January
2012
FirstGlance
ItemsofInterest
2 Turbo Tax Choose Easy
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Smart Option Student Loan
2 FCCU Employees Spread Hope During the Holiday Season
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TeX AN S
3
Bull Pen
Board Member Elections
4 Announcing First-Rate Branches Opening Early 2012
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Federally insured by NCUA
A Publication of First Community Credit Union
FIRST VIEW Official Credit Union of the H OU S TON
Te X AN S
Erase your debt faster! The holidays are finished and New Year’s resolutions are in full swing – resolutions to get out of debt in the least amount of time! A great way to pay down your debt faster is by combining balances from your high-rate credit cards to one low rate FCCU Platinum Card! With an introductory rate of 2.99% APR* for a full year on all purchases, balance transfers, and cash advances, you’ll be on your way to getting rid of your debt fast in 2012! Enjoy: • 2.99% APR* intro rate for 12 months • No annual fee • No over-the-limit fee • Low, non-variable rates Apply now! Don’t miss out on this limited time offer through April 15, 2012. There’s no need to wait for mail delivery of your new Platinum Credit Card – pick it up at any one of our traditional branches, where we issue cards on the spot! Apply @ FCCU.org or visit any of our Houston area branches to start your New Year off right. *APR = Annual Percentage Rate. Rates and terms are subject to change. Introductory rate of 2.99% APR for new cardholders only for first twelve months. Minimum monthly payment is 3% or $18, whichever is greater. Certain credit criteria applies.
Making a First-Rate financial difference in our members’ lives!
281.856.5300 • FCCU.org
2 Itemsof Interest 2012 Scholarships!
Are you or someone you know headed off to college or back to college? Apply for one of our six coveted $2,000 Scholarships to provide a little financial relief when it comes to your education. At FCCU, we are proud to honor students striving to reach their educational goals. Don’t miss out on this great scholarship– Apply now at FCCU.org or pick up an application at any of our branch locations! Deadline: March 9, 2012.
Shred Day @ Champions – February 11, 2012
It’s back! Shred Days are here for 2012 and our first one will be at our Champions office on February 11th. The shred truck will be there so you can discard the papers you no longer need. Start getting all of your documents together and help us fill the truck! *Limit 5 banker boxes per person.
A New Year to be Debt Free!
Put your Debt in Focus in 2012. At FCCU, we like to see you doing well, especially when it comes to your finances. Use our FREE Debt in Focus tool, located at FCCU.org to make a budget, figure out your debt-to-income ratio and more. Get the inside track to putting your finances on the winning track. It’s easy - try Debt in Focus today and make your finances work this year!
Person to Person Payments Coming!
Your mobile phone has likely become an important part of your life and the way you connect with the world. What if you could use it as an easy and safe way to pay anyone, anytime, anywhere? Coming in early 2012 is Person to Person Payments giving you the convenience to initiate a payment with your phone. This service will be powered by PayPal. More info will be available on our website and in the February newsletter.
Holidays
Please make note of our holiday hours. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day – Monday, January 16, 2012 Traditional branches – Closed In store branches – Open 9am – 5pm
Do Your Taxes Right and Get Your Maximum Refund Guaranteed with TurboTax. Special Discount Offer for First Community Members! Don’t miss out on this special discount on TurboTax Federal Deluxe Online Edition. Start for FREE today – you don’t pay unless you’re satisfied with the results. No matter where life may take you, TurboTax® makes it easy to do your taxes right and get your maximum tax refund, guaranteed. As a valued FCCU member, you can get a 15% discount on TurboTax Federal Deluxe Online Edition. File today, by clicking to FCCU.org, with TurboTax to get your refund in as few as 7 days. TurboTax features: • Step-by-step guides, just like a GPS • 100% Accurate Calculations • Double checks your return so you get all the deductions and credits you deserve S
PLU
TurboTax offers you Total Assurance™ – protection to feel 100% confident about your taxes. Total Assurance includes 100% accurate calculations and a FREE downloadable Audit Support Center. Go to our website to find the Turbo Tax link.
Smart Option Student Loans First Community Credit Union is pleased to announce a partnership with Sallie Mae to offer our members a private student loan program. This program helps students save money and pay off their loans faster than other alternatives. The Smart Option Student Loan® assists families as they cover the rising cost of college tuition and offers degree-seeking students interest rates that are among the lowest in the nation as well as in-school payment choices to help students graduate with less debt. Designed to supplement federal student loans and other financial aid, the Smart Option Student Loan® can enable students to cover up to 100 percent of their educational expenses. This student loan rewards responsible members with benefits such as an on-time payment reward and interest-rate discounts for automatic payments. To explore this option further, go to our website, click on the Loan Center and select Student Loan.
