Newsletter July 2010.pub

July, 2010
Newsletter
Volume 6, Issue 3
Inside this issue:
⇒
Loan Special
⇒
Checking Accounts
⇒
0% Financing
⇒
Lost or Stolen Cards
⇒
Do’s and Don’ts of
Vehicle Shopping
⇒
Shop America
Christmas in July
⇒
2010 Office Closings
Independence Day
Observed July 5
ON NEW VEHICLES
Labor Day
September 6
Columbus Day
October 11
ON USED VEHICLES
THEN TAKE AN EXTRA .25% APR OFF
∗
Veteran’s Day
November 11
Thanksgiving Day
November 25
FOR EACH OF THESE
Day after Thanksgiving
November 26
ACTIVE SERVICES AT RMECU:
Christmas Eve Observed
DIRECT DEPOSIT OF NET PAY TO CHECKING
∗
∗
ACTIVE VISA CREDIT CARD
HOME EQUITY LINE OF CREDIT
• December 23 Close at 12:30 pm
Christmas Day Observed
December 24
New Year’s Day Observed
December 31, 2010
Page 2
Newsletter
It’s always been easy to have a CHECKING ACCOUNT at RMECU with
NO MONTHLY FEE
NO MINIMUM BALANCE
DIRECT PAYROLL DEPOSIT
CONVENIENT DEBIT CARD
DISCOUNTED LOAN RATES WITH DIRECT DEPOSIT OF NET PAY
Now it’s even easier with ONLINE BANKING and BILL PAY
Come in and open a CHECKING ACCOUNT today and see how easy financial life can be.
Rebate
A rebate with a RMECU
loan may save you more
than 0% financing on
your next auto.
Fewer than 1 out of 10 people
who want 0% financing get it.
And if you take the 0%, you give
up the rebate—which usually is
the better deal along with a
RMECU loan.
Or
0%
LOST OR STOLEN RMECU CREDIT OR DEBIT CARD REMINDER
Don’t forget to call our office at 815-316-4655 if your VISA credit card or debit
card from RMECU is lost or stolen. Only our office can authorize a new card to
be issued. You should also report a lost or stolen credit card to 800-322-8472
so that the proper safe-guards are put in place to protect against fraudulent
charges. Contact LuAnn Panozzo if you have any questions about your card
accounts.
Volume 6, Issue 3
Page 3
DOS AND DON’TS OF VEHICLE SHOPPING
•
Contact RMECU to be pre-approved for a loan
•
•
Discuss financing options like payroll
deduction, direct debit of payments and
transfer payments with RMECU
Go to the dealership before you’re preapproved with RMECU
•
Purchase a new or used vehicle without
contacting RMECU first
•
Consider a comfortable monthly payment range
•
•
Have RMECU give you an accurate NADA value
for your trade
Give the dealer your social security number to
pull your credit report up front — you’re
already pre-approved with RMECU
•
Obtain a free NADA vehicle pricing report from
RMECU online at www.rmecu.net
•
Discuss your trade value before negotiating a
price
•
Obtain a pre-approval certificate from RMECU
and present it to the dealer
•
Over estimate the amount of car you can afford
•
Start negotiating down from the sticker price,
rather from the invoice price
•
Believe that the “car will be gone tomorrow” if
you don’t buy tonight
•
Research dealership reviews before arriving
•
Ask which fees are negotiable
•
Test drive the specific vehicle you have agreed
to purchase
•
Feel pressure to finance or purchase with any
dealership
•
Negotiate cost reduction for scratches, dents
and wear and tear on used vehicles
•
Fall for how easy it is to refinance later — you’ll
have to pay the Secretary of State fees again
•
Let RMECU review your purchase order for
errors or inconsistencies
•
Let your emotions run the negotiation
•
Protect your investment with affordable
payment protection from RMECU
•
Buy a vehicle without knowing the history
•
Buy new instead of used just for the sake of a
warranty
•
Believe that Mechanical Repair Coverage
(MRC) is void at dealerships (it’s not!)
•
Ask us about GAP coverage, which provides
additional payoff protection in the event your
car is totaled or unrecovered if stolen
•
Avoid expensive repairs by purchasing low cost
Mechanical Repair Coverage from RMECU
•
Over pay for an extended warranty or auto
protection plans
•
Have a used vehicle evaluated by an
independent mechanic prior to finalizing the
purchase
•
“Take the dealer’s word for it.” They’re for
profit and RMECU is not!
OFFICE
634 N. Church Street
Rockford IL 61103
Phone: 815-316-4655
Fax: 815-316-4717
Website: www.rmecu.net
OFFICE HOURS
Monday through Friday
Drive-up
7:30 AM — 5:30 PM
Lobby
9:00 AM — 5:00 PM
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Wally Parson
Chairman
Chuck Doyle Vice Chairman
Brenda Foote
Secretary
Anthony Cortez
Treasurer
Elizabeth Asprooth
Shirley Foltz
Anthony Graceffa
Colin Kvool
Charlie McDonald
David Said
Terry Snyder
STAFF
Sara Sheahan – President
Donna Seitz – Vice President
Lorrie Berg
Sandra Grimm-Vance
Beverly Richmond
LuAnn Panozzo
RMECU Members:
Shop, Save and
Get Cash Back with Shop America
It’s no secret that most people shop online these days.
Thanks to a partnership with Invest in America,
RMECU can help you save and get money back when
you shop. Just use Shop America and get rewarded
with great discounts and cash back – just for being
loyal to your favorite online stores.
With Shop America, members like you have access to
more than 1,200 online retailers, including some of the
largest and most popular, giving you major discounts
when you shop. And every time you earn $10 or more
in cash back from your purchases, you’ll get a check
as a thank you!
So whether you’re looking to shop online with Target,
Macy’s, Best Buy, Apple or hundreds of other stores,
you can save and get paid to shop. Don’t forget to
make your Shop America purchases with your
RMECU credit or debit card.
Shop America. Shop anytime. Online access. Visit
www.lovemycreditunion.org/Shop_America_585.html
for details on Shop America and the other Member
Rewards partner offers from Invest in America.
CHRISTMAS IN JULY?
If you haven’t already started a Christmas Club, now is a good time to do it.
You still have several months before Christmas. It’s easy to save through
payroll deduction and your Christmas Club balance will automatically be sent to
you or transferred to your regular savings on November 1 so you’re ready to
shop early. Stop by for more information or to open your club account.