Jacob: Truliant Member-Owner For Nine Years Meet Jacob

SUGGESTIONS, TIPS AND INFORMATION TO improve YOUR life | summer 2014 | Truliant.org
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
President’s Message:
Summer 2014
p.2
Meet Jacob
“They’re more sympathetic toward
people. You’re not just another number,
another face. They get to know you.”
Protecting Yourself
From Escalating
Insurance Costs
p.2
A Message
From Your Chief
Operating Officer
p.3
New Website
Coming Later This
Year
p.4
Summer Travel Tips
p.4
Summer Driving
Made Easy
p.5
New Location:
Whitaker Square
Is Now Open
p.5
Simplified Car
Buying With CUABS
And AutoSmart
p.6
Save Time With
Truliant’s Mobile
Applications
p.6
Jacob: Truliant Member-Owner For Nine Years
As a small-business owner, husband and father of four young girls, Jacob didn’t have much
time for advice on debt relief when he needed it. The personal attention he received from
Truliant helped him build a more solid financial foundation. Truliant also helped Jacob create
a more disciplined approach to giving for his daughters’ savings accounts. Now he helps
build their future by putting $10 into each account when he makes a business deposit. A
member-owner who uses everything from online banking to financial advisor services, Jacob
visits Truliant nearly every day. He now refers to himself as “Mister Truliant.”
President’s Message: Summer 2014
Not another red light! It’s
scorching hot outside, traffic
is backed-up. I’ve got maybe
twenty minutes to stop by
the Truliant branch to deposit
a couple checks, get some
cash and ask about a car
loan for my son who just
graduated from college. I
Marc Schaefer
hope there’s not a long line.
President and CEO
And, I need to grab some
lunch and get back to work within the hour. Quality of
life this isn’t.
Scene shifts to a parallel universe - I just laid out two
checks and used my phone to deposit them to my Truliant
account. Then I filled out an auto loan application online
for my son’s car. I’ll need some cash for the weekend,
but I’m stopping by the store on the way home for some
groceries, so I’ll just get some cash back at the checkout
from my Truliant debit card. I noticed they issued me a
credit at Home Depot on that account, so I’ll go over this
weekend and pick-up some mulch for the flower beds. I
heard Truliant’s working on a self-checkout feature with
some merchants, so soon I may not even have to stand
in a checkout line! I’ve got extra time for lunch, so I
called my sweetie and we met for lunch at Bistro Bistro.
I’m stopping by Truliant later this week, since I have an
appointment with Lauren to talk about how to position
the money we’re setting aside to send our kids to college
and how to meet our goal to retire someday.
These are different visions of the same world we already
inhabit... or soon will. Advances in technology will
generally improve our lives by taking routine transactions
that can be inconveniently time-consuming and make
them easy. For Truliant, that also means we can be just as
convenient to our members as the large banks that have
the advantage of many branches – when it comes to
transactions.
The flip-side is that we can focus on the conversations
that help guide your choices in building your financial life
and future. To support this focus, Truliant has already or is
currently in the process of adding new Member Financial
Centers in Elon, Whitaker Square in Winston-Salem and
multiple new locations in the Charlotte area. Our staff
and advanced ATMs in the Member Financial Centers
can still perform basic
transactions; however,
WE CAN BE JUST AS CONVENIENT
they’re just as likely
TO OUR MEMBERS AS THE LARGE
to provide you with
BANKS THAT HAVE THE ADVANTAGE
sound advice on your
financial choices as
OF MANY BRANCHES - WHEN IT
they are to help you
COMES TO TRANSACTIONS.
cash a check.
Google recently announced the self-driving car with no
steering wheel and no brakes. All you’ll need is the on-off
switch. Amazon projects delivering orders to your home or
office via hovering drones. We’re only projecting gradual
changes in how you handle routine transactions and how
we’ll use the time saved together to offer you informed
guidance as you chart your financial course ahead.
You’d expect nothing less from your member-owned
financial provider with the mission of life improved, as we
are truly here to improve your life.
