Possibilities, April 2012

possibilities
Published for the members of Ascend Federal Credit Union
mortgage loan special
Launch Your Debt
Reduction Plan!
I N SI D E
holiday closings
mortgage loan special
youth promotion
new checking account
atm information
great auto loan rates
e-statements
new check prices
ap r i l 2012
imagine …
paying off your
mortgage faster and
launching your
debt reduction plan.
Ascend’s 2011 Annual
Report is Now Available
Ascend Federal Credit Union
2011 AnnUAl report
quick readS
File for FREE!
stability
trust
future
File your taxes for free with TurboTax Federal Free Edition.
Visit ascendfcu.org.
Current Promotions
April 16 – June 16
Mortgage Loan Special: Launch your debt reduction plan!
Now – April 30
Youth Promo: $12k in 2012!
Upcoming Events
Shred Day • April 21
This year, Ascend is partnering with the Better Business
Bureau of Middle Tennessee for a Shred Day from 9 a.m.
to noon (or until the truck is full) April 21 at our Tullahoma
financial center located at 1611 N. Jackson St.
Stability. Service. Trust. Future.
When you think of your relationship with Ascend over the past year, or
the past 61 years, we hope you associate these words with your credit
union experience.
You will find how we define these words in our 2011 Annual Report, which
is available on a first come, first served basis inside our financial centers.
An electronic version can also be viewed and downloaded at ascendfcu.org.
Thank you for your membership with Ascend!
Elimination of Service
Money orders will be eliminated April 16.
 20-Year1 Fixed Rate
 Fixed Rate As Low As 3.85%1 (3.98% APR)
 Only 1% Origination fee
holiday closings
Addition of Services
Fast Forward to
Financial Freedom
Take advantage of a special low mortgage rate and pay down your debt
faster with a 20-year1 fixed-rate mortgage loan from Ascend.
April 16 through June 161 or until allocated funds are depleted, get a 20-year1 fixed rate as low as 3.85%1
(3.98% APR) with an origination fee of only 1%. Available financing includes up to 90% of the appraised
value of the home plus the origination fee and closing costs.1
100
$
Introducing a new checking account from Ascend! Read more
about our newest account in this issue.
Lowe's gift card
Attention MTSU students, faculty and staff who are Ascend
members: Get convenient, fee-free access to your funds with
our new ATM that will be located in the Keathley University
Center in late April.
To make this deal even sweeter, members whose loans are approved during the promotional period will receive a $100 Lowe's gift card. Plus, get a chance to win one of
five $1,000 gift cards to Havertys.2
Let Ascend’s 20-year1 fixed-rate mortgage loan and special low rate help you with your fiscal fitness goals.
Apply at ascendfcu.org, call 800-342-3086 or visit any Ascend financial center.
All credit union offices will be closed Monday, May 28 for Memorial
Day and on Wednesday, July 4 for Independence Day.
(1) All loans are subject to credit approval. The annual percentage rate (APR) you receive will be based on your credit score and the term of the loan. You will be informed of the APR for which
you qualify before you become contractually liable for the loan account. The available financing cannot exceed the acquisition cost or appraised value, whichever is less. Example: With a
sales price of $166,700 and a minimum down payment of $16,700, your monthly payment on a $150,000 loan amount would be $897.16 based on a rate of 3.85% (3.98% APR) and a
20-year repayment term. The mortgage special runs through June 16, 2012, or until allocated funds are depleted.
(2) No purchase necessary to register or win. Registration forms will be available inside the financial centers until June 16, 2012. All family members of Ascend
Federal Credit Union’s officials and employees are excluded from $1,000 Havertys gift card drawings.
•3•
possibilities • april
introducing
Coming Soon
A New Checking Account from Ascend
Agreeing that children need more financial education is easy, but as a parent, where do you start?
Start with a Discover, Venture or Go youth account from Ascend.
Ascend’s brand promise is to educate and help members become effective financial stewards. One way the credit union fulfills
that promise is by offering youth accounts targeted for specific age levels. Discover is for kids age 12 and younger; Venture is
for teens age 13 to 17; and Go is for young adults 18 to 24. Each account has incentives to encourage young people to spend
and save wisely. Plus, youth account holders can participate in drawings based on how they use their account.
