Random Acts of Kindness 2016

During the month of October all of the employees at Horizon Community Credit Union participated in a challenge to get 84 random acts of kindness. The number comes from the number of years our credit union has been serving the community.

Each employee was given a set of cards with a note to "pass along" the random act of kindness. They were asked to get out into the community and do things for others that may have brightened their day, such as holding a door or buying a cup of coffee for someone!

Here is a list of all of the random acts of kindness our team has done over the last few weeks:

1. Held the door open for man who was pushing his wife in a wheel chair.

2. Bought the person behind me their food at McDonalds.

3. Was a designated driver for someone.

4. Let someone go ahead of me in line at the store.

5. Made chicken noodle soup and passed it on to others.

6. Let someone go before me at a four way stop.

7. I brought licorice to work for my coworkers.

8. Bought coffee for the person behind me at McDonalds.

9. Gave my tickets to WWE away.

10. Picked up garbage around the Eastman building.

11. Took books to the free library.

12. Brought candy into work for the members.

13. Picked up bread and buns on the floor in the isle at the grocery store.

14. Bought pumpkins and added an extra $10.

15. Call the mill to inform them a car had their lights on.

16. Gave cookies to the delivery guys.

17. Left $1 off coupons at the grocery store.

18. Returned cart at grocery store for elderly lady.

19. Brought cat food to a no-kill shelter.

20. Visited with my neighbor.

21. Bought the coffee for the person behind me at Starbucks.

22. Gave someone shopping at Old Navy my $10 Old Navy Bucks to use.

23. Brought items to the Humane Society to donate.

24. Left $1 taped to the vending machine at the mall so someone could buy a drink.

25. I let someone go ahead of me in the checkout line at the grocery store.

26. Left a tip for the housekeeper at the hotel that I was staying at.

27. Gave a donation to the boy scout troop that was selling popcorn in the grocery store.

28. Bought treats for my co-workers.

29. Visited a friend who was going through a tough time.

30. Gave up my corsage at a wedding for the groom's grandmother because they were short one.

31. I helped an elderly woman push her cart back inside the store.

32. I paid for movie tickets and a large popcorn to see Finding Dory for a family of 3. It was dollar movie tickets at the movie theater, so the popcorn costed more than their tickets.

33. Returned our bowling balls back to the rack after my family and I were done bowling for the evening.

34. I made sure to say please and thank you when I ordered food in the drive-thru.

35. Reminding my neighbor that it was recycling week.

36. Wrote to my "coach" praising her for mentoring and guiding me.

37. Gave some event tickets to a friend that was having a tough time.

38. E-mailed my in-laws to let them know how thankful I am for their constant support and friendship.

39. Was in the mall parking lot and an elderly woman seemed to having difficulty finding her vehicle….helped search and find it. It was a bit of a distance away.

40. Thanked a police officer for all that they do and let them know the support that they really have.

41. Paid for someone’s pumpkin at the pumpkin patch.

42. Helped an elderly lady load groceries in her car at Walmart.

43. Paid for someone’s coffee inside McDonalds.

44. Gave a coupon away I was not using at Target.

45. Tipped extra during a meal because she was a great waitress.

46. Donated some of my son's clothes to a non-profit organization.

47. Brought donuts into work for breakfast.

48. I was in Kohl’s and a person looked confused, so I said is there something I can help with? She was looking for a tie for her 16 year old son and was having trouble finding the right color, I am hoping I helped.