Avoid Auto Insurance Spikes With Nationwide
Insurance Coverage
Safe driving not only saves lives, but as a Truliant Member-Owner, it can save you
money. Being cited for speeding, causing an accident or reckless driving can increase
the amount you pay for auto insurance, but are you aware of how significant those
increases may be?
According to the NC Department of Insurance, having just one point for speeding on
your driving record can increase insurance premiums by 30%. If you are traveling over
80 mph in a 70 mph zone (4 points) and cause an at-fault accident resulting in bodily
injury your insurance premium could increase 165%! Keep that in mind the next time you
drive on the highway.
Truliant has partnered with North Carolina’s #1 insurer, Nationwide Insurance, to
give members protection against escalating insurance costs. Nationwide offers many
valuable benefits and discounts on auto insurance including their Accident and Violation Forgiveness program. This benefit
provides forgiveness for one accident per policy per rolling 36-month period. Additionally, each driver in the household is
eligible for forgiveness of one minor traffic violation (up to a 3 point violation) per 36-month policy period.
To learn more, contact: Nationwide Agent: Brent Johnson | PH: 336-773-1322 | eMail: [email protected]
LIFE IM PR OV E D
SM
A Message From Your Chief Operating Officer
Banks and credit unions are two very different animals.
Coming to Truliant Federal Credit Union with a business perspective shaped by two decades
at regional and community banks, the significant differences in how each approaches service
have become far more evident. Too few people truly understand these differences and the
quality level of services and benefits we provide.
Now two years into my role as chief operating officer at Truliant, long enough to be firmly
entrenched into a new life outside banks, the most noticeable difference is that credit unions
put members first in a way banks cannot. There are some good banks that care about their
customers, but an emphasis on quarterly earnings and delivering value to shareholders seeking
higher returns often clouds their ability to have a crystal clear focus.
Todd Hall
Chief Operating Officer
A bank’s decisions are often made for the sake of earnings at the cost of understanding needs and extending exceptional
service. The retail culture for most banks is to sell their customers as many of their products as possible, believing that the
more each customer has, the less likely they will be to leave for other financial institutions.
These behaviors result in a person’s time with bank employees being spent on the sales pitch for a number of preapproved
products: credit cards and lines of credit ring a bell? This doesn’t translate into the personal attention at the heart of Truliant’s
mission to listen, understand your wants and needs and to work together in reaching your financial goals. Financial
institutions exist because your money is personal and there’s a certain level of trust you expect from them. At Truliant, we
work at earning your trust by always having your best interests at heart.
Following the financial crisis of 2008 and the consolidation of the biggest banks into even bigger entities, their focus
became more cumbersome, widespread and financially oriented. This created a disconnect with the people waiting
patiently – and sometimes nervously – in the lobby, expecting an experience that takes time, energy and guidance.
They might be buying a first home, land that’s been in their family for decades or getting ready to send their firstborn off to
college. They don’t want to be pushed into a complicated new loan product by a worried employee burdened by a weekly
sales quota set in some faraway office to meet an earnings target.
You want your financial institution to help you sleep better at night. As a member, you are an owner of Truliant, our
shareholder. We believe you deserve careful personal attention, and we understand that you want your money to work
harder for you; to earn more, to pay less fees and interest, and to help you reach your goals and make your dreams
happen. This requires personal attention from an attentive representative that not only understands you, but can empathize
with your situation.
Rather than pushing products or seeking additional fee income to boost balance sheet earnings, as most of the banks do,
your needs drive Truliant’s business model. Our job is to improve your life and we take this seriously. We do this with your
best interest at heart. This is our brand and our competitive advantage.
We look forward to working with you to help you improve your life.
Mint Hill Member Financial Center
Opening Soon
Truliant is proud to announce the Fall 2014 opening of our
Mint Hill Member Financial Center, located at the Mint Hill
Pavilion Shopping Center at 7114 Brighton Park Drive, Suite
300 in Mint Hill, N.C. Located in the Southeast quadrant
of Charlotte’s I-485 Loop, this location demonstrates our
commitment to providing financial management tools,
technology and service driven by your needs.
