FIRST VIEW
Winter 2021
A PUBLICATION OF FIRST COMMUNITY CREDIT UNION • HOUSTON, TEXAS
What's Inside - Board Member Elections - Virtual Banking - Breathe Easy - New Year, Updated Contact Info?
We can help!
- Savings for the Future. Tax Credits Now. - 2021 Shred Days Announced - Dream It. Own It. - New in 2021! - Protect Your Financial Information - Get Your Maximum Refund and Special Savings on TurboTax - 2021 Scholarships - 2020 Operation: Stocking Stuffer Success - $500 Fridays - Your Financial Goals
As you say hello to 2021, don’t let debt keep you trapped. You don’t have to be Houdini to escape debt; an FCCU Debt Consolidation loan is your ally in making the great debt escape today. High payments and rates can be turned into one lower rate and one monthly payment. Free yourself from stress and say goodbye to the weight on your shoulders. Now through February 28, 2021, we’re offering our lowest rate yet on our Debt Consolidation loan.
An FCCU Debt Consolidation loan features: Rates as low as 5.99% APR
1
Enjoy ONE, low monthly payment Escape debt in 5 years or less!
Take the first step towards escaping debt today! Have questions? Call us at 281.856.5300 or visit a branch to speak with a Certified Financial Counselor to determine what works best for your budget.
Our easy online application process starts at FCCU.org/Escape. APR = Annual Percentage Rate. Rates and terms subject to change. Certain credit criteria apply for lowest rate quoted. Rate quoted on these loans include the following: 1) 0.50% off for purchase of credit life and disability insurance coverage; 2) 0.20% off with First Rewards Checking 3) 0.30% off with an FCCU Visa Credit Card. Maximum discount of 0.50%. Special debt consolidation discount of .50% APR will be applied automatically between December 1, 2020 and February 28, 2021. Rate will not go below 5.99% APR. 60 months @ 5.99% APR = monthly payment of $19.38 per $1,000 borrowed. First Community Credit Union invites anyone that lives, works or worships in Harris, Fort Bend or Montgomery County to find their escape from debt with us. 1
Board Members Seek Election Rob Hauck, 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 membership 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. 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 8, 2021. 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 following nominees by the committee have met all qualifications to be elected to the First Community Credit Union Board of Directors.
“In seeking the position of Director, I hope to serve our members by continuing my participation on the Board. Our credit union has seen many years of growth and I hope to continue to be a part of the planning process in the years ahead. My previous board experience will help me make decisions that will ensure the Julie Eisenhauer future success of FCCU and in turn cause it to continue to be a stable financial institution that will instill confidence in our members.” “Serving on the Board of First Community Credit Union bas been a fascinating learning experience as well as a very rewarding position. I have had the privilege of watching the credit union grow from one small office serving the employees of Spring Branch ISD to serving over 135,000 members of our community from 17 branches with assets in Sally Moseley excess of $1.7 billion. 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.”
Join us for our Annual Meeting! • Watch for more details coming soon.
Virtual Banking If this past year has taught us anything, it would be the ability to be flexible and to look for alternate ways to continue doing business with our members. FCCU has always been available to our members online and now, more than ever, we want to remind you of all of the ways you can bank virtually. Online & Mobile Banking Text Banking Mobile Deposits Bill Pay Complete Online Account Opening and Lending Process Other On-the-Go Access features • Online Check and Debit Card Ordering • Direct Deposit • 24/7/365 Call Center • Wire Transfers
Let us help you virtually @ FCCU.org/Virtual
Breathe Easy Paying off high rate credit cards is at the top of many to-do lists. Make the right move now. Save big on interest and transfer high rate card balances to our low rate FCCU Rewards Credit Card. With our FCCU Rewards Credit Card, new cardholders enjoy an intro rate of 0% APR1 for 12 months on purchases and balance transfers! After that, your rate will be between 9.99% - 17.99% APR1.
Get Your Maximum Refund and Special Savings on TurboTax
Great Benefits: • No Annual Fee • Earn Reward Points on all purchases, in-store and online, to redeem for cash back2, gift cards, experiences and more! • Visa’s Zero Liability Protection covers you if your card is lost or stolen Start breathing easy today! Apply for your FCCU Rewards card at FCCU.org/Rewards. Already an FCCU Rewards Cardholder? Ask us if you qualify for our special balance transfer promo. For questions, call us at 281.856.5300 or email info@fccu.org.