49. We babysat for someone, and refused to take money.

50. Delivered the mail to the mailbox on my lunch when it was over full.

51. Gave unwanted (already purchased) dog treats to someone at the pet store.

52. Donated books to Voyager free library.

53. Donated clothes to Good Will.

54. Donated 10 cans cat food to a local animal shelter.

55. Bought the person behind me in line their soda.

56. Helped someone save $4 in coupons and earn a $5 gift card.

57. Bought the person behind me at McDonalds their breakfast.

58. Wrote “Thank you” cards to my kids’ teachers for their hard work.

59. Donated goods to a local food pantry.

60. Gave our mailman a $5 gift card to Starbucks to “stay warm this fall”.

61. Complimented our waiter at a restaurant for doing an amazing job with our orders and being friendly.

62. Paid for shipping on a persons Thirty-One order.

63. Paid for personalization on a persons Thirty-One order.

64. Made cookies for a neighbor.

65. Let somebody check out before me at the store.

66. Donated a few items I no longer needed.

67. Helped a lady put her groceries on the belt at the store.

68. Gave a lady, who was walking in the rain, a ride home.

69. Gave someone a hug when they really needed one.

70. Bought eggs and bread for someone who needed it.

71. Gave a jar of homemade pickles to my sister.

72. Gave a person a ride home from the hospital.

73. Took my daughter and granddaughter to a concert.

74. Bought my coworker a soda.

75. Left $5 at Culvers for next drive up.

76. Made dinner for my neighbor.

77. Bought a pumpkin and a Halloween trick or treating bag full of candy for a kid who could not go trick or treating this year.

78. Helped an elderly woman at Walmart put away her groceries in her car.

79. Left $5 dollars at McDonalds for people buying their $1 coffees on a cold day.

80. Donated unused blankets from home to a family in need.

81. Gave someone in need clothes in good condition I did not need for the winter.

82. Bought and donated groceries to the youth retreat at the St. Willebrord church in Green Bay.

83. Made cookies and passed them on to others.

84. Shared food with a coworker.

Member Appreciation Week 2016

It's our favorite week here at Horizon Community Credit Union--Member Appreciation Week! 

Member Appreciation Week runs from February 1st to February 5th.  We've got a few things planned for you!

All Week

• Tables filled with swag and snacks
• Enter for a chance to win $50 cash, $100 cash, or an HCCU Swag Package. 
• Drawing will be done at the end of the day Friday. 
• Happy tellers ready to serve!

Wednesday

• 10a-2p Member Appreciation Luncheon (both branches)
• Stop by for a free lunch and a chance to mingle with other members and the HCCU staff. 
• 5:15p  Annual Meeting
• Those who attend the Annual Meeting are the first to see last year's fiscal reports and hear the Board's plan and vision for HCCU's future. Fiscal reports are posted on the website later (see the 2014 Statement of Financial Condition here). 

Changing the World, 83 Acts of Kindness at a Time...

Credit unions across the world celebrate International Credit Union (ICU) Day each year on the third Thursday of October.This year, the theme for ICU Day was "People Helping People." At its most basic level, a credit union is people pooling their money to provide each other with affordable loans—it is literally people helping people. This is why Horizon Community Credit Union celebrates ICU Day. Because credit unions empower people, wherever they are in the world or life, to take control of their financial future.

We decided to celebrate by performing 83 Random Acts of Kindness--one act of kindness for each year HCCU has been helping members achieve success. Each staff member was asked to perform a minimum of 5-6 random acts of kindness and live the theme of People Helping People. Some of our staff got particularly creative--take a look!

