CU NEWS JANUARY 2018 - NEW YEAR EDITION BOARD OF DIRECTORS Francis Tsunezumi Chairman Eric Tanouye Vice Chairperson Toby Taniguchi Financial Officer Katherine Hirayama Secretary Dr. Donn Ouye Director Takashi Sasaki Director Steven Hironaka Director COMING in April 2018! Last year s Member Appreciation Day was celebrated at all CU Hawaii branches across Hawaii Island, and members enjoyed the All seven of CU Hawaii s branches will be in a party mood and we want you to enjoy the celebration with us. Refreshments, a member gift, and a chance to win one of 7 branch grand prize cash drawing will be part of the day s festivities. When our doors open, the party begins. Hilo, Kona, Pahoa, Kea au and Na alehu - 9:00 am Puainako 7:30 am Pahala 1:00 pm SUPERVISORY COMMITTEE: The Supervisory Committee is the watchdog group for members. They oversee the audits and internal controls of the credit union. If you have a concern or comment for the Supervisory Committee, feel free to write them at: CU Hawaii FCU Supervisory Committee P. O. Box 6494 Hilo, HI 96720 A member of our Management Team will be at each of the branches to greet you and talk story. Tell us your special story and how CU Hawaii has made a difference in your life. So, mark your calendar and come join us. After all, it s all about YOU! ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP BUSINESS MEETING The Annual Membership Business Meeting will take place on Friday, April 27, 2018 at the Hilo branch located at 476 Hinano Street beginning at 5:00 p.m. All members are invited to participate in the annual meeting of the membership where an overview of 2017 will be given by our Chairman, Mr. Francis Tsunezumi.
With Rates as low as 1.99% APR* Why Not get a Loan from CU Hawaii. WHY e-statements? There are many good reasons to switch over to e-statements at CU Hawaii. Let s review a few of the top reasons and how CU Hawaii e-statements can save you time, protect your identity and eliminate paper statements from being lost or stolen. The Holidays are over and now the bills are starting to arrive. Happy New Year? Well it can be when you consolidate with a CU Hawaii Why Not? Loan. With rates as low as 1.99% APR*, it s a no-brainer to move those higher interest rate loans and credit card balances over to CU Hawaii. Our Why Not? Loan will run through Wednesday, January 31, 2018. Apply online at www.cuhawaii.com and click on Apply for a Loan on the navigation bar. It will take only a few minutes to complete a very short and simple application. Then click submit and you are on your way. We will do the rest. Prefer to apply in person? Stop in to any of our branch locations across Hawaii Island and we will be happy to assist you. Need a longer term to stretch out those payments? Not a problem, all of our personal loan rates have been reduced across the board all the way up to a 60-month payback term. Don t wait; remember these lower rates are good only through January 31, 2018. If you have questions or would like to get more information, please feel free to call us at 808-933-6700 and speak with any of our knowledgeable and friendly Member Service Representatives. *APR = Annual Percentage Rate. 1.99% APR shown, is for a 12 month term. Other rates and terms available. Payment example: A loan of $5,000 with 1.99% APR with a 12-month term will have 12 monthly principal and interest payments of $421.17 which includes $54.04 total interest paid. Applicants must qualify under CU Hawaii s membership and lending guidelines. No refinance of CU Hawaii loans. Certain restrictions apply. FEDERALLY INSURED BY THE NCUA. 1. Free e-statements from CU Hawaii will keep your paper statement from being lost or stolen. You can access your e-statements through your personal online account using your unique user name and password that only you know. You can access your e-statement from any computer or personal device wherever you have internet access. 2. With e-statements you don t have to wait for the mail. Typically your e-statement will be online and ready for viewing by the second business day following the statement cycle. This is lot faster and more secure than snail mail. 3. Save a copy of your e-statement to your personal at home financial files. You can print a copy directly from your computer while you are viewing our e-statement and you can also save an electronic copy of your statement. Your CU Hawaii online banking will archive up to 18 months of your statements. However, once you have registered for free e-statements and start viewing your statements online, get into the habit of saving an electronic copy. Your statement (personal, credit, or business) will be at your fingertips. 4. e-statements keep you organized and you can say goodbye to filing, shredding and purging over-stuffed file folders. With e-statements you will simplify your financial life. 5. Protecting the Aina is an added bonus. With e-statements you will be doing your part to save a tree and protect our eco-system. To register for e-statements you need to be registered for online banking. To register go to www.cuhawaii.com and click on the Click link underneath the Password box. Under the online banking assistance area click on New User? Register Now. Once you are a registered user of online banking you can sign up for e-statements. If you need assistance give us a call at 808-933-6700 or toll free at 1-800-933-6706.
