November 2013, Issue 32
Beat the Budgeting Blues and score a $50 gift voucher
Bills on the rise? Feelings of stress and anxiety?
We have a tried and tested solution for you!
Our Budget Saver has proven time after
time to:
√√ Help members pay their bills on time.
√√ Give members peace of mind.
√√ Smooth out the peaks and troughs
that occur over the year.
How does it work?
1. Simply complete the Budget Saver
Account Application and an
Overdraft Application.
2. We then set up the account, work out
your monthly deposit and the Overdraft required.
3. Use the account to pay your bills via BPay, direct debit, Internet and Mobile Banking.
So don’t put it off any longer.
Just go to www.firstoptioncu.com.au and visit our ‘Savings Accounts’ page. You can download
the forms in PDF or complete them online. Otherwise, you can contact First Option and we will
send the forms to you.
In this issue
V.me
First Option serves the
next generation
of members
Christmas is in the Air
Christmas Saver funds
now available
First Option staff make
banking better
Welcome Aoife
Steven is here to help you
Free pocket diaries
As an added incentive, First Option is giving a $50 Coles Myer gift voucher to the first 100
accounts that are opened.
If you have any questions, please call our friendly Member Service team on 1300 855 675 or
email us at [email protected]
Terms and Conditions of the special offer apply and are available on the First Option Credit Union website.
This is general advice only and does not take into account your individual objectives, financial situations or needs. Before acting on the advice, consider its appropriateness. You should read
and consider the ‘Account and Access Facilities – Conditions of Use’ document and Financial Services Guide before deciding whether to acquire any product mentioned. Fees and charges
apply and are available from First Option. All overdraft applications are subject to assessment, including your capacity to pay.
Thai Baht added to Cash Passport
First Option is delighted to announce that Thai Baht has been added to the list of available
currencies on the Multi-currency Cash Passport.
This is in response to the increasing popularity of Thailand as a travel destination for Australians
and brings the total number of currencies available to ten*.
Thailand continues to grow in popularity and is one of the top five destinations for Australians.
The number of Australians travelling to Thailand last year was 23% higher than the
previous year.
Cash Passport is an award winning product and is highly regarded by First Option members, as
it offers the convenience of cash, without the pain of high fees. The industry leading offer of
fee-free** international ATM transactions puts it streets ahead of its competitors.
Thai Baht is available on both existing and new cards.
For more information, or to apply for Cash Passport, speak to a First Option team member on
1300 855 675 or visit www.firstoptioncu.com.au
* The other nine currencies that can be loaded on the Multi-currency Cash Passport are US Dollars, Great British Pounds, Euros, Australian Dollars, New Zealand Dollars, Singapore Dollars,
Hong Kong Dollars, Canadian Dollars and Japanese Yen. ** Fees may be charged by the ATM operator independently.
V.me
Visa has announced plans to launch its new digital wallet service, V.me by
Visa, in Australia later this year, making it easier for consumers to shop
online.
V.me will offer consumers a simple and secure way to pay online by entering
a single username and password, eliminating the hassle of entering personal
details across multiple merchant websites.
Vipin Kalra, Visa’s Manager for Australia, said “Building on the successful
launch of V.me in the US, Visa is now set to deliver this new service to
Australian consumers in time for Christmas 2013.
“Consumers are increasingly shopping online where they are faced with a
cumbersome checkout process, and need to enter personal account information repeatedly
when making a purchase. V.me streamlines the process and addresses the growing consumer desire to shop online from
any device with ease and simplicity.”
“V.me will take the friction out of online payments, benefiting both the customer and the merchant.”
Visa’s new digital wallet service allows First Option members to:
√√
Securely store their existing Visa and other payment cards.
√√
Store and use multiple shipping addresses.
√√
Set transaction alerts for Visa cards based on spending thresholds and other criteria.
√√
And, over time, opt-in to additional features.
