Spring 2013
A PUBLICATION OF FIRST COMMUNITY CREDIT UNION
FIRST VIEW Official Credit Union of the H OU S TON
T E XAN S
Find Your New Nest! Homeownership is a big milestone in life! At First Community Credit Union, we can help you finance the perfect nest for you and your family.
Financing* Made Easy:
A new nest for you and your family!
« Low Rates « Fast Close First Mortgages « Jumbo Loans « Construction Loans
Fast Close Mortgages!
Financing with FCCU will make you feel you made the right decision without all the high pressure. It’s an aggressive market and that means you have to have the confidence to make decisions. With First Community Credit Union as your trusted partner, we can close your loan fast and deliver the local service you deserve. In fact, you can close in as little as 15 to 20 days! Buying a home can be stressful, but we will help guide you through the process to ease your stress. Our goal is to provide you the best financing with a comfortable payment. Apply now at FCCU.org, call us at 281.856.5300, or visit one of our convenient locations to find the right financing for your new nest! *Certain credit criteria applies. Additional requirements and/or parameters may apply. Programs are subject to change at any time without notice.+Jumbo Loans are loans greater than $417,000. Financing for our best rates is based on 740+ Credit Score, loan amount, and loan to value. Lower credit score or loan amounts under $75,000 may affect interest rate. Please contact our Mortgage Department with any questions concerning loan programs. All loans are subject to lender requirements .
Be Safe at the ATM! Page 5
National Credit Union Youth Week
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Federally Insured by NCUA
Making a First-Rate financial difference in our members’ lives!
281.856.5300 • FCCU.org
Lobby News!
Items of Interest Shred Days – April 27th & May 18th Visit the shred truck on one or both of these days to remove the clutter from your life! April 27th Copperfield Branch 15260 FM 529
May 18th Cinco Ranch Branch 23120 Cinco Ranch Blvd.
Visit FCCU.org to find all of our remaining shred days. *Limit 5 banker boxes per person.
Member Seminars Mark your calendar to attend our upcoming seminars and learn valuable information to be the expert on these topics. Real Estate: 5 Must Know Tips Tuesday, May 7th @ 6pm Creating a Tax Free Legacy presented by First Investment and Retirement Planning Center Saturday, May 18th @ 10am Basics of a Credit Report Tuesday, May 21st @ 6pm All seminars are held at our Copperfield Branch. RSVP @ FCCU.org or call 281.856.5300. Refreshments will be served.
At FCCU, our goal is to provide you with First-Rate service. In order to provide you better service, we are making a few changes that will benefit you. Avoid delays! We understand your time is valuable and waiting isn’t always Lobby an option. Minimize your wait time Wait before you visit a branch with our Tracker new Lobby Wait Tracker. Simply click to FCCU.org or use our Mobile App to look at the current wait time at all of our branches. You can then determine which branch to visit that day.
Extended Saturday Hours We’ve extended our Saturday hours at our traditional branches to better serve you. Saturday Hours: Traditional branches: 9am - 3pm In store branches: 9am – 5pm Call Center: 9am - 1pm FCCU hopes to help provide a little balance in your hectic schedule with these extended hours. For 24/7 service, go to FCCU.org!
Hit the Road in a New Ride! Whether it’s a sporty car, family sedan, truck or minivan you’re looking for, there’s only one place to look for financing: First Community Credit Union! Savings are in full bloom with: • Rates and terms to meet your needs • Immediate loan decisions! • 100% financing available • Skip-A-Payment up to 2 times per year+
Holidays Memorial Day – Monday, May 27, 2013 Traditional branches – Closed In store branches – Open from 9am – 1pm Independence Day – Thursday, July 4, 2013 All branches closed 2
Apply now at FCCU.org, call us at 281.856.5300 or visit any of our convenient locations and hit the road in style!
*Rates and terms subject to change. +Skip-A-Payment adds $10 to the loan each time payment is skipped.
Te X AN S
BULL PEN!
It is time for the 2013 Draft! The Houston Texans will make their first selection in the Draft on April 25th and two lucky winners will be there to see it live! Draft Experience in NY V.I.P. Style Melissa N. and Mario R. are on their way to New York for the Draft Experience with VIP tickets! These two lucky winners won just by having a Texans Checking account! Before you know it, the season will begin and FCCU will be there to cheer on our hometown team to another Division Championship! We’re drafting you! Open your Exclusive Texans Checking account and Debit Card today. You could be the next draft pick to add to our roster of winners! Go to texanschecking.com for up-to-date details and promotions. *Certain credit criteria applies. Minimum deposit to open checking account is $25. Account is free for first 90 days. Direct Deposit must begin within 90 days. As long as a total of at least $500 is received each month through one or more Direct Deposit(s), monthly fee of $4.95 will be waived. Account holders will be entered to win Texans trips and Texans merchandise, as well as, tickets to home games with a parking pass. For all trips no purchase is necessary. See texanschecking.com for details. Any prize won and accepted with a value of $600 or more will be subject to 1099-MISC reporting.