To jumpstart your child’s savings, Ascend will deposit $10 into each new youth account opened in April.1
Also, open a new or make a deposit to an existing youth account in April and register to win prizes in our $12K in 2012
giveaway.2 The lucky winners will have their choice between the following:
1. A $1,000 Coverdell Education Savings Account (ESA). These accounts allow you to make nondeductible contributions
on behalf of a child each year until the child reaches age 18. The earnings generated on the ESA contributions remain
tax-deferred while held in the ESA. Then, when a child uses ESA assets to pay for qualified education expenses,
the contribution and the earnings are distributed tax-free. Drawing winners who choose an ESA will need to
visit an Ascend financial center to complete the required documentation.
2. An Apple gift card. This can be used toward the purchase of virtually anything from Apple
either online, by phone, or at a U.S. Apple Store near you.
(1) The $10 for new accounts will be deposited into the new youth account at the end of the promotion period.
(2) Twelve $1,000 prizes will be awarded. No purchase necessary to register or win. Registration forms will be available inside the financial centers during
April. Ascend Federal Credit Union employees, officials and any of their family members are not eligible to enter the drawings. Apple gift cards cannot be
redeemed at the iTunes Music Store.
Are you looking for
more From your
checking account?
If you want more, you'll soon have access
to an account that earns dividends and
offers these great benefits:
That’s right. All these valuable services will soon be available for just $5 a
month. Considering the money these features will save or return to you,
this account will more than pay for itself. And, like always, there will be no
minimum balance requirements and no per-check charges.
• $10,000 Accidental Death and
Dismemberment Insurance
• Identity Theft Insurance
• Identity Fraud Support Service
• Card PatrolSM
• Everywhere Cash SavingsSM
• Purchase Protection and Extended
Warranty
• Rebates on Everyday Purchases
What if you're not looking for more from your checking account? No problem
– just continue to use your existing checking account. However, effective
Sept. 1, Ascend's basic checking account will no longer earn dividends. The
new account will earn a dividend and provide all the value-added benefits
detailed above.
It’s all about giving you options. Stick with a great checking account you
know and love, or step up to a feature-rich alternative – the choice is yours.
Stay tuned for more information about this great new account.
• All for just $5 a month!
•5•
possibilities • april
Ascend's ATMs … The Rest of the Story
LocatorSearch Helps
You Find Fee-Free ATMs
Thanks to Ascend’s partnership with the Allpoint network, you
have access to 43,000 surcharge-free ATMs worldwide.
Your Plastic
Passport!
Warmer weather means it’s time to travel.
Before you go, be sure to pack the plastic that gives you
purchase power around town or around the world – a Visa
from Ascend.
Our Visa cards feature no annual fee, no balance transfer
fee, no fee for cash advances, and great low annual percentage rates (APRs):
And now, thanks to a convenient new feature called LocatorSearch that has been added to our Web site, you can easily
find the nearest Allpoint, Ascend proprietary, or Easy Street
network ATM where you can use your Ascend Freedom Card
or ATM card fee-free.
Just visit ascendfcu.org and click “About” in the toolbar and
then “LocatorSearch.” You will see a map where you can
search for the nearest fee-free ATM. Switch between Map View
and Satellite View, get directions to the nearest ATM and print
or even download locations to your GPS. You can also narrow
your search to just ATMs that accept deposits.
• As low as 12.90%* for our Classic Visa.
• As low as 9.50%* for our Visa Gold.
• 9.50% for our Visa Platinum.
Saving you money by helping you find fee-free ATMs – one
more way Ascend is raising possibilities for members!
• 9.90% for our Student Visa.
Get the plastic that will take you where you want to go.
Apply at your nearest Ascend financial center or online at
ascendfcu.org.
*Your APR will be based on your credit score. You will be informed of the APR for which you
qualify before you become contractually liable. All loans subject to credit approval.