1. Gave "thank you" note to mailman for delivering my mail to be even when the address is incorrect
2. Paid for coffee/meal for someone at Starbucks
3. Donated products (toiletry, personal care, etc) to UWGB students
4. Helped someone save $10 on their purchase with coupons!
5. Donated diapers to families in need
6. Gave someone $5 in an envelope
7. Bought a young lady a Starbucks coffee ($4)
8. Printed something for a friend
9. Cleaned room for a resident at nursing home me and my grandma visit
10. Made cookies for my Grandma’s neighbor
11. Helped lady with kids at the store with bagging groceries
12. Helped older gentleman put groceries in his car
13. Bought older lady $7 meal at McDonalds
14. Dropped off money at my local utilities office so that funds could be applied to a deserving persons bill especially since weather is getting colder
15. Donated food to the local food pantry via a food drive at Copps grocery store
16. Donated Cat food to the local shelter via a drive at the local Petco
17. Purchased Breast Cancer Awareness flowers and gave them to someone who is a Cancer Survivor
18. Tipped waitress 100% of my total bill at my networking lunch
19. Made baked goods for my boyfriends work crew
20. Gave someone my cart
21. Baked cookies for my neighbor
22. Paid for the order of the person behind me in the McDonald’s drive-thru
23. Wrote a thank you to the mail person
24. Gave my seat to someone
25. Bought coffee for an outgoing GM
26. Bought coffee for an incoming GM
27. Printed something for a friend
28. Opened door for stranger
29. Paid for someone’s dinner
30. Let someone merge in front of me during rush hour
31. Helped someone with a work challenge
32. Took a picture for someone per their request
33. Bought tickets to a concert for a friend
34. Gave $5 to the Kwik Trip cashier to pay for part of the next customer’s purchase.
35. Baked a nice warm meal for two friends so they could eat something hearty for lunch, versus a sandwich.  
36. Bought lunch for someone
37. Let a lady with two anxious kids and a huge cart of groceries check out before me at Target.
38. Paid for the person behind me in line at McDonald’s drive thru
39. Left a $5 tip for the bartender who got me a water during my volleyball game.
40. Printed something for a friend.
41. Said “Yes” when Goodwill cashier asked if I wanted to round up for a charity.
42. Made copies of old photos and sent them with a handwritten letter to a good friend who I haven’t talked to in a while.
43. Bought a $5 Starbucks gift card and gave it to the gentleman who held the door open for me and was so cheerful.
44. Brought a package of cookies to the workers at Maple Ridge Nursing Home
45. Brought snacks to the teachers at LearningRx along with a thank you note to everyone working there because they are so great with the kids and so happy all the time!
46. Gave a package of cookies to the girl working the drive-thru at McDonalds to share with her co-workers.
47. Left a pack of gum with the McDonalds drive-thru worker to give to the car behind me in line.
48. Brought snacks to the staff at Bright Beginnings Daycare, where my daughter went years ago, and her favorite teacher was still there!
49. Bought coffee for someone
50. Made pies, dropped them off at my grandma’s nursing home and visited.  
51. Got stopped at a drawbridge and I let cars from side road and other oncoming traffic go in front of me.
52. Dropped books off at a few Little Free Libraries around town.
53. I was getting pumpkins at a roadside vendor and gave $10.00 to some kids that were there to buy pumpkins also.
54. Donated some clothing to Goodwill.
55. Let a shopper go in front of me at the grocery store.
56. I go to the Y almost every day and one of the ladies at the front desk always calls me by name and has a huge smile on her face when I come in.  I look forward to it when I arrive and somehow every day she is there I am just happier going in the morning.  So today, I dropped off two $5 Starbucks gift cards with a note saying thanks for the bright smile so early in the morning….I asked her to use one for herself and to hand one off to someone that inspires her day!
57. Bought coffee for the person behind me
58. Bought lunch for the person behind me
59. I left a thank you note in our mailbox at home for our mail carrier because he is always so friendly and says “hi” when the kids are outside playing. He really enjoyed it. He said he has been with the US Postal Service for 8 years now (retiree) and no one has ever done this. I was really glad he liked it and my kids really appreciated it.
60. I purchased a beverage through the drive thru at McDonalds for the person behind me.
61. I bought the person behind me in the car wash line an ultimate wash. I got a honk and a wave when I was leaving the lot.
62. We donated our unused Nintendo Wii to Goodwill on the east side. Hopefully some other children can enjoy it and put it to use.
63. I opened the door for a member’s grandmother who came in to deposit a check for her granddaughter who was traveling outside of the country. The doors at Eastman are quite heavy and she would have struggled with them.
64. Paid for the people behind me at Culver’s drive thru. They actually turned it around and bought me ice cream with the money instead. So nice!
65. Paid for the car behind me at Wendy’s drive thru.
66. Gave up my seat for someone.
67. Donated some of my unused clothes.
68. Mowed my neighbors lawn after I mowed mine.
69. Made my neighbor’s dinner.
70. I used $5 to buy two people sitting outside McDonalds a coffee and Sausage McMuffin.
71. I used 5 dollars to prepay a gas pump (I left a note saying it was prepaid)
72. I went out to eat this past weekend and between me and a friend we paid for a couple’s 10th anniversary dinner.
73. Paid  $4.19 for the person behind me at McDonalds.
74. I opened the door for a lady at a restaurant
75. I opened the door to the credit union for two ladies. I gave one a hug!
76. I opened the door for a member as he was entering the credit union.
77. I opened  the door for a member as she was leaving the credit union.
78. Let a person go ahead of me in line at the grocery store.
79. A guy I see everyday standing at the bus stop, I stopped and gave him coffee one day and found out his name (Lenard).  He was very surprised and happy, we wave to each other everyday when I pull up at the stop he is waiting at. 
80. Gave a ride to one of my son's friends at school for a school activity they had last weekend. He wanted to go but couldn’t because he didn’t have a ride and wasn’t allowed to ride with other kids who had their licenses as the parents didn’t feel they had enough driving experience.  Happier than a pig in mud.
    