Be a Savings Sleuth: Solve the Mystery! It’s time to celebrate our youth and teach them how to decode the secrets to saving money, budgeting, and being financially independent. Visit FCCU between April 21st and 27th to help us celebrate National Credit Union Youth Week. We will show youth and teens how to be savings sleuths at the credit union. Celebrate Youth Week at FCCU and enter to win some great prizes, fun and financial education!
Fair (ages 13 to 17):
Attention Teens: If your teen thinks they could handle things on their own, bring them to our Teen Reality Fair and let them experience the real world. The Reality Fair is a unique way to teach them about finances and show them it’s not all about movies and fun! They will see how our friend Theo faired in the real world as well. Plus, be entered to WIN an iPad Mini!
Two chances to attend – RSVP today! Tuesday, April 23rd Copperfield Branch 6:00 pm
Saturday, April 27th Copperfield Branch 10:00 am
Coloring Contest for Kids (up to age 12):
Enter our coloring contest at any of our branches. One winner will receive $100 to put in their savings account! Coloring sheets can be found at any branch location. If your child does not currently have an account, please visit one of our branches to pick up a copy and learn more about the savings opportunities for them. We look forward to seeing you in our lobbies during this special week and throughout the year. Let’s all be Savings Sleuths! 3
Coming Soon! The Woodlands Branch: Opening Summer 2013 First Community Credit Union recently expanded into Montgomery County with a new branch coming soon. FCCU is proud to announce our newest branch will be located inside The Woodlands located at 1488 and Kuykendahl.
uDeposit Mobile - May 2013!
Soon you will be able to snap a picture of a check and it will be deposited to your FCCU account.
Watch for details at FCCU.org!
Earn Double Rewards this Summer! Whether you are traveling far or staying close to home, you can earn extra rewards when you use your FCCU MasterCard® Rewards Card and enjoy your summer a little more this year! Between May 27th and September 2nd, every time you use your MasterCard® Rewards Card for your gas, lodging and dining needs, you will earn double the rewards points! Apply for your Platinum MasterCard® now @ FCCU.org for your vacation or “staycation.” Earn Double Rewards Points on these purchases!
A Message from First Investment and Retirement Planning Center
Help Create a Tax-Free Legacy
Sergio Garza Financial Advisor
In today's uncertain economic environment, many individuals first seek the safety of their money before seeking a sizable return on their money. In addition, many baby boomers are increasingly interested in how best to leave a legacy for their children, grandkids or their favorite charity. These financial matters are valid concerns that we are well positioned to assist you with. Wealth transfer or estate planning doesn't have to be a complicated topic with hard to understand lingo. For example, Certificates of Deposit (CD) can provide a safe place to save money for a short period of time. However, CD's are experiencing historically low interest rates. This makes some CD buyers particularly interested in exploring other planning ideas. When considering how to best plan for the long term, life insurance can play a critical role in your overall estate plan. By successfully planning for your financial legacy in a simple and straight forward manner, whole life insurance offers a tax efficient means to provide a long term and guaranteed death benefit to your kids, grandkids or favorite charity. When using a one-time single premium life insurance policy, you are able to reposition a portion of your assets into a policy which will provide a guaranteed benefit to your heirs. Best of all, this death benefit can be paid tax-free and even has the ability to bypass probate. So preparing for a tax efficient way to leave a legacy to your family doesn't have to be complicated. Life insurance can play a simple, yet effective, role in creating a significant benefit for your heirs. It all starts with a discussion. Please contact me to begin this conversation at 281.856.5625 or email me at sergio.garza@cunamutual.com. Attend our free seminar on May 18, 2013. See page 2 for more information. Life insurance is sold by CMFG Life Insurance Company. This insurance is not a deposit and is not federally insured or guaranteed by credit unions. This is a brief description of how life insurance can help with estate planning and is not intended to provide tax advice. For tax advice, please contact a tax professional. LIFE-0610-3895
Gas Pennie Lowther
Dining
Lodging
Planning • Investing • Insurance
Registered Representative
281.856.5625 Copperfield Office
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Branch Locations
June is ATM Safety Awareness Month
Alief Office 3200 S. Dairy Ashford (at Richmond)
ATMs are a great convenience but they can compromise your safety. A robber looking for easy prey only has to stake out an ATM in a low-traffic, dimly lit area and bide his time.
