Winter 2013 issue - Travis Credit Union
Contents
1. credit union s greatest asset TCU employees give us a competitive advantage compared to other financial institutions because the high level of service they provide can t easily be duplicated In 2013 we ll focus on training and development initiatives that will increase our employees understanding of our products and services as well as enhance their skills to serve you As advocates for our members it is important that we are good stewards of our members money and time In that regard in 2013 we ll take a deeper look at ways to improve efficiency For instance we will review the processes involved in opening new accounts to be sure that members transactions are handled quickly and efficiently And a number of technology enhancements are planned which will save time for our members Community outreach and advocacy remains strong Travis Credit Union will continue to be a strong partner in the communities we serve We ve just increased our annual scholarship to 1 500 each and invite all TCU members who are current high school seniors to apply by the March 11 deadline to be considered And we re proud to once again sponsor free tax preparation workshops for low income residents in our communities You can read more about our scholarship program and tax preparation workshops in this issue of Smart Money Matters Our In the Community page shows some of the fundraising and other activities our2. employees were involved in during the last quarter in support of worthwhile community initiatives We re proud to have such a great team of employees who give their time energy and money to help others They are truly advocates for this credit union and for all of our members Along with our 480 employees and the volunteers who proudly serve you Pat and hope you have a healthy happy and prosperous New Year www traviscu org Start the New Year with Financial BALANCE Now is a great time to take a look at your finances and see what you can do to improve your financial life As a Travis Credit Union member you have access to free financial counseling offered through our partnership with the BALANCE Financial Fitness Program Because no one is an expert in everything we ve got you covered when you need advice or answers about a financial issue or problem BALANCE financial professionals can help you with money management debt management financial education teen money matters and more TCU members who used this free service have commented that these confidential phone discussions with financial consultants were helpful Here are some comments from last fall Lauren gave us advice regarding the credit industry which helped us to prioritize and organize our decision making choices It was very helpful to talk to her Steve I should have called sooner Tamara l appreciate all the time and ef
3. Banking 8 Inthe Community 10 Ways to Fix It Before You List It No Points No Fees Refinancing 11 Save with Sprint 12 1 500 College Scholarships CU Private Student Loan 13 Federal Student Aid Workshops Help You Fill out the FASFA Form 14 New Address Let Us Know NCUA Insurance IRA Notice for Age 70 15 Free Tax Return Service Free Seminars How to Make Your New Car Last Longeress Are you starting 2013 in a new vehicle or plan to buy one soon Do you want to make your car last for 10 years maybe 15 While there are no sure fire tricks to keep your vehicle running long after you ve paid off the auto loan there are things you can do to make your new car last longer By extending the life of your new vehicle you ll enjoy a greater return on your auto investment You ll also save by not having to make monthly loan payments after you ve paid off your loan Of course the value of your car will depreciate over time but you ll appreciate the money you saved by keeping it longer Perform routine maintenance Performing routine maintenance on any new or used vehicle helps keep it at near optimum efficiency which also helps its fuel economy Follow your manufacturer s vehicle operation manual for recommended service The total cost of routine servicing will generally be far less than the cost of unexpected major repairs caused by lack of maintenance or neglect First start under the hood Check your
4. engine s fluids weekly or at least monthly These are your engine oil brake cylinder fluid power steering fluid transmission fluid and radiator coolant antifreeze You can locate these components using the diagram in your car s user manual It takes just minutes to check these fluids Next inspect and change your air filter when it becomes dirty This is another maintenance step that most owners can do A dirty air filter reduces your engine s efficiency and gas mileage It is recommended that you change your air filter every 12 000 miles but that will vary based on your regular driving conditions Check your vehicle manual to find the right replacement filter Be sure to inspect your tires and keep them inflated at the recommended levels Under inflated tires can reduce tire life by up to 15 percent and reduce gas mileage by up to 10 percent Be sure to rotate new tires about every 6 000 miles to allow even wear The most recommended way to rotate them is diagonally swapping the front right with the rear left and the front left with the rear right Select the right fuel Try to fill up with the grade of fuel recommended by the manufacturer Also keeping the same brand of gasoline helps reduce the chance of deposits building up in the fuel system To conserve fuel consolidate short trips and avoid speeding and aggressive driving Other exterior maintenance includes regularly washing your car Washing r