V.me can be accessed via PC, smartphone or tablet, with personal account information protected by layers of security within
Visa’s industry-leading network. There will be no fees for consumers to enrol or make purchases using V.me.
More than 40 financial institutions have agreed to partner with Visa to offer V.me to their customers, including First Option.
More information will be provided to members in the near future, so stay tuned…
First Option serves the next generation of members
First Option recently assisted Monish from Croydon, Victoria to purchase an investment property and a
new car. He wrote to First Option to share his experiences…
“Well, as this was my first time applying for a loan, I was quite
daunted by the idea of having to deal with a pile of paperwork.
But to my surprise, the process wasn’t all that complicated.
Obviously I did all my research before engaging in the idea of
an investment property and I found that First Option had the
best and most flexible mortgage solution for my needs.
Also, the fact that my parents are existent customers of
First Option, I relied on them heavily to inform me of their
experience and insights. All I can say is they had a very
positive experience and I can now say that I too had a very
pleasant experience throughout my journey of owning my
first property.
Due to my inexperience in such an endeavour, I sought
extensive advice from everyone, from family, friends and
other work colleagues. But my loan adviser Irene was most helpful in breaking down all the procedures and expectations
involved with buying a house and I greatly appreciate her advice in every manner. She was very patient with me and explained
everything I needed to know and more. Therefore I’m glad to say that everything went smoothly and I am very happy and proud
of having the honourable title of home owner.
Furthermore, her assistance and helpfulness with the purchase of my first brand new car was also excellent. Once again, this
was my first time applying for a car loan and once again, I credit Irene for her patience and understanding. I’d say 2013 would
go down in my life as a massive milestone due to all that I have been able to achieve this year and a lot of it is credited to the
professionalism and great customer service I experienced from Irene and other employees at First Option.
It’s safe to say that I look forward to returning as a customer for future business endeavours I may undertake with
First Option.”
Christmas is in the Air
With Christmas fast approaching,
many of us have started looking
excitedly at travel destinations. There
is a lot to consider, so we’ve prepared
a few tips to ensure that your trip
goes smoothly.
Safety and law
Travelling to foreign climates can be a bit
of a shock to the system. That’s why it’s
important to check with your doctor for
any recommended vaccinations or other
precautions.
It’s also wise to be informed about local
rules and regulations. You’ll be surprised at what could put
a dampener on your trip. Did you know that in Singapore,
authorities can do random bathroom stall checks? If they
catch you not flushing a public toilet, you could be fined $500!
So before you travel overseas, do your research by visiting
http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/
No matter how well you plan, sometimes trouble just seems to
find you. Be prepared for almost any mishap with First Option’s
comprehensive Travel Insurance. Let us remove the worry,
while you relax and enjoy your getaway.
Access to money
Don’t let a small budget be a barrier on your holiday. You don’t
have to be rich to travel. But if you want a little more money,
you may want to apply for a Fixed Rate Personal Loan through
First Option. With a larger wallet, you could do all the things
you’ve dreamed of.
Smart members travel light with a Cash Passport Card and
lock in their exchange rates. Have all the money you need
with none of the inconvenience. Find out more by calling First
Option on 1300 855 675 or visit www.firstoptioncu.com.au.
Your Christmas holiday actually started in July
There’s nothing more disappointing than planning a last minute
trip and realising that there’s no way you can afford to do what
you really want. The solution? Save early, and save often.
Say you need $3,000 for an enjoyable trip. By starting in July,
you have roughly 5 months to save, which makes it about $120
per week. But if you start saving in early December, you would
need to set aside $1,000 per week— a much harder proposition.
The fact that it’s already November shouldn’t stop you from
saving now. The sooner you be gin, the less stress this trip will
put on your finances.
Contact First Option today to discuss how our Travel Services
can assist you. Call 1300 855 675 or visit
www.firstoptioncu.com.au
Your Christmas Saver funds
are now available
Members are advised that Christmas Saver funds are available from
1 November 2013 until 31 January 2014. You’ve worked hard all year to
build up this little nest egg and now it’s time to enjoy the festive season.
