Financial Connection
October 2010
First Financial
For the members of First Financial Credit Union
Introducing a new savings program just for
young members:
The Kirby Kangaroo Club
We are excited to let you know about our new
youth program, the Kirby Kangaroo Club. This
service is totally free to you, and focuses on
teaching your children about saving and
finances. Kids aged 12 and under will love
saving with Kirby Kangaroo. And best of all,
while they’re having fun, your child, grandchild,
nephew or niece will be learning good financial
management skills! All you need to do is bring
a copy of your ID, the child’s social security
card, and a $5 deposit to any of our branches
to open an account.
As a member of the Kirby Kangaroo Club, your
child will receive free quarterly newsletters and
access to the Kirby Kangaroo website. Both of
these aspects of the Kirby Kangaroo Club are
geared toward teaching
your child responsible
financial habits. They also
offer fun crafts, games
and stories for you to
share with your child.
Inside This Edition:
Cancer Walk — Skip-a-Pay
........................................P2
El Poder Es Tuyo — Gift Card — Holiday Loan
........................................P3
Money Mission — Holiday Closings — CU Information
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For every $5 your child
deposits, he or she will
receive a Kirby
Kangaroo Credit. Your
child can save up these
credits to purchase Kirby
Kangaroo merchandise
such as activity books, gumball machines, Kirby
dolls, or paint sets at a branch.
If you have any questions about the Kirby
Kangaroo Club, please feel free to contact Jen
at [email protected]. As always, we want to
be the number one financial resource for you
and your entire family.
Join FFCU on Sunday,
October 17th in the
American Cancer Society’s
Making Strides
Against Breast
Cancer Walk
Cool Cash
Our Skip a Pay program
leaves you with more of
what everyone wants.
Register now!
In recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness
month, and to honor the 2.5 million breast
cancer survivors who celebrated another
birthday last year because of donors and
organizations like the American Cancer
Society, we are participating in the North
Shore Making Strides Against Breast Cancer
walk! It’s a 5k walk at the Chicago Botanic
Gardens in Glencoe, IL and there is no
minimum required donation. Also, all
parking and admission is free, and every
participant is encouraged to tour the
beautiful gardens after the walk.
Last year Making Strides brought together
700,000 people who raised $60 million.
Those funds, just like anything raised this
year, help people in our community to:
· Have the information and tools they
need to stay well from breast cancer or
find the disease early when it’s easiest
to treat
· Have a place to turn for help 24/7 if they
are faced with breast cancer
· Benefit from the progress being made
toward finding breast cancer’s causes
and cures.
· Get access to lifesaving mammograms
and treatment
Come and walk with us by contacting Jen
at (847) 676-8000 or [email protected].
Aren’t available to walk but still want to
help the cause? You can also donate to
FFCU’s team at a branch or by going to
makingstrides.acsevents.org and searching
for our team.
Please complete this form and return it to any of our offices by November 1st.
Name ___________________________________________________________
Account # _______________________________________________________
Email Address ____________________________________________________
Skip-a-Pay Month (choose only one):
❑ November 2010
❑ December 2010
Loan Number(s) and description:
Loan (EXAMPLE): Loan #641 2006 Chevy Cavalier
Loan #1 ________________________________________________________
Loan #2 ________________________________________________________
Loan #3 ________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
Signature
Date
**PLEASE READ THIS IMPORTANT INFORMATION**
By signing above, you authorize First Financial Credit Union to advance your loan due date by one month and
understand this may extend the maturity of your loan. Interest will continue to accrue on the unpaid balance during
the month you skip your payment, and when payments resume, the unpaid interest will be collected first. Members
must be in good standing and all FFCU loans current with a minimum of 6 previous payments. FFCU reserves the
right, for any reason, to refuse skip-a-pay requests. If a request is refused, FFCU will notify you via email. Payments
made through payroll deduction or direct deposit will be transferred to your primary savings account during the
month you choose to skip and will be subsequently avaliable for withdrawal. Mortgage loans, home equity loans,
home equity lines-of-credit, and credit cards are NOT eligible for Skip-a-Pay program.
The perfect gift
for the holidays?
First Financial CU Introduces
El Poder Es Tuyo!
Don't stress about
it anymore.
The VISA Gift Card is always the right size and
color. Gift Cards are available for purchase at
FFCU for just $3 each, and you can buy them
in any dollar amount. The best thing about
these cards is that they’re accepted worldwide
anywhere the VISA logo is displayed. So pick
up several $10 Gift Cards for babysitters,
delivery people and teachers, as well as $100
Gift Cards for the hard-to-please. Then check
them off your list. If you have a few left after
the holidays — you can spend them yourself!