5. moments this month to focus on ways you can organize your finances You ll be a better money manager for it Find and stick to a system that works for you and you ll reap the benefits throughout the year Good luck Here are some of the events our employees participated in over the past few months To honor our departed military veterans TCU employees participated in the annual Wreath Laying Ceremony at the Sacramento Valley National Veterans Cemetery on Dec 15 More than 10 500 wreaths were placed on the graves of those who served our country Travis Credit Union employees actively support the people and communities we serve through an investment of financial resources and human capital We re also engaged in the credit union industry promoting the mission of People Helping People On Oct 24 TCU sponsored the 2012 Cal Grant Presentation on the U C Davis campus where more than 400 local students from Solano and Yolo County high schools learned how to make their college and vocational school dreams a reality TRAVIS 4 mens A TCU employees participated in the 3rd Halloween Spectacular held on Oct 25 at the Texas Roadhouse in Fairfield Sponsored by the North Texas Street Business Association the event gave children another opportunity to trick or treat in their community www traviscu org Travis staff raised 373 for the Solano and Contra Costa County Food Bank during our Halloween Treat or S
6. 877 8328 14 www traviscu org Free Tax Return Service Sign up now If your income was less than 51 000 in 2012 you re invited to make an appointment for any of the six free tax return service sessions sponsored by Travis Credit Union in partnership with the IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance VITA program This service is open to the community TCU membership is not required Weekend appointments Weekend sessions will be held in the Community Room of Travis Credit Union s corporate headquarters at One Travis Way in Vacaville Trained VITA volunteers will work the following Saturdays from 10 a m to 3 p m with the last appointment taken at 2 p m Sessions are available in both English and Spanish February 2 March 2 February 9 March 9 February 23 March 16 Please make your appointment by calling 707 469 4317 Weekday appointments We ve also partnered with Dixon Family Services to offer VITA appointments on weekdays from Jan 28 through April 15 2013 Dixon Family Services is located at 155 North 2nd St in Dixon and will offer tax preparation by appointment only To schedule a weekday appointment please call 707 678 0442 ext 103 What to bring Your VITA volunteer will need the following tax related items to prepare your basic tax return E Valid driver license or photo I D E All W 2 forms for 2012 E 1099 forms for 2012 if applicable E Social Security cards for each family member E Joint fil
7. 877 8328 ext 64384 Supervisory Committee Holiday closures Debit Credit Card Fraud Information P O Box 2070 707 469 1810 or 800 877 8328 ext 61810 Vacaville CA 95696 In recognition of the following holidays all branches and member service center will be closed Martin Luther King Jr Day Jan 21 2013 Presidents DAV AE E e e Feb 18 2013 Rates and policies are subject to change All loans are subject to credit approval Some restrictions may apply For complete details read your account Smart Money Matters is produced by Travis Credit Union s TCU s marketing department for distribution each quarter to provide TCU news and information that will help members achieve their financial goals The contents do not constitute legal accounting tax or other professional advice disclosures or contact the credit union Federally insured by NCUA Equal Housing Lender A NMLS registered Everyone who lives works worships or attends school in Solano Yolo Contra Costa Merced Napa Alameda Colusa Placer Sacramento San Joaquin Sonoma or Stanislaus County is eligible to join Certain membership requirements may apply Winter 2013 For your convenience Call 24 Phone Banking Online Banking and PhoneLoan will be available on these holidays
8. Building lifelong relationships with our members to help them achieve their financial goals Smart Money Matters Winter 2013 Vol 7 No 1 See pages 4 5 See pages 6 7 See page 12 TRAVIS CREDIT UNION We Advocate for You in Many Ways Patsy Van Ouwerkerk President and CEO Patricia Moreno Board Chair As you re reading this column you re probably getting settled into your normal routine following the holidays and may be thinking about 2013 resolutions At Travis Credit Union one of our resolutions is to continue to advocate for you our members What does this mean Advocacy takes on many forms For instance last November a group of credit union officials from across the nation including myself and two TCU Board members were in Washington D C to meet with Congressional officials We asked for their support of a bill that would allow credit unions to increase the number of small business loans they can make Lobbying efforts such as these helps ensure that elected officials at the highest levels remain aware of the positive impact credit unions have in the U S Here at home you ll find TCU employees are your strongest advocates They know that building long term relationships starts with a simple conversation And once they understand members needs they can become better advocates for them Our employees are our greatest asset Pat and both believe that our employees are the
