RIM WORLD NEWS 952 CENTRAL AVENUE • BILLINGS, MONTANA 59102 (406) 248-3685 • FAX (406) 248-3686 Spring 2013 CREDIT CARDS ARE CEO MESSAGE: Happy Spring! It never ceases NOW AVAILABLE! to amaze me at how quickly time John Bedford, President Kathy Carson, Vice President Ed Regele, Treasurer Jim Kraft, Secretary Rick Sayre Janet Massey Brett DiPasquale Jon Kristjanson Stacey Iversen Huck THANK YOU MARK! After volunteering more than 20 years, Mark made the decision to retire from the Board of Directors, most recently serving as the President. All of the volunteers as well as the staff appreciate all of his years of service and wish him the very best. WELCOME STACEY IVERSEN HUCK! At our Annual Meeting held on February 21, 2013, Stacey was elected to the Board of Directors. Congratulations Stacey, we know you will be a great addition to our credit union family! THANK YOU to those who attended our 64th Annual Meeting. The Grand Prize winner of a $100 bill was Jim Kraft. Holiday Closings: Monday, May 27, 2013 for Memorial Day HOURS: Drive-up:Monday – Friday 7:30AM to 5:30PM Lobby: Monday – Friday 9:00AM to 5:30 PM Here are some reasons to use our credit card: • The application is short and we only need a copy of your most recent pay stub • No annual fee • Fixed rate at 8.99% APR • Even if you pay your balance in full, the credit union still receives income from your transactions • You can make your payments at the credit union passes, and I am always happy to have survived another Montana winter! One of the reasons time has flown is because we have spent a lot of time creating products to serve the needs of our membership. We focused on two services; in-house mortgage loans and credit cards. Both programs have been received favorably, and we thank those members who have supported our efforts. If you are looking for a loan or any type of credit, please consider applying with us. We have a knowledgeable staff ready to help Call or stop by the credit union for an you with your needs. application. We are partnering with Billings area credit unions to host a Shred-AKEN STEINMAN Thon on April 27th. This will also be (THE PHOTO GUY) WILL a fundraiser for the Big Sky Honor Flight; the credit unions will pay for BE HERE IN APRIL. your shredding in exchange for a Appointments will fill quickly, so call donation to the Honor Flight program. as soon as possible to reserve your If you want more information appointment. He will be here April about the program, check out their 22nd and 23rd from 3:00 p.m. – 7:45 website at www.bigskyhonorflight. p.m. org. It is an honor to support such a worthwhile program, and I hope you VACATION LOANS will participate in our fundraiser. ST As always, thank you for your AVAILABLE MAY 1 support, both in using all of our Borrow up to $1,000.00 for 12 products, but also in supporting months at 6.00% APR. Applying is easy, call or stop by for more details. our endeavors to give back to our community. Credit Unions are based on the principle of volunteerism, so Rebuilding Your we all feel it is important to “pay it forward” to our great hometown, state Credit History 1. Always pay your bills on time. and nation. ~ Paula Delinquent payments and collections have a negative impact on your credit score. 2. Keep balances low on your credit cards and other revolving credit. High balances lower your score. Brought to you by the Midland Empire 3. Only apply for, and open, new Chapter of Credit Unions credit accounts as needed. Opening a new account just to have a better Bring your confidential waste and have it shredded. All donations will go to support credit mix won’t increase your score. Big Sky Honor Flight. 4. Pay off your debt instead of This event is open to the general public. moving it around. Owing the same amount, but having fewer open Saturday, April 27th accounts, may lower your score. 10am - 2pm Remember, you can’t rebuild your Big Sky Federal Credit Union credit score; you rebuild your credit 990 Grand Ave history. Time is your ally in improving Billings, MT 59102 your credit. There is no “quick fix” for a bad credit score, so be aware of suspicious deals that offer you a fast and easy solution. Seven Tips For Keeping Your Cards Safe If you use a plastic card - debit, credit, or ATM - you can learn a lot from experienced card players. They protect themselves by not showing their hands. Here are seven tips for keeping your cards safe and secure. 1. Memorize your PIN (Personal Identification Number). Don’t write it on the back of the card. You can disguise it as part of a phone number in your address book or translate it into a word or easy to remember phrase from a keypad - 5683 is LOVE; 2559 is All Kids Love X-Box. 2. Use caution when using an ATM. Avoid frequenting any in secluded places. Always be aware of anyone “shoulder surfing” (standing close to you to observe your PIN or account number). 3. If you have multiple credit cards, use one exclusively for online or phone purchases. Then if it’s compromised, you have only one card to replace. Never enter your card information on a Web site unless the site is secured. Check to be sure the site has an “s” in its URL: https//. Scroll over the lock icon to confirm the site is verified. 