Spring 2021
FIRST VIEW A PUBLICATION OF FIRST COMMUNITY CREDIT UNION • HOUSTON, TEXAS
What's Inside - TJ Tijerina Appointed New CEO - TurboTax - Youth Month - New FCCU Business Banking Group - Morton Ranch Opening Soon - 2021 Grad Pack - Updated Online Banking Experience - New Access to Your FCCU Rewards Account - New Features in FCCU Card Manager - Community Corner - Credit Corner
Dream It. Own It. Make the home you’re dreaming of a reality with First Community! We understand that no two home buying journeys are the same. That’s why our team of home loan experts will listen to your goals to help you navigate the process of becoming a homeowner. Whether you’ve found a new place to call home, you are searching for that all-important, and exciting, first home, or you want to refinance your current home, let us assist in matching you to the right solution to finance a home that fits your lifestyle and budget. Not sure how much house you can afford or if a refinance is beneficial? Crunch some numbers with our home loan specific calculators at FCCU.org/Calculators to get the answers.
Finance with FCCU and benefit from: • Low Rates • On-time Closings1 • Rate Match Guarantee2
As your local lender, we know the Houston market and we know the top resources to utilize. Step one – get pre-qualified at
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.
TJ Tijerina Appointed New CEO of FCCU First Community Credit Union (FCCU) has announced the appointment of TJ Tijerina as their new President & CEO. Tijerina assumed responsibilities on January 3, 2021 and succeeds Ron Downing, who has announced his retirement later this year as President & CEO after 43 years of service. Doug Wilcher, Chairman of the Board, made this announcement after the Board of Directors completed an extensive nationwide search through Whitney Smith Co., a Human Resource Consulting firm, based out of Fort Worth, TX. Wilcher said, “We had the pleasure of interviewing several very qualified candidates from around the country and ultimately the Board of Directors unanimously felt TJ’s years of service, knowledge of FCCU, his training and background made him the obvious choice for FCCU to move forward and grow.” Tijerina has been part of the FCCU team for 16 years beginning in November 2004. While moving up the ranks, he held multiple positions including Tomball Branch
Morton Ranch Opening Soon!
Work For You
Tijerina said, “It is a tremendous honor to be selected as the next President & CEO of First Community Credit Union. Ron and the Board of Directors have created a first class financial institution, and I look forward to building upon this great foundation. We will focus on the continued growth of FCCU through our deep community roots and partnerships along with maintaining our member centric approach.” Tijerina graduated from Sam Houston State University with a Bachelors in Business Administration in 2003 and his Masters in Business Administration in 2017. Tijerina is also a 2008 graduate of Southwest CUNA Management School.
Conveniently located off TX 99 and Morton Ranch
Put Your Money to
VP and SVP of Operations before serving as the EVP/ Chief Operating Officer (COO) for the past six years. While he served as COO, he led the charge to enhance the member experience through technology, such as our Interactive Video Banking in branches and drive thru locations. FCCU was the first financial institution in Harris County to implement this technology, which allowed members to continue transactional banking throughout the pandemic in a safe and physically distanced environment. Tijerina’s leadership has driven other technological advances resulting in easily accessible banking for the members of FCCU while growing available products and services for the membership.
Sit back, relax and let your money work for you with our First Rewards Checking account. This isn’t your typical checking account; with First Rewards, you earn a higher yield of 1.99% APY1 monthly simply for doing the things you already do like using your debit card, receiving eStatements and Direct Deposit. Plus, if you decide you need a loan with us, reap the benefit of a special loan discount on auto and personal loans. You work hard for your money, let your money start working for YOU! Learn more and open a First Rewards account today at:
FCCU.ORG/FIRST-REWARDS Already change Online Change
have a checking account and need to to a First Rewards account? Login to Banking and select Forms > Account Form to move into this rewarding account.
