The holiday season is here, and with our holiday perks, you can enjoy joy, togetherness, and giving—without stressing about overspending. We offer a variety of products and services to help make your holidays brighter and more affordable.
Holiday Loans with Low Rates
If you’re planning ahead for holiday expenses, our Holiday Loans offer competitive rates as low as 8.99% APR*. You can secure the funds you need to make this season merry while managing your budget responsibly.
Skip A Payment
Enjoy more flexibility during the holiday season with our Skip-A-Payment option! You can skip your payment for December or January, making it easier to manage your cash flow during this busy time. Simply click to request your skip payment form and get peace of mind.
Credit Card Perks
Make the most of your shopping with our Rewards and Classic Mastercard. From November 1 through December 31, enjoy 1.99% APR on all credit card purchases. It’s the perfect time to pick up gifts, decorations, or travel expenses without the worry of interest.
Gift Cards with Zero Fees
Gift cards make the perfect gift for anyone on your list! This November and December, we’re offering no purchase fees, making it an easy and flexible gifting option!
Plan Ahead with Christmas Club
Our Christmas Club Savings account still offers dividend earnings, making it the perfect way to save for next holiday season. Open an account now and enjoy shopping with peace of mind next year, knowing your funds are already set aside.
Earn More with ZOGO App
The ZOGO app is a fun way to learn more about personal finance and earn rewards while doing it. In December, you can earn double points for completing financial learning modules! Use code THEFAMILY when downloading the free app to double your rewards until December 31, 2025.
Wishing You a Bright and Joyful Holiday Season!
This holiday season, focus on what matters most—spending time with loved ones and creating memories that last. With our holiday perks, you can navigate the season with confidence, knowing you have the tools to manage your finances wisely.
Contact us today to find out how we can help make your holiday season a little brighter and more stress-free!
Was your holiday season a little tough on your wallet? You’re not alone. Many of us spend more than we intend to in November and December, then scramble to recover in the new year—cutting back on everyday expenses, putting off bills, or even turning to credit cards. But it doesn’t have to be that way. The Family Credit Union offers a simple, stress-free solution: the Christmas Club savings account.
“Isn’t the holiday season over?”
Yes—but that’s exactly why now is the perfect time to start planning ahead. The stress of holiday shopping, travel, meals, and gifts always comes back around faster than we expect. By saving a little bit throughout the year, you can avoid the financial strain and actually enjoy the season when it arrives.
How the Christmas Club Works
A Christmas Club account is a special savings account designed to help you prepare for holiday spending. You contribute small amounts consistently over the year, and on November 1st, the balance is automatically deposited into your regular savings account. That means by the time you’re ready to shop, travel, or entertain, the money is already there—no debt, no guilt, and no financial juggling.
Think it’s not worth it unless you can save a lot? Think again. Even $10 a week adds up to over $500 by the time November rolls around—more than enough to make a big difference.
Why Choose The Family Credit Union?
You might wonder, “Why not just set aside money on my own?” You absolutely can—but we all know how tempting it is to dip into those savings when something unexpected (or on sale!) comes up. The beauty of a Christmas Club account is that it helps you stay disciplined. When the money is out of sight, it’s easier to keep it off-limits until you really need it.
Plus, The Family Credit Union offers the support and tools you need to stay on track. Our members enjoy easy access, online account management, and the personal touch that only a local credit union can provide.
Opening Your Christmas Club Account
Open a Christmas club savings account at The Family Credit Union. Current members and new members can open accounts online using a secure online site or by logging into Home Banking. You will need the following items when opening your account:
- Address and phone number
- Social Security Numbers for you and any joint members on the account
- Driver’s License or State Issued ID
- Birth date for all people on the account
You will be asked to come into a credit union within 30 days of opening an account by this means so that we can get your account funded and verify your identification.
Visit our website for more information or to talk to a representative who can help you through the process.
Start Today for a Stress-Free Holiday Tomorrow
The holidays come around every year—why not be ready this time? Take the first step toward a more joyful, less stressful season by opening your Christmas Club account with The Family Credit Union today. Visit one of our branches for more details and to speak with one of our friendly representatives to get started.