    
81. A gal pulled up to me at stop light asked me how to get to a business. She was lost and had an appointment was going to be late. Rather than try to explain, I told her to follow me and drove her to the parking lot of the building and got her there in time.  She was very happy.
82. Purchased ten dollars worth of tickets from a gal for a raffle. She was trying to raise money for a cause and couldn’t get anyone to contribute. She was so happy she let me know it encouraged her to keep plugging away and ended up selling $332.00 for the cause.  It was nice of her to let me know she far exceeded her goal and that I helped in a small way to motivate her.
83. Boys Scouts were trying to sell their goods to raise funds out in front of Festival.  Everyone was walking by and saying maybe later, no, too expensive. So, I bought a can of one of their goods and turned around and gave it to someone who was trying hard to ward them off.  They were shocked.  They bought something as well.  Not sure if they gave it away, I left before I could see if they did.  Great feeling.

We were inspired to perform these acts by the theme of ICU Day 2015--- but you don't need any excuse to be kind. Give yourself a random acts of kindness challenge, and pay attention to how you feel!  Also, if someone is kind to you, pay it forward! If we all act in kindness, we just might change the world!

Written/Compiled by: Breanna B. 

Need to Make a Change? Come Work at Horizon!

Hey there, I’m Breanna! I’m a part-time Member Service Representative or “MSR,” here at Horizon Community Credit Union. I’ll be celebrating my first year at HCCU in August. Applying at and accepting the offer from HCCU was one of the best decisions I’ve made, and if you get a chance to work here, I think you'll agree!

HCCU is looking for part-time Member Service Representatives. You can see the posted job description here. You might think that working at a credit union would be boring—but you’re wrong! Here are some reasons why I love working at HCCU:

I’m always learning—There are a lot of laws and rules at any given financial institution that an MSR needs to be aware of. I have regular training, and I learn new things about my job every day. I’m also learning member preferences, which makes their experience better.

I get to help people—Money is an integral part of our life in this society. If I can help someone correct an issue or use a product or service to improve their money management, I’m thrilled. Credit unions give back to their members and community, so there’s always an opportunity to help someone.

I’m solving problems—You might already know that there are many ways something can go wrong with your money. It’s my job to do everything within my power to help right that situation, and it challenges me and allows me to help someone at the same time.

Everyone is helpful—HCCU cannot be run by just one person. In order to operate successfully, we work together as a team. We might assist with projects or just assist with some daily duties. It makes the day more enjoyable too.

I have opportunities—the credit union industry is quite active. I can be involved in local credit union or co-op groups, as well as state, national, and international events. I get to network and learn more about our industry.

I have a second family—This is one of the best reasons to work at HCCU. We’re a smaller credit union, which means we get to know each other well. As employees, we look out for each other and care about one another.

So what do you say? Sound like a somewhere YOU want to work? Apply now! There are a few ways to do so!

Email your resume to careers@horizonccu.com

Apply here

Mail your resume to:
Horizon Community Credit Union
Human Resources
P.O. Box 670
Green Bay, WI 54305-0670

You can find a paper copy of the application here. Fill it out and return it to either branch—700 Eastman Ave or 3139 Voyager Drive, both in Green Bay, WI.