The APY (Annual Percentage Yield) for balances up to $10,000 will be 1.99% APY when the qualifications for First Rewards Checking are met and .15% APY for balances over $10,000. Dividend rates and APY are subject to change monthly without notice. The calculation method used for calculating the APY is “Method B”. Method B blends the below cap interest rate with the above cap interest rate when determining your actual APY. As a result, your actual rate will vary, depending on the balance in the account and will be in the range of 1.99% APY - 0.15% APY. In any month where all qualifications are not met, a monthly fee of $4.95 will be assessed. Members will automatically qualify for the Rewards for the first month their account is open and will not incur the monthly fee of $4.95 in the first month. Qualification period begins the first day of each month and ends at the cut-off time of 10pm CST on the last business day of each month. Credit Union closed on Sundays and Holidays. 1
April is National Credit Union Youth Month. During this special month, we encourage our youngest members up to age 17 to develop healthy saving habits by making saving fun and exciting. Start your little ones off on the right financial foot so their savings will never go extinct. No matter what age your children are, we have the tools to help them understand why saving is so important. Not only is saving important for kids and teens; it’s important for adults too.
Tips for starting a savings plan:
As the teen years approach:
• Set a goal to save a giganotosaurus amount for the future.
• Create a budget with your teen and stick to it.
• Saving as little as $5 adds up faster than you think.
• Track expenses to try to minimize spending each month to save more.
• Don’t become prey to overspending! Decide if an item is a want or a need before making a purchase.
• Save for college to minimize future student loan debt.
Join in the fun with our games and contests at
FCCU.org/YouthMonth
Red Rangers (under age 12)
Claim Your Youth (ages 13 -17)
Play Whack-A-Dinosaur and see how many you can stop from taking your money!
Be a top saver in your Claim Your Youth Savings account in April and win up to $100!
Announcing Our Business Banking Group We are excited to announce our Treasury Services and Commercial Lending teams have merged creating our new powerhouse FCCU Business Banking Group. Led by our Senior Vice President, Larry Hook, our Business Banking Group will continue to listen to the goal(s) you want to achieve in order to deliver best in-class products and services to help your business thrive. With streamlined conveniences, an extensive suite of fraud prevention tools and more, we provide you with the tools to manage and protect your business while you remain focused on moving your business forward. From Free Business Checking to Interest-bearing Business Checking to lending options to expand your business, the Business Banking Group will find the best option for you. If you own a business and aren’t currently banking with First Community, contact our Business Banking Group today at 281.856.5765.
As an FCCU member, save up to $20 on tax filing this tax season! An extension for residents of Texas has been issued due to the disaster declaration associated with the winter storm. The new deadline for filing your taxes is June 15, 2021.
FCCU.ORG/TURBOTAX
Complaint Notice If you have a problem with the services provided by this credit union, please contact us at: First Community Credit Union Attn: Internal Audit Department P.O. Box 840129 Houston, Texas 77284-0129 281.856.5300 or info@fccu.org The credit union is incorporated under the laws of the State of Texas and under state law is subject to regulatory oversight by the Texas Credit Union Department. If any dispute is not resolved to your satisfaction, you may also file a complaint against the credit union by contacting the Texas Credit Union Department through one of the means indicated below: In person or U.S.Mail: 914 East Anderson Lane, Austin, Texas 78752-1699,Telephone Number: 512.837.9236, Facsimile Number: 512.832.0278, Email: complaints@cud.texas.gov Website: www.cud.texas.gov.
Coming Soon! New, Improved Online Banking A simplified menu for easier navigation and overall ease of banking will be arriving soon. All of the great services you enjoy today, such as Mobile Deposits and your FREE credit score will still be in the improved platform along with additional tools, including: • Access to FCCU Card Manager – no more keeping up with two apps. • Access to FCCU Reward Points – yep, no more navigating to a separate site to view your credit card reward points. • Skip A Payment – if you need extra cash, instantly skip a loan payment, if you qualify.
Remember, anything you need to do in Online Banking on a desktop, you can also do within our Mobile App. Put the power in your hands with the FCCU Mobile App. Download the FCCU Mobile App in your app store today.
NEW Features in FCCU Card Manager Be proactive in fighting fraudsters with our supplemental app, FCCU Card Manager. Control your debit and credit cards your way to ensure your money doesn’t fall into the wrong hands. New features put even more power in your hands. Customize the alerts you want to receive through text, email or push alerts, turn your card on/off as needed, check your balances, etc. These new tools are at your fingertips: • FCCU Rewards – view and redeem your credit card reward points right from your phone. • PIN Reset – reset your PIN within the app. (Must know your current PIN to reset to a new PIN). • Set Up Pay In-Store for a contactless transaction using your phone. • Apple Pay Provisioning – no more calling in to verify a card when it is added to Apple Pay.
