Welcome Former MDOT Federal Credit Union Members to Keesler

InTouch
A quarterly publication of Keesler Federal Credit Union |
Welcome Former
MDOT Federal
Credit Union
Members to
Keesler Federal!
Summer 2014
Chairman’s
Message
James Hollingsworth
Chairman, Board of Directors
I
t is with great pleasure that I welcome
members of the former MDOT
Federal Credit Union to the Keesler
Federal Credit Union family. The system
conversion of MDOT Federal Credit
Union accounts to Keesler Federal Credit
Union was completed on July 1, 2014.
Now, employees of the MS Department of
Transportation and their immediate family
members are eligible to become members
of Keesler Federal.
Speaking of membership, when you tell
friends about the great benefits of Keesler Federal membership, do you
often hear, “I can’t join because I’m not military”? Simply put, this is a
big misconception. There are many ways to join Keesler Federal,
besides affiliation with Keesler Air Force Base. Find out more at
www.kfcu.org/media/membership.
Now that we’re heading into the new car-buying season, there’s even
more reason to share the news about Keesler Federal with your friends
and family. We’re kicking off a summer loan special with exceptionally
low rates on auto loans. Turn to the third page of this newsletter
for details.
As always, I thank you for your membership and am proud to serve as
your Chairman of the Board.
Yours in service
James Hollingsworth
Vision Statement
Keesler Federal will be
THE choice for financial services.
Mission Statement
Keesler Federal will exceed
our members’ expectations by
committing to their financial success.
Organizational Values
Quality | Trust | Integrity | Respect
Teamwork | Communication | Loyalty
i m p o r ta n t t o y o u . i m p o r ta n t t o u s .
Survey
Says!
Chances are you’ve been asked to participate in one or several
surveys from Keesler Federal Credit Union. We conduct surveys with
one ultimate purpose in mind—to continually improve member service.
Some of the surveys you’ll see include teller service surveys, new
account surveys and overall member satisfaction surveys. Service
satisfaction surveys are a common type of marketing research which
help us ensure you are getting top-notch member service. They also
help us evaluate what other products or services may be of interest
to you.
Most of the surveys take a short amount of time to complete.
We encourage you to take those few minutes to share your thoughts
with us. Because we are a member-owned, not-for-profit organization,
we truly care about what’s important to members and use the
information received from these surveys to continually improve
member satisfaction.
Spoil
Yourself.
Common Summertime
Car Calamities
Summer’s extreme heat can take a toll on your vehicle. Here are
three of the most common summertime car problems to be aware of:
1. Engine Overheating
2. Dead Battery
Your engine is capable of reaching
temperatures of more than 200 degrees
Fahrenheit. Add in extreme outdoor
temperatures and it’s easy to see why
this is a common problem during
the summer. Make sure you maintain
all fluid levels, including motor oil
and coolant. Along with this,
keep a close watch on the
temperature gauge to ensure
that your engine is
remaining cool.
While many are aware that cold
weather can negatively impact their
battery, most don’t realize that extreme
heat can do the same. Is your battery
old? If so, have it tested by a qualified
mechanic.
New Auto Loans
0
.79
1
AS LOW AS
.99
% APR*
24 MONTHS
AS LOW AS
3. Tire Failure
As temperatures rise so does tire
pressure. As a result, the chance of a
blow out or accelerated deterioration is
much greater. To protect against this,
make sure your tires are always properly
inflated. If you find yourself adding air
on a regular basis, your tire may have a
leak that requires attention.
What
If?
% APR*
60 MONTHS
Apply online at www.kfcu.org
385-5500
Annual percentage rate. Membership and credit
eligibility required. Actual rates vary based on credit
history and term. For new vehicle loans only. Example:
Monthly payments are approximately $42.10 per
$1,000 borrowed at 0.99% APR for a 24-month term
and $17.44 per $1,000 borrowed at 1.79% APR for
a 60-month term. Limited time offer. Special rate is
not available on existing KFCU loans and cannot be
combined with any other offer.
*
Have you thought much about the “what ifs”
in life and how they may affect your retirement?
Unfortunately, it seems far too many people don’t
consider the “what ifs”.
It’s never too early to make a plan for things that can
happen to alter your retirement plans. It’s important
to take time to evaluate your spending and find ways
to increase your rainy day savings.
