexpected. Theft Not everyone is in the giving spirit. Be sure your valuables are secure at home and while traveling. If you re leaving town this holiday season, ask neighbors to keep an eye on your house. Slips & falls Whatever the cause, injuries at holiday parties are common. Whether you re hosting or attending, be safe and have a plan for anyone who has had too much to drink to get home safely. Fire Preventable causes such as frayed light strands result in over $900 million in damage per year. Contact TDECU Insurance Agency, LLC today at or insurance@tdecuinsurance.org to make sure you re covered this holiday season. Insurance products are not deposits, not NCUA insured and not guaranteed by TDECU Insurance Agency, LLC or Texas Dow Employees Credit Union. 10 TDECU Connection December 2018

11 'Tis the season for safe shopping Tips to protect yourself during the holiday shopping frenzy Trust your instincts. Does an online deal look too good to be true? It probably is. Scammers are great at setting up sites that appear legitimate only to steal your information. Instead of clicking an link or online ad, type the store's web address into your browser bar or use a search engine. Confirm site security. Before entering credit or debit card information online, verify the website is secure by confirming it includes in the address bar. Check account activity. Use TDECU's online & mobile banking features to keep an eye on transactions and notify us immediately if you notice suspicious activity. Keep the cash at home. Shopping off-line at local stores? Use your credit card or debit card instead of carrying cash. This helps prevent a number of mishaps from theft to simply misplacing your money. It also gives you the backing of Mastercard or Visa in the event you have an issue with a purchase. Protect your account numbers and PIN. When completing a transaction at a retail payment terminal or ATM, be sure cover your card and the keypad to ensure your card number and PIN are not visible to others standing nearby. We're listening Because your Member Experience matters As a Member-owner, you have a voice. And our new partnership with CloudCherry lets you share that voice to help us track, measure and improve your experience. If you ve recently visited a Member Center or contacted Member Care, you may receive an request to share insight. Here's what you need to know: IMPORTANT NOTE: The link in the survey invitation will be to a CloudCherry page. While it is not on TDECU.org, it is safe to click through. We look forward to your feedback! Surveys can be completed on your desktop, tablet or mobile device It should take no more than 2 minutes to complete the survey start to finish Your feedback will help us take immediate action TDECU Connection December

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