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

1. No Collateral Required: Personal vacation loans don’t necessitate using property or assets as collateral, providing a sense of financial security.

2. Fixed Monthly Installments: Repayment occurs through fixed monthly installments over a predetermined period, aiding in budgeting and financial planning.

3. Credit-Dependent Eligibility: Factors like your credit score and annual income influence eligibility and interest rates, allowing for personalized loan terms.

4. 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

1. 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. Let’s embark on your journey to financial well-being together!

Remember, your dream vacation is within reach – and with wise financial choices, you can make it a reality without unnecessary financial strain. Contact The Family Credit Union for personalized assistance and embark on your vacation with confidence!

The holiday season is upon us, and with it comes a flurry of expenses. Whether it’s gift shopping, travel plans, or festive gatherings, managing your finances effectively is key. At The Family Credit Union, we’re committed to helping you make the most of this special time with a range of exclusive offers and holiday benefits designed to ease your financial burden. Let’s take a closer look at what’s in store for you!

Credit Card Purchases at 4.99%

Imagine a credit card with a remarkably low interest rate of just 4.99%. At The Family Credit Union, we’re delighted to offer you this fantastic opportunity to make your holiday purchases more manageable. With this competitive rate, you can shop with confidence, knowing you’re getting a great deal on your credit card purchases.

Holiday Loans at 8.99%

Planning for the perfect holiday celebration? Look no further. Our holiday loans are available at a remarkable interest rate of just 8.99%. Whether you’re dreaming of a winter getaway or planning an unforgettable family gathering, this loan option provides you with the financial support you need, all at a highly competitive rate.

Skip a Payment on Consumer Loans

We understand that the holiday season can bring unexpected expenses. That’s why we offer you the option to skip a payment on your consumer loans in December or January. This means you can free up some extra cash during this busy time, providing you with the flexibility you need to enjoy the festivities without financial stress.

Boost Your Pineapple Points on the ZOGO App

Earning rewards has never been more exciting! When you use the ZOGO app, you’ll have the chance to earn an additional 0.5X on your Pineapple points. This means you can accumulate rewards faster, giving you even more reasons to celebrate this holiday season.

No-Fee Visa Gift Cards

Spread joy this holiday season with The Family Credit Union Visa Gift Cards. Unlike some other institutions, we offer these convenient gift cards without any fees. This means you can give the gift of choice to your loved ones without worrying about hidden costs or extra charges.

Happy Holidays from The Family Credit Union!

The Family Credit Union is dedicated to providing you with holiday benefits that empower you to make the most of the holiday season. With low interest rates on credit card purchases and holiday loans, the option to skip a payment, enhanced rewards through the ZOGO app, and fee-free Visa Gift Cards, we’re here to support you in achieving a joyful and stress-free holiday experience. Embrace the season with confidence, knowing that your financial well-being is in good hands. Happy Holidays!

Find a location near you here.

*Restrictions and qualifications apply. For details familycu.com/familygiftsforyou

Everyone could use a little help financially during the holidays! At The Family Credit Union we offer some much needed holiday relief with loan, credit card, and account options just for you. Let’s take a look at how these TFCU holiday helpers can make the holidays a bit brighter for you this year! 

Holiday Loan Options 

Skip a payment on consumer loans:

With this loan option you have the choice to skip a loan payment during the month of December or January. 

Signature Loans: 

Need a little help with gift giving, or a holiday vacation? Get a signature loan from The Family Credit Union with loan rates as LOW as 6.99% APR for 12 months. 

Holiday Credit Card Options 

LOW purchase rates:

For either a new or existing card at TFCU get purchase rates of 1.99% APR through 12/31/22. Take advantage of these low rates as you make your holiday purchases!

Save on groceries:

For your family holiday feasts, or just your everyday groceries, Rewards Mastercards now offer 2% off on groceries. 

Holiday Account Options

Christmas Club:

Holiday flexibility is in your hands with Christmas Club accounts! You decide how often to contribute to the account and how much, and earn dividends in the meantime!

Special Holiday Share Certificates:

Our holiday share certificates come in either 15 or 24 month terms.