Do you take time to look at where your money is
going? Did you charge more on your credit card than
you can afford to pay back? Did you make an impulse
buy that you regret?
You never know when a “what if” such as job loss,
medical bill or such can happen. The only way to
prepare is to spend less than you earn and put money
away in savings. You’ll find this to be relatively easy
to do if you pretend you are making a set payment to
a bill. For example, set up an alternate share for a
special savings, then have an automatic transfer of a
fixed amount scheduled every month. This becomes
part of your regular budget and makes for easy
savings. You’ll be surprised how quickly the money
adds up and prepares you for unexpected events.
If you would like help analyzing your budget and setting up a
spending plan to control your money, schedule an appointment
for this free service by calling our financial counselor,
Tammy Scott at 228-701-1423.
Need-to-know information
when you need to know:
eDocs!
With eDocs from Keesler Federal, you’ll get your statements faster
than you would with mailed statements, and you’ll get important
notifications quickly through your Keesler Online.
`` eStatements: Get your account statements electronically
through Keesler Online.
`` eChecks: View front and back copies of cleared checks.
`` eNotices: See important credit union notices through
Keesler Online.
`` eAlerts: A great tool for fraud detection—get notifications
by email or text message when your balance gets low, a
deposit is made or other special transactions or inquiries
occur on your account.
At Keesler Federal, we take your privacy seriously. eDocs provides a
secure way to get important online documents with nothing to get
lost in the mail.
This is a free service available through Keesler Online.
If you are not already using Keesler Online, sign up at
https://www.kfcu.org/online-services/keesler-online,
or give us a call at 888-533-7537.
Relay For Life Event
A Keesler Federal Favorite!
Keesler Federal is proud, once again, to have supported the
American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life event. Held Saturday,
May 17, 2pm-2am at the Biloxi High School Stadium, the
overnight relay was the culmination of a group effort to raise
money to help fight cancer.
The day’s events presented an opportunity to offer healing, comfort, and
support to those who have faced cancer or lost a loved one to the disease, all
in an environment of fun and friendly competition. The theme for the
event was “games” from which Team Keesler selected “Pac-Man, Chompin’
out Cancer” with an 80s vibe. The award for Most Money Raised went to
Team Keesler.
Keesler employees spend much of the year leading up to each Relay raising
money in a number of ways. From bake sales to jeans days to raffles, every
dollar goes a long way to make a difference in the fight against cancer.
Many members also take part in these fundraising endeavors when visiting
a branch. We are very thankful for your support. In addition to these
fundraising efforts we also held a Facebook contest where we donated
$1 for every “like” we received.
With all of these efforts, we were able to raise over $21,000 for this
year’s Relay event.
Additional Fraud
Protection
for your Debit Card
Hosted by
As criminals will continue to try to find ways to
gain access to consumer card information, isn’t
it nice to know you have options for being able
to monitor your debit card transactions?
KEESLER FEDERAL
CREDIT UNION
benefiting
Eagles under the Oaks Golf Tournament
Completes its Third Successful Year!
The third annual charity golf
tournament, supporting the Combat
Wounded Veterans of South
Mississippi, took place Tuesday,
May 20, at The Oaks Golf Course.
With 31 teams, this was the largest
participation to date! The purpose
of the event is to make a positive
difference in the lives of the Combat
Wounded Veterans of South
Mississippi (CWVSM). In all, over
$20,000 was raised for this great
cause. Military personnel, local
businesses and tournament sponsors
participated to show their appreciation
for our veterans. Nell Schmidt,
Keesler Federal’s Director of Business
Development and event coordinator
described the event this way, “This
golf tournament has grown each year.
The support received from businesses
and individuals is appreciated and I am
grateful to each and every one.”
During their time of military service,
many of our local men and women
sustain psychological and physical
disabilities rendering them unable to
continue a career in the service, in
some cases without the benefit of a
retirement pension. Acknowledging
the adjustment from a military to a
civilian way of life can be difficult for
the wounded and their familes. The
CWVSM serves as a bridge to improve
the lines of communication and
provide access to resources during this
time of transition. Local businessman
and tournament
participant Jim
Spiers of KnightAbbey Printing and
Direct Mail put it
this way, “To have
the honor to play
with a wounded
warrior and listen
and see their positive
outlook on life,
energizes me and the
way I perceive my
everyday life. It is
the greatest event I
play in every year.”
