From The President

Official Publication of North Georgia Credit Union.
July 2013
From The President
National Youth Saving Challenge
We want our children
to
be
successful.
We offer them the
very best education
to prepare them for
the best jobs, but we
often leave out a key
ingredient for success.
No matter how much money they will
make in the future, if they don’t know how
to negotiate their way through the maze
of money management, they are almost
certainly doomed to failure.
members, our community and our schools
to help prepare young people to manage
their financial future. That’s why our credit
union participated in Credit Union National
Association’s (CUNA) National Youth
Savings Challenge. During this event, young
credit union members from 224 participating
credit unions across the country deposited
about $25.2 million into their share and
savings accounts. Young credit union
members opened 6,173 new accounts
during the challenge. CUNA rewarded 10
randomly drawn savers with $100 cash as
part of the challenge, and one of our own
young members won this year!
Most children don’t really understand how
to manage money effectively — and it’s
up to us to teach them. North Georgia
Credit Union believes in partnering with our
If your child did not participate in the
National Youth Savings Challenge this year,
it’s not too late to help foster the savings
habit. NGCU offers the Savasaurus Kids
Dear credit union member,
NGCU was one of the 10 randomly selected
winners in the National Youth Savings Challenge.
From our members who registered, we randomly
selected Rylee Vandiver as the winner of the $100
prize from the Credit Union National Association
(CUNA). Congratulations Rylee!
continued on page 3
Great Rates and Rebates!
Get an Auto Loan that Pays
It pays to finance your auto loan at North Georgia Credit Union!
$
100 Ca
sh
Auto L Back
oans!
For a limited time only, earn an instant $100 CASH rebate on any car loan
originated at NGCU.*
PLUS, you’ll get a GREAT RATE as low as
2.75
%
APR!**
AND Members will be entered for a chance to win a Fisher-Price® Ford
F-150 Power Wheels®!*
It’s a simple decision with a big payoff! If you are in the market for a new car or
have an auto loan at another financial institution, contact North Georgia Credit
Union today. For more information, call the credit union at (706) 886-1441
(Main Office), (706) 356-7001 (Lavonia Branch), or (706) 376-6961 (Hartwell
Branch). You can also visit our website, www.ngcu.org.
*The following conditions apply: Must purchase a new or used vehicle and obtain financing from NGCU; or move an auto loan from
another financial institution. Vehicle must be 2009 model year or newer. Only 1 rebate per member. Maximum rebate is $100 per
member. Minimum loan amount of $5,000 required for rebate eligibility. Loan must stay at NGCU for 12 months. Otherwise, any rebate
paid will be added back into the loan payoff. Special credit scoring criteria may apply. Offer valid now through September 30, 2013.
**Annual Percentage Rate
Holiday Closings
Independence Day
Thursday, July 4
Labor Day
Monday, September 2
Columbus Day
Monday, October 14
We Make It Easy to Take It Easy!
While you take it easy this summer, we give you easy ways to stay connected to your credit union! You can conduct
transactions or view your account information 24 hours a day, seven days a week, wherever you are!
Enjoy easy access to your accounts with:
Online Banking
Online banking allows you to:
• Transfer money between accounts
• Access multiple accounts
• Get an up-to-date look at your checking or savings
activity
• Pay bills with our Bill Payment Service
• Request a check withdrawal
• Change your password and/or e-mail
• Update contact information
Home banking and Bill Payment are FREE with e-Statements
and easy to use. So relax, take it easy, and enjoy your summer.
We’ll be there when you need us. For more information on
these convenient services, visit www.ngcu.org.
Mobile Banking
Access mobile banking from your
Smartphone at ngcu.online-cu.com/mobile to:
• Check account balances
• Transfer funds
• Change your e-mail address
• Change your password
Visa Debit Card
ATM Service
eStatements
Six Flags
North Georgia Credit Union offers members discounted Six Flags tickets.
Tickets are available for only $37.50 each. $2 of each ticket sale will be
donated to our state’s Credit Union Political Action Committee (CUPAC).
Biltmore House, Gardens, Winery and Antler Hill Village
NGCU members can also enjoy generous discounts on daytime admission
to Biltmore House, Gardens, Winery and Antler Hill Village with a special
Web page just for you. Visit www.biltmore.com/ngcu. When prompted, use
promo code: ngcu. For assistance, call (866) 851-4661.
President’s Letter - continued from page 1
We encourage you to partner with us to foster financial literacy
in the young people of our community. Parents have the greatest
opportunity to teach their children the life skills they need to
successfully manage their personal finances. Here are some
ideas to help you develop these skills in your child:
• Provide an allowance. As the child grows, increase the
allowance and let him or her take over buying necessities
like soap, shampoo and toothpaste.
Sonya Speed-NGCU (left) pictured with the Kindergarten class to which she taught the Junior
Achievement ciriculum and their teacher, Jana Cheek (inside right), and parapro, Leta Elrod (far right).
Club that helps kids learn about the value of saving money
and helps introduce them to the credit union philosophy of
“People Helping People.” The Savasaurus Kids Club website
offers games, activities, projects, homework help, educational
articles, and more. Visit the site with your kids by clicking on the
Savasaurus Kids Club link at www.ngcu.org.
North Georgia Credit Union is committed to making a difference
in the lives of the young people in our community. We are proud
to partner with Liberty Elementary School to offer financial
education to students through the Junior Achievement program.
Three of our employees, Sonya Speed and Robin Bridges for the
past three years, and Laura Williams for the past six years, have
volunteered their time to present financial education programs
to students. Junior Achievement (JA) offers volunteer-delivered
kindergarten - 12th grade programs that foster work-readiness,
entrepreneurship and financial literacy skills. In the 2011-2012
school year, JA impacted more than 4.2 million U.S. students in
more than 183,000 classrooms.