Want to give a gift card? 

Our Visa Gift Cards have NO fees for November and December. 

The Family Credit Union is Here to Lend a Hand this Holiday Season!

There is still plenty of time to take advantage of all the holiday helpers that The Family Credit Union has to offer this holiday season! We have something for everyone. Contact us today or visit your local branch for more details. We wish you a very wonderful holiday season! 

This year many of us are finally able to see family and friends for the holidays, so it is a joyful time of year. Even more than it normally is! To celebrate, The Family Credit Union is offering a variety of specials. Our Holiday Loans help you bring gifts and festivities to all your loved ones. With rates as low as 6.99% APR, it’s even sweeter. You can apply online on our website.

During the months of October, November, and December, you receive 3x the rewards on your purchases with your Rewards Mastercard. This special is good on new and existing rewards cards. Buying gifts? You get a little treat back for yourself, too.

We are also offering a Skip-A-Payment offer for our consumer loan payments. You can skip your December or January loan payment as long as you meet approval requirements. Give us a call today to learn more and if you qualify.

Last but not least, we are offering a zero purchase fee for gift cards. Gift cards are the perfect, quick, and easy gift for almost everyone and now you can give these gifts with no worries.

We are excited to celebrate this holiday season with you. Contact us today to learn more about these deals or click here to for more information.

The Family Credit Union is offering a holiday helper loan to give you a boost just in time for the holidays! This loan has an easy application with as low as 6.99% APR for 12 months. You can even skip a payment in December or January. Our Mastercard rates will be lowered through the end of the year with 1.99% APR on purchases. You can also give gift cards, which has a zero purchase fee.

This holiday season, let us work for you! We know 2020 has no been easy on most of us, so let us give you a helping hand. The Family Credit Union can be your little helper. To learn more about this Holiday Helper loan, contact our office or visit our website. We would also like to wish you a Merry Christmas and happy holidays!

It’s the Beginning of a New Year

Now that 2022 is here, everyone is making New Years resolutions. Have you made one? If you haven’t, we might have a few suggestions for you. Maybe your resolution could be to go back to school, get a car, buy a house, go on a vacation, or simply work towards paying off your debt. There’s something in common with all of these; we can help you achieve each of them. From student loans and vehicle loans to debt consolidation and savings accounts, we have the tools to help you work towards your New Years resolution.

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 2022.

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.

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.

Was your holiday season hard on your wallet? For many us, we spend more than we should and end up having to cut back in other ways. Fortunately, there’s an easy way to solve the problem with The Family Credit Union’s Christmas club!

“Isn’t the holiday season over, though?” you might ask. “Can’t we just forget about the stress and bustle for a few months?” Unfortunately, that’s how we end up with our wallets hurting and a lot of financial stress come November and December.

A Christmas club is an account that you set aside money in over the year to use in the holiday season. The funds are deposited to your savings account on November 1st, and you are then free to spend as you please with all the money you’ve saved during the year. Don’t be discouraged thinking that you have to put in large amounts of money to really make a difference. As little as $10 a week for the year can make a massive difference for your finances come holiday time. These accounts can be deposited into with payroll deduction, direct deposit, Voice Response, or Home Banking to make them easy to use and hard to dismiss as being too difficult.

“Why can’t I just set aside money myself without the help of The Family Credit Union?”

You can definitely set aside money yourself, and it can be a great idea to get you started. However, sometimes it’s hard to stick to a Christmas club if a “once in a lifetime” trip comes up or that couch you wanted goes on sale. The Family Credit Union’s Christmas club accounts help you stick to your resolution and make sure that you are ready for the holidays and financially healthy.

“How do I set up an 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. Though the holiday season is over, we encourage you to think about your 2018 holidays before they sneak up on you!

Santa Claus isn’t the only one that gets to spread a little holiday cheer! The Family Credit Union is here to bring a little joy into your homes with some holiday promotions just in time for Christmas and Hannukah.