BANKING SCAMS What to Watch for and how to Protect Yourself. Banking scams involve attempts to access your bank account. Some popular banking scams include: Overpayment scams - A scam artist sends you a counterfeit check. They tell you to deposit it in your bank account, and wire a portion of the money back to them. Since the check was fraudulent, you ll have to pay your bank the amount of the check, plus you ll lose any money you wired. Unsolicited check fraud - A scammer sends you a check for no reason. If you cash it, you may be authorizing the purchase of items or signing up for a loan you didn t ask for. Automatic withdrawals - A company sets up an automatic debit from your bank account, as part of a free trial or to collect lottery winnings. Phishing - You receive an email message that asks you to verify your bank account or debit card number. Report Banking Scams The proper organization to report a banking scam to depends on which type you were a victim of. Report fake checks you receive by mail to the US Postal Inspection Service. Report counterfeit checks to the Federal Trade Commission, either online or by phone at 1-877-382-4357. Contact your bank to report and stop unauthorized automatic withdrawals from your account. Forward phishing email to the Federal Trade Commission at spam@uce.gov. How to Protect Yourself Remember these tips to avoid being a victim of a banking scam: Do Be suspicious if you are told to wire a portion of funds from a check back to a company. Be wary of lotteries or free trials that ask for your bank account number. Verify the authenticity of a cashier s check with the bank that it is drawn on before depositing a check. When verifying a check or the issuer, use contact information on a bank s website. Don t Don t be fooled by the appearance of checks or money orders. Scammers can make them look legitimate and official. Don t deposit checks or money orders from strangers or companies you don t have a relationship with. Don t wire money to people or companies you don t know. Don t give your bank account number to someone who calls you, even for verification purposes. We already have your account information and would NEVER ask you for it. Don t click on links in email to verify your bank account. Don t accept a check that includes an overpayment. Protect yourself from scams and don t become a statistic. Remember, the first line of defense starts with you Tax Day is April 17 th! Will you be ready? For the 2017 tax year, Federal taxes are due on April 17th and Hawaii State taxes are due on April 20th. Tax season can be hectic but there are ways to be prepared for a smoother filing experience. Here are a few suggestions. If you haven t already, get your papers organized now, before you start the filing process. Your filing system should include, but not limited to folders for your paystubs, receipts, freelance/or side job income, charitable contributions, and medical/dental expenses that are not covered by insurance. Did you move in 2017 due to a change in employment? If so, you may be eligible to deduct related expenses if you meet certain requirements established by the IRS. If you are a low wage earner you can access basic tax advice and tax filing assistance through a Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. The VITA program offers free tax help and tax preparation to people who generally make $54,000 or less, persons with disabilities and limited English speaking taxpayers who need assistance. To find a VITA free tax site, go to www.hawaiitaxhelp. org and click on Free Tax Help in the navigation bar. On the dropdown click on Free Tax Sites to find a convenient location throughout the islands. Identity theft and tax fraud continues to be a problem and is on the rise. Filing early can help prevent an identity theft ring from attempting to file a fraudulent return under your name and social security number. If you owe taxes and find yourself a little short come into CU Hawaii and speak to one of our Member Service Representatives about a personal loan. We can also help you set up a savings sub-account so you can save throughout the year in preparation for the 2018 tax year.
DREAMS START HERE THE KANESHIRO S Have a thing or two to say about CU Hawaii! It was early summer, 2017, when Lisa and Brett Kaneshiro decided to make some improvements to their home here on Hawaii Island. As a result they started the process of a Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC) with their financial institution on the island of Oahu. Lisa Kaneshiro had been with this financial institution for over 30 years, so naturally the Kaneshiro s started the HELOC process. New homes are popping up everywhere across our island, but you need to start with a good piece of vacant land. If you are still looking for that perfect piece of vacant land to build your dream home, CU Hawaii can help you secure it with our Vacant Land loan. If you have been shopping around you know that most local financial institutions offer a loan to value of 65%, 70%, up to 75% on what you can borrow. At CU Hawaii we lend up to 80% for future primary residence, with terms from 36-months up to 180-months, fixed or adjustable rates, and no points. At CU Hawaii we can take you from the beginning to the end, from purchasing that vacant land, to construction of your home, to move in ready and your first mortgage. Why go anywhere else! Call any branch manager at 808-933-6700 for more information. The experience was not what she had expected. After months of frustration in having to resubmit lost paperwork for the third time, she walked away. A friend recommended that the Kaneshiro s go speak with CU Hawaii about getting a HELOC. Early November, 2017, at about 4:00 p.m. on a Thursday afternoon, Brett and Lisa stopped in to CU Hawaii to ask about our home equity line of credit program. After speaking with Sr. Loan Officer, Jayna Weatherwax and Business Loan Officer, Jim Nakagawa they liked what they heard. With all of their necessary documents organized, the very next day they turned over everything along with their application requesting a CU Hawaii HELOC. The following Tuesday, a short 4 days later, they received notification that they had been preapproved. I couldn t believe it. This whole process took about 3 to 4 weeks from application to the signing of documents and final funding. Wow, what a difference over nearly five months of struggling with that other financial institution. CU Hawaii has got it together and Jim Nakagawa continued to communicate with us each step of the way. Brett and I felt that our goals were as important to CU Hawaii as they were to us. I highly recommend CU Hawaii and wanted share this overwhelmingly positive experience with my fellow CU Hawaii members. Thank you CU Hawaii! shouted Lisa. At CU Hawaii we want to thank the Kaneshiro s for their unsolicited testimonial and having trust in us. Whether you are interested in a HELOC, an auto loan, a personal loan or even a credit card, call CU Hawaii first at 933-6700 or toll free at 1-800- 933-6706. We are committed to you and want to help you make your dreams come true.
