Let Us Know Before You Go

It’s that time again: family vacations, day excursions, maybe even the trip you’ve been planning for years. And there’s no better way to pay for these opportunities than with your America First Visa® cards.

But before you leave, please inform us so we can safeguard your resources.

Call 1-800-999-3961 or log in to free online banking. Use the Other Services tab and look for the Visa traveling form in the bottom-left corner.

You can also visit this link for further information about protecting your finances.

Remember to Regularly Review Your Account Beneficiaries

It makes good financial sense to routinely check & update your America First beneficiaries. You designate who will receive your resources and it’s important to ensure your payable-on-death and individual retirement account (IRA) information is correct.

Many life changes can affect who you want to benefit from your accounts. If you’re newly married, had a child, been divorced or experienced the loss of immediate family member, it’s important to review these individuals.

Payable-on-death designees have rights to funds after all account owners and joint owners have passed. For IRAs, both primary and contingent beneficiaries may be added with corresponding percentages.

For help with beneficiary designations or if you have questions, please contact us or stop by your local branch.

Large barn

United We Stand

John LundBy John B. Lund, President and Chief Executive Officer

I’m extremely fortunate to live in a small, rural mountain town where the air is clean, the scenery is beautiful, and the people are friendly, hard-working & service-oriented. Lovely patriotic scenes are painted on the sides of two local barns, illustrating pride of country and patriotism.

The community is also known for our annual Independence Day celebration held in and around the park. A flag-raising ceremony marks the sunrise, followed by 5K and 10K races, a delicious freshly cooked breakfast, and a parade around the town square. There are games for the kids, local works of art, crafts, a patriotic program, music, and lots of food is available throughout the day. Our Fourth of July culminates with a fantastic display of fireworks.

This year, my wife was asked to help with the planning and coordination of the parade. It is a real down-home event, featuring children on bicycles, family-decorated floats, marching school bands & cheer squads, vintage tractors and cars, American Legionnaires, horses, fire engines, police vehicles, candy tossed to the kids, and a local citizen being honored as grand marshal.

The parade theme for 2017 is United We Stand—three simple but powerful words. United means acting in harmony as a single unit. We is descriptive of a collective group. To me, Stand denotes life, accomplishment, being steadfast, integrity, and purpose. Individuals are different in many ways, but working together, we become much more powerful and better off as families, neighbors, communities, and as a nation.

I am so grateful for those who continue to stand united in preserving our freedoms, opportunity, peace, and security. To honor this great nation and our servicemen and servicewomen each summer is most certainly appropriate.

America First Credit Union was founded in 1939 by a group of 59 pioneering individuals who also stood united to improve the economic well-being of one another. Since those humble beginnings, generations of individuals, families, and businesses have benefited from superior financial services, better rates on loans & deposits, premier technology, many free or low-cost services, tremendous convenience, and a sense of belonging.

On behalf of the dedicated volunteers and staff of America First, I thank you for your membership, loyalty, and allowing us to serve your complete financial needs. We look forward to a lifelong relationship.

Don’t Let a Getaway Give You Unnecessary Financial Stress

For many, summer vacation planning is done according to a reasonable budget. You research flights, accommodations & destinations; you book the lower-priced alternatives; and you weigh the cost against your savings accumulated specifically for this purpose.

Then you arrive and financial responsibility goes out the window. You’re soon spending without limits and paying no heed to the costs of extras & incidentals. Before you embark this year, here are some tips to consider:

  • Have a goal. Do you want a full two weeks away in another part of the country or would a long weekend at a state park give you the rest & relaxation you need? Think about this issue before you start digging into the details.
  • You’re in control. Where to go and how much to spend is up to you. Take a vacation you can afford and live within your means while you’re there.
  • Go beyond the initial price tag. We all encounter hidden costs, fees, and taxes that come with hotel stays and airline tickets. Don’t forget these things when you’re drawing up your balance sheet.
  • Look ahead. When you get home, begin putting money aside for the next trip. A great way to do this is with a dedicated savings account from America First. With this option, you’ll benefit from competitive returns, convenience & flexibility, and more.

Visit us here for more information about achieving financial health.

send money online

Six Easy Ways to Send Money Online

Not too long ago, when a restaurant check was brought to a group of friends, everyone would chip in with cash. In fact, many people today still think they need bills to pay people back. But you can now send money online to friends and family with any of the following simple and secure options.

PayPal & Venmo

PayPal is probably the most well-known peer-to-peer payment system, with over 197 million active accounts. And while many use it to make purchases online, you can also transfer money to someone else with it. If the sender and recipient both have PayPal accounts with a financial institution, there aren’t any fees unless you’re sending funds to another country. Venmo is owned by PayPal and offers many of the same services. Plus, it allows you to post payments with commentary to your social feed, which your friends can see.