Champions Office 10300 Louetta Rd., Ste. 100 (at Cutten Rd.) Cinco Ranch Office 23120 Cinco Ranch Blvd. Copperfield Office - (Corporate Location) 15260 FM 529 (east of Hwy 6) Spring Branch Office 9100 Westview (at Campbell)
Here are some tips sure to protect your card and yourself when using ATMs:
Sugar Land Office 3400 Hwy 6 South (south of Williams Trace) Tomball Office 28850 Tomball Pkwy (north of FM 2920)
Observe ATM surroundings before conducting a transaction. If anyone or anything appears suspicious or the area is poorly lit, leave the area immediately. Observe the entire area from the safety of your car prior to getting out for a walk-up ATM.
Barker Cypress Office (inside HEB) 24224 Northwest Fwy (at Barker Cypress) Fry Road Office (inside Kroger) 1705 Fry Rd. (at I-10) Grand Parkway Office (inside HEB) 6711 S. Fry Rd. (at Grand Parkway)
Minimize time spent at the ATM. Have your card out and ready to use. Do not allow a stranger to assist you in making a transaction even if you have trouble or your card gets stuck. Once finished, leave immediately. Avoid counting or otherwise displaying large amounts of cash while at the ATM.
Jones North Office (inside Kroger) 12222 Jones Rd. (at Cypress N Houston) Katy Market Office (inside HEB) 25675 Nelson Way (at Pin Oak) Sam Houston Office (inside Kroger) 9125 W. Sam Houston Pkwy. (at West Rd.)
Look for possible fraudulent devices attached to an ATM. If the ATM appears to have any loose wires, attachments or alterations to the card slot or keypad, do not use the terminal.
Sienna Plantation Office (inside HEB) 8900 Hwy. 6 (at Sienna Parkway) Spring Market Office (inside HEB) 2121 FM 2920 (at Spring Cypress)
Keep your PIN and card separate. It is best if the PIN is not written down. DO NOT write the PIN on the card. If you do and someone finds your card, they would have complete access to your funds. Use your body to shield your PIN from onlookers.
Fairfield Branch Office (inside HEB) 28550 Northwest Freeway The Woodlands Branch Office (inside HEB) 3675 FM 1488 (at Kuykendahl)
If you are involved in a confrontation with an assailant who demands your money, COMPLY. Money can be replaced; a life cannot.
Look for the Allpoint symbol for FREE ATMs! There are hundreds of free ATMs in the Greater Houston area. Use the FCCU App on your smartphone to help locate free ATMs today. Be Prepared in an Emergency: When you need cash in an emergency, be sure you are covered with Overdraft Privilege (ODP). With ODP, FCCU is able to overdraw from your checking account in order to pay transactions up to a predetermined limit. ODP covers checks, ATM withdrawals, debit card purchases, etc. for a nominal fee. Don’t get stuck in a bind. Opt-In for ODP today at FCCU.org. Look under the Checking tab to sign up for Overdraft Privilege. 5
Look for this sign for over 55,000 surcharge-free ATMs around the country.
www.allpointnetwork.com
www.cuservicecenter.com
For a list of our hours and free ATM locations, visit our website at FCCU.org or download our app. 24-Hour Phone Services P.A.T. 281.856.4PAT • 800.234.PAT1 Phone-A-Loan Center 281.856.LOAN MasterCard®/Visa® Account Information Lost or Stolen Card Credit Card Fraud
281.856.5300 800.456.FCCU 800.600.5249
First Investment and Retirement Planning Center
281.856.5625
PRSRT STD U.S. Postage PAID Permit #600 Houston, TX
®
PO Box 840129 • Houston, Texas 77284-0129
FirstGlance 2
Lobby News
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ItemsofInterest Hit the Road in a New Ride
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Be a Savings Sleuth : National Credit Union Youth Week
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TeX AN S
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Bull Pen New Branch: The Woodlands
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ATM Safety Awareness
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Watch for our upcoming Special Edition Newsletter:
Branch Location
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The Woodlands Summer 2013 Page 4 NEW Added Convenience: Lobby Wait Tracker and Extended Hours
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All About Real Estate Watch your mailbox in May