The best time to start saving? Right now.
Planning your dream vacation is an exciting venture, and considering financial options is a crucial aspect of the process. Let’s delve into the pros and cons of using a personal loan to fund your trip, with a special focus on relevant insights for credit union members.
Pros of a Personal Loan for Vacation
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No Collateral Required: Personal vacation loans don’t necessitate using property or assets as collateral, providing a sense of financial security.
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Fixed Monthly Installments: Repayment occurs through fixed monthly installments over a predetermined period, aiding in budgeting and financial planning.
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Credit-Dependent Eligibility: Factors like your credit score and annual income influence eligibility and interest rates, allowing for personalized loan terms.
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Competitive Interest Rates: Vacation loans often offer lower interest rates compared to credit cards, translating to potential cost savings.
Cons of a Personal Vacation Loan
- Potential Fees and Interest: Borrowers should exercise caution, as hidden fees and interest charges could increase the overall repayment amount.
Considering a Line of Credit
For credit union members exploring alternatives, a line of credit, such as a credit card, presents another option. While providing flexibility, it’s essential to be mindful of potential impacts on credit health. Accumulating a high balance might signal financial strain, negatively affecting creditworthiness.
In Conclusion
While the allure of a loan can expedite your dream vacation, prudent financial planning is paramount. Budgeting and patiently saving a portion of each paycheck into a credit union savings account remains the optimal strategy. This approach ensures you enjoy your getaway without the burden of debt.
Optimal Financial Decision-Making with The Family Credit Union
For tailored financial advice and guidance on choosing the right option for your dream vacation, connect with us. The Family Credit Union is committed to empowering our members with sound financial decisions. Contact us to embark on your journey to financial well-being together!
It’s the Beginning of a New Year
As a fresh year begins, it’s the perfect time to make a New Year resolution that can set you up for a successful future. Whether your goal is to go back to school, buy a car, take a trip, buy a home, or tackle debt, we’re here to help you achieve each one. With our variety of loans, savings accounts, and financial coaching, you’ll have the support you need to make a year of real progress.
Going Back to School?
College isn’t just a time investment, it’s a financial investment as well. We can help you along. We offer private student loans for the costs that aren’t covered by financial aid. These private loans come with a variety of benefits including no prepayment penalties, interest rate reductions for certain loan borrowers, and lower rates when signing as a creditworthy borrower or cosigning with a creditworthy borrower. These loans are a great option for someone looking to further their education in the new year.
Getting a Car?
Your resolution this year could be to work towards getting a new car. We can help you with a vehicle loan. The Family Credit Union has vehicle loans available for new or used autos, boats, motorcycles, or recreation vehicles. So even if it’s not a car, but a boat or motorcycle, we are here to help. Qualified pre-approvals make it easy for you to get a better arrangement with the dealer knowing you have the cash up front. We’ll help you achieve your goal. Just give us a call today and tell us how we can help you.
Ready to Buy a Home or Tackle Debt?
Homeownership and debt management can feel daunting, but our team is here to make these goals more achievable. With mortgage options and debt consolidation loans, we provide flexible solutions that fit your budget. For a more hands-on approach, our financial coaching services can guide you in budgeting, planning, and creating a strategy to help you meet your financial goals.
Financial Coaching for Every Goal
If you’re unsure where to start, our financial coaching services are available to help you map out a plan. We can provide personalized guidance for managing debt, improving your credit, saving strategically, or achieving any other financial goal. Financial wellness is about more than just accounts—it’s about making informed choices that bring you peace of mind throughout the year.
Make the Most of This Year’s Resolutions
The Family Credit Union offers tools and resources for building a financially secure future. Contact us today to get started on your journey to a successful year.
The holidays are approaching quickly, bringing the excitement of Thanksgiving, Black Friday, and the joy of gift-giving. If you’re feeling the pressure of holiday expenses, a Christmas Club Savings Account could be your solution for a financially stress-free season.