Ascend Cautions
Against New PIN-Based
Transactions
Ascend is complying with a federal mandate forcing financial
institutions to offer their customers the ability to make transactions with a personal identification number (PIN).
When making a transaction, members with a Freedom Card
can now enter their PIN rather than choose “credit” and sign
for the purchase.
However, we strongly encourage members to continue choosing “credit” and signing for their Freedom Card transactions
because this method is more secure. If someone gains access to your card and PIN, they can easily make charges to
your account.
While you now have the PIN-based option, we continue to feel
security is heightened with signature-based transactions.
Frequent users of Ascend’s proprietary ATMs are probably wondering what’s up with their favorite cash machine.
cash or check printed on the receipt, and they can confirm the
deposit on screen before completing the transaction.
Ascend is upgrading its ATMs to be in compliance with newly
revised Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) regulations that
have been mandated by the Department of Justice. These revisions require that all ATMs nationwide make enhancements
that include improved physical access and communication elements to better accommodate those who
are visually impaired and those who have
mobility challenges.
Gregory said an evaluation of Ascend’s ATMs began in the fall of
2010. Transaction volumes of each ATM were analyzed to determine how many ATMs to convert to deposit automation. The
result was that there will be at least one ATM with the feature at
each financial center. In addition, ATMs at the financial centers
now have touch screen options as well as
the traditional keypad.
Many financial institutions are choosing to
simply eliminate ATMs rather than make
the upgrades.
But not Ascend.
According to Ascend’s Chief Financial
Officer Sandra Gregory, the credit union
decided while it was bringing its ATMs
into compliance, it would actually make
additional improvements that will be particularly convenient to members wanting
to make a deposit.
“To be ADA compliant, the machines
must meet certain access, height and
reach requirements and must have a
voice guidance feature for operating instructions, prompts,
messages and any other displayed information for individuals
who are visually-impaired,” she said. “Since we had to upgrade
or replace our entire fleet of ATMs, we also decided to upgrade
to deposit automation.”
That means depositing checks and cash at an Ascend ATM is
about to get a lot easier.
Ascend ATMs with deposit capabilities are being upgraded to
accept cash and checks with no deposit envelope required.
New customized screens will guide users through each simple
step to make their deposit, withdrawal, balance transfer, or inquiry. ATM users making a deposit will receive an image of their
At Ascend financial centers with more
than one ATM in the drive-up, such as Tullahoma, members will see lanes marked
“ATM Deposit” or “ATM Only.” Keep in
mind, the “ATM Deposit” machines are
full-service ATMs, but they can accept
deposits while the ATMs in the “ATM
Only” lane can’t. The different lane designations are simply a way to offer a quick,
convenient option for members who may
not need to make a deposit.
Visit ascendfcu.org
for a complete list of
Ascend’s proprietary
and network ATMs.
Unfortunately, the transition has not been without some service
issues. Some ATMs have been out of service, primarily because
the credit union is having to rely more heavily on third-party
vendors to service the machines. The vendors have been slow
to respond because of increased demand from financial institutions trying to comply with the ADA mandate.
Thankfully, Ascend’s new partnership with the Allpoint network
means our members can still easily access their funds even if
a proprietary ATM is temporarily out of service. In Tennessee
alone, Ascend members can make fee-free transactions at 371
Allpoint ATMs.
•7•
possibilities • april
spring into a Great Low Auto Loan Rate
at Ascend!
If your clunker is preventing you from enjoying the beauty of spring, it’s time to check out
Ascend’s great low auto loan rates.
How to avoid flushing
your money out the Exhaust Pipe
You depend on your car, and you take good care of it. But you
don’t have to throw lavish amounts of money at it. Take heed of
this money-saving advice:
• Stick with normal tires. Don’t let dealers talk you into su-
per-grip performance tires unless you drive a sports car and really need them. Most high-performance tires are more expensive
and don’t last as long as regular tires.
• Don’t change the oil more than you need to. Check
your owner’s manual. In the past, many manuals recommended
an oil change every 3,000 miles. These days it’s more likely to be
5,000 to 7,500 miles.