9. DEPARTMENTS Member Service Center 707 449 4000 or 800 877 8328 Home Loan Center One Travis Way 707 469 2000 or 888 698 0000 Business Services Center One Travis Way Deposit Accounts 707 469 2042 Business Loans 707 469 1857 PhoneLoan 707 451 5350 or 800 449 4110 Check Fraud Information PRESORTED STANDARD U S POSTAGE PAID SACRAMENTO CA PERMIT NO 195 PRESIDENT AND CEO Patsy Van Ouwerkerk BOARD OF DIRECTORS Patricia MOrenOs lt ccecnrendanttentvaddaad tas Chair Deborah Aspling 44 cc0c sasenas 2eeeened Vice Chair Mary Coburn 20450ncncensseeisasten ees Secretary Tom KUNMSK sigs 4andaawesrecadeseeee es s Treasurer Dee Alarc n 2sssserssarereveiadadssesass Director Len AUQUSEING cocesrieneiacionsasadess Director CUNUINGEWIANG sc esreder ede dese vevexseenss Director Ann Rollin lt 2 ses0v ssWesvenddwedses cies Director Tim TrUeSQal gt v lt svecsvexeeedneeccceeves Director SUPERVISORY COMMITTEE Johanna Benker ccc ee cee eeee Chair Thomas Watkins 00 eee Treasurer Arturo REYES 2s wsvav vse vee wa ax eeewsvenss Member CORRESPONDENCE Your feedback is important to us Please address your suggestions or concerns to Patsy Van Ouwerkerk President and CEO Travis Credit Union P O Box 2069 Vacaville CA 95696 Unresolved issues or problems regarding the credit union should be directed to Travis Credit Union 707 469 4384 or 800
10. S Department of Education s FAFSA web page www fafsa ed gov offers downloadable and printable worksheets The FAFSA usually takes about an hour to complete and requires personal and financial information from student and parents including income taxes and deductions level of education household assets family members and age Students must detail their education history major course of study expected course workload assets and a list of schools they are interested in attending Copies of your FAFSA will be sent to the colleges you ve listed These schools will then let you know how much financial aid is available through grants scholarships work opportunities and federal student loans The school you want to attend will provide you with instructions on how to proceed If you re interested in private student loan options or want to start saving for college Travis Credit Union can help Stop by a branch or give us a call to learn about these ways to pay for college Visit us online at www traviscu org Students attending college this fall who are age 23 or younger should bring a parent to this workshop The following documents are needed to help speed up the application process E Federal Income Tax return for 2012 and your spouse s return if married if already prepared If not already prepared bring 2011 returns for estimating income E Records of other untaxed income received such as disability benefits workmen s comp
11. Saturday February 16 9 a m to Noon Preparation for home ownership begins long before the purchase actually takes places This seminar covers pre purchase issues such as budgeting determining how much house is affordable saving for a down payment and other costs You ll learn about credit reports managing your debt to income ratio the types of home loans available and the mortgage lending process 15 TRAVIS CREDIT UNION P O Box 2069 Vacaville CA 95696 BRANCH LOCATIONS Antioch 2721 Lone Tree Way 5819 Lone Tree Way Atwater 981 Bellevue Road Benicia 836 C Southampton Road Clayton 5441 Clayton Road Concord 1257 Willow Pass Road Davis 1380 E Covell Boulevard Dixon 1450 Ary Lane Suites B amp C Fairfield 5075 Business Center Drive 2600 Estates Drive Paradise Valley Residents only 1340 Gateway Boulevard 2570 North Texas Street 659 Skymaster Drive Travis AFB Merced 1194 West Olive Avenue Napa 3263 Claremont Way Richmond 3300 A Klose Way Suisun 131 A1 Sunset Avenue Vacaville 11 Cernon Street 2020 Harbison Drive 2010 Peabody Road Vallejo 1796 Tuolumne Street Woodland 1372 E Main Street ADDRESSES Mailing P O Box 2069 Vacaville CA 95696 Shipping One Travis Way Vacaville CA 95687 Deposits and Loan Payments Travis Credit Union P O Box 8000 Travis AFB CA 94535 ACCOUNT INFORMATION Call 24 Phone Banking 707 449 4700 or 800 578 3282 Web site www traviscu org SERVICE
