possibilities Published for the members of Ascend Federal Credit Union let's get fiscal! I N SI D E holiday closings we are here preferred checking let's get fiscal auto loans locatorsearch retirement plan 'stache your cash apr i l 2013 When it comes to your finances, you want to work with people you trust, and you want them to be local. Since 1951, Ascend Federal Credit Union has served more than two generations of Middle Tennessee families. Mem- AscendвЂ™s 2012 Annual Report is Now Available QUARTERS CORPORATE HEAD P.O. Box 1210, 520 Airpark Dr., Tullahoma, TN 37388 quick Reads Arnold Dr. E BASE 452 N. Hap ARNOLD AIR FORC ll Blvd. W. James Campbe COLUMBIA 981 3150 Aspen Grove Dr. COOL SPRINGS TurboTax Ascend Makes Tax Filing Convenient with TurboTax Log into E-BRANCH and click on the My TurboTax tab to get started today! Rock Crusher Rd. LEWISBURG 1372 org ascendfcu. 800- 342- 3086 1929 McArthur St. MANCHESTER Three MCMINNVILLE MURFREESBORO Star Mall, 1410 Sparta St. 1250 W. Clark Blvd., 750 S. Church St., 4051 Franklin D CONNECTE RESPECTED TED PROTEC CE IS CL EA R TH E DI FF ER EN DIRECTED Rd. bers have access to their funds from a growing number of financial centers, a mobile app, electronic account access, and fee-free access to ATMs worldwide. And, over the past eight years, weвЂ™ve given back more than $44 million to those same folks in bonus dividends and loan interest refunds. When you need a bigger home for your growing family. When you need to replace a piece of farm equipment. When you want to send your child to college. When you need a vehicle to get back and forth to work. Soon MT. JULIET Coming Pike ial Blvd., 2600 Elm Hill Centenn NASHVILLE 6201 SHELBYVILLE 1900 N. Main St. ERAL ASCEND FED CREDIT UNION Dr. SMYRNA 769 Nissan Current Promotions Now вЂ“ April 30 Youth Promo Decherd Blvd. WINCHESTER 2459 This credit union is federally insured by the National Credit Union Administration. When you need us, we are here. REP ORT 2012 ANN UAL N. Jackson St. TULLAHOMA 1611 Membership is limited. 0312 A2120 Now вЂ“ May 30 Preferred checking Promo Shred Days We are pleased to announce the following Shred Days for 2013: Saturday, April 20 Tullahoma financial center 1611 N. Jackson St.: We are once again partnering with the Better Business Bureau of Middle Tennessee for a Shred Day from 9 a.m. to noon (or until the truck is full). When you compare Ascend to other financial institutions, the difference is clear. Connected. Respected. Protected. Directed. Tullahoma financial center: 9-11 a.m. Murfreesboro-Victory Station: 9-11 a.m. On the Road Ascend вЂ“ the exclusive credit union of Blue Raider Athletics вЂ“ will be participating in MTSU CUSTOMS for all incoming freshmen on the following dates: May 22-23 and 30-31; June 5-6, 11-12, 14-15, 18-19, and 26-27; and July 9-10, 19-20, 24-25, and 30-31. Bring your MTSU-bound student and open an Ascend youth account! ascendfcu.org 800-342-3086 Learn how these words highlighted that difference last year in the 2012 Annual Report, which is available on a first come, first served basis inside our financial centers. An electronic version can also be viewed and downloaded at ascendfcu.org. Thank you for your membership with Ascend! Better than Basic Murfreesboro-Victory Station financial center 4051 Franklin Road: 9-11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 12 WE Are Here Holiday Closings All credit union offices will be closed: вЂў Monday, May 27 for Memorial Day вЂў Thursday, July 4 for Independence Day preferred checking If you can get by on basic, why look for anything better? Because вЂњgetting byвЂќ is not preferred. Preferred checking from Ascend elevates your membership to the best it can be. This account earns dividends, and there are no minimum balance requirements and no per-check charges. Get all of these features for just a small monthly fee: identity theft insurance вЂў identity fraud support вЂў accidental death and dismemberment insurance purchase protection вЂў extended warranty вЂў cash savings вЂў rebate rewards вЂў card monitoring service A checking account that goes beyond basic and adds value to your membership? ThatвЂ™s preferred. Visit your nearest Ascend financial center and ask for Preferred checking, or call 800-342-3086. вЂў3вЂў possibilities вЂў april 10 Ways to Avoid Fraud LetвЂ™s Get Fiscal. Scam artists in the U.S. and around the world defraud millions of people each year. They use the phone, email, postal mail and the Internet to trick you into sending money or giving out personal information. The consumer site on FTC.gov offers the following tips to help you avoid fraud: What to Do What Not to Do Know with whom youвЂ™re dealing. Try to find a sellerвЂ™s пЃ„ DonвЂ™t send money to someone you donвЂ™t know. ItвЂ™s