The VISA Gift Card really IS the perfect gift.
September 15 marked the beginning of Hispanic Heritage month
and to celebrate it with a bang First Financial CU launched El
Poder es Tuyo (The Power is Yours), a financial website created
with our Hispanic members in mind. Our credit union recognizes
that while many of our members strive to learn English, they may
currently feel more comfortable learning about financial matters in
Spanish. El Poder es Tuyo is a personal finance website in Spanish
that contains a variety of financial information for your home, your
family and your future. The website offers articles, videos, and
exercises to help our members manage their money and meet
their financial goals. Visit our website at www.firstfcu.org, and
from there click on El Poder es Tuyo to take a tour of the new site.
We are confident you will like what you see!
Supersize your budget while minimizing the impact on your wallet! Our $1,200 Holiday Loan — as low as 8.99% APR for 12 months
— is a much smarter alternative than running up your credit cards. Plan your holiday travel, shopping and entertainment with ease.
Apply online at www.firstfcu.org, stop in, or call us at 847-676-8000.
* APR refers to Annual Percentage Rate, subject to change without notice. Not a promise to lend; standard credit qualifications and some restrictions apply.
Know a Teen? Tell Them to Play
Money Mission!
Farm-this, Mafia-that…we all know
teens play plenty of games online.
Enter Money Mission. Now when they play games online, they can also
have the chance to earn scholarships for college!
What is Money Mission?
Money Mission is an online simulation, available to play through First
Financial Credit Union, that teaches real life financial skills. Teens create
an avatar and live, work and make real life financial decisions in the
game’s simulated village, Mission Heights. Money Mission gives youth
an opportunity to consider the financial obligations they face and how
they will deal with them in real life.
How Long is the Game?
During the 16 week playing session, players are encouraged to make a
wide range of decisions, including buying a car, trading stocks, and
holding down a job. The choices players make are tied to their avatar’s
happiness meter, a barometer designed to demonstrate how good
financial decisions require life balance. Those who navigate this simulated
world successfully will have a chance to win a state-level scholarship.
Why is Money Mission Important?
This is the only financial literacy tool in the marketplace that fulfills the
need for financial education within an interactive, online competitive
gaming environment that also rewards players with scholarships to
pursue a post-secondary education.
How Do Teens Start Playing?
High school juniors and seniors can sign up to play Money Mission at
www.firstfcu.org. When they click on the Money Mission graphic to
sign up, they will join thousands of teens across the state and across the
country who are competing for scholarships up to $25,000!
Encourage the teens you know to sign up for Money Mission!
Credit Union
Holiday Closings
Monday, October 11th
Columbus Day
Thursday, November 25th
Friday, November 26th*
Thanksgiving
*Closed at 2pm
Friday, December 24th
Saturday, December 25th
Christmas
Friday, December 31st
Saturday, January 1st
New Year's
For a complete list of Holiday Hours for 2010,
visit www.firstfcu.org and click on the
“Hours & Locations” tab.
As always, you can access your accounts 24/7
by using CU*Talk (phone access),
It’sMe247 (home banking) & ATM/Debit.
Where to find us
Office locations and important telephone numbers are as follows:
Main Office
Alcatel-Lucent Branch
5550 W. Touhy Ave.
Skokie, IL 60077
(847) 676-8000
(Alcatel-Lucent employees only)
2701 Lucent Lane, Room 8D 134
Lisle, IL 60532
(630) 713-1884
Lutheran General Hospital
Branch
John Crane Branch
(Advocate Healthcare employees only)
(John Crane employees only)
1775 Dempster Street
Park Ridge, IL 60068
(847) 723-8046
6400 Oakton St
Morton Grove, IL 60053
(847) 967-2445
S & C Electric Branch
Important Phone Numbers:
(S&C employees only)
CU*Talk: 888-379-0013
Loan Connect: 800-311-3841
Lost/stolen Debit Card: 800-682-6075
Lost/stolen Credit Card: 800-991-4964
6601 N Ridge Blvd
Chicago, IL 60626
(773) 338-1000 x2393
FFCU Board of Directors
Douglass J. Buier
Chair
Carl J. Rohr
Vice-Chair
Michael J. Gebhardt Treasurer
David R. Wheeland Secretary
Mary A. Lynch
Supervisory Committee Chair
Thomas L. Monticello
Jose M. Perez
Anthony R. Falco
www.firstfcu.org