New Website Coming Later This Year
During the last several months, we’ve worked diligently to create a brand
new website with the focus of improving your lives and having your best
interest at heart. In the coming months, you will hear more about our new
and improved website with enhanced features like:
• Newly designed structure and intuitive navigation
• Responsive design to fit your smart TV, desktop, tablet and/or
smart phone
• Better search capability, so you can find the information you need
• And more!
We’re confident that you’ll find Truliant’s new website convenient when it
debuts later this year. Our goal is to make sure the website is easy to use
and offers smooth navigation.
Truliant’s new home page
To ensure this new site supported our goals, Truliant also performed a
usability test with a focus group of member-owners. The goal of this testing
was to ensure that Truliant members found the new site easy to use, align
it with our Improving Lives brand and to identify any problems with the
navigation and structure of the site. We are pleased to report that the
response to the new site was highly favorable.
We are happy to present the new look of the site to all our member-owners,
which is scheduled to go live later this year.
Stay tuned in the coming months for more information on the arrival of
Truliant’s online makeover!
New look for internal pages
Summer Travel Tips To Keep You And Your
Finances Safe
At Truliant, our goal is to help educate our members and provide you with new ways to help you
ensure your travels are safe and worry-free when it comes to your financial security!
Before You Leave:
• Contact your local post office and put your mail on hold during the time you are gone.
This can also easily be done online at usps.com by clicking on “Manage Your Mail.”
• Put some lights in your home on a timer so it appears someone is home.
• Set up your online bill pay with Truliant so you can view/pay your bills while you’re away.
Debit and Credit Cards:
• Only take the credit and debit cards that you expect to use, plus a backup. When you get home, check your balance
and the charges on your cards. You can also monitor your balances while you are traveling with our mobile banking app.
• Memorize your personal identification number (PIN); do not write it on your card.
• If you lose one of your cards, report it immediately.
• Call Truliant at 800-822-0382 before you travel, so that we may activate your cards to be usable in the designated
states and countries during your trip.
Questions to Ask Truliant:
• Will my card work at my destination? Because some destinations have additional security alerts affecting the Truliant
debit, credit and ATM cards, make sure to call us at 800-822-0382 and specify which locations you’re traveling to
and the dates you’ll be gone. This will help us to know that it’s really you using your card (not a stolen card), and we
won’t turn off your cards while you are away.
• Will there be a fee if I use my debit card at an ATM?
• If my credit/debit card is lost or stolen, what should I do?
• What phone number should I call if there’s an emergency?
• What is my debit card’s daily limit for ATM withdrawals? Be aware that many foreign ATMs have their own limits.
Make Your Summer Driving More
Satisfying... And Affordable!
Looking for a new or used vehicle to handle summertime drives to
barbecues, beaches, birthdays and baseball games? Get the most out of
your next auto loan with Truliant. We have a variety of flexible auto loan
options including:
•
•
•
•
Rates as low as 1.74% APR1
Flexible terms
100% financing for qualified borrowers
Easy application process
We also offer a variety of loan types to get you in
your new or used vehicle for less:
Fuel Efficient Auto Loan | First-Time Car Buyer program | Parent Assist program
Plus, if you have a vehicle financed elsewhere, Truliant can help you save by lowering your monthly payment and
interest rate.2 We can help find an auto loan to fit your needs. Applying is fast and easy. Visit your local Member
Financial Center or apply online to get started today.
(1) Rates and promotional terms are subject to change. Loans are subject to credit approval. Floor rate on auto loans is 1.74% APR. (2) Additional terms
apply for refinancing existing Truliant auto loans.
Whitaker Square Member
Financial Center Now Open
Truliant is proud to announce that our new Whitaker
Square Member Financial Center is now open.
Located at 1985 N. Peace Haven Road in
Winston-Salem, N.C., this location provides the
latest financial services technology and maintains
a focus on the personal attention and convenience
you deserve.