пЃѓphysical address (not a P.O. Box) and phone number. best to do business with sites you know and trust. If you buy Know that wiring money is like sending cash. Con пЃѓ artists often insist that people wire money, especially over- seas, because itвЂ™s nearly impossible to reverse the transaction or trace the money. DonвЂ™t wire money to strangers, to sellers who insist on wire transfers for payment, or to anyone who claims to be a relative or friend in an emergency and wants to keep the request a secret. we can make your money talk Read your monthly statements. Scammers steal acпЃѓ count information and then run up charges or commit crimes in your name. If you see charges you donвЂ™t recognize or didnвЂ™t O.K., contact the credit union, card issuer or other creditor immediately. a disaster, give only to established charities. пЃѓ After In the aftermath of a disaster, give to an established charity rather than one that has sprung up overnight. to your doctor before you buy health prodпЃѓ Talk ucts or treatments. Ask about research that supports YouвЂ™ve been packing on the interest for some time now. Your credit cards are bloated. Your auto loan rate is through the roof. And speaking of roofs, how much interest are you paying on your mortgage right now? Five percent? More? Yikes. ItвЂ™s time to shed those unflattering rates. ItвЂ™s time to get fiscal. Ascend Federal Credit Union will help you get fiscally fit by turning those rotund rates and portly payments into huge savings. Feeling trapped under the weight of high-rate credit card debt? Bring those balances to Ascend and let one of our low-rate Visa cards do the heavy lifting. Need an auto loan with more flexible rates and terms? Refinance with Ascend and find out how much lower your rate can go. Want a mortgage rate that doesnвЂ™t spike your heart rate? See how shaving off a percentage or two at Ascend will relieve the pressure. Hear that? ItвЂ™s your money saying itвЂ™s time to lose the dues and firm up your bottom line. To make your budget leaner and your pockets greener, call 800-342-3086 or visit your nearest Ascend financial center. a productвЂ™s claims and possible risks or side effects. In addition, buy prescription drugs only from licensed U.S. pharmacies. Otherwise, you could end up with products that are fake, expired or mislabeled. there's no sure thing in investing. If пЃѓ Remember someone contacts you with low-risk, high-return invest- items through an online auction, consider using a payment option that provides protection, like a credit card. Never pay fees first for the promise of a big pay-off later whether itвЂ™s for a loan, a job, a grant or a so-called prize. пЃ„ DonвЂ™t agree to deposit a check and wire money back. YouвЂ™re responsible for the checks you deposit. If a check turns out to be a fake, youвЂ™re responsible for paying back the financial institution. пЃ„ DonвЂ™t reply to messages asking for personal or financial information. It doesn't matter whether the message comes as an email, a phone call, a text message or an ad. DonвЂ™t click on links or call phone numbers included in the message, either. ItвЂ™s called phishing. The crooks behind these messages are trying to trick you into revealing sensitive information. If you receive a message like this and you are concerned about your account status, call the number on your credit or debit card or your account statement and check on it. пЃ„ DonвЂ™t play a foreign lottery. ItвЂ™s illegal to play a foreign lottery. They ask you to pay вЂњtaxes,вЂќ вЂњfeesвЂќ or вЂњcus- toms dutiesвЂќ to collect your prize. If you must send money to collect, you havenвЂ™t won anything. And if you send any money, you will lose it. You wonвЂ™t get any money back either, regardless of promises or guarantees. ment opportunities, stay away. Report Scams If you think you may have been scammed, file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission. If you are outside the U.S., file a complaint at econsumer.gov. Visit ftc.gov/idtheft, where youвЂ™ll find out how to minimize your risk of identity theft. Report scams to your state Attorney General. If you get unsolicited email offers or spam, send the messages to [email protected]. If you get what looks like lottery material from a foreign country through the postal mail, take it to your local postmaster. вЂў5вЂў possibilities вЂў april Find Fee-Free ATMs Near You! With fee-free access to more than 50,000 ATMs worldwide, why pay ATM fees when you donвЂ™t have to? Ascend offers two great tools to help you find a fee-free ATM near you, no matter where in the world you are. Cruise into Spring with a Great Low Auto Loan Rate from Ascend As we enter the season of growth and renewal, you might be thinking itвЂ™s a good time to replace your old vehicle. Since