For Your Information: FCU Services
Keeping in Touch
make financing it simple and easy. We
know you will have
lots of questions and
we're here with the
answers. We are with
you every step of the
way - from offering
suggestions on how to
bump up your credit
score so that you can
qualify for the best
rate to providing a
clear explanation of
every piece of paper
you sign at the closing.
Mortgage Loans
Made Simple
And Easy
First-time buyer or
fourth: Buying a home
is stressful! So many
decisions - Cape Cod
or Colonial? Split-level
or Salt Box? Adequate
storage space? Too
much yard or not
enough? And unlike
the shopping mistake
at your favorite store
with the generous return policy, with a
house, there's not
much room for buyer's remorse. That's
why you'll want to take the time to not
only sort out your needs and wants, but
also see the credit union about your
mortgage. Because, while house hunting
is complicated, we work hard to help
April 2017
Freestone Credit Union
Card Services:
 MasterCard Credit Cards
 ATM Cards
 MasterCard Debit Cards
 MasterCard Gift Cards
LOW CAR RATES
1.99% APR
*
On New & Used Autos!!!
new or previous year with warranty and low mileage )
(Used: 2013-2017)
New lower rates on older used vehicles also
On
E-Service Solutions:
 Direct Deposit
 Electronic Drafts
 Payroll Deductions
 Web Page
 FCU Bill Pay
 Internet Banking
 View History
 Texting
 Print Cleared Checks
 Transfers
 Wire Transfers
Holiday Closings
(New: Cars, Boats, Motorcycles, Farm Equipment, 4 Wheelers:
Come
In!!!!!
Please make a note as to when
the credit union will be
closed. Our ATM, Day N
Night Teller Line & PC Banking, & Mobile App are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a
week for your convenience
Easter Holiday We will be
closing at Noon on Fri. Apr.
14th and all day Sat. Apr.
15th.
The deal gets even better when you finance your vehicle at Freestone Credit Un- Memorial Day: Closed Sat.
ion. Thanks to our lower interest rates, your savings will really add up.
May 27 and Mon. May 29th
For more information, contact one of our loan officers at 254-739-2594 or 903-389-3351
Please call the office for other rates not listed.
All loans subject to credit approval.
4th of July: We will be
closed Tues. July 4th.
Labor Day: Closed Sat.
Sept. 2nd and Mon. Sept.
4th.
*Rates may vary according to risk based lending policies.
Columbus Day: Closed Sat.
Oct. 7th and Mon. Oct. 9th.
Lobby
Drive Thru Window
Monday-Thursday 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
Monday-Thursday
8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m
Friday
Friday
Saturday
8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m
9:00 a.m.-Noon
Your savings federally insured to at least $250,000
and backed by the full faith and credit
of the United States Government
9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
April 2017
Products & Services
Designed with You in Mind
Call 254-739-2594 during regular business hours for our mortgage lending department and ask about
mortgages, land purchases, construction,
& home equity loans.
As low as
Keeping i nTo u c h
Freestone Credit Union 613 Main Street P O Box 210  Teague  TX  75860 Tel: (254)
739-2594  (800) 737-8440  Fax (254)-739-3371
Freestone Credit Union Branch Office480 E Main St Fairfield TX 75840
Tel: (903) 389-3351 Fax (903) 389-3149
Freestone Credit Union Nucor Steel Office Tel: 903-626-1696
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Savings Services:
 Share Savings Account
 Kirby Kangaroo Account
 CU Succeed Teen Account
 Vacation Account
 Christmas Account
 Certificate of Deposit
 Individual Retirement
Accounts (IRAs)
 Money Market Account
Checking Services:
 Regular Checking
 Senior Checking (Over 55)
 Student Checking
 Active Military Checking
Lending Services:
 Mortgages
 Home Improvement
 Land
 New Vehicles
 Used Vehicles
 Recreational Vehicles
 Furniture
 Appliances
 Personal
 Share or CD Secured
Other Services:
 Day N Night Tellerline
 Safe Deposit Boxes
 Money Orders
 Travelers Checks
 Night box Deposit
 Saturday Drive Thru
 Friendly Employees
 e-mail
Hablamos español
bank has stockholders and exists to make them a
profit. As a not-for-profit financial cooperative, your
credit union exists to serve you. So make plans
now to attend the annual meeting. Hear about how
we fared in 2016 and what's on tap for 2017. Meet
Get Your Tickets Now!
Tickets are now available at the credit union offices
at 613 Main St, Teague, 480 E Main St ,Fairfield, or at
the Nucor credit union branch in Jewett for $5 each.
You must be a member or joint member to purchase
a ticket and to attend the meeting of the membership. No guests will be allowed.
the board of directors - the people you've elected to
represent your best interests. Enjoy refreshments
and visit with fellow members. The annual meeting
is a credit union tradition. We hope you'll be able to
participate.