We look forward to having you as part of the Horizon Community Credit Union family! If you have any questions or want to know more, feel free to call us at 920-43-0122!

Written by: Breanna B. 

What is Credit?

            Before I worked at Horizon Community Credit Union, I didn’t know much about credit and credit scores. I didn’t care either, and I couldn’t comprehend how one number could impact my life. I had no idea the extent to which a credit score was used, how it was formulated, or what it even meant. I’m still learning today! I now know how important a good credit score is, and I want to make sure you know too!

            Your credit “is your reputation as a borrower (Pritchard).” That reputation is supplemented by your credit report and credit score, as defined by the big three credit bureaus. All of this is taken into consideration when making lending , insurance, residence, and employment decisions. Confused? Hold on, I’ll explain!

            The big three credit bureaus that track your borrowing history are Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. They are for-profit companies that are publicly traded on the stock market, but they are regulated by the federal government through the Fair Credit Reporting Act (Irby). You can get one free copy of your credit report from each of the listed credit bureaus. If you aren’t already getting your one free credit report from each agency, you should begin doing so. You may learn things about your credit that you didn’t know, and you may find mistakes that you need to correct. FICO, as you may hear about from Discover commercials, is not a credit bureau.

            Credit scores give the “big picture” view of your credit, and they vary a little between credit bureaus. As you can imagine, there’s a lot of information that goes into a credit report. Scores are generated by a computer program, which reads through all your credit information and generates a score. According to Credit.com, this is the scale for credit scores:

Excellent                   781-850

Good Credit            661-780

Fair Credit                 601-660

Poor Credit              501-600

Bad Credit                Below 500

            So now what? Check your credit scores, and go through the reports, and make sure all of the information is accurate. Then go to your financial institution of choice and make an appointment with someone to ask any questions and discuss ways to correct problems and increase your credit score. Be active and follow through. Credit scores are used to approve decisions in pivotal areas of your life. It’s crucial that you take an active role in increasing your score, so that your borrowing past will not hold you back from the dreams of your future.  For more tips, check out my sources, as well as this previous blog post, written by a loan officer. 

Breanna B.

Sources:

What is Credit? By Justin Pritchard

http://banking.about.com/od/creditscoresandreporting/a/whatiscredit.htm

Who are the three major credit bureaus? By LaToya Irby

http://credit.about.com/od/creditreportfaq/f/creditbureau.htm

What is a Good Credit Score? By Geri Detweiler

http://www.credit.com/credit-scores/what-is-a-good-credit-score/

April is National Credit Union Youth Month!

Horizon Community Credit Union invites our young members to join us as we celebrate National Credit Union Youth Month! The theme this year is getting WILD about saving! Stop by this April to take a look at all the cool things we've prepared for our younger members! You and your children can visit either of our two locations to take a photo in our Safari Photo Booth where we supply fun props for them and a camera to take a photo. And afterwards we hang them up in our lobby and you get a copy to take home with you! Kids 12 years old and under that make any deposit to their account of $5 or more are able to pick a toy from our treasure chest and afterwards, if they haven’t received one yet, will receive a coloring sheet which they can color in and enter it to our coloring contest. The winner receives a prize package that includes a $25 Toys R Us gift card! HCCU is also participating in the National Youth Savings Challenge where any kids up to the age of 18 who make a deposit into their account here at HCCU will be entered to win a $100 cash prize!

Is your child not a member of HCCU yet? Well stop by with them and open up an account! They get a free piggy bank to get them started on saving at home and they don’t miss out on our fabulous services!

Post by: Karla C.

Take an active role in your credit union!

We've posted a lot about the credit union difference and why credit unions are a unique financial model.  Now, come witness that difference in action!  Our annual membership luncheon and meeting is being held today, Wednesday February 4th!  Come meet your fellow credit union members and our fabulous staff during lunch from 10:30-2:30.  Then, swing back at 5:15pm to our Voyager Dr. branch to take part in our annual meeting.  You'll learn about some of our initiatives in the coming year, our financial position, and eligible members can vote for candidates to serve on our board of directors!  (Eligible members must be at least 18 years of age, must be a member of HCCU for at least 90 days, and accounts at HCCU must be in good standing.)