Benefits of a Christmas Club Savings Account
A Christmas Club Savings Account allows you to save a small amount throughout the year, giving you a ready sum by the time holiday shopping begins. Here’s how it works:
Set Up Automatic Contributions
With a Christmas Club account, you can set up automatic transfers from your paycheck or checking account. Even modest deposits each week or month will add up by next November, so you can cover all your holiday expenses with ease.
Timely Access for Holiday Sales
Funds from your Christmas Club account become available on November 1, right in time for early holiday deals and Black Friday sales. This lets you avoid using credit cards or dipping into other savings, giving you a dedicated budget for gifts, celebrations, and holiday travel.
Why Start Saving Now?
It can be challenging to manage holiday expenses when all your spending happens at once. Planning ahead with a Christmas Club account ensures you’ll have enough saved. This can help remove the financial strain from a season meant to be joyous.
How to Get Started
Contact us today to open your Christmas Club Savings Account. It’s never too early to start planning, and you’ll thank yourself next holiday season for making saving a priority. Whether it’s gifts, holiday feasts, or travel plans, you’ll be prepared for it all!
By Gregg Early from Geezeo, a Fiserv company
February may be the shortest month of the year, but it has more than its share of ‘surprise’ holidays. What I mean, are holidays like Valentine’s Day and President’s Day, that kind of sneak up on you.
The problem is, they also sneak up on your members as well. A long weekend and a romantic holiday can cost some serious money, just 6 weeks out from Christmas.
And this year, the government shutdown also added to a lot of people’s financial surprises.
The fact is, consumers tend to not to take them into consideration and it’s why many consumers end up using their savings as their emergency fund. Or worse, they drop these surprises on their credit cards and hope to pay them down when they get around to it.
In most people’s case, “emergencies” like these make saving hard.
According to personal finance site Bankrate.com, 29% of consumers have more credit card debt than they do savings. That number has grown nearly 50% since the same question was asked last year.
It has also been reported that 60% of Americans don’t have $1000 cash on hand for an emergency room visit or a major car repair. While wages have been growing, “real” wages (accounting for inflation and cost of living) have declined 1.3% since 2017, according to salary comparison site Payscale.com.
That’s why 7 million vehicle owners in the US are 3 months behind on their car payments. And it’s a testament to the fact that while the economy is doing well, it doesn’t mean everyone in it is sharing those good times.
Credit Unions see this better than anyone. That’s why it’s important for CUs to reach out to their members and encourage them to put some funds aside every paycheck and build an emergency fund.
Ideally, it should be a separate savings account that members can add to for unexpected or unplanned for events. This emergency fund is a buffer between high-interest credit cards and tapping into savings.
During this time of year, this is a powerful message because most people spend their tax refunds on paying off this credit card debt or replenishing their depleted savings. But this year, refunds have been slowed by the government shutdown, and they’re also averaging almost 10% lower than last year.
Plus, many people see their tax refunds more as “fun money” than a way to build a long-term financial strategy, no matter how well-intentioned they were before the refund check arrived.
That’s why this is a great time to remind your members that having an emergency fund isn’t hard and makes a lot of sense. And there’s no better time to start it.
Setting up an emergency fund (i.e., a dedicated savings account that they can easily set up with you) is the first step and tell them how easy that is and how socking a little away every month, means the big and little unexpected things aren’t so daunting. Also, if you have a PFM, having them add it to your PFM can help them keep tabs on their savings and spending goals.
The name of the game is setting a little money aside over time, so it accumulates into something real and substantial. For example, the average spending on Valentine’s Day is $220 per person. Instead of sticking Valentine’s Day on a credit card, if members were socking away $50 a week – slightly more than $7 a day – since January, they would have Valentine’s Day covered without reaching for a credit card or moving over savings.
Setting up budgets and spending goals in their PFM is a great solution to help them do this. And they don’t have to itemize each event – keep it general at first, like Holidays, Car Maintenance, etc. Just putting in a small amount over time makes a big difference.
If they’re moving toward budgeting their money more strategically, they can truly enjoy the good things in life and take a lot of the stress out of the bad ones.