This years meeting will be held Thursday, April 20,
TICKETS MUST BE PURCHASED NO LATER THAN TUES- 2017 at 6:00 pm at the Teague High School cafeteria.
DAY APRIL 18, 2017.
TICKETS CANNOT BE PUR- The terms of directors Nancy Roberts, Jerry Morris
CHASED AT THE DOOR. NO TAKE-OUTS WILL BE PER& Kenneth Allen will expire at this meeting. The
MITTED. NO REFUNDS AT THE DOOR FOR TICKETS PURnominating committee made up of Nominating
CHASED IN EXCESS OR FOR THOSE WHO CANNOT ATChairman Fred Neale, Mary Lee & Jean Tackett
TEND.
has nominated Nancy Roberts, Jerry Morris &
Attention Credit Union Shareholders (ahem: that's
Kenneth Allen to succeed themselves, each for
you)! The credit union's annual meeting is coming
three year terms.
up, and you're invited to join us. That's because as
a member/owner of the credit union, you're a shareholder. That's one of the key differences between
your credit union and the bank down the street. The
BBQ dinner and drawings to follow the meeting.
Come be a part of this important occasion.
Call 254-739-2594 for more information.
TIME TO WAKE UP YOUR DORMANT ACCOUNT
If you have forgotten money tucked in at the credit union (or at
any institution) it's time to sound the alarm and roust it out.
Money not claimed can end up in state-run unclaimed property
funds. Funds are dormant after one year of no member activity, and after three years of no member initiated activity, funds
must be turned into the state on July 1. Please call to verify
your account information and to update your account status if
you have not used it within a year. Make sure we have your
correct address and phone #s.
According to the New York Times, "There are tens of billions of dollars sitting in the
unclaimed property funds that states run, just waiting to be taken back by rightful
owners who have lost track of various stock dividends, tax refunds, bank accounts
and the like."
If you think you have lost track of your credit union account, please contact us to
verify its status. Having a dormant account means you are not taking full advantage
of the credit union. Plus, it's an expense to the credit union to maintain accounts, so
it's to every members' benefit to keep them active. To check on other accounts, visit
http://www.unclaimed.org/ (National Association of Unclaimed Property Administration) where you can find information and links to each state's website. Contact
Freestone Credit Union before we have to send funds to the state! Texas website:
http://www.window.state.tx.us/up/
IN THIS
IRAs
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Secured Credit Cards
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Elder Abuse
2
Free Annual Credit Rpt.
2
CUs Celebrate Youth
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Youth Budgets
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Property & Mortgage Ln
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FCU Vehicle Rates
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Hours
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Holidays
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For Your Information:
Keeping in Touch
2016 IRA
Contribution Reminder
In haste of getting all your tax documents in order for your 2016 tax
filing, don't forget about making
What Is A Secured
Credit Card?
Credit cards aren't just good for getting credit;
they're good for establishing and maintaining a
good credit history. A Share Secured Credit Card
is the perfect card for starting or rebuilding your
credit. It is a real credit card (not a prepaid or
debit card) that helps you build or improve your
credit score. Unlike prepaid cards, secured credit
cards give you a credit line, and your payment
Elder Financial Exploitation
To con artists, down-on-their-luck relatives, or opportunistic acquaintances, they are gold mines. Individuals over the age of 50
control 70% of the country’s wealth, and seniors between the ages
of 65 and 74, with an average net worth of $1.06 million, have more
assets than any other age group.
“That’s where the money is,” says Jay Haapala, AARP associate
state director of community outreach in Minnesota. “If college kids
had a bunch of disposable income lying around, criminals would be
trying to figure out how to scam college kids.”
Dementia, disability, and decline can make it even easier for criminals. All told, it is a problem that costs American seniors billions of
dollars every year.
Common forms of exploitation
There are myriad scams, unethical businesses, and unscrupulous
individuals preying on seniors all the time. While the details vary,
there are a few familiar scenarios.
Breach of trust
The vast majority of elder financial abuse—as much as 90%, according to the National Adult Protective Services Association—is
committed by caregivers or close family members. A son is added
to a checking account to help manage Mom’s bills and then starts
using the account to pay off gambling debts. Or Grandpa gives valuables to the housekeeper and eventually—at her suggestion—
names her in the will.
Phone scams
Someone calls, ostensibly from the IRS, saying that an individual
April 2017
your IRA contributions for the 2016 tax year. You have until Tuesday,
April 18 to make your 2016 IRA contributions. Even if you haven't
opened an IRA account yet, you can still do so and still be eligible to
contribute for 2016. For additional information from IRS, visit
https://www.irs.gov/Retirement-Plans/Traditional-and-Roth-IRAs.
activity will be reported to the major consumer
reporting agencies.
