Assets: $119,483,021
Membership: 8,497
June 2017 - In This Issue:
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JMAFCU Member Says Thank You!
Capital Mortgage Funding 
Hello John and Rebecca, 
 
Good afternoon. It was my pleasure doing business with the two of you and your team. You made everything flow smoothly and I can't believe it's completed already.
 
John, thank you for providing me with such valuable information to ensure I was doing the right thing for me in refinancing at this time. You provided a comfort level that was reassuring.
 
Rebecca, thank you for all of your patience and assistance throughout the process. Your assistance with loading many of the documents made my life easier. At the beginning of the process when most of the documents were needed, I was extremely busy with work and meetings and was having a hard time working with the online system. Your assistance was greatly appreciated. 
 
Also, I have enjoyed our conversations with the both of you. Your excellence in customer service was very much appreciated. 
 
Thanks again,
Shari



Great Road Trips
Start With Great Auto Loans
Get on the road with a great, low-rate JMAFCU auto loan!
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Rates as low as  1.80% APR*  for up to  60 months.



*Annual Percentage Rate. Longer terms available. Rates are based on an evaluation of each applicant's credit history and may vary. All loans are subject to approval. 

Whom Do You Trust With Your Finances?
Institutions that offer financial products and services can be found everywhere! They are on almost every corner in your neighborhood, in your grocery store and even on your computer screen, seemingly floating around in mid-air! With so many options, how did you decide whom to trust with your hard-earned money?

Was your choice based on location, product offerings or service? Whatever the reason, your credit union, JM Associates Federal Credit Union, appreciates that you have entrusted your finances with us! Our goal is to meet all of your financial needs, every day. Not only do we want to be your primary financial institution (PFI), but your family's as well. We have designed our product and service offerings around you! If you are in need of a product or service that we don't offer, let us know. We are here for you! If we are already your PFI, make sure you share the wealth with your family and fellow JM Family associates. If we are not, compare us to your current financial institution. We are pretty sure that JMAFCU will come out on top! 

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Vacation Planning:
Keep Your Budget in Mind

Vacations don't have to be expensive to be memorable and fun. Here are some suggestions to plan a successful vacation:
  • Create a vacation budget
  • Involve your family
  • Research your vacation options
  • Plan your itinerary options
  • Have a credit plan 
If you would like to discuss your vacation budget with someone, you can take advantage of the Accelâ„¢ program, a free financial education and counseling program of JM Associates Federal Credit Union. Accel counselors are available Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. (EST), Friday 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. You can reach Accel by calling 877-33ACCEL
(332-2235) 
or visit them on the web at www.accelservices.org.
 
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You Play. We Pay.
Do Your Big Plans Have Even Bigger Price Tags?  Our Small Rates Can Help. 
This summer, finance all your big plans with a home equity loan from JMAFCU! We'll give you access to your home's equity so you can:
 
  • Tackle home improvement projects
  • Consolidate debt
  • Pay for college
  • Buy a new vehicle
  • And more
 
With small rates, flexible terms and low monthly payments, our home equity loans make it easy and affordable to start something  BIG

Safety First: Preparing for
Hurricane Season
Living near the ocean, with its breathtaking views and temperate climate, is ordinarily wonderful. However, there's one big danger associated with coastal living: hurricanes.

Statistics show that 97% of hurricanes in the Atlantic occur between June 1 and October 15. In the Pacific, that date range runs from May 15 to November 30. This means that hurricane season is here!
You can't stop hurricanes from coming, but you can take steps to minimize the damage. Here are four ways to prepare for hurricane season:

1.) Plan your evacuation

The most important things you can protect during any disaster are yourself and your family. The best way to do that in the case of hurricanes is to get to higher ground. Having a plan for your evacuation helps you do just that.
Your plan should include where you'll go, how you'll get there and where you'll stay once you're there. Expect hotels and other shelters to fill quickly, so try to identify friends or family you can stay with. Have at least two planned routes in case one becomes blocked.

While planning for a storm, don't forget to plan for your furry friends. Many shelters will house dogs and cats in an emergency.