• Skip the mileage-boosting gimmicks. Fuel additives and
devices like magnets on fuel lines probably don’t have much
impact on your mileage.
• Avoid premium gasoline unless it’s necessary. Fuel is
expensive enough. High-performance engines may call for premium brands exclusively, but most cars will run just fine on regular gas.
• Use your smart phone. You may not need an onboard
navigation system installed for $2,000 or so if your smart phone
has its own GPS system.
Check Out What’s for Sale at Ascend!
Looking for some quality Ascend-branded merchandise? Want to help
out a local charity?
Right now, get a rate as low as 3.49%* for new vehicles or 3.74%* for used vehicles. Make the rate for
which you qualify 0.25% lower by authorizing payments through payroll deduction, direct deposit or
automatic transfer. And, if you’re an active Freedom Card user, you can knock another quarter percent
off your rate!
great
low
rates!
Have your auto loan someplace else? If you’re trying to fast forward your debt reduction plan, now is the
time to refinance and save with Ascend.
Visit your nearest Ascend financial center or apply online at ascendfcu.org. You can also get credit union
financing at a growing number of participating dealerships. For a complete list, visit our Web site.
starting at
and
3.49%*
new vehicles
3.74%*
used vehicles
As regular visitors to our new and retrofitted financial centers know, Ascend offers various specialty items for sale to our membership.
Net proceeds from the retail sales directly benefit a charity of the financial center’s choosing. At the end of each year, the retail sales are
totaled and the credit union mails a check to each charity.
Some recent additions to our retail stores include Tervis tumblers,
adoptable “Critters for a Cause” supporting The Nature Conservancy,
an Ascend airplane bank, and a zippered check bag.
Visit your nearest new or retrofitted Ascend financial center and check
out all the retail items we have for sale!
*The quoted APRs (annual percentage rates)
are fixed rates based on your credit score and
the term of the loan. You will be informed of the
APR for which you qualify before you become
contractually liable for the loan account. All
loans subject to credit approval. Rates subject
to change without notice.
•9•
possibilities • april
A Message from the MEMBERS Financial Services Program
Saving for retirement isn't
always instinctive.
We can help.
Ask to speak with a
financial advisor located
at your credit union
today about personalized
retirement, insurance and
investment planning.
It Doesn’t Get Easier
than e-statements!
If you’re serious about fast forwarding to financial freedom,
you need to be more connected to your accounts.
A monthly statement sitting in a stack of junk mail in your mailbox doesn’t qualify.
When you’re thinking about 24/7 access to what’s happening in your accounts, it doesn’t get easier than e-statements from Ascend.
An e-statement is the same monthly statement you’re used to, but it’s located
securely behind password-protected E-BRANCH.
Ascend’s
Recycling
Efforts Help
Environment
Regular e-statement users know that when they’re traveling, all they have to
do to review a transaction they made last month is simply log into E-BRANCH
from anywhere they have an Internet connection and click “Online Statements” in the toolbar.
In 2011, Ascend Federal Credit Union’s Security Department coordinated recycling of
150,400 pounds (75.20 tons) of documents
and media. These efforts contributed to the
saving of 278,240 pounds of lumber, 526,400
gallons of water, 248.16 cubic yards of landfill
space, 1,278 trees and 225 barrels of oil.
If you don’t have e-statements, now is the time to sign up for this totally free,
paperless and secure service from Ascend. To register, simply log onto EBRANCH and select “Account Access,” then “Online Statements.” Read and
accept the disclosure. When your e-statement is ready, you’ll receive an e-mail.
“The Security Department is extremely proud to
assist the credit union’s efforts in protecting the
environment,” Ascend Assistant Vice President
of Security Michele Stone said.
new check prices in effect
New check pricing will take effect with orders after April 1.
Orders from this date forward will reflect new prices as follows:
Ascend Custom Stock Checks: $14.75
Category A and B: $18.05
Designs include the following: Sea Treasures, World Traveler, Eastern Expressions, Springtime, Eloquent, Jeweled Elegance, Heroes, Reflections, America the Beautiful, Island Breezes, Sonnets, Capri, Horsing Around, Playful Pals, In the Wild, Wildlife Portraits, Casual, and Colonial Classic.