12. account overdrawn Stay Organized with Online Banking Want an easy to use free tool to help you stay organized TCU s Online Banking gives you secure access to your accounts when you need it With Online Banking you can view account balances pay bills review transactions transfer money and send secure messages to us You can also schedule e mail alerts for any type of account transaction so you ll be notified electronically and be able to keep track of all your transactions For example you can set up a low balance e mail alert that will let you know when your balance falls below your designated threshold Or you can receive an e mail whenever a debit transaction occurs Signing up for Online Banking takes just minutes to complete and our state of the art encryption technology ensures your data is safe and secure Joint account holders can set up e mail alerts for account transactions low balances transfers and withdrawals By taking advantage of the latest online banking technology they ll know when their account is at a low balance or falls below your target threshold Set a savings goal Whether you are saving for a new car a vacation a home or something else it is always easier when you set aside money for it TCU s Target Savings account allows you to save regularly via automatic payroll deduction And it comes with the additional benefit that you re earning dividends on your Savings Take a few
13. avory Sale on Oct 31 These haunting treats included ghostly pretzel sticks mummy cupcakes and enchanted pumpkins ay 5 d h F h j 7 7 P gp l ez Grae din es ee E 3 a es SS aw we TCU members and employees donated generously to our annual food drive to benefit the Solano and Contra Costa Food Bank There s still time to donate The annual food drive continues through Jan 31 Non perishable foods may be dropped off at food barrels located in all of our branches 707 449 4000 or 800 877 8328 As one of the major sponsors of the Christmas Wish Program TCU employees participated in several fund raising events to help 315 sponsored children receive a gift on Christmas morning These events include a chili cook off and bake sale an online auction raffles and purchases of dress down Stickers that allow employees to wear jeans to work DOCUMENT SHREDDING RECTUNG pe a On Sept 22 TCU held a community e waste and shredding event in partnership with the Better Business Bureau of Solano County Security Shred Inc and E Waste Recovery Systems The credit union also offered advice on protecting yourself from identity theft Ways to Fix It Before You List It Preparing your home for sale If you re selling your home in 2013 now is a good time to prepare for the big sale First impressions make a big difference on whether your home sells in a week or stays on the housing mark
14. emoves dirt and other pollutants and helps prevent corrosion of your car s protective coating If you want to protect yourself from the high cost of mechanical breakdowns so you can keep your car running longer speak to a TCU representative about mechanical breakdown insurance MBI Read the accompanying article to learn more about MBI www traviscu org Start the New Year in a New Vehicle January is one of the best times to buy a vehicle because dealers are anxious to move their remaining 2012 models out of inventory That means they re offering more incentives and discounts off the sticker price But before you step on to the dealer s lot stop into Travis Credit Union to get pre approved for your auto loan Learn how much vehicle you can afford so you can negotiate the best price for your budget with confidence and knowledge Get pre approved today and start your new year in a new vehicle Take advantage of E Loan pre approval at a branch online and over the phone E Online vehicle research tools Just call click or stop by to apply and loan calculators i Call 800 877 8328 E Flexible terms quick loan processing E Low rates on new and used vehicles Check online www traviscu or E Professional friendly member service to see if your pre approved a Once you re pre approved look for the CUDL logo and complete your financing with TCU at the dealership B Stop bv vour local TCU branc
15. ensation child support veteran s benefits or military or clergy allowances E W 2 forms and other records such as check stubs of the income you earned in 2012 E 2012 bank account statements if any E Records of stock bonds or other investments for 2012 E f you are not a U S citizen your permanent registration card or other immigration documentation E A list of colleges and universities that you re interested in attending during the 2013 14 academic year 13 New Address Let Us Know Please let us know if you have moved or changed your address to ensure you continue receiving your statements and other credit union correspondence on time You can update your contact information including any change in e mail address by visiting any TCU branch calling the member service center or logging in to Online Banking where you can edit your Personal Profile information If you have a vehicle loan it s important to also change your address with the California Department of Motor Vehicles to ensure you ll receive your vehicle title promptly after paying off your loan This also applies to your annual vehicle registration information If you have a question about address changes or loan payoffs please give us a call Credit Unions are Federally Insured just like Banks Your Travis Credit Union share deposit accounts are federally insured up to 250 000 by the National Credit Union Administration NCUA This i