With SMS Text Guardian, a free service for your
Keesler Federal debit card, you can be notified
by text message when certain transactions,
such as international transactions and
card-not-present transactions, have been
authorized. By receiving these quick alerts, you
can take action right away if you did not
authorize the transaction.
For more information or to
enroll, look for this banner
on the debit card
information page at
www.kfcu.org.
Each quarter, Keesler Federal employees have the opportunity to nominate their coworkers
for outstanding contributions to Keesler Federal’s values and commitment to member service.
Five categories are awarded each quarter: Outstanding Member Service, Innovation, Community
Service, People Helping People, and Leadership. Congratulations to the 1st Quarter 2014 winners:
INNOVATION
AWARD
Jill Barnett
Branch Manager
Stennis Branch
OUTSTANDING
MEMBER
SERVICE AWARD
Irma Deang
Teller, Gautier Branch
Jill has a passion for antique cars, attends
various car auctions from Texas to the Florida
state line and is very involved in Cruisin’
the Coast. During these events she sets up
a “branch” and introduces Keesler Federal
as a financial resource for auction buyers
and sellers. Her peers recognized Jill for her
innovative approach to offering classic car
financing options to new members.
Irma has a very positive approach and
consistently performs to exceed our members’
expectations. She addresses members by name,
recalls personal details about them and creates
a great service experience. It is not unusual for
members to request Irma by name or wait for
her if she is serving another member. Her peers
consider her to be a role model when it comes
to teamwork and performance.
COMMUNITY
SERVICE AWARD
Jasmine Kalmes
Sr. Loan Processor
Jasmine has demonstrated community
leadership by volunteering her time to benefit
the American Cancer Society. Jasmine has
been the face of Keesler Federal when it comes
to Relay for Life. She has rallied her peers and
co-workers in an effort to raise over $21,000
to benefit this non-profit organization. Her
hard work and dedication have created a
positive image for Keesler Federal in our local
community.
Michelle embraced the opportunity of
managing newly created positions and
accepting additional responsibilities in the IT
areas of Application Support & Development.
She was instrumental in defining our Courtesy
LEADERSHIP AWARD Pay program to ensure our members’ needs
Michelle Rimes are being met. Her peers are inspired by
Director, Application her dedication and commitment as she
Support & Development lays the foundation for exceeding member
expectations.
PEOPLE HELPING
PEOPLE AWARD
Ann Selvage
Payroll & Benefits
Specialist
Ann interacts with employees compassionately
when servicing their HR needs. Recently,
Ann was the lead on a conversion to a new
online benefits enrollment process while
continuing to perform her daily duties. During
the conversion, Ann saved Keesler Federal
thousands of dollars while making open
enrollment easier and timelier
for employees in the future.
Branch Spotlight
Keesler Federal, Long Beach
We’re Prepared. Are You?
It’s no secret; hurricane season runs
June 1 through November 30 each
year. And, as always, Keesler Federal
Credit Union is fully prepared to be
of service to members all over the
world in the event a storm hits this
area. Are you ready? Now is the time
to prepare in the event you have to
evacuate. You can reduce the stress
of an evacuation by signing up now
for free Keesler Anywhere Services:
Keesler Online, Keesler Mobile, and
TONI will give you access to the
financial services you need regardless
of your location or the time of day.
Even if you don’t live in a hurricaneprone zone you may one day be
faced with an evacuation for any
number of reasons, from wildfires, to
flash floods, and more.
In the event you do have to evacuate,
always be sure to have your Keesler
Federal account information with
you. If you find a Shared Branch
network credit union in the area
you’ve evacuated to, you can conduct
transactions on your Keesler
Federal account at that
credit union. Look for
the swirl logo at the credit
union to find out if they
participate. You can also search for
participating locations at: www.kfcu.org
> Contact KFCU > Shared Branching.
While on the kfcu.org web site, sign up
for the automated services available to
you. You’ll be glad to know that Keesler
Federal Credit Union is as close as the
nearest computer or telephone.