youвЂ™re a member of Ascend, itвЂ™s actually a great time! Why? Because you have access to the lowest vehicle rates in town. Right now, get a rate as low as 2.99%* for new vehicles or 3.24%* for used vehicles. If you have your auto loan someplace else, refinance with Ascend and save money. Qualified members can finance a new vehicle up to 84 months or a used one up to 66 months. Visit your nearest Ascend financial center or apply online at ascendfcu.org. You can also get credit union financing at a growing number of participating dealerships. For a complete list, visit our Web site. *The quoted APRs (annual percentage rates) are fixed rates based on your credit score, a 36-month term, use of AscendвЂ™s Freedom Card, and authorization of payments through payroll deduction, direct deposit, or as an ACH payment. You will be informed of the APR for which you qualify before you become contractually liable for the loan account. All loans subject to credit approval. Rates subject to change without notice. Be Ready for a Rainy Day Experts in personal finance often recommend having an emergency fund in case the unexpected hits вЂ“ a layoff, an injury, or any event that interrupts your paycheck. Such a safety net should cover at least six monthsвЂ™ worth of living expenses (six to eight monthsвЂ™ worth for a more comfortable cushion). To calculate how much you need to save: пЃ“ Collect all your financial records for the past year, including bank and credit card statements, ATM receipts, and canceled checks. Sort them by month. пЃ“ Using graph paper or a ruler, make a grid listing the 12 months of the year across the top. Down the left-hand side write all your fixed expenses, e.g. mortgage or rent, insurance policies, car payments, utilities, medical expenses. Then add other major spending categories such as food, entertainment, etc. пЃ“Refer to your financial documents to fill in the amount you spent in each category during each month. Total the expenses for each month, and write it at the bottom of the column. пЃ“Add all these monthly totals and divide the sum by 12. This is your average monthly expenditure. пЃ“Multiply the average by six (or eight). This is how much you should have for a comfortable safety net. The first is called LocatorSearch. Visit ascendfcu.org and click вЂњAboutвЂќ in the toolbar and then вЂњSearch for Locations.вЂќ You will see a map where you can search for the nearest fee-free ATM. Switch between Map View and Satellite View, get directions to the nearest ATM and print or even download locations to your GPS. You can also narrow your search to just ATMs that accept deposits. The second tool to help you avoid ATM fees is AscendвЂ™s mobile app. Along with helping you manage your credit union accounts at the touch of a button, the app will also help you find the nearest fee-free ATM. If you have an iPadВ®, iPhoneВ® or Androidв„ў device, download the app for free from the iTunes StoreВ® or Google Playв„ў Store app. Before you pay another ATM fee, check out AscendвЂ™s free and convenient tools that can help you save some money. Google Play is a trademark of Google Inc. Our Cards Can Take You There! Whether youвЂ™re thinking about a quick spring break getaway or considering several summer vacation destinations, an Ascend Visa can take you there. Our Visa cards feature no annual fee, no balance transfer fee, no fee for cash advances, and annual percentage rates (APRs) as low as 9.50%. With an Ascend Visa, the most difficult part of your next escape will be planning where to go! Apply online at ascendfcu.org, or visit your nearest Ascend financial center. *Your APR will be based on your credit score. You will be informed of the APR for which you qualify before you become contractually liable. All loans subject to credit approval. AscendвЂ™s Money Market account (MMA) is a great place for your emergency fund. You get the accessibility of a Share account but with a better rate. It just takes $2,500 to open an Ascend MMA. You can make six free withdrawals per month, and if you need to make more, itвЂ™s just $10 per transaction. Open an MMA at your nearest Ascend financial center, or call 800-342-3086 for more information. вЂў7вЂў possibilities вЂў april Customers Face Surcharge Fee for Credit Card Purchases Ascend is Your Trusted Mortgage Loan Advisor Ascend is not only your home for great mortgage loans, but weвЂ™re also an excellent resource for your mortgage loan questions. Should I consider refinancing my mortgage? When is the best time to refinance? There are so many mortgage products out there, from conventional fixed loans to balloons and adjustable rate mortgages (ARMs). How do I know which Rates remain at historic lows. If your current interest rate is five percent or higher, itвЂ™s