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SAVE $100 Now, Save on Auto Repairs Later
TeX AN S
BULL PEN!
Congratulations to our Houston TeX AN S! Checking* is on a winning streak and so are our members! Recently, several of our Texans Checking account holders saw the added value of this spirited account.
TeX AN S
Extended Warranties are automobile protection plans that work with or beyond the manufacturer’s factory warranty and covers repairs of unexpected mechanical breakdowns. For the period of time the contract is in effect, you will have peaceof-mind that your vehicle will be repaired, without a strain on your wallet.
On November 22nd, FCCU awarded the following trips to some lucky Texans Checking account holders! Two Trips for two to the All Star Game on January 29, 2012 in Honolulu, HI:
Now for a limited time, First Community is offering a $100 discount on any extended warranty. Don’t delay! Take advantage of this offer by April 15, 2012 to get your discount on any FCCU financed vehicle. A number of extended service options are available for most types of vehicle makes and models.
Larry B. of Houston
Lorena R. of Spring
Two Trips for two to the Big Game on February 5, 2012 in Indianpolis, IN: Not pictured below Felipa A. of Houston.
Ask us for a quote on a warranty for your vehicle and get your $100 savings when you purchase by April 15, 2012.
FCCU’s Auto Buying Service
NEW!
So you’re in the market for a new or used auto and just hate the challenges of finding the right car. You know what you want and you want a fair deal on the vehicle. In order to level the playing field for the auto buyer, we have partnered with a new service that will find exactly what you want, inspect it for you and deliver it to FCCU. Most cars are found at auction and take 10-14 days for transport. Funding is handled by FCCU to simplify the entire auto buying process.
Patty V. of Houston
Brian Cushing player appearance December 13, 2011
It’s been a great football season and playoffs are just around the corner! These members are just a few proud owners of our Texans Checking account.
More trips to come! Don’t be left out!
In February, we will award a trip to the Draft Experience in New York. Who knows – you could be the winner! If you don’t have a Texans Checking account, open yours today! Once you open your account, you’ll automatically be entered to win this trip and many other prizes! Carry the TeX AN S in your wallet with TeX AN S Checking! * 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 for account to remain free or fee of $4.95 will be assessed each month. Texans checking account holders will be automatically entered into weekly drawings to win home game tickets with a parking pass, autographed Texans merchandise or Texans trips. For all trips, no purchase is necessary. For complete rules, refer to texanschecking.com. Any prize won and accepted with a value of $600 or more will be subject to 1099-INT reporting.
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Board Member Elections! Bob Schumacher, Chairman of the Nominating Committee, is pleased to present the nominations for Board Members seeking election for vacant positions. Nominations for the vacancies may also be made by a petition signed by a minimum of 1% of the eligible voting members of the credit union. If there is more than one nominee per open position, an election by mail ballot will be held. However, the election will not be conducted and there will be no nominations from the floor when there is only one nominee for each position available. All nominations by petition must be sent to the attention of the Credit Union Secretary via registered or certified mail and received no later than Monday, February 6, 2012. An official petition form and candidate resume form may be obtained by writing to: First Community Credit Union, Attn: Secretary, Board of Directors, PO Box 840129, Houston TX 77284-0129. The nominees by the committee have met all qualifications to be elected to the First Community Credit Union Board of Directors. Please review their personal statements regarding their candidacy: David Sanders: First Community Credit Union is a leader in the credit union industry because of its sound business practices, excellent member service and prudent financial choices. It is my desire to continue serving on the Board of Directors as I have since 1998. I have witnessed tremendous growth of First Community and look forward to another prosperous year of service to the credit union and its members.