16. ers must bring their spouse E Checking and or savings account numbers up to three accounts for direct deposit of any refund VITA volunteers will help you take advantage of all applicable tax credits Your return will be filed electronically so that any calculated refund should be available within 10 days 707 449 4000 or 800 877 8328 Free Seminars Travis Credit Union offers a variety of free seminars throughout the year on a wide range of subjects all designed to help you achieve your important personal and financial goals All seminars are located in the Community Room of Travis Credit Union s headquarters One Travis Way Vacaville CA unless otherwise noted To register for a seminar please call 707 449 4000 or 800 877 8328 at least one business day before the seminar Get It Together Organize Your Financial Records Tuesday January 22 6 to 7 30 p m Learn why some record keeping systems fail how to develop an efficient bill paying system what records to keep and how to take a home inventory Also learn what to have handy in case of a natural disaster and where to go for help Build a Basic Budget The Five Step Spending Plan Wednesday February 6 6 to 7 30 p m Design a financial blueprint for controlling your monthly expenditures Set realistic goals identify spending leaks live within your means stay motivated and never lose sight of your ultimate financial goals First Time Homebuyer
17. et for months It also plays a factor on the price of the home especially if yours stands out proudly among the rest of the comparable homes for sale in the neighborhood Preparing your home for sale takes time and a little money According to information from Realtors com homeowners should spend as little money as possible in getting their house ready That s because buyers aren t likely to give you the extra money it took to pay for a new roof or renovated kitchen Instead minor improvements such as new paint new curtains and new kitchen cabinet knobs can help maximize your homes appeal inside and out No Points No Fees Refinancing Any time of the year Just call click or stop by to apply J call 888 698 0000 Apply online at www traviscu org tad Stop by your local TCU branch 42 all with Saturday hours Offers exclude any refinance of a TCU No Points No Fees loan less than 48 months old and cannot be combined with other discounts or promotions A 10 Use of Travis Credit Union s preferred title company required CA properties only Other restrictions apply NMLS registered Equal Housing Lender Start with curb appeal The first impression homebuyers have of your property is from the curb so make it a good one Trim trees maintain your front lawn so it looks nice and cut back bushes and other overgrowth that detracts from your home s exterior If necessary add a coat of paint to the front of the house t
18. fort put into this matter Christine BALANCE can help anyone with questions about personal finances For example these counselors can explain how to work with the credit bureaus to understand a credit report correct wrong information and improve your credit score Also they have answers to a variety of credit and money management questions including whether you should buy or lease your next car to how you can get out of debt TCU members have free access to BALANCE financial counselors Monday through Thursday 5 a m to 8 p m Friday 5 a m to 5 p m and Saturday 8 a m to 5 p m Just call to 888 456 2227 to get started Follow us on Social Media If you use social media to keep in touch with friends family news and other information we invite you to follow Travis Credit Union Our Facebook page and Twitter feed keeps you informed about updates events and other credit union related activity Also don t forget to check back often on our facebook page for special discount offers fun contests with some great prizes and other activities Share the page with your friends See you online Have a great year 707 449 4000 or 800 877 8328 Contents 2 We Advocate for You 3 Start the New Year with Financial BALANCE Follow us on Social Media 4 How to Make Your New Car Last Longer 5 Start the New Year in a New Vehicle MBI Insurance 6 Five Ways to Organize Your Finances 7 Target Savings Online
19. h after you ve found the perfect car You ll receive the T ae utdavh i f same rates and terms as you would at a branch Gd anew Senay Une ZLAR Get your TCU financing at the dealership For example at 2 98 APR for 60 months payments are 17 96 per month per 1 000 financed based on 0 down on 2012 2013 vehicle models Rate reflects a 0 25 discount for automatic payment and a 0 75 discount for being a member for more than 6 months Final rate will be based on credit score and loan to value LTV ratio All loan rates are subject to change daily without notice Please visit www traviscu org for current rates on vehicle loans Other rates and restrictions apply to 2003 2011 vehicles models Existing Travis Credit Union vehicle loans are not eligible for refinancing Protect Yourself from the B e Cost of Car Repairs with MBI E Available on any vehicle with any amount of mileage or of any age E Competitive rates No matter if you own a new or used If you re financing your vehicle through vehicle you can protect yourself from Travis Credit Union you may add MBI to E Three different plans the high cost of repairs with Mechanical your loan payments anytime during the all with no deductible Breakdown Insurance MBI from Travis term of your loan You can also purchase E Rental car allowance Credit Union Our MBI program covers MBI from us if you own your vehicle any vehicle with any amount of mileage outright or if it s financed thro