time to consider refinancing. The general rule is to refinance when you will save at least one percentage point on your rate. If you are at five percent, it will be worth it to refinance to four percent if you plan on staying in your house more than three years. First, decide what your goals are. Is this your first home? Are you planning on living there five or seven years? Or, is it your dream home where you plan on living 30 years? Then, make an appointment with an Ascend Mortgage Service Representative by calling 800342-3086. These folks will listen to you and help you narrow your search to the mortgage thatвЂ™s right for you. loan is the best for me? What should I do first вЂ“ begin looking at houses, or consider my mortgage options? How much of my budget should I spend on housing? ItвЂ™s best to see what you qualify for before you get in the car with a realtor. Bring your W-2 and recent paystubs to your meeting with one of our mortgage advisors, and they will help you determine what you can afford. Typically, you want a house payment that is no more than 30 percent of your gross monthly income. But there are other potential expenses вЂ“ such as new furniture and a lawn mower вЂ“ that will need to be considered. Whether youвЂ™re buying, refinancing or even renovating a home, Ascend is your trusted mortgage loan advisor. Visit ascendfcu.org and apply for a mortgage loan at your convenience. Or, call 800-342-3086 and make an appointment with a Mortgage Service Representative. The next time you use your credit card, you could be paying up to four percent more for your purchase. When you use a credit card to buy something, merchants are charged something called an interchange fee from Visa or MasterCard. Thanks to a recent settlement, merchants in the U.S. and U.S. territories may add a payment surcharge, also known as a checkout fee, to certain credit card transactions. Credit Unions вЂ“ Tax Exempt for a Reason There is a reason credit unions are exempt from income taxes. ItвЂ™s because all credit unions are not-for-profit cooperatives that are owned by their members. And while the members come from all walks of life, by and large those who belong to credit unions are everyday people вЂ“ 96 million of them, in fact, across the U.S. Merchants who choose to administer the surcharge are required to follow a few guidelines: As not-for-profits, credit unions return what they earn to their members in the form of lower rates on loans, higher returns on savings and lower and/or fewer fees. вЂўThey must limit surcharging to credit card transactions only вЂ“ no surcharging debit or prepaid card purchases. Debit purchases include those made with AscendвЂ™s Freedom Card, even if you choose вЂњCreditвЂќ rather than вЂњDebitвЂќ at checkout. In fact, for every $1 of their tax exemption, credit unions return $10 to consumers in better rates and lower fees. ThatвЂ™s a solid investment in our communities. вЂўThe surcharge cannot be more than the interchange fee the merchant would pay. This is called the вЂњmerchant discount rate.вЂќ In cases where the merchant discount rate exceeds four percent of the transaction amount, the merchant cannot assess a surcharge more than four percent. Now, some (mostly banks) say credit unions should pay income taxes, even though it was banks (not credit unions) that took huge governmental bailouts. вЂўMerchants must disclose the actual dollar amount of the surcharge on every receipt and disclose the fact that they are assessing a surcharge at the point of store entry and at the point of sale. The truth is, if credit unions were taxed вЂ“ and remained not-for-profits вЂ“ itвЂ™s unlikely their members could continue to receive lower rates on loans, higher savings return, and low fees. If customers spot a merchant charging excessive payment card surcharges or surcharging debit and prepaid card transactions, they can visit www.visa. com/checkoutfees and fill out the вЂњReport a Merchant ViolationвЂќ form. Alleged surcharging violations will be investigated. You might say taxing credit unions is really a tax on 96 million credit union members. Currently, 10 U.S. states have surcharging restrictions including California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Kansas, Maine, Massachusetts, New York, Oklahoma, and Texas. Also, you probably donвЂ™t have to worry about the new fee if you travel abroad. Surcharging remains prohibited outside the U.S. and U.S. territories unless there is a local law or variance that requires merchants to be permitted to engage in the practice. For more information, visit www.visa.com/checkoutfees. вЂў9вЂў possibilities вЂў april A Message from the MEMBERS Financial Services Program Do you have a clear direction for a CONFIDENT RETIREMENT? Make sure your