Discover all that you can do with FCCU Card Manager at FCCU.org/CardManager. Download the FCCU Card Manager app in your app store today.
2021 Grad Pack Attention high school grads! Our much anticipated Grad Pack program is back!
Summer Spending Simplified Leave the hassle of cash at home and travel with an FCCU Rewards Credit Card this summer! Whether you’re having fun in the sun locally or out of town, our FCCU Rewards Credit Card provides the funds you need for your summer spending without having to find a place to put those pesky loose coins when you use cash! New cardholders enjoy an intro rate of 0% APR for 12 months. After that, your rate will be between 9.99% - 17.99% APR1. Enjoy these other special features of carrying an FCCU Rewards Credit Card, including: • Earn Reward Points on all purchases, in-store and online, to redeem for cash back2, gift cards, experiences and more! • No Annual Fee • Control your card your way with added protection through our supplemental app, FCCU Card Manager! Download today from your app store.
FCCU.ORG/REWARDS APR = Annual Percentage Rate. Certain credit criteria apply. Rates and terms subject to change without notice. 0% APR intro rate for 12 months valid for new cardholders only on purchases and balance transfers. After intro rate expires, standard rate will be between 9.99% and 17.99% APR based on creditworthiness. Minimum monthly payment of $18 or 3% of balance, whichever is greater, required each billing cycle. Reward points have no cash value. Points can be redeemed for cash back, travel, gift cards, merchandise and more offered through the FCCU Rewards website. Points are non-transferable to others. 1
Cash 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. 2
Built specifically for high school graduates, Grad Pack helps graduates begin their financial journey on the right footing with FCCU. Even better, we celebrate your accomplishments with up to $100 cash when you open your account with us. If you’re already a member with us, don’t fret. You will receive up to $100 as well to celebrate your graduation and to thank you for being a member with FCCU. Watch for details on how to claim your money at FCCU.org/GradPack. Mark your calendar to open your account beginning April 15th! At FCCU, we are your financial partner post-grad and for life! See FCCU rep for full details.
Community Corner Upcoming Shred Days 04.17.21 Cinco Ranch 05.15.21 Copperfield
Food Drive Our Annual Food Drive to support our local food banks will be kicking off in May! Help us provide food for those in need.
Just $1 provides 3 meals
Heart Month Success During Heart Month in February, we held our Life is Why initiative to raise funds for the American Heart Association to continue battling the #1 cause of death, Heart Disease. Thank you to our members and employees who, together, helped raise funds for the American Heart Association to continue the fight. We couldn’t have done this without you.
Watch FCCU.org/FoodDrive for more details as they become available.
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
FederallyinsuredbyNCUA
HOLIDAYS: 05/31 Memorial Day – All Branches Closed 07/05 Independence Day (Observed) – All Branches Closed
Credit Corner Financial Counselors
You don’t have to go it alone when it comes to your finances. When you begin your financial partnership with FCCU, you have a partner by your side to help guide and motivate you to achieve the financial success you are striving for! If you’re looking to build a simple budget for yourself, are unsure how to reach your financial goals or are facing a financial hurdle, our Certified Credit Union Financial Counselors are here for you, all for FREE! We’ve invested numerous hours educating our team members so they are ready to help you with any situation you may find yourself in. Best of all, we have Certified Financial Counselors at all branch locations. Visit a branch closest to you to speak with a counselor or schedule an appointment online at:
FCCU.ORG/FINANCIAL-COUNSELOR
Auto Buying vs. Leasing
Not sure whether you should buy or lease your next vehicle? Watch our helpful videos to provide insight from the experts in each field. Get answers to the most commonly asked questions for both buying and leasing. Hear from insiders on how to get the best deal and even how you will experience concierge type service. Buying or leasing a car can be stressful but it doesn’t have to be! Browse all of our videos at:
YOUTUBE.COM/FCCUHOUSTON
The FCCU Blog If you have questions about financial topics, check out our Blog that is filled with a ton of content; from tips on how to improve your financial life to buying or leasing a car or how to build a better budget, click to FCCU.org/Blog and dive in to find the content you're looking for.