Freshen Up Your Living Space With
Your Home’s Equity
Thinking about home repairs, improvements and upgrades? Boost the
value of your home by making the home improvements you’ve been
planning. Now is the perfect time to build more enjoyment into your
surroundings with a home equity line of credit from Truliant. We offer:
• Loan amounts from $10,000 to $350,000
• Rates as low as 3.25% APR3
• Variable rates
Truliant can help you get the right loan with the personal attention you
deserve. Play an even greater role in defining your home’s worth with an
equity line. Financing your dream is easy. Filling it with memories is up to you. Stop by your local Member Financial
Center, call us or apply online to get started today!
(3) Rates and promotional terms are subject to change. Loans are subject to credit approval. Maximum APR for Home Equity Lines of Credit is 18.00%.
CUABS And AutoSmart Simplify Car Buying
Truliant can help you save thousands on your next car with our Credit Union Auto
Buying Service® (CUABS) and easy-to-use AutoSmart website.
Our CUABS auto advisors can help you find the new or used auto of your
choice, value your trade, get you approved for a loan and even deliver the
vehicle to your home or office. Our AutoSmart search engine can help you
conveniently search for and custom build your vehicle before purchasing through
Truliant’s network of auto dealer finance partners.
Visit us at CUABS.com or CUDLAutoSmart.com to get started today!
MAIL:
How To Better Use Truliant: Mobile Product Suite
Truliant Federal Credit Union
P.O. Box 26000
Winston-Salem, NC 27114-6000
Our convenient mobile products are never more than a touch away and give
you time to focus on what really matters. Take advantage of products and
services like:
•
•
•
•
•
Online Banking
Bill Payment
Mobile Banking through Tru2Go Apps
Remote Deposit
Popmoney ®
Contact Us:
Charlotte, NC
704-522-1955
Greensboro/High Point, NC
336-664-1955
Visit Truliant.org or your local Member Financial Center for details.
Member-Owner Appreciation Days
Every year, we say thank you for choosing Truliant as your financial services
provider. Join us on Member-Owner Appreciation Days from July 22-24 for free
giveaways, treats and more! It’s one more way we demonstrate a commitment to
enhancing the lives of our member-owners.
Winston-Salem/Kernersville, NC
336-659-1955
Richmond, VA
804-965-1966
Other Areas
800-822-0382
WebSite:
Truliant.org
SOCIAL MEDIA:
Certificates & IRA Certificates
3 to 36 months APY*
$250 - $4,999 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
$5,000 - $24,999 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
$25,000 - $99,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
$100,000 + . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
0.15% - 0.85%
0.15% - 0.90%
0.20% - 0.95%
0.25% - 1.05%
Consumer Loans APR**
Preferred Line of Credit . . . . . . . . . . . . . as low as 6.50%
VISA® . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . as low as 8.15%
2013 - New Car/Truck . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . as low as 1.74%
2007 - 2012 Used Car/Truck . . . . . . . . . . as low as 2.14%
2004 - 2006 Used Car/Truck . . . . . . . . . as low as 3.64%
Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC)***
Variable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . as low as prime minus 0.25%
Fixed Rate Mortgage APR**
15-Year Fixed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.721%
20-Year Fixed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.274%
30-Year Fixed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.45%
Adjustable Rate Mortgage (ARM)
3/1 ARM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.992%
5/1 ARM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.827%
7/1 ARM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.08%
Rates are
accurate as
of 6/17/14
and subject
to change.
*Annual Percentage Yield
(APY) is accurate as of
6/17/14 and subject to
change. Penalties may be
imposed for early withdrawal.
Fees or other conditions
could reduce earnings.
**Annual Percentage Rate
(APR) is effective
6/17/14; subject to
credit approval and subject
to change.
***HELOC periodic rate
not to fall below 3.25% or
exceed 18% for a plan with
a loan-to-value of 85% or
less. Some home loans are
only available in NC, SC, TN,
OH, FL, GA, and VA.
2014 upcoming Holidays
Truliant Federal Credit Union will
be closed on the following days:
Labor Day
Monday, September 1
Truliant is federally insured
by the National Credit Union
Administration and is an Equal
Housing Lender.