Holiday Promotions

• The Family Credit Union is proud to offer our Holiday Loans with rates as low as 6.99% APR*. Click here to apply online!
• You can take advantage of our Skip A Payment in December 2017 or January 2018. Click here to print the request form!
• If you have our Basic MasterCard, you can get a reduced rate (3.9% APR*) on credit card purchases through December 31, 2017.
• Our Rewards MasterCard offers DOUBLE cash rewards on purchases made between November 1 and December 31, 2017**.
• It may be too late for your 2017 Christmas Club, but you can get a jump on your 2018 gift giving by starting to save now.
• If you’re not sure what to get that special someone, we offer a variety of gift cards. They’re the perfect size for the person that has everything.

Don’t Be A Scrooge, Check Out TFCU

Let the friendly staff at The Family Credit Union help you make the most out of your gift-giving time. We are happy to assist you with all of our holiday products and all the other services we offer any time of the year. We look forward to making your Christmas merry and bright!

*APR=Annual Percentage Rate. All promotions are subject to an approval process. Federally insured by NCUA.
*APR=Tasa Porcentual Anual. Todas las promociones están sujetas a un proceso de aprobación. Asegurada federalmente por la NCUA,
1)Rate offer available to qualifying members between 11/1/17 – 12/31/17. Loans subject to approval. Rates, terms, and conditions subject to change without notice and may vary based on creditworthiness, qualifications, and collateral conditions. See credit union for full details.
2) Skip your December 2017 or January 2018 consumer loan payment and use the money for other expenses. ($10 service fee per loan). Signed form must accompany request. Subject to approval.
3) APR=Annual Percentage Rate. Existing TFCU MasterCard® holders will receive 3.9% APR on all purchases made 11/1/16 – 12/31/16.
4) Earn cash back rewards on qualifying purchases with the new LIFE Rewards Credit Card.
5) New and current Rewards Mastercard will earn double cash rewards on purchases made 11/1/17 through the end of 2017. Reward points cash will be credited on the November 2018 statement

The holiday season is quickly approaching! Let The Family Credit Union is here to help make your Christmas go smoother.

Holiday Offerings from TFCU

Holiday Loans

Our Holiday Loans are as low as 6.99% APR. You can apply online and get an answer quickly. We can help you take care of your expenses during the holiday with little fuss.

Christmas Clubs

It’s not too late to start a Christmas Club account. You can deposit into your Christmas Club account anytime, even with Direct Deposit, making it easy to build up some money for Christmas and the holidays.

Gift Cards

Do you have to shop for a person that has everything? Try one of our Gift Cards, we have the right size for your needs. Stop in and pick up a gift card in a variety of denominations.

Other Gifts from The Family Credit Union

Here are a couple of other perks from the TFCU family for the holiday season:

• Have our Basic Mastercard? Get a reduced rate on credit card purchases through December 31st 3.9% APR*.
• Rewards MasterCard – DOUBLE cash rewards on purchases November 1 – December 31st **. Good for new and existing Rewards cards.
• Skip A Payment in December 2017 or January 2018. Click to print the request form

Don’t be a Scrooge, check out all the ways you can save money this holiday season with The Family Credit Union. Contact us or stop by today to learn more!*APR=Annual Percentage Rate. All promotions are subject to an approval process. Federally insured by NCUA.
*APR=Tasa Porcentual Anual. Todas las promociones están sujetas a un proceso de aprobación. Asegurada federalmente por la NCUA.

1. ** Rate offer available to qualifying members between 11/1/17 – 12/31/17. Loans subject to approval. Rates, terms, and conditions subject to change without notice and may vary based on creditworthiness, qualifications, and collateral conditions. See credit union for full details.
2.  Skip your December 2017 or January 2018 consumer loan payment and use the money for other expenses. ($10 service fee per loan). Signed form must accompany request. Subject to approval.
3.  APR=Annual Percentage Rate. Existing TFCU MasterCard® holders will receive 3.9% APR on all purchases made 11/1/16 – 12/31/16.
4.  Earn cash back rewards on qualifying purchases with the new LIFE Rewards Credit Card.
5.  New and current Rewards Mastercard will earn double cash rewards on purchases made 11/1/17 through the end of 2017. Reward points cash will be credited on the November 2018 statement