20. ine Up to 200 early termination fee line applies Offer applies to corporate liable lines eligible for a discount under their credit union s CUcorp s services agreement Proof of credit union membership and the use of a tax ID to establish credit is required Coverage not available everywhere Available features and services vary by phone network Nationwide Sprint and Nextel National Networks reaches over 278 and 279 million people respectively Monthly Discount Applies only to monthly services charges No discounts apply to add ons 29 99 or below Taxes and surcharges still apply Offers subject to change without notice May not be combinable with other offers Other Terms Offers not available in all markets retail locations or for all phones networks Pricing offer terms fees and features may vary for existing customers Offer subject to change Other restrictions apply See store or sprint com for details 2011 Sprint Sprint and the logo are trademarks of Sprint Other marks are the property of their respective owners 085260 MV1234567 707 449 4000 or 800 877 8328 11 Apply for a 1 500 TCU College Scholarship If you are a high school senior who will attend college this fall and are a TCU member in good standing your re eligible to apply for one of twenty 1 500 scholarships we award each year Applications for the 2013 Mary Keith Duff Memorial Scholarship Program are available in branches and posted online at www traviscu org scholar
21. ith the service you expect from Travis Credit Union No matter the season our No Points No Fees home loan refinancing is a great reason to save money any time of the year Take advantage of our competitive low fixed rates to refinance your home loan today You ll save money not only by refinancing but by lowering your mortgage payments as well Refinancing to a lower rate may allow you to shorten the term of your existing mortgage so you can pay off your home even faster You may even consolidate debt and turn your equity into cash Our knowledgeable and friendly home loan consultants can help determine if our fixed rate home loans or any other loan product can help you Refinance today and save money www traviscu org l l N Travis Credit Union Sprint Business Members now get more Your business belongs to Travis Credit Union because of their benefits Here s another a 15 discount for your business on service plans from Sprint That s more money you can put into your business il 3 7 00 PM rs Nextel direct connect Discounts for business members of Travis Credit Union Lisa McBurney Not a Credit Union member Join Travis Credit Union Today and save 925 457 2723 Participating members have saved over 105 million since January 2005 Lisa McBurney Sprint com Call 800 877 8328 or 707 449 4000 Click traviscu org Slira CREDIT UNION May require credit approval and deposit per l
22. low our members to finance their college education at some of the lowest interest rates available Students may borrow from 2 000 up to the cost of attendance per year under this nationwide credit union student loans program There s a maximum of 120 000 in total undergraduate loans or 160 000 in total graduate loans per student You can use these funds for any qualified educational expense even past due tuition bills This program has no origination fee and offers competitive interest rates And you can cancel the loan within 30 days of disbursement without fees or interest with a 30 day no fee return policy a X College Bound CU private student loan program To qualify for this program you must be enrolled in an eligible post secondary school and pursuing a degree program You ll need to be a member or join Travis Credit Union during the online application process Also the borrower and co signer must be U S citizens or permanent residents A related program allows you to consolidate all of your student loans if you ve already graduated from college You can refinance and consolidate from 7 500 to 125 000 in undergraduate private student loan debt To learn more call 888 549 9050 You can also click on the cuScholar Private Student Loans link at www traviscu org www traviscu org Federal Student Aid Most people are eligible If you re college bound this fall or are the parent of someone who is y
23. nsurance is similar to the insurance on deposit accounts at banks provided by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation FDIC The NCUA administers the National Credit Union Share Insurance Fund NCUSIF which was created in 1970 to insure members deposits The share insurance level was permanently set at 250 000 per account in 2010 The NCUSIF is backed by the full faith and credit of the U S government This fund was created by and continues to be paid for entirely by credit unions No federal tax dollars have ever been placed in the fund and no member has ever lost money insured by the NCUSIF Visit the NCUA Web site http ncua gov for more information IRA Notice if You re Turning Age 7012 If you will be at least age 70 2 by December 31 2013 the IRS mandates that you begin taking the required minimum distribution RMD from each Individual Retirement Account IRA that you own You may delay your first required distribution no later than April 1 of the year following the year you reached age 70 2 However your RMD must also be taken by December 31 for that year If you fail to take your full RMD on time in any year you ll owe the IRS a stiff penalty of 50 percent of the required amount that was not distributed We would be happy to help you calculate the amount you are required to withdraw from your IRA Please visit any of our branches or call TCU s member service administration at 707 469 1820 or 800