Credit unions are unique and different, and they remain a necessary and extremely popular financial alternative for 100 million Americans.
Not-for-profit.  Credit unions are not-for-profit financial cooperatives.  We exist to serve our members, not to make a profit.  Unlike most other financial institutions, credit unions do not issue stock or pay dividends to outside stockholders.  Instead, earnings are returned to our members in the form of lower loan rates, higher interest on deposits, and lower fees.
Taxation.  Credit unions do pay taxes - payroll taxes, sales taxes, and property taxes.  Congress exempts credit unions from federal income taxes.  The exemption was established in 1937, affirmed by the statute in 1951, and re-affirmed in 1998 in H.R. 1151, the Credit Union Membership Access Act, which states:  "Credit unions, unlike many other participants in the financial services market, are exempt from Federal and most State taxes because credit unions are member-owned, democratically operated, not-for-profit organizations generally managed by volunteer boards of directors and because they have the specific mission of meeting the credit and savings needs of consumers, especially persons of modest means."
Ownership.  Credit unions are economic democracy.  Each credit union member has equal ownership and one vote - regardless of how much money a member has on deposit.  At a credit union, every customer is both a member and an owner.
Volunteer Boards.  Each credit union is governed by a board of directors, elected by and from the credit union's membership.  Board members serve voluntarily.
Membership Eligibility.  By current federal statute, credit unions cannot serve the general public.  People qualify for a credit union membership through their employer, organizational affiliations like churches or social groups, or a community-chartered credit union.
Financial Education for Members.  Credit unions assist members to become better educated consumers of financial services.  Additionally, CUNA is partnering with the National Endowment for Financial Education, a not-for-profit foundation, to expand financial education amount high school students.  A national study shows that just ten hours of personal finance education can positively affect students' spending and savings habits for a lifetime.
Social Purpose: People Helping People.  Credit unions exist to help people, not make a profit.  Our goal is to serve all of our members well, including those of modest means - every member counts.  Our members are fiercely loyal for this reason.  They know their credit union will be there for them in bad times, as well as good.  The same people-first philosophy causes credit unions and our employees to get involved in community charitable activities and worthwhile causes - just ask us!

I LOVE MY CREDIT UNION!

Did you know that just by being a member of a credit union, you’re eligible for all kinds of great perks!?  You know you already get great things from the credit union specifically, but you could be getting even more!!  Interested?

The lovemycreditunion.org website has tons of discounts available to credit union members.   You could be saving on everything from GM vehicles, to Sprint cellphone plans, insurance, TV service, and tax prep!  All just for being a member of Horizon Community Credit Union!  Check it out!

Want to share the wealth?  If you know someone who is not a member, send them over!  Or, if they live outside of the Northeast WI area, there is a search feature on lovemycreditunion.org that will help them find a credit union to join in their area! 

If you want to learn more about what makes credit unions unique and why being a member is pretty cool, read more about “Why a Credit Union” while you browse the

great deals!    

Gividends - giving has never been so easy!

Sometimes donating to a charity of choice can be a long and stressful process. First you have to pick a charity you wish to contribute to, then you have to decide how much and how often you would like to donate, and finally you have to hold yourself accountable for those funds and keeping track!

Well enough of all that work, HCCU is coming to the rescue! Beginning January of 2015, we are rolling out a GREAT new program that makes donating simple! Each month all depository accounts, such as a savings, club or money market, receive dividends. This new program is designed to automatically withdraw these dividends for you after they are posted, and donate them to a charity of your choice! We have a list of 10 great local & national charities to pick from, including Bay Area Humane Society, House of Hope, Beacon House, and Paul’s Pantry.  Every little bit helps, and if we all pool our dividends, just think of the difference we can make in our community!

I know setting this up may seem like a lot of effort as well, but really it’s simple! Stop in to either of the HCCU branches and speak with an MSR!  It’s as easy as filling out a quick enrollment form that tells us which charity you would like to donate to, what percentage of your dividends, and from which account.  From there, we take care of everything!  And when it comes to tax time, you can see the dividends you earned as well as your donations on your monthly statements, so keeping track is super easy!