As tax season approaches, making sure you are getting your biggest possible tax refund has never been easier. Plus, as a member of First Community, you will save up to $20 when you file through TurboTax! From simple to complex taxes, TurboTax® has you covered. Just answer questions about your year, and TurboTax fills in all the right forms for you. Need help? Real experts are standing by -- and can even do your taxes for you, start to finish. Get a head start on filing your taxes by setting up your TurboTax profile now at FCCU.org/Turbo-Tax. Visit http://turbotax.intuit.com/lp/yoy/guarantees.jsp for TurboTax product guarantees and other important information. Limited time offer for TurboTax 2020. Discount applies to TurboTax federal products only. Terms, conditions, features, availability, pricing, fees, service and support options subject to change without notice. Intuit, TurboTax and TurboTax Online, among others, are registered trademarks and/or service marks of Intuit Inc. in the United States and other countries.
Savings for the Future. Tax Credits Now.
APR=Annual Percentage Rate. Certain credit criteria apply. Rates and terms subject to change without notice. Only valid for consumer credit cards. 0% APR balance transfer rate for twelve months valid on balance transfers made between January 1, 2021 and February 28, 2021 only. Offer valid for new and existing cardholders between the promo dates of January 1st and February 28th. After the initial balance transfer rate of 0% APR expires, standard rate will be between 9.99% and 17.99% APR based on creditworthiness. If payment is delinquent 2 consecutive months, 0% APR transfer rate will be lost. Delinquent is referring to not making a payment. A late payment is not included. Qualifying balances do not include requests to pay any FCCU account or honor any request to pay “Payee”, “Cash” or person with your surname. Existing FCCU card holder balances not eligible to transfer to another FCCU card. Minimum payments must continue to be made on each balance requested to transfer and any finance or other charges incurred due to a delay in transferring a balance. Balance transfers typically take 2-3 business days to complete. A $2 or 2% balance transfer fee, whichever is greater, will be assessed. Minimum monthly payment is $18 or 3%, whichever is greater. 2Cash back statement credit reward(s) will appear as a credit, in the form of a payment, on cardholder’s rewards card. Cardholder is responsible for any outstanding balance owed on the account after the credit is applied. If there is a zero balance owed on the card, the statement credit will post to the cardholder’s savings account when received. Offer not valid for Business credit cards. First Community Credit Union invites anyone that lives, works or worships in Harris, Fort Bend or Montgomery County to breathe easy with us. 1
Did you know an Individual Retirement Account (IRA) is a win-win solution to saving for the future while also providing you with tax breaks? Even better, IRAs grow your money tax-free! With multiple options to choose from, there is sure to be one type that works for your life. A Traditional IRA is pre-tax income meaning your contributions are pulled from pre-tax income. A Roth IRA is post-tax income meaning your contributions are pulled from after-tax income. Explore your options today to be on your way to future savings fast.
FCCU.ORG/IRA
NEW in 2021! You asked and we listened! At FCCU, our goal is to make banking as easy as possible and to put the power in your hands to bank when it is convenient for you wherever you are. Check out a few of our enhancements available now!
Deluxe Checks: We officially welcomed our new check printing vendor, Deluxe, for consumer and business checks. With Deluxe, you will enjoy: • A lower price for checks • More designs to choose from • Reorder checks within Online Banking • Members 65+ will continue to receive one box of checks for free each year Whether you use minimal checks or a lot of checks, at First Community Credit Union, we have you covered with the right option that works for you.
New Plastic Card Communication
Text Payment Reminders
Do you ever wonder if your new debit or credit card is in the mail or not? Fret no more! FCCU has partnered with Visa to implement ongoing communication so you are kept up-to-date on the status of your new or replacement debit or credit card. Now, you know when to watch for your card in the mail so you don’t miss it when it arrives. If you don’t receive your card within 10 business days of the notice, please notify us. Make sure to update your email address with us to receive these helpful emails.
We understand that life can get hectic and payments may be forgotten. FCCU has your back. Text payment reminders have been implemented. Loan payment reminder texts will come from the number 855.676.2399 so don’t be alarmed. If you are ever suspicious of a text, don’t hesitate to call us at 281.856.5300 to verify the validity of the text.
Dream It. Own It.
Let FCCU help put you in the home of your dreams! Purchases
Refinances
Construction
Home Equity
We have the home loan to fit your needs. On-time Closings1 | Local Lender Rate Match Guarantee2
FCCU.ORG/HOMELOANS Certain credit criteria apply. 1Closings will occur on time as long as all documentation required from the buyer is received within the time frame requested. 2We require a copy of the Loan Estimate and Closing Disclosure from the competitor for comparison purposes in order to receive the $250 if we cannot meet or beat your qualified rate in a comparable program. Paid upon completion of loan. FCCU invites anyone that lives, works or worships in Harris, Fort Bend or Montgomery County to finance with us.
Protect Your Financial Information With more and more emerging technology, it has never been more important to arm yourself with these tips to protect yourself and your finances. FCCU will Never: • Ask you for confidential information like login credentials, social security numbers, secure access codes or PIN numbers. • Call you and ask account specific questions • Email or text you asking you to verify your account Never: • Give out personal information over the phone, email or text. Always ask for a number to call the person back. If it is a scammer on the line, they will usually hang up. Always: • Keep your financial information, social security number and PIN numbers private. • Think before you click on a link in email or a text message. • Use caution when discussing your bank accounts on incoming calls and ask questions as you could be chatting with a scammer, disguised as an FCCU employee. • Verify you are shopping on secure sites by verifying a lock is in the URL address bar.