Julie Eisenhauer: In seeking the position of Director, I hope to continue my service to our members at a time when the economy is struggling. My previous board experience assists me in making decisions that will ensure the future success of FCCU and, in turn, will contribute to it remaining a stable financial institution that will instill confidence in our members. Sally Moseley: Serving on the Board of Directors at First Community Credit Union has been a fascinating learning experience as well as a very rewarding position. I have had the honor and privilege of watching the credit union grow from one small office serving the employees of Spring Branch ISD to serving over 88,000 members of our community. With 16 branches and assets in excess of $800,000,000+, FCCU has become one of the most prominent and well known financial institutions in the Greater Houston area. It is my most sincere desire to continue my service to FCCU and its membership as we move forward in growth and assets while always remembering and asserting our mission that we are “people helping people.� Save the date! Annual Business Meeting March 22, 2012 at 6pm Copperfield Office, 15260 FM 529 RSVP to 281.856.5300
Welcome SEG Partners! Welcome our newest Select Employee Groups:
1. EXCEL Midstream Solutions 2. HirePower Personnel, Inc. 3. Association Management, Inc. 4. Schneck & Company 5. Royal Home Care 6. The Oaks Group 7. Balfour Beatty
8. Ainsley Courte Assisted Living 9. Cy-Fair Volunteer Fire Dept. 10. T.H. Hill & Associates 11. Paradigm Geophysical 12. Star Pipe Products 13. Wayne Enterprises
If you work for an employer that would like to offer credit union benefits, please call Marie Russ @ 281.856.5484.
FREE
Member Seminar Basics of Wellness Thursday, January 26th @ 6:00pm - 7:00pm Copperfield Office 15260 FM 529
Healthy snacks will be served. Call 281.856.5300 to RSVP.
Announcing
NEWS
First-Rate Branches Coming Early 2012! In 2012, FCCU has made a new year’s resolution to continue to provide more great locations to serve you and make banking more convenient for you! In an effort to provide FIRST-RATE facilities, we will be moving some of our branches and opening a new one along the way early in 2012.
Branches Moving:
The Katy Branch will be moving out of Kroger on Mason Rd. and will be relocated to the H-E-B Plus! store at 6711 S. Fry Road. This new location will provide added space to allow us to serve you better!
5 Extended late hours until 7pm, Mon-Fri, and until 5pm on Saturday make banking easy.
Branch Branch Locations Locations
Spring Branch Office 9100 Westview (at Campbell) Alief Office 3200 S. Dairy Ashford (at Richmond)
More details and Grand Opening specials will be coming your way soon!
Champions Office 10300 Louetta Rd., Ste. 100 (at Cutten Rd.) Copperfield Office - (Corporate Location) 15260 FM 529 (east of Hwy 6)
Just one more way, at FCCU, that we are making strides to show you why Banking’s Better Here!
Sugar Land Office 3400 Hwy 6 South (south of Williams Trace) Tomball Office 28850 Tomball Pkwy (north of FM 2920) Cinco Ranch Office (east of Grand Pkwy 99) 23120 Cinco Ranch Blvd. Katy Office (inside Kroger) 22150 Westheimer Pkwy (at Mason Rd.)
FCCU Employees Spread Hope During the Holiday Season
Sam Houston Office (inside Kroger) 9125 W. Sam Houston Pkwy. (at West Rd.) Spring Cypress Office (inside Kroger) 17455 Spring Cypress (at Hwy 290) Jones North Office (inside Kroger) 12222 Jones Rd. (at Cypress N Houston) Jones South Office (inside Kroger) 9330 Jones Rd. (at West Rd.)
The Spring Cypress Branch on Hwy 290 will also be exiting Kroger and moving to their new home in the H-E-B on Barker Cypress. The name of this branch will change to Barker Cypress.
Don’t forget! FCCU has several other convenient locations in Katy and Northwest Houston for your convenience. By moving these locations; you will experience the best of both worlds in H-E-B – great banking and great grocery shopping all in one stop!
New Branch:
Also early in 2012, FCCU will be expanding into Missouri City! This newest branch will be located inside the H-E-B at 8900 Hwy. 6 South. Located by Sienna Plantation, this is a prime spot for all of our members who live further South.
281.856.5300
Fry Road Office (inside Kroger) 1705 Fry Rd. (at I-10) Katy Market Office (inside HEB) 25675 Nelson Way (at Pin Oak) Spring Market Office (inside HEB) 2121 FM 2920 (at Spring Cypress) Business Partner Branch (Limited Access) Shaw Group
In November, First Community Credit Union’s employees joined Memorial Hermann Hospice Volunteers to bring some holiday cheer to their patients. The program, called Trees of Hope, brings Christmas cheer during a time that is so difficult for the family and friends. After the trees are placed in a miniature forest for a few days, each family in the program selects one to keep. A big thank you to all the FCCU employees that participated in this community outreach.
Look for this sign for over 43,000 surcharge-free ATMs around the country.
Look for this sign for over 90 FREE ATM locations in and around Houston.
www.allpointnetwork.com
www.cufriendly.net
www.cuservicecenter.com
For a list of our hours and free ATM locations, visit our website at FCCU.org. 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 First Investment and Retirement Planning Center
281.856.5300 800.456.FCCU 800.600.5249 281.856.5625