Let’s kick off 2015 the right way, and start donating to our local community!

Post by: Emily P

Your CU does a lot more than you might think!

Did you know that, in partnership with TruStage, HCCU now offers Children’s Whole Life Insurance,  providing parents or grandparents with an opportunity to protect the children they love for coverage amounts of up to $50,000?  Children's Whole Life coverage provides lifelong protection options for children at childhood rates, and features a guaranteed insurability rider which gives the child the opportunity to add additional coverage once they reach adulthood.  Or maybe you don't have any kiddos in your life, but you want to purchase insurance for yourself.  TruStage also recently launched an Essential Whole Life product, with affordable coverage options up to $250,000.  TruStage Essential Whole Life helps our members better protect their families’ financial security.  

And we know you've been hearing about health insurance a lot lately!  If you're currently without insurance, HCCU & TruStage have options for that as well!  With less than two months left in the open enrollment period, there’s still time to enroll in TruStage Health Insurance. There is a really easy-to-use online application and it is backed by TruStage's expert guidance via phone.

TruStage is an insurance partner that brings valuable services to our HCCU members.  TruStage offers investment services, home, auto and life insurance, as well as many other great products!    Take full advantage of your credit union membership and all the added perks that come along with it!  For full details or to apply for coverage, visit http://horizonccu.com/general.php and click on the TruStage banner.  

The CU Difference in Action….Come See the Difference 2/4/15!

You’ve probably heard it before, whether it was from us or some other source, people often talk about the difference between banks and credit unions.  Is there a difference, what is the difference, we all have similar products and services, right? 

It’s true!  We do offer very similar things.  There is a major difference though.  A credit union is a democratic, member-owned cooperative. So when you join a credit union, you’re more than a member; you’re an owner—and that means you have a say in how your credit union is run.  How do you have a say you ask?  By voting! 

Every year on the first Wednesday of February we hold our annual meeting, and ALL members are invited to attend.  Attendees will learn about the credit union’s performance in 2014 and receive information about its impact on members and the community.  All eligible members in attendance will also vote for nominees to fill vacant board of director positions.  (Eligible members must be at least 18 years of age, must be a member of HCCU for at least 90 days, and accounts at HCCU must be in good standing.)

So join us Wednesday, February 4^th when Horizon Community Credit Union will hold its 83^rd annual meeting.  The meeting will be held at our branch at 3139 Voyager Drive, Green Bay.  The meeting will begin at 5:15 P.M.  Hope to see you there!

Post by: Cari J

The Credit Union Difference

There are tons of reasons to love your credit union!  Credit unions are a really unique business, and by belonging to a CU, you’re a part of something pretty cool.  Credit unions are member-owned financial cooperatives.  This means that as a member of the credit union, you’re also an owner.  You get a say in how we do things here!  Your credit union is run by a volunteer board of directors that is elected by the membership (that’s you!) in a democratic process – each member has one vote.  Our board members are also members of the credit union, so they have a unique interest in seeing the credit union succeed and grow.  They are also members of our local community, so they understand what it is like to live, work, and transact business in northeast Wisconsin. 

Credit unions are also not-for-profit.  Money that we make is returned to the membership in the form of higher deposit rates, lower loan rates, and lower fees.  So all that means is rather than pad the pockets of a handful of stakeholders, we pay our dividends to you, and pad YOUR pockets.  During the recession of 2008, credit unions as a group fared much better than the bigger banks, because credit unions had been doing business responsibly all along. 

You may have also heard it said that credit unions are "for people, not profits”.  “People helping people” is the credit union philosophy.  It is the principle on which all credit unions were founded, and it is how credit unions still do business today.  This is brought to life when we lend a member $500 to fill their propane tank for the winter, or when we help a member devise a plan to pay off medical debt from an illness.  On a broader level, we live this philosophy by offering financial education to our members and communities, participating in charity events, and sponsoring community events, in addition to serving the needs of our members.