24. o give it a fresh clean look Check your foundation walkways and patios for any signs of cracks or crumbling and have them repaired Clean out your rain gutters and replace any loose or damaged roof shingles Fix any loose siding and missing caulking Also check the exterior lighting at night to see if it any bulbs or fixtures need to be replaced Keep interior spacious and clean On the inside create more open space to make your house appear bigger Remove pieces of furniture from crowded rooms and open drapes to draw in more light Clear out your closets cabinets and countertops Remove family photos from the home so that buyers can think of this home as their home not yours Store your household items in your garage or ata self storage facility Once you re de cluttered clean the interior from top to bottom Shampoo your carpets clean your drapes and empty trashcans Use air fresheners or home baked goods to introduce pleasing aromas into your home Get professional assistance A Realtor will be able to help you with ways you can prepare your home for sale Each home has its unique challenges and the sooner you start working on them this year the easier it will be when it comes time to list your property on the market If you re selling your home to upgrade to another one speak with one of our trained mortgage loan consultants about our home loan options We can help you find a home mortgage that makes sense and back it w
25. ou re well aware that tuition continues to climb each year For example in California from 2007 to 2012 annual tuition and fees at 4 year public institutions increased by 72 to 9 368 according to the College Board In fact prices at 4 year public schools have risen more rapidly between 2002 and 2012 than it has over the two preceding decades Higher tuition means students are borrowing more for college than ever before The College Board in its Trends in Student Aid 2012 report noted that the total volume of education loans disbursed has doubled from 55 7 billion in 2001 to 113 4 billion in 2011 This means more people are applying for federal student aid to help And most are eligible to receive some form of assistance Federal aid available Federal student aid comes via loans grants and work study programs Student loans are money borrowed for college that must be repaid with interest Grants are a form of financial aid that doesn t have to be repaid while work study programs allow students to earn money to help pay for school The federal government offers financial aid for individuals who served in the military or who are the spouse or child of a veteran Education awards are available for community service with AmeriCorps There are also scholarships and loans specifically for Native Americans through the Department of Health and Human Services Indian Health Service Workshops Help You Fill out the FASFA Form Studen
26. ps you stay organized Staying organized means knowing where everything is including your money By authorizing regular deposits to your Target Savings account you can set aside money regularly to reach your savings goal No matter if you re saving for a family vacation a new car or for something else our Target Savings account lets you save in an organized way There s no minimum deposit and you can arrange automatic deposits You can open a Target Savings account online via our member service center or at any of our branches Start your new year with a savings plan that works Open your account today because you re not worried about late fees If you re hesitant about authorizing automatic payments you can start by paying a single bill to see if you this service is right for you If you re incurring late fees because you can t keep track of your bills start organizing your bills by their statement due dates so you ll know when a bill should be paid Also create a filing system that works for you Keep joint accounts balanced It s easy to overdraw or have insufficient funds in a joint checking account when more than one person is listed on the account The easiest way to avoid non sufficient funds fees is to let the other account holder know about all transactions Also you should consider keeping a self imposed minimum balance that all account holders agree to so you ll be covered against having the