4. Photocopy the front and back of your cards and keep the document in a secured place. If one is lost or stolen, you will have easy access to the account information. 5. Keep your cards in the same order in your wallet. That makes it easier to discover if one of them is missing. 6. Review your statements carefully for any unauthorized activity. 7. Contact the credit union or other issuer immediately to report a lost or stolen card. Rimrock Credit Union Dividend Rates Need A Vehicle? Stop, Shop And Buy If Old Man Winter was hard on your vehicle, it’s time to spring into action. Your first destination: the credit union for a pre-approved loan. With a pre-approval, you can shop around for that new car, truck or van, or one that is new-to-you. The Web makes it easy to see what’s available, with sites like www.edmunds.com and www.kbb.com (Kelley Blue Book) offering guidance on what your options are and what you can expect to pay. Other sites to visit are www. carsoup.com, www.consumerreports. org, and www.carprices.com. After gathering information online, it’s time to narrow your search and visit the Web sites of dealers or check out used cars for sale in the classified ads and on Craigslist. Start narrowing down the list of acceptable vehicles. Once it’s a reasonable length, it’s time to set foot on the dealer’s lot or visit private sellers. Try not to fall in love with a particular vehicle. Keep your options open so you are in a better position to negotiate the best car for the best price. If you are uncomfortable with negotiating, bring along a friend or family member who isn’t. Or conversely, shop alone but tell the salesperson that your spouse or significant other must be consulted before you can make the deal. This is the same negotiating tactic the salesperson will use on you when he or she says that your offer must be approved by the sales manager. Keep the fact you have been preapproved out of the equation. Dealer financing is a profit center and if you disclose you already have a loan, the salesperson may try to make up the profit somewhere else in the transaction. There is no greater joy nor greater reward than to make a fundamental difference in someone’s life. Happy 104th Birthday To Credit Unions U.S. credit unions may be celebrating their 104th birthday this year, but they are just as relevant for today’s consumers as they were more than a century ago. The first credit union in the U.S. was formed in Manchester, New Hampshire to provide mill workers with a safe place to save and an affordable place to borrow. Those basic financial service needs (plus many more) are still being met by credit unions from coast to coast. Are you fed up with high fees and indifferent service from other financial institutions? More consumers than ever are turning to credit unions for fair deals and personal service. As we look back on a rich history, we look forward to continuing to provide our valued member/owners with the tools and resources they need to reach their financial goals. as of 1/2012 Rate Primary Share Daily Balance $0-$24.99 0% $25-$2000 .20% $2000+ .10% Second Primary Daily Balance $0-$24.00 $25-$2000 $2000+ APY 0% .20% .10% 0% .07% .10% 0% .07% .10% IRA Share .30% IRA Certificate 1-Year, $2000 dep. .40% .30% .40% The start-up fee to open an IRA is $10.00. The annual maintenance fee is $10.00. Close Account fee is $10.00. Money Market Share .15% .15% Share Certificates 1-Year, $2000 dep. 91-Day, $2000 dep. 6-Mo., $2000 dep. .40% .20% .25% .40% .20% .25% Dividend rates subject to change without notice. APY represents Annual Percentage Yield when dividends remain on deposit for monthly compounding. A penalty will be imposed for early withdrawal on share certificate accounts. Contact the Credit Union for more information about dividend rates and fees. Reserve Account .07% .07% *Share Draft .05% .05% The minimum balance required to avoid a service charge is $100. If the balance falls below $100 any time during the month, a $5.00 service charge will be assessed for that month. This account may be closed if there are three or more NSF drafts returned in a monthly period, subject to management's discretion. Other fees are as follows: Stop Payment $25 Returned Draft (NSF) $25/ea. Copy of Cleared Draft $5 Extra Statement Copy $5 Account Reconciliation $20/min Overdraft Transfer Fee $5/ea. Close Account Fee (closed for abuse) $20 Off Us Returned Check Fee $3 Christmas Club 1.75% APR/APY The dividend rate for this account is determined during the month of October of every year. Dividends are paid annually, with the entire balance (including dividends) being transferred to your Share Account by November 1 of every year. The maximum investment permitted is $7,500.00. Loan Rates As of 9/2010 Share Certificate Secured APR will be the rate of the certificate, rounded up to the nearest half percent, plus 2%. New & Used Vehicles & Vehicles 1 year old Up to 72 Months 4.25% APR Shares Secured Signature and Co-Maker All Other Secured Overdraft Protection 3.50% APR 8.99% APR 4.25% APR 12.00% APR Rates are subject to change. Call your Credit Union for current quotes. Where people are worth more than money.™ $250,000