Google Wallet

If you have a Google account, you have access to Google Wallet, letting you send money online to other people via email addresses or phone numbers. There are no fees and it can be used for occasional commercial transactions, but corporations and non-profit organizations cannot receive money through Google Wallet.

Popmoney

Paying with Popmoney is easy. All you need is the recipient’s email address or mobile number. You can also send personalized greetings for special occasions like birthdays, weddings or graduations. Future-date payments are available for rent and other bills. Going to Popmoney.com costs $0.95 per transaction. But for America First members, Popmoney is free!

Facebook Messenger

Did you know you can do more than send funny GIFs in Messenger? Transferring money is easy once you have a debit card attached to your Facebook account. Just open a conversation with a Facebook friend, click the dollar sign symbol at the bottom of the chat window, enter the amount you want to send, then select Pay. Use the same button to request funds. You can also create a PIN to add an extra layer of security.

Snapcash

Send some money along with your pics using SnapChat. Attach your debit card to the account, swipe right on a friend’s name — just as you would to chat with them — and type a dollar sign and the amount. This will make the green Snapcash button appear, giving you the ability to send money online to any of your contacts. If funds aren’t claimed within 24 hours, they’re returned to the sender.

So the next time you need to split a lunch tab or pitch in for a gift, there’s no need to pull out your wallet or run by an ATM. Use one of these services and take care of it with your phone.

The sweet deal you don’t want to miss out on

People in a broadcast - Sweet Deal

The summer season is officially underway and at America First Credit Union, they’re celebrating with low-rate auto loans all season long with their “The Sweet Taste of Summer†campaign.

Nicole Cyprus joined us to explain what makes this campaign so “sweet”:

  • They’re offering 60 days of no payments on all new auto loans and giving members a chance to win loan payments up to $300 and interest-free auto loans with daily drawings.
  • The contest runs now through August 31, 2017. Members can receive one entry for every $1,000 financed through the campaign dates. Winners will be selected daily, excluding Saturdays,
  • Sundays and holidays. (Visit an America First branch to be financed and entered to win).
  • They will be helping members in the community cool down in the summer sun by having their newly-branded ice cream truck on-site at various community events throughout Utah and celebrating “The Sweet Taste of Summer†with popsicle treats for attendees.
  • It’s a great time of year to become a member with America First for those that aren’t already and take advantage of their low interest percentages and affordable monthly payments.

For more information about “The Sweet Taste of Summer,†visit americafirst.com.

Source

farmers' market

Farmers’ Market Shopping Guide

Farmers’ markets are a great way to find fresh fruits, vegetables, meats and more in your neighborhood. They allow you to interact directly with the grower, which can also mean lower prices for delicious produce. If you’ve never been to a farmers’ market before, or if you’re only starting to attend, here are some tips to help you get the most out of your time there.

Before you go

Get to know the local fruits and vegetables in your region and find out what grows in which season. This will help you identify the freshest produce. For example, you may see apples in April that you know have been in cold storage since October. Knowing when and what farmers grow locally will also allow you make a shopping plan beforehand for the best buys.

Meal planning before you shop is always a good idea, because it helps you save money. Figure out what you want to buy, but leave some room for a few unplanned purchases, just in case you find a new or unusual vegetable that you would like to try.

Hit up the ATM before you go. Having cash on hand will make it easier to make purchases at farmers’ markets. Don’t expect every vendor to have a mobile credit card reader. Carry small bills and some change to make exchanges go more quickly. Plus, cash can help you with bargaining, as well.

At the market

Go as soon as the market opens if you want to get the best produce. Items like meat and seafood, for instance, sell out very quickly. Going early will also help you avoid the large crowds. However, if you want the best deals, you should go at the end of the day. That’s when vendors are trying to sell off inventory instead of having to pack it up and transport it home.

Bring your own bags. Some, but not all of the vendors will offer a bag, but those bags are usually small and flimsy. Experienced shoppers will bring a backpack or small, wheeled cart to keep their hands free for things like squeezing produce.

Buying in bulk can save you some money. Many vendors are willing to give you a good deal if you’re willing to offload a crate of strawberries rather than just a baggie full, for example. Eat as many fresh fruits and veggies as you are able, and then freeze, dehydrate or can the rest.

There’s usually more than one vendor selling an item. Don’t buy everything from the first booth you see. Shop around. Try samples, if available. Once you’ve made the rounds and weighed your options, you’ll be able to make an informed decision based on price and taste.

Talk to the farmers. They can help you pick out the best items and teach you how to determine ripeness. Discuss how to best prepare their produce, as well. You may find a new recipe that you love.

And finally, stash a cooler in your car if you plan to shop a while or have a long drive home. This will help the produce maintain freshness from the farmers’ market to your kitchen table.

Happy shopping!