Useful hurricane preparedness resources:
MS Dept. of Transportation: www.mdot.ms.gov
Redcross: www.redcross.org
National Hurricane Center: www.nhc.noaa.gov
Front row left: Jennifer Zuniga, Financial Service Rep-2 years; Patra Malone, Teller-4 years; Phyllis Miller, Head Teller-15 years;
Cynthia Hallman, Financial Service Rep-8 years; Annette Hotz, Teller-7 years.
Back row left: Nacol Olson, Loan Officer in Charge-9 years; Lisa Lucente, Teller-6 years; Deborah Malone, Teller-1 year;
Carrie Touchstone, Branch Manager-25 years.
K
eesler Federal Credit Union originally came to Long Beach in
1999 with an office located next to Winn Dixie in Zuppardos
Shopping Center. It wasn’t long before we began to outgrow
that small branch. Members
in Long Beach were ready
for more convenience with
drive through service, so we
began the search for the
right property.
The new Long Beach branch
opened at 524 Klondyke
Road in May 2013. New
from the ground up, the
Long Beach branch now
features nearly 5,000 square feet of member conveniences such as four
advanced technology teller stations, safe deposit boxes, a children’s area,
a tech savvy iPad kiosk, a self-service coffee bar and free wireless access.
Outside, members will find four timesaving drive-up lanes with tellers and
24-hour walk-up and driveup ATMs.
Keesler Federal Long Beach Branch
524 Klondyke Road
Long Beach, 39540
|
Open Monday-Thursday: 9:00 - 5:00
Friday: 9:00 - 5:30; Saturday: 9:00 - 1:00
Is this the year you stop
procrastinating about
your Financial Plan?
Some things to think about as you get started.
A Message from the Keesler Financial Group
Look at your expenses and your debt. Take a look
at your core living expenses (such as a mortgage
payment, car payment, etc.). Can any core expenses
be reduced? Investing aside, you position yourself
to gain ground financially when income rises, debt
diminishes and expenses decrease or stay (relatively)
the same.
Maybe you should pay your debt first, maybe not.
Some debt is “good” debt. A debt is “good” if it brings
you income. Credit cards are generally considered
“bad” debts.
If you’ll be carrying a debt for a while, put it to a test.
Weigh the interest rate on that specific debt against
your potential income growth rate and your potential
investment returns over the term of the debt.
Of course, paying off debts, paying down balances
and restricting new debt all works toward improving
your FICO score, another tool you can use in pursuit
of financial freedom (we’re talking “good” debts).
Implement or refine an investment strategy. You’re
not going to retire solely on the elective deferrals from
your paycheck; you’re going to retire (hopefully) on
the interest that those accumulated assets earn over
time, plus the power of compounding.
Manage the money you make. If you simply
accumulate unmanaged assets, you have money just
sitting there may be exposed to risk – inflation risk,
market risk, even legal risks. Don’t forget taxes. The
greater your wealth, the more long-range potential
you have to accomplish some profound things –
provided your wealth is directed.
If you want to build more wealth this year or in
the near future, don’t neglect the risk management
William E. Morrison ,
Edward Barrett, and
Ron Weatherly are Financial
Advisors with Keesler Financial
Group located at Keesler Federal CU.
If you have any questions or would
like to provide feedback regarding
the information presented in this
article, contact Bill , Edward ,
or Ron at (228) 385-4558.
strategy that could be
instrumental in helping you
retain it. Your after-tax return
matters. Risk management
should be part of your overall
financial picture.
Request professional guidance
for the wealth you are (or
could be) growing. A good
financial professional should
help to educate you about the
principles of wealth building.
You can draw on that
professional knowledge and
guidance this year – and for
years to come.
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
800-369-2862. 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.
Highlighted Share & Loan Rates
Shares
Checking Accounts
Share Savings (with Compounding)
Anticipated Dividend Annual Percentage
Rate (APR)
Yield (APY)
Balance less than $5,000
Balance $5,000 or more
Christmas Savings
.25%
.30%
.30%
.25%
.30%
.30%
Anticipated Dividend Annual Percentage
Rate (APR)
Yield (APY)
eAdvantage Checking (qualifying accounts)
Balances up to $25,000
1.39%
1.40%
Non qualifying eAdvantage accounts and amount of balance over $25,000
earn rates listed below
Ultimate & Essential Checking depending on balance
Balances less than $2,500
.15%
.15%
Balances $2,500 or more
.20%
.20%
High Interest Money Market Account (HIMMA)
Anticipated Dividend Annual Percentage
Rate (APR)
Yield (APY)
Balance $2,500—$9,999.99
Balance $10,000—$49,999.99
Balance $50,000—$99,999.99
Balance $100,000 and over
.50%
.50%
.50%
.50%
.50%
.50%
.50%
.50%
Individual Retirement Account (IRA)
Anticipated Dividend Annual Percentage
Rate (APR)
Yield (APY)
Traditional
Roth
.75%
.75%
.75%.75%
IRAs are federally insured separately up
to $250,000
$2,500 minimum to open account and to earn dividends
Please check with any office or visit www.kfcu.org for the current rates
or specials on share certificates.