Getting a Secured Credit Card is easy! Funds
you deposit at the credit union are used as collateral for the credit card. (MasterCard minimum $500) And, you use the card like any credit card. Call or stop by Freestone Credit Union
for more information on our Low Rate Secured
MasterCard credit cards. Let us help you start
a credit history or rebuild your credit with a
Secured Credit Card.
has a tax bill that is going to rise with interest and fees unless paid
immediately. Or someone calls with news that there is a problem
with a credit card and they need a Social Security number and birth
date to access account information to clear things up.
Phishing scams
As more seniors head online, they grow more susceptible to phishing scams. Phishing emails look as though they come from legitimate sources such as banks or credit card issuers. They ask seniors to click on a link to enter account information in order to verify
recent transactions or to rectify problems with accounts. Unfortunately, the links are fake, and criminals use them to gather personal
account information, which they use to drain accounts or steal identities.
Keeping in Touch
For Your Information:
Why Credit Unions Want to Make Your Kids
Financially Strong
All parents want their kids to grow up healthy.
April 2017
Credit union strong
That’s why every April credit unions across the country celebrate National Credit Union Youth Month. Unlike other institutions, credit unions are not-for-profit, and one of their seven foundational principles is education. They genuinely want
to see their members succeed and gain financial strength.
But most of the time that discussion focuses on getting them
to eat more vegetables and spend less time in front of screens. So if you’re unsure how to teach your kids about money, start
Too few think about their kids’ well-being in terms of their
by talking to them. Look for teachable moments and bring
financial health.
the topic up naturally—without ever lecturing them.
In fact, one in four parents don’t even feel qualified to teach
their kids about money because they themselves don’t feel
like they’ve been good enough stewards of their own finances, according to a survey by the investment firm T. Rowe
Price. And two-thirds of parents worry about setting a good
financial example for their children.
Solicit their advice at the grocery store about what’s the best
deal, and introduce the concept of money early with an allowance. Allow them to spend some of the money they earn,
but also talk to them about the importance of giving and saving
And lean on your credit union. Open a youth savings account
and see what educational resources your credit union offers.
A fun place to start for your kids is to inquire if your credit
Fewer and fewer workplaces offer guaranteed pensions, mak- union participates in Youth Month. Most that do offer prizes
ing saving for retirement the responsibility of the individual. and incentives for reaching savings goals.
A perilous future
Yet mobile technology and targeted online ads are making
shopping instantaneous, increasing the likelihood of young
people finding themselves in personal debt and everballooning student debt. And almost no young person uses a
checkbook, let alone learns to balance one.
On top of all that, only 17 states require a high-school course
in personal finance. Perhaps that’s why 40% of young adults
who live on their own still depend on their parents for money.
This is why credit unions are such a powerful resource for
families. Credit unions recognize that kids learning to make
smart money decisions is a quality-of-life issue, one that’s
every bit as important as a healthy diet and regular exercise.
It could be one of the first steps you help your kids take toward a stronger, brighter future.
You may want to start your high schooler a checking account
at the credit union, to help them to learn to budget while they
are still at home, before they go to college or move out. Call
us today.
Cu Succeed Teens: 13-17 years old (Claim Your Youth) :
http://www.claimyouryouth.com/Resources
Kirby Kangaroo Club: 0-12 years of age: http://
www.kirbykangaroo.com/Default.aspx?cuid=36001183
So, how do you protect yourself and your loved ones from elder
financial abuse? Sign up on the Do Not Call Registry. This prevents
businesses from contacting you. Those that do come through either
don’t know what they’re doing or don’t care. “Either way,” says
Haapala, “you should not do business with them.”
Haapala also reminds seniors to conduct their personal business within the financial services system. Financial institutions have fraud protection services that limit an individual’s
risk. They also have systems that make it possible to trace
funds back to criminals in some instances.
Haapala also reminds seniors to conduct their personal business
within the financial services system. Financial institutions have fraud
protection services that limit an individual’s risk. They also have
systems that make it possible to trace funds back to criminals in
some instances.
Get Your Annual Free Credit Report
Under federal law, you are entitled to one "free" copy of your credit report every 12 months from each of the nationwide credit reporting
companies (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion). A special website, https://www.annualcreditreport.com, has been set up by the three major credit-reporting companies. Just go to the website and click the "Request your credit reports" button and follow the steps. There is no
charge for ordering your annual credit reports and it is the only “free” report recommended.
You may order your reports from each of the
three nationwide credit-reporting companies at
the same time, or you can order your report from
each of the companies one at a time. Your best
option is to space out your requests so you get a
credit report every four months.
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