MEMBER NEWS
Spring 2015
www.nsccu.org
Building Financial Wealth for Your Future
CHEROKEE
1030 South 2nd Street
(712) 225-5731 • (800) 848-5731
IDA GROVE
216 Moorehead Avenue
(712) 364-3000 • (800) 297-5059
SANBORN
106 Main Street
(712) 729-3731 • (888) 929-3731
HOLIDAY
CLOSING
Your credit union will
be closed to observe
the following holidays:
Memorial Day Monday, May 25
Independence Day –
Saturday, July 4
At North Star Community Credit Union we recently changed the way our loan interest
rates are priced to reward you for your excellent payment history. The interest rate is now
based upon your FICO credit score and the type of collateral used. We also no longer
base the interest rates on whether it is a new or used car, truck, motorcycle, RV or other
secured collateral. So whether it is new or used, we will give you the same interest rate
that you qualify for.You will find that most of our interest rates are a lot lower as compared
to last year’s rates, especially our used vehicle interest rates. Ninety percent of all
financial institutions and insurance companies are using a credit score to determine your
interest rate or price they charge for your premiums. FICO credit scores range from 300
(low) to a high of 850.
Andy Barriger
Three very important things that you can do now to improve your credit score:
Vice President
1.) Check Your Credit Report – repairing or improving your credit score begins with your
credit report.You can request a free copy of your credit report from annualcreditreport.com.Your credit report
contains the information needed to calculate your credit score and it can possibly contain incorrect information.
You will want to check it to make sure that there are no late payments incorrectly listed for any of your credit
accounts and that the amounts owed for each of your accounts is correct. If you find any errors on your credit
report, you will need to dispute them with the credit bureau.
2.) Setup a Payment Reminder – For you to make your credit payments on time is one of the main contributing
factors that can affect your credit score. Some financial institutions and credit card companies will offer a
payment reminder through their online banking portal that can send you an email or text message reminding you
when your payment is due.You should also consider enrolling in automatic payments through your financial
institution or credit card companies to have your payments automatically debited from your checking account.
3.) Reduce the Amount of Debt You Owe – The first thing you should do is stop using your credit cards. Make a list
of all your credit card accounts and determine how much you owe on each one and what interest rate that you are
paying on them. Set up a budget plan in which any extra amount above the minimum payment that is due, you pay
it towards the higher interest rate cards first, while also maintaining the minimum payments on your other credit
card accounts.
So when you get that income tax refund this year don’t just spend it, use it to pay off the higher interest rate credit
cards or any outstanding collections or judgments. If you don’t have any debts, call us to see how we can help
grow that tax return by investing in a North Star CD or put it in an IRA savings/CD account for your retirement.
At North Star Community Credit Union we are here to help you build your financial wealth for your future.
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To Avoid Scammers, Be Wary of the Phone
Think
Spring
You’ve got a strong
credit union behind you.
While scams keep changing, the targets stay the same. Seniors continue to be the marks of a variety of
low-risk crimes that prey on their sense of duty and exploit their fear of cognitive loss.
Retirees make ripe targets because they have access to cash via retirement savings and equity in their homes.
Often the most vulnerable people in society – who may not have access to the internet or live alone- are targeted
in these scams. Criminals do this by building up contacts or ‘mailing lists’ categorizing elderly or vulnerable people.
If they choose to respond or show any interest, they can be placed on another list to reflect this and sold across
the world. Once people are on this ‘suckers list’, they can be targeted with endless amounts of contacts via the
phone promising prizes if a purchase or payment is made. Scammers are ruthless and calculating and will use
whatever means to get into the mind of individuals and try to build up trust. The idea is to lure someone into a
false sense of security – for example, scammers can pose as clairvoyants, turn people against their family and
friends, and swear victims to secrecy.
Here is what to do to avoid being targeted:
• Ditch the landline. The most common way scammers make contact is by phone, which accounts for 40% of all
fraud contacts, up from 30% two years ago. One reason seniors are targeted is because they still use
landlines—so they’re easy to find through commercially sold phone lists—and they often answer their phones.
• Sign up for AARP’s Fraud Watch Network alerts (http://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/fraud-watch-network/)
and check its online map. This will help you keep up-to-date on the scams happening where you live, as
scammers frequently change the areas they’re targeting.
• Hang up. Whether it’s a purported relative imploring you to send money right away or a sweepstakes
requiring you to pay taxes in advance—two common scams—say you’ll call back. Then research the
situation. If the caller is putting pressure on you to pay immediately or it sounds too good to be true, it’s a scam.
• To guard against losses and inconvenience from
identity theft, review your credit reports regularly.You
can order one free credit report a year from each of
the “big three” credit reporting agencies—Equifax,
TransUnion, and Experian-at annualcreditreport.com
• You can register your home or mobile phone for free
with the National Do Not Call Registry. This gives you
a choice about whether to receive telemarketing calls
at home. Most telemarketers should not call your
number once it has been on the registry for 31 days.
If they do, you can file a complaint at
www.donotcall.gov.
Ag Show 2015
North Star Community Credit Union
hosted a booth at the 2015 Ag Show in
Cherokee. Greeting people during the
event was Kallie Morrow, Kristen Weiland,
and Andy Barriger. There was a $50
Casey’s gift card drawing. Accepting the
gift card from Loan Officer Andy
Barriger is Brenda Parker of Cherokee.
Giving Back to
Our Members
Loan Officer Kristen Weiland presents a $500.00 check, from the Iowa Credit Union
Foundation to Colton Kennebeck. Colton lost personal belongings in a house fire.
This Disaster Relief Grant was established in 1995 by the Iowa Credit Union
Foundation to assist credit union members who have suffered a significant loss
because of a disaster.
Save money. Simplify your life. North Star Community Credit Union can help.
Debt Control Loans
as low as
8.24%
APR*
Pay off Credit Cards, Income Taxes, Holiday Bills
Call, stop by, or apply online at www.nsccu.org today!
Limited
time
offer!
* APR = Annual Percentage Rate, effective 01/26/2015, includes a 0.25% discount with automatic payment from your North Star Community Credit Union account. Rates
are subject to change without notice. All loans subject to approval. Various terms available. North Star Community Credit Union existing loans not eligible. Maximum loan
amount is $20,000. Rate and loan amount may vary depending on credit score. Offer may be withdrawn at any time. Debt Control Loans available until April 15, 2015.
Lobby Hours: Cherokee & Ida Grove
Mon-Thurs: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Fri: 9:00 am - 6:00 pm
Sat: 9:00 am - Noon (Loan officer available)
Drive-Up Hours:
Cherokee & Ida Grove
Mon-Thurs: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
Fri: 8:30 am - 6:00 pm
Sat: 8:30 am - Noon
Sanborn Hours:
Tues, Thurs & Fri:
10:00 am - 5:00 pm