27. ship Application requirements include submitting a letter of recommendation from one of your high school teachers a school transcript certified by a high school official and a summary of your volunteer activities You ll also need to submit a 250 word essay describing your education and career goals after college Completed applications must be received no later than the close of business on Monday March 11 Please deliver your completed application to any TCU branch or mail it to Travis Credit Union Student Scholarships P O Box 2069 Vacaville CA 95696 Scholarship winners will be notified by June 1 Apply today Applications and transcripts will not be returned and will become the property of Travis Credit Union TCU senior officers volunteers and their families are not eligible Winners will be chosen by the Scholarship Committee Illegible entries may be disqualified Winners will be notified by mail or phone and agree to have their names and photos published in TCU promotional materials After confirmation of acceptance and registration at a two year community college or a four year college or university with 12 or more credits or units award checks will be issued to the scholarship recipient Not valid where prohibited by law 12 If you re researching ways to pay for higher education consider a private student loan Travis Credit Union has partnered with the cuScholar Private Student Loan Program to al
28. ts and their parents who need helping filling out the application for federal student aid may attend workshops in January and February for help The California Cash for College program provides free in person assistance to low income and first generation college bound students and their families in completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid FAFSA and the Cal Grant GPA Verification form Participants who complete these forms at the workshop will also be entered into a drawing for a 1 000 scholarship For workshop location and dates visit www calgrants org and click on the Cash for College tab to find a link to its workshops Cash for College is a program of the California Student Aid Commission 707 449 4000 or 800 877 8328 According to the Office of Federal Student Aid most people are eligible for some sort of financial aid Applicants must be a U S citizen or an eligible noncitizen demonstrate a financial need have a valid Social Security number and be enrolled as a regular student in an eligible college degree or certificate program Start with the FAFSA To obtain federal student aid individuals must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid Commonly referred to as FAFSA this comprehensive application is used by most states to distribute financial aid programs including Cal Grant awards in California Also many colleges use it to determine the amount of assistance they will offer The U
29. ugh E Nationwide coverage and can be purchased at any time on another financial institution E 60 day money back guarantee vehicles of any age E 24 7 emergency roadside assistance that includes battery jump starting fuel delivery lock out service towing flat tire assistance Protect yourself from the high cost of F l E This insurance program is offered through Route 66 MBI There s a 30 day auto pair Get MBI today Call toll free and 1 000 mile waiting period All vehicle repairs must be approved by the 800 877 8328 Monday th rough Friday Claims office Route 66 MBI policies are transferrable for a 40 fee 8 a m to 5 p m E Direct claim payments via VISA or MasterCard E All plans are transferrable to a new owner of the vehicle 707 449 4000 or 800 877 8328 5 Five Ways to Organize Your Finances Each year many of us promise ourselves that we ll be better organized to save money Yet after the New Year s celebrations have come and gone and we settle back into life s routine we forget about those resolutions and fall back on old habits Let s make 2013 different Here are five easy steps to help organize your finances and keep them that way Create a budget Take a serious look at where your money goes Are there ways to trim spending For example are you spending too much on cable TV or making too many coffee runs These little expenses add up When you create a budget you ll see where your mone
30. y goes and identify areas where you can cut back Even the smallest amount of savings adds up over time When reviewing your budget you may find that some months require more money than others For example your electric bill may increase during the summer months when you re running your air conditioner With a budget you ll be able to adjust your spending accordingly to stay on track This could mean going out to dinner twice a month instead of four times and using the money saved toward those higher electrical bills www traviscu org Track your spending One of the easiest ways to keep your finances organized is to track your spending When you don t see where your money goes it is easy to assume you re on budget Keeping a log can help you determine how and where you spend your money There are many ways you can track your spending besides using a check register You can use a spreadsheet program on a computer Or an app on your smart phone Pay bills on time to avoid late fees When you re organized you know when bills are due And when you know that you can avoid late fees that can sneak up on you and your busy lifestyle There s a way to stay organized when yout life is filled with work children and friends use automatic bill payment When you set up monthly bills to be paid automatically from your checking account you ll gain more peace of mind 707 449 4000 or 800 877 8328 Target Savings hel
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