Additionally, NGCU participates in Partners in Education with many
of the schools in the communities we serve. We also award a $500
scholarship each year to a senior at Stephens County High School,
Franklin County High School and Hart County High School.
• Let them do some of the research. Some parents have their
children find out how much money they need for something
they want, and even submit detailed “budget” requests in
writing. These can then become the basis for negotiating
allowances. This practice works especially well when they go
off to college and the amounts under discussion go from tens
and hundreds to thousands of dollars.
• Don’t penalize a child for working. If you reduce
allowances when children get jobs, it punishes them for
taking the initiative.
• Encourage (or require) regular saving. Open a share
account at the credit union in your children’s names.
Then encourage them to put a percentage of everything
they earn or receive as a gift into savings. Use this to
teach them how to put money aside for big expenses.
Those new skates will mean more to them if they have
worked or saved to get them.
• Teach by example. It’s still the best teacher. Believe it
or not, your children do pay attention to what you do,
including how you manage your money. So, be sure to
practice what you preach.
Tell us what has worked for you to help teach your children about
how to manage their money.
Sincerely,
Brian Akin
President/CEO
James Norris Honored with
Moses C. Davis Award
Congratulations to NGCU board director James Norris who was named
this year’s Moses C. Davis Award recipient. Established by the Georgia
Credit Union Affiliates, a state association that provides services and
support to help credit unions meet the financial needs of the state’s
credit union members, the award is given each year to honor outstanding
service by a credit union volunteer. For the past 16 years, Mr. Norris
has served faithfully on North Georgia Credit Union’s board of directors.
During this time, he has held the offices of chairman, vice chairman,
treasurer and secretary. He currently serves as the supervisory committee
chairman. In addition, he has been active in educating elected officials
on credit union-related issues, and has traveled to Washington, DC to
champion the credit union cause. Mr. Norris was presented with this
award at the Georgia Credit Union Affiliates annual convention.
North Georgia Credit Union Checking
You Don’t Have to Sacrifice Convenience for Value
When it comes to your checking account, you don’t have to choose between convenience and value. North Georgia Credit Union offers you the best of both worlds.
Savings
• No Monthly Fee
• No Per Check Charge
• No Minimum Balance
Convenience
• Free Visa® Debit Card
• Free Home Banking when you choose eStatements
• Free Bill Pay when you choose eStatements
• Free Mobile Banking
• No-Fee Use of NGCU ATMs (Toccoa, Lavonia and Hartwell Offices and Stephens
County Hospital)
Say goodbye to the high fees of bank
checking accounts. We offer all of the benefits with none of the sacrifices, and we
make switching easy. For more information,
call the credit union at (706) 886-1441 (Main
Office), (706) 356-7001 (Lavonia Branch), or
(706) 376-6961 (Hartwell Branch). You can
also visit our website, www.ngcu.org.
Main Office
1067 Mize Road
P.O. Box 280
Toccoa, GA 30577
(706) 886-1441
Fax: (706) 886-3757
Lavonia Branch Office
11823 Augusta Rd., Suite 1
Lavonia, GA 30553
(706) 356-7001
Fax: (706) 356-7008
Hartwell Branch Office
249 East Franklin Street
Hartwell, GA 30643
(706) 376-6961
Fax: (706) 376-3184
www.ngcu.org
Lobby Hours
(Toccoa, Lavonia & Hartwell)
Mon., Tues., Thurs. & Fri.
9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Wednesday
10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Drive-Thru Hours
(Toccoa & Hartwell)
Monday – Friday
8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Saturday
9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
New Georgia Motor Vehicle Title Tax
Title Ad Valorem Tax (TAVT), which became effective on March 1, 2013, is a new form of taxation that replaces
the Motor Vehicle Sales Tax, Use Tax and Annual Ad Valorem (Birthday) Tax.
Any vehicle you purchase will no longer be subject to an annual ad valorem tax (currently due on your birthday
every year), but rather to a Title Ad Valorem Tax (TAVT), which will be due at the time of purchase. While there
are currently some potential revisions being voted on at press time, here is what we do know.
1) Any vehicle purchased after February 28, 2013, including those purchased from a private party, will be subject
to a TAVT of 6.5% of the vehicle’s “taxable value,” a value determined by the State of Georgia Department of
Revenue. This tax rate is set to increase annually for at least the next two years by .25% each year.
2) Sales tax and/or use tax will no longer be collected on the sale of vehicles.
3) Individuals who purchased a vehicle between January 1, 2012, and February 28, 2013, can opt in to the new
TAVT before January 1, 2014. However, individuals who purchased a vehicle before January 1, 2012, must
continue paying annual ad valorem tax, as they currently do.
The new requirements can be confusing. We recommend that you keep copies of information that explains and
details the new TAVT.
Need help or additional information? Try these websites:
1. Georgia Dept. of Revenue at: www.newtitletax.com
2. Georgia Dept. of Revenue (Online Tool to Calculate TAVT Due) at: http://onlinemvd.dor.ga.gov/tap/welcome.aspx
Management Team
Brian Akin,
President/CEO
Laura Williams,
Vice President
Sonya Speed,
Lending and Collections Manager
Robin Bridges,
Data Processing & Operations Manager
Sharon Parten,
Hartwell Branch Manager
Brooke Stowe,
Toccoa Branch Manager
Bridget Ginn,
Lavonia Branch Manager
Ephemia Smith,
Member Service Officer
Directors
Tony Thomas,
Chairman
Juanita Worley,
Vice-Chairman
Michael Herron,
Secretary
Harold Harbin,
Treasurer
James Norris,
Supervisory Committee Chairman
Deborah Gibby
Marvin Harrison
Federally insured by NCUA