Category D: $15.80
Designs include the following: Safety Blue, Safety Green, Safety Yellow, Maroon Sheffield, Blue Sheffield, and Green Sheffield.
Category F: $27.15
Contact a financial advisor serving the members of Ascend Federal Credit Union for a no-cost, no-obligation consultation.
Call Randall Harris, CFP®, ChFC at 931-454-1307 or Kent Hart at 615-849-7388 or 800-342-3086, ext 1307 or ext 7388.
Representatives are registered, securities are sold, and investment advisory services offered through CUNA Brokerage Services, Inc. (CBSI), member FINRA/SIPC, a registered broker/dealer and investment advisor, 2000 Heritage Way, Waverly, Iowa 50677, toll-free (866) 512-6109. Nondeposit investment
and insurance products are not federally insured, involve investment risk, may lose value and are not obligations of or guaranteed
by the financial institution. CBSI is under contract with the financial institution, through the financial services program, to make securities available
to members.
FR071120-ABCE
This series includes the following: Let Freedom Ring, Hope & Courage, Believe, Thomas Kinkade, Tomorrow’s Leaders, American
Treasures, Floral Fantasy, Coastal Views, Tropical Eyes, Flavia Harlequin, Messengers of the Heart, Humane Society, Woodlands,
Ocean Beauty, Pebbles, Superman, Tom and Jerry, Scooby Doo, Anne Geddes, Snoopy by Everhart, Kim Anderson, Pampered
Girls, Precious Moments, SpongeBob SquarePants, Major League Baseball, Cruisin, Pebble Beach, International Speedways,
School-Academic, and School-Sports. Also, the following universities are included in this series: Auburn, Clemson, Florida State,
Iowa State, Ohio State, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Kentucky, Nebraska, North Carolina, Notre Dame, South Carolina, Tennessee, Washington, and Wisconsin.
Category H: $27.15
This series includes: Looney Tunes, Tweety, Tom and Jerry, Scooby Doo, Mickey & Friends, Disney Friends, Totally Mickey, Winnie the Pooh & Friends, Major League Baseball, Cruisin, Pebble Beach, and International Speedways.
The Alliance Category is no longer available.
• 11 •
possibilities • april
presorted
Standard
u.s. postage paid
Nashville, TN
Permit #1
p.o. box 1210
520 Airpark Drive
Tullahoma, TN 37388
for our members in the home of:
We do business in accordance with the Federal Fair Housing Law and the Equal Credit Opportunity Act.
This credit union is federally insured by the National Credit Union Administration. Membership is limited.
loc ati o n s
www.ascendfcu.org • [email protected] • 1-800-342-3086
Corporate
Headquarters
P.O. Box 1210
520 Airpark Drive
Tullahoma, TN 37388
Lewisburg
Nashville
1372 Rock Crusher Road
Lewisburg, TN 37091
6201 Centennial Blvd.
Nashville, TN 37209
Manchester
2600 Elm Hill Pike
Nashville, TN 37214
Arnold Air Force Base
1929 McArthur St.
Manchester, TN 37355
452 N. Hap Arnold Drive
Arnold AFB, TN 37389
mcminnville
Columbia
981 W. James Campbell Blvd.
Columbia, TN 38401
Three Star Mall
1410 Sparta St.
McMinnville, TN 37110
Murfreesboro
cool springs
3150 Aspen Grove Drive
Franklin, TN 37067
Franklin County
2459 Decherd Blvd.
Winchester, TN 37398
1250 W. Clark Blvd.
Murfreesboro, TN 37129
750 S. Church St.
Murfreesboro, TN 37130
Shelbyville
1900 N. Main St.
Shelbyville, TN 37160
Smyrna
769 Nissan Drive
Smyrna, TN 37167
Tullahoma
1611 N. Jackson St.
Tullahoma, TN 37388
4051 Franklin Road
Murfreesboro, TN 37128
Raising Possibilities