Federally
insured by
NCUA
Share rates listed above are effective as of July 1, 2014 and subject to change without notice.
See your March statement for the dividend rate paid for the period ending June 30, 2014.
Loans
New Auto Loans Summer Special!
Up to 24 months 25-36 months
37-48 months 49-60 months 61-72 months Credit Cards
Annual Percentage Rate (APR)
as low as 0.99% APR
as low as 1.29% APR
as low as 1.49% APR
as low as 1.79% APR
as low as 1.99% APR
MasterCard®
Visa Platinum Rewards Student Credit Card
Share Secured MasterCard®
Annual Percentage Rate (APR)
as low as 8.9% APR
as low as 9.9% APR
as low as 8.9% APR
12.9% APR
Example: Monthly payments are approx., $42.10 per month
per $1000 borrowed at .99 for 24 months.
Signature Loans
New Boat Loans
Annual Percentage Rate (APR)
Up to 36 months
as low as 2.99% APR
37-48 months ($10,000 & over) as low as 3.45% APR
49-60 months ($15,000 & over) as low as 3.75% APR
61-72 months ($20,000 & over) as low as 4.75% APR
73-84 months ($25,000 & over) as low as 5.75% APR
Example: Monthly payments are approx., $29.03 per month
per $1000 borrowed at 2.99 for 36 months.
Annual Percentage Rate (APR)
Up to 36 months
as low as 7.99% APR
36-48 months
as low as 8.49% APR
49-60 months ($10,000 & over)as low as 8.99% APR
Example: Monthly payments are approx., $31.33 per month
per $1000 borrowed at 7.99 for 36 months.
Share Secured Loans Boat loans available in the continental U.S. only
2.00% above prior quarter share dividend rate
(Up to amount of available balance –
up to 120 months
Rates marked “as low as” vary based on credit history. Certain restrictions may apply.
Rates are effective as of July 1, 2014 and subject to change without notice.
Apply for your loan by phone, 1-888-KEESLER (533-7537), online at www.kfcu.org, or visit any branch location.
i m p o r ta n t t o y o u . i m p o r ta n t t o u s .
Adjustable Rate
Mortgages
We offer:
Conventional Loans
VA Loans
FHA Loans
USDA Loans
Home Equity Loans
Membership and credit eligibility required.
Apply online at www.kfcu.org | 1-888-KEESLER (533-7537)
Visit with a mortgage loan
representative to learn more
about the right money-saving
mortgage for you.
Before you lock-in
on your American dream,
check out Keesler Federal’s
great rates on mortgage loans.
Write your own
happy ending with a
mortgage loan from Keesler Federal.
Storybook
ending...
For the household of:
P.O. BOX 7001, BILOXI, MS 39534-7001
JACKSON COUNTY
Gautier
Ocean Springs
Pascagoula
PEARL RIVER COUNTY
Picayune
STONE COUNTY
Wiggins
HINDS COUNTY
Jackson
LOUISIANA
Slidell
KEESLER FEDERAL CREDIT UNION BRANCH LOCATIONS
HARRISON COUNTY
Pass Road-Biloxi
D’Iberville
Lakeview Village (D’Iberville)
Seaway Road (Gulfport)
Keesler AFB (Larcher)
Long Beach
Orange Grove
HANCOCK COUNTY
Bay-Waveland
Diamondhead
Stennis Space Center
1-888-KEESLER (533-7537)
www.kfcu.org
Anyone who lives, works,
worships or attends school in
Harrison, Hancock, Pearl River
and parts ofJackson County
TELL YOUR FRIENDS
AND NEIGHBORS!