And don’t forget to buy yourself something special – you’ve earned it.
Remember, it’s never too early to start saving for next Christmas. The
earlier you start, the easier it is to build up a sizeable amount without
making large contributions each payday. And if you set up an automatic
deduction from your pay, you won’t even notice it after a while!
To see how much you can build up over the next 12 months, use our
online Savings Plan calculator. This is in the ‘Tools and Services’ section
of the First Option website.
Opening a Christmas Saver account is easy. Apply online at
www.firstoptioncu.com.au or call the friendly Member Service team on
1300 855 675.
First Option staff
make banking better
First Option Welcomes Aoife
Our Team and our Members belong to a unique community, and
we share the drive to make banking easy and fair for everyone.
Our staff are a huge part of what makes banking at First
Option better than the Big Banks; so we’d like to take this
opportunity to acknowledge the following staff members for
their dedication, loyalty and service for over 10 years:
• George Leyland-Greaves – 20 years
• Dean Jepsen – 20 years
If you have called First Option in the last six
months and heard an Irish accent at the other
end of the line, chances are you’ve spoken
with the newest member of our Member
Service team. Her name is Aoife (pronounced
Ee-fa) and she left Longford in Ireland four
years ago to live in New Zealand before
moving to Australia two years ago.
Aoife had previously worked for Bank of
America, so she picked up the Credit Union’s products and
services very quickly. She is a very fast learner and has
impressed everyone with her range of skills, both dealing
with members and performing back-office functions.
• Sue Rowdon – 19 years
• Louisa Hage – 16 years
• Rhonda Elsayed – 12 years
She said that the best part about working at First Option
is getting to know the members. “As a smaller financial
institution, it’s a much more personal environment than I was
used to.” She also likes the fact that members are always
served by a team based in Australia.
• Kate Rogers – 12 years
• Diana Plummer – 11 years
• Jodee O’Rourke – 10 years
Pictured are George (left) and Dean (right) with their
20 year awards.
If you think a First Option staff member deserves special
recognition, please send an email to
[email protected] or send a fax to 1800 356 675.
Aoife added that, “It’s refreshing to work for an organisation
that’s here for its members and is not fixated on maximising
profits.”
First Option is very happy to have Aoife on board. And if you
speak to her on the phone, please make her feel welcome.
Free pocket
diaries for
First Option
members
Steven is here to help you
Do you need help with…
• sorting out your household budget?
• a personal loan?
First Option has produced
a limited number of handy
2014 pocket diaries for
First Option members. If
you would like one, please
contact First Option
before they run out.
• buying a home?
• wanting to refinance?
Or do you need professional Financial Planning or Wealth
Creation advice?
If so, let Steven Grange (Business Development Manager)
from First Option Credit Union show you how to make the
most of your money.
Steven has over 30 years experience in helping people
become financially independent.
Steven will see you at work or at home.
You can call him on 0427 858 887 or email [email protected]
(Limit two per member)
First Option Credit Union Limited
ABN 95 087 650 735
BSB 802 876
AFSL / Australian Credit Licence No. 236 509
Melbourne
Level 4, 409 St Kilda Road
Melbourne VIC 3004
Sydney
489 Harris Street
Ultimo NSW 2007
T 1300 855 675
F 1800 356 675
PO Box 7063
St Kilda Road VIC 8004
Granville
1 Memorial Drive
Granville NSW 2142
E [email protected]
W www.firstoptioncu.com.au
General Advice Warning: The product information in this publication is intended to provide general information only and does not take into consideration any person’s individual objectives,
financial situation or needs. You should assess whether the information is appropriate for you and consider talking to a financial adviser before making any investment decisions. You should
consult the Conditions of Use brochure and the Financial Services Guide before making a decision to apply. To obtain these documents, contact First Option Credit Union.