COMMUNITY PAGE CU HAWAII LOAN DEPARTMENT gives in the Spirit of the Season! CU HAWAII IS A PROUD SPONSOR OF GANNENMONO" 150th Anniversary of the First Japanese Immigrants to Hawaii The year-long celebration of the 150th Anniversary of the first Japanese immigrants to come to Hawaii has started and CU Hawaii is proud to be a Silver Sponsor. The Hawaii Japanese Center will bring traditional Japanese arts and cultural activities to be shared throughout 2018 with our Again this year the CU Hawaii Loan Department reached out to those in need as part of their annual Team Building project. It is up to the team to decide what the project will be each year, and I am proud to say our Loan Department team took on the task with gusto and made a difference in the lives of a local family this Christmas, beamed Darren Nishioka, Vice President of Lending. community here on the east side of Hawaii Island. To kick off the festivities on January 6th the beautiful 4-masted Japanese training ship, the Nippon Maru, arrived in Hilo. From that through the 8th many invited community residents enjoyed events took place aboard the Nippon Maru. Early Tuesday morning she majestically sat sail with a brief stop in Hilo Bay giving Hilo a farewell salute. We hear that there will be many more events around Hawaii Island to commemorate this milestone and CU Hawaii is looking forward to joining our community as we have fun, learn about Japanese traditions and pay respect to our Japanese history around Hilo Town and surrounding communities. Special Olympics and Toys for Tots We are pleased to have continued our tradition of giving to two very special organizations; Special Olympics East Hawaii and Toys for Tots. CU Hawaii members and staff donated over $1,200 for Special Olympics and nearly 100 new toys for our annual Toys for Tots holiday toy drive. Thank you to all of our members and staff for your generosity. The Salvation Army s Adopt a Family program was their choice. Capt. Celestine Ruwethin and Sarah Ford of the Salvation Army provided the Loan Department with a list of very special needs for a single mom and her four children. They had a roof over their heads but the children were sleeping on the floor. Sometimes the bare necessities, which a lot of us take for granted, can bring peace and joy into a home. There were futon mattresses for the children, blankets all around, new pillows and some fun stuff too! EB DeSilva Elementary School Family Night Everyone at the December PTA and Family Night event was entered to win a movie ticket 4-pack. It was the last PTA and Family Night before the winter break and CU Hawaii conducted a special holiday drawing. The lucky winner was Kimberly Krail, a mom with four (4) children that attend EB DeSilva Elementary School. EB DeSilva is a partner school with CU Hawaii where a number of the students are members at the credit union where they save and learn about financial responsibility with the Moola Moola Children s Savings program.
ANOTHER BENEFIT OF MEMBERSHIP FROM CU HAWAII! DISCOVER SPRINT S NETWORK RELIABILITY & CASH REWARDS The BENefits of membership keep getting better! Right now, CU Hawaii members can enjoy the reliability of Sprint s network and a $100 CASH REWARD for every new line you activate with Sprint. Plus, get a $50 loyalty cash reward every year for every line. Reliability You can also enjoy the reliability of Sprint s network, which now beats T-Mobile and performs within 1% of AT&T & Verizon*. And, a great price for fully featured Unlimited. What you get: Members get a $100 cash reward for every new line you activate with Sprint Current Sprint customers receive a $50 cash reward for every line transferred into Sprint Credit Union Member Cash Reward Plus, get a $50 loyalty cash reward every year for every line. Credit union members are eligible for 25% off accessories with the Sprint Credit Union Member Cash Rewards program How you get it: 1. Become a Sprint customer and mention you re a credit union member. 2. Register at LoveMyCreditUnion.org/SprintRewards. 3. Allow up to six to eight weeks to see rewards directly deposited into your credit union account. Sign up today to discover the cash BENefits you ll enjoy with Sprint s best Credit Union Member Cash Rewards EVER! LEGAL: FPO *Claim based on Sprint s analysis of latest Nielsen drive test data for average network reliability (voice & data) in top 106 markets. Copyright 2018 CU Hawaii Federal Credit Union. This newsletter was created by CU Hawaii Federal Credit Union. Telephone Number: Hawaii Island: (808) 933-6700 Toll Free: 1-800-933-6706 Address: 476 Hinano Street Hilo, HI 96720 E-Mail Address: info@cuhawaii.com Web site Address: www.cuhawaii.com Federally Insured by the NCUA. 2018 HOLIDAY CLOSINGS: Monday, February 19th President s Day Monday, May 28th Memorial Day Wednesday, July 4th Independence Day Monday, September 3rd Labor Day Monday, October 8th Discoverers Day Monday, November 12th Veterans Day (Observed) Thursday, November 22nd Thanksgiving Day Monday, December 24th Christmas Eve (Closed 1:00 p.m.) Tuesday, December 25th Christmas Day