       

To learn more about the credit union difference, visit www.asmarterchoice.org or the Wisconsin Credit Union Scorecard.

Happy International Credit Union Day!

International Credit Union Day has been celebrated since 1948.  The day was started to reflect on the history of credit unions and to promote our achievements.  It is meant to honor those who have dedicated their lives to the credit union movement and to bettering the lives of our credit union members worldwide.

This year's theme for the day is "Local Service, Global Good", and while we aim to live that mission every day, we wanted to do a little something extra today at Horizon Community Credit Union.  HCCU staff and members spent the morning putting together lunches for area non-profits, to be given to the people they serve and their volunteers.  

We would like to give a big thanks to those who helped us prepare the lunches, and to the volunteer and non-profit organizations in the area for the work that they do to improve our community.  

Benefits of Taking Out a Loan with a CU vs. a Bank

Lower rates: Auto loan averages for CUs as of July were 2.85%  on a 36 mo. car loan vs. Banks @ 5.59%.  Therefore, banks are charging nearly twice as much for the same loan.

Easier to borrow: Community-based CUs tend to be easier to deal with than megabanks. Lending decisions are more likely to be made locally with more flexibility.

In addition, while few national banks make signature loans(unsecured loans), CUs regularly offer this type of loan to their members with good credit.  CUs also offer lower-dollar loans than banks.  You could get a $500 signature loan with a CU, but probably not at a bank because it wouldn't be profitable to them.

Loans through CUs are usually reviewed and completed in a much quicker time-frame.

Lower fees:  When it comes to fees, you will probably find better deals at CU’s than at giant commercial banks.  Whether is for fees to maintain loans, checking accounts, ATM fees, or penalty fees for overdrawing, you are more likely to have fewer and lower fees at your CU.

Credit Unions are typically smaller than banks so talking with, meeting with or working with a real live person happens much sooner in the loan process.  If you've been a member for a while, you might have even talked to the person who makes the decisions on the CU's loans.

Credit Unions offer loans that a lot of traditional banks do not.  Overall, CU rock compared to traditional banking institutions!

Post by: Lori S.

Who needs the DMV?

What is long, slow and drives most people crazy?  Standing in lines.  Unless you are waiting in line for a delicious Mc Donald’s ice cream cone, chances are you’d rather not have to wait so long.  Which Wisconsin service building requires constant renewal of services?  The DMV.  Do you dread going to the DMV because you know it will be PACKED and it will take FOREVER?  Did you have any idea that your Credit Union actually provides many DMV services?  It is as simple as making a quick stop at your local HCCU Credit Union!  We can renew your auto registration, issue new license plates, provide license plate year stickers, and even transfer plates for you!

Forget that ridiculously long line at the DMV, stop in to HCCU today and get your basic DMV services!

Post by: Emily P

Getting an HCCU VISA® Credit Card is as easy as 1-2-3!

Applying for an HCCU VISA® credit card is a very simple process. Bring in your 2 most recent paystubs (2 for each applicant) and fill out and sign our hassle-free application. A loan officer will review your application and let you know if you are approved. It’s as easy as that!

HCCU offers 2 types of VISA® credit cards: Classic and Platinum. What is the difference? The cards are essentially the same, but the Platinum cards have a lower interest rate of 9.9% APR whereas our Classic cards have a 14.9% APR. Both cards have no annual fee and can be used anywhere VISA® is accepted.  Another great feature is the fact that you can request the limit you would like (based on credit qualifications).

Both Classic and Platinum cards also offer Scorecard® reward points, so you earn something for your spending! For every $1 spent you earn 1 point and those points are good for 4 years. Visit www.scorecardrewards.com for more details or to browse the rewards catalog.

And when you have your credit card and your checking account in the same place, monthly payments are easy!  Payments can easily be made with a quick transfer from your HCCU checking account. That’s pretty convenient to have your accounts all in one place!

Stop in today to fill out an application and start getting rewarded for your purchases!

Post by: Katie B

Image courtesy of  stockimages at FreeDigitalPhotos.net