New Year, Updated Contact info? Keep your information up-to-date with us so we can reach you, if needed. 3 easy ways to update your information quickly. 1. Inside Online Banking from the left hand menu, click on Settings > My Profile. 2. Visit a branch location closest to you. 3. Call us at 281.856.5300 Help us help you by keeping your contact info up to date. Thank you!
2021 Shred Days Announced 02.20 Tomball 03.13 Champions 04.17 Cinco Ranch 05.15 Copperfield 09.18 Alief 10.23 Spring Branch 11.13 Sugar Land
3 Tips to Protect yourself from Social Engineering Attacks: 1. Slow Down. Hackers want you to act first and think later. Take your time to carefully review messages and be suspicious of any unsolicited messages and phone calls. 2. Beware of Links and Downloads. Don’t click on links or open downloads from unknown sources, as it could contain harmful malware and viruses that can infect your computer. It’s safer to hover over links in the email and then type a URL into a browser than to click on that link directly. 3. Use Two Factor Authentication and a Password Manager. Two factor authentication is a two-step verification process that adds a layer of security to your accounts. First you login with your password, the first authentication factor, then the second factor arrives by text or phone call. This helps because even if your email or password has been compromised, your identity will still have to be verified by your phone to get into your account. Also, a password manager will help you manage your passwords for every website or app you visit and decreases the chances of one compromised account affecting all of them. If you are ever concerned about a call from FCCU or any other company, hang up and call the company directly to verify if the call/email/text is valid. It is better to be safe than sorry. If you think you are a victim of a scammer, monitor your account daily through online banking. If you find an unknown transaction, report it immediately to FCCU by calling us at 281.856.5300. We will cancel any compromised cards and will we issue new cards to you.
2021 Scholarships Calling all 2021 high school graduates! Hurry – the deadline for accepting FCCU scholarship applications is January 19, 2021! It’s not too late to start our easy online scholarship application to submit. We encourage all graduating high school seniors to apply for our $4,000 scholarship that provides financial support to deserving graduates pursing their college/university education. Applicants must be a member of First Community Credit Union, located in Houston, TX, for at least 90 days to qualify. Click to FCCU.org/Scholarship to find out what items you need to apply. Each year, we award up to seven scholarships so you may be one of our next recipients! Start your application today at FCCU.org/Scholarship.
PRESORTED STANDARD U S POSTAGE
15260 FM 529 Houston, TX 77095 FCCU.org 281.856.5300
PAID
HOUSTON TEXAS PERMIT NO. 1769
Your savings federally insured to at least $250,000 and backed by the full faith and credit of the United States Government
Federally insured by NCUA
HOLIDAYS: 01/18 Martin Luther King Jr. Day – All Branches Closed 02/15 Presidents’ Day– All Branches Closed
Community Corner 2020 Operation: Stocking Stuffer Success Thank you to everyone that jumped in to help provide Christmas for thousands of children. In the midst of a pandemic, together, we put smiles on children’s faces as they opened their gifts. We could not have done this without you!
$500 Fridays As we begin a new year, we take time to reflect on how we strive to illustrate our mission of “people-helping-people.” You may have seen one of the many videos of an FCCU member or someone in the community randomly winning $500 through our $500 Fridays program. We love bringing joy to others, and we have 52 more winners to come in 2021! You never know where our FCCU street team will show up to surprise lucky random winners with $500. YOU may be next!
Credit Corner Your Financial Goals Whether you are looking to consolidate debt, get rid of high rate credit cards or improve your credit score, we have the tools to help you accomplish your financial goals in 2021. Debt Consolidation CD Credit Builder Loan • Turn high payments and • Build or rebuild your credit rates into one low monthly with a CD Builder loan. payment. Once the loan is paid off, the funds in the CD are Loan Refinances yours. On time monthly • Refinance your home, auto payments show good payment or other loan from another history which improves your lender to secure a lower rate. credit score. Learn more at FCCU Rewards Credit Card FCCU.org/CreditBuilder. • With our low rate FCCU FREE Financial Counselors Rewards credit card, you have • FCCU has many Certified convenience and buying power Credit Union Financial in your wallet. Apply today at Counselors on staff to help FCCU.org/Rewards. you navigate your financial Savvy Money journey. They will work with • Your credit score is a key part you to set goals and guide of your financial success. Keep you in achieving those track of your credit score and goals. Get started today at discover ways to build and/ FCCU.org/Financial-Counselor. or improve your score inside Online Banking.