retirement plan is headed in the right direction. Retirement is a time to enjoy life, not a time to be overwhelmed with financial concerns, and the right plan can make all the difference. вЂў вЂў вЂў What are your goals for your retirement journey? How do you design and implement a retirement income plan? How do you stay on track year after year? Contact your financial services representative today to answer these questions and set a course for your retirement. Your lifelong partner for retirement, investment and insurance planning. For more information about any of these services, please contact 800.342.3086, ext. 1307 or 7388 Randall Harris, CFPВ©, ChFC вЂў 931-454-1307 Vice President, Wealth Management Tullahoma, TN Kent Hart вЂў 931-461-8743 Financial Advisor Murfreesboro, TN Representatives are registered, securities are sold, and investment advisory services offered through CUNA Brokerage Services, Inc. (CBSI), member NASD/SIPC, a registered broker/dealer and investment advisor, 2000 Heritage Way, Waverly, Iowa 50677, toll-free (866) 512-6109. 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. 011-0134-0707 В©CUNA Mutual Group Ascend Congratulates MEMBERS for 15 Years of Service In May, Ascend Federal Credit Union will celebrate a 15-year partnership with MEMBERS Financial Services (MEMFS). Designed exclusively for credit union members and located at Ascend, MEMFS is a full-service financial advisory program. They provide retirement, insurance and investment services at no initial cost or obligation to members of Ascend. MEMFS professionals are located inside AscendвЂ™s financial centers, and they offer services that compliment the credit unionвЂ™s own financial resources. They help members with retirement planning, investments, college planning, IRA and pension rollovers, inheritance, life insurance, and long-term care planning. They also conduct presentations for employees of AscendвЂ™s select employee groups (SEGs). s have it for later stache your cash and create your own 'stache! Looking for a great place to help your child learn the value of saving? Then check out a Discover, Venture or Go youth account from Ascend Federal Credit Union. Discover is for kids age 12 and younger; Venture is for teens age 13 to 17; and Go is for young adults 18 to 24. Each account has incentives to encourage young people to spend and save wisely. Plus, youth account holders can participate in drawings based on how they use their account. Our brand promise is to educate and help members become effective financial stewards. To jumpstart your childвЂ™s savings, Ascend will deposit $10 into each new youth account opened in April.1 Plus, open a new or make a deposit to an existing youth account in April and register to win a $1,000 stash of cash!2 Teaching your kids good money habits doesnвЂ™t have to be a big hairy deal. Start your child on the path to a solid financial future by opening an Ascend youth account today. 1} The $10 for new accounts will be deposited into the new youth account at the end of the promotion period. 2} Twelve $1,000 prizes will be awarded. No purchase necessary to register or win. Registration forms will be available inside the financial centers during April. Ascend Federal Credit Union employees, officials and any of their family members are not eligible to enter the drawings. вЂў 11 вЂў To make an appointment with a MEMFS representative, call toll-free 800-342-3086, extension 1307 or 7388. possibilities вЂў april presorted Standard u.s. postage paid Nashville, TN Permit #1 p.o. box 1210 520 Airpark Drive Tullahoma, TN 37388 for our members in the home of: We do business in accordance with the Federal Fair Housing Law and the Equal Credit Opportunity Act. This credit union is federally insured by the National Credit Union Administration. Membership is limited. loc ati o n s www.ascendfcu.org вЂў [email protected] вЂў 1-800-342-3086 Corporate Headquarters P.O. Box 1210 520 Airpark Drive Tullahoma, TN 37388 Lewisburg Nashville 1372 Rock Crusher Road Lewisburg, TN 37091 6201 Centennial Blvd. Nashville, TN 37209 Manchester 2600 Elm Hill Pike Nashville, TN 37214 Arnold Air Force Base 1929 McArthur St. Manchester, TN 37355 452 N. Hap Arnold Drive Arnold AFB, TN 37389 mcminnville Columbia 981 W. James Campbell Blvd. Columbia, TN 38401 Three Star Mall 1410 Sparta St. McMinnville, TN 37110 Murfreesboro cool springs 3150 Aspen Grove Drive Franklin, TN 37067 Franklin County 2459 Decherd Blvd. Winchester, TN 37398 1250 W. Clark Blvd. Murfreesboro, TN 37129 750 S. Church St. Murfreesboro, TN 37130 Shelbyville 1900 N. Main St. Shelbyville, TN 37160 Smyrna 769 Nissan Drive Smyrna, TN 37167 Tullahoma 1611 N. Jackson St. Tullahoma, TN 37388 4051 Franklin Road Murfreesboro, TN 37128 Raising Possibilities