2.) Stock your shelter

If you don't live in an evacuation zone or have the facilities in your house to weather the storm, stock up on essential supplies in case power, water and other services are cut off. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has a list of supplies to include in your disaster preparedness kit. Topping the list are clear essentials: one gallon of water per person for three days, three days (nine meals) of non-perishable food, a flashlight and a first-aid kit.

Don't forget a crank-powered or battery-operated radio. Look for a weather-band radio with a cell phone charging port to keep you connected in case of a power outage.

Be financially prepared, too. If power or communication services are out, your debit and credit cards may not work. Have enough cash around in a safe location so you can use it if necessary to pay for a hotel stay or a week of groceries.

3.) Prepare your home

There are several ways to minimize hurricane damage to your home. Remove dead or dying limbs from trees on your property. Reinforce gutters and downspouts to minimize water damage.

Consider reinforcing the windows and doors, including the garage door. You may want to install shutters or tracking hardware to facilitate the addition of reinforcements.

4.) Check your documents

Review insurance documents with your agent annually to make sure you have sufficient coverage. Also, keep an itemized list of valuables in your home. Take pictures wherever possible.

Make copies of all your important identifying information. Keep originals or hard copies of all important documents in a secure location, like a safe deposit box.

Feeling Stuck in Your Car Loan? Might Be Time to Shop Around!
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Bills are a lot like bad weather. They're going to come anyway, so you might as well not try to fix them, right? For some bills, that's the case. For others, though, you can make a big difference in your monthly budget with a little legwork.

One of the bills you can change is your car payment. Refinancing your vehicle loan can lead to a lower monthly payment, a shorter term or both! It depends on a wide range of factors, including the value of your vehicle, how much you owe on your current loan and your credit standing.
 
If any of these factors have changed since you bought your car, you owe it to yourself to check out your refinancing options. Let's look at some common life changes and when they might be reasons to look at refinancing. Read on to learn about three scenarios where refinancing makes sense for your car or truck:
 
1.) Your credit improves

One of the biggest factors in determining your auto loan status is your credit score. When your lender is building a loan package, a credit report is pulled as a central part of that process. That number helps define your interest rate, whether or not you'll have to pay a premium for insurance and what other fees your lender might charge. It's worth keeping a copy of the credit report your lender pulled. That can let you see if your credit score has improved. It can take as little as nine months of steady repayment to boost your credit score, and that could result in a cheaper loan if you refinance. If you didn't have much experience with credit when you purchased your vehicle, refinancing can do you a world of good. Interest rates as high as 18% are common for borrowers who have little to no credit history. Having even a few months of solid payments on your side can cut that rate in half or more.
 
2.) You didn't shop around before you borrowed

Many people feel railroaded throughout the car-buying process. They pick a car they like; then they are told what the price is, what the monthly payment is and everything else. It may seem like the choice of lenders for your car loan is predetermined.
 
Dealers tend to have a smaller range of lenders with whom they work exclusively. Those lenders know they have limited exposure to competition, so they can charge slightly higher fees and interest rates. By doing your own comparison shopping, you can save quite a bit on both the loan and any ancillary insurances or warranties you may have purchased. Dealer rates tend to be 1 to 1.5% higher than those offered at smaller lenders, like credit unions.

If you've never shopped around for a car loan, it's definitely worth doing. By getting multiple offers, you can ensure you're getting the best price available for your loan. Try to do your shopping inside a 15-day period. Otherwise, the multiple checks on your credit could negatively impact your credit score.
 
3.) You need to change your monthly payment

You may be in a much better financial situation now than when you bought your car. You may have a better job or more security. You may have paid off credit card or other debt. All of these things free up how much you can pay per month.
 
Most people don't go into the refinancing process looking to increase their monthly payment, but you can save yourself money in the long term by committing to a faster repayment plan. If you can afford to pay more per month now, you can pay off the balance on your car faster. Shorter term loans usually also have lower interest rates, since the lender assumes less risk in making the loan. Once the car is paid off, you'll have all that money to devote to other saving or spending priorities.
 
On the other hand, if money is tight, it might be a good idea to refinance into a longer term. While you might end up paying more in interest, you can reduce your monthly payment and save the money you need right now.

JM  Associates Federal Credit Union
800-581-2256