1st Quarter Newsletter 2020
    The annual holiday marathon leaves many of us exhausted, physically and financially. Now comes that cheerful time when we look back at all the fun we had  as we sift through each friendly bill that arrives.

Capitol View offers several consolidation solutions to help ease stress and save you money from all those holiday expenditures:
  • Use your vehicle's equity. If you own your vehicle or have paid down the balance of a vehicle loan you may be able to use your vehicle's equity to consolidate holiday debt at significantly low rates.
  • Use your home's equity. A fixed rate home equity loan is another affordable way to consolidate large amounts of holiday debt.
  • Transfer credit card balances. Our MasterCards offer no balance transfer fees. Considering that our cards also have some of the lowest APRs of any credit cards you're likely to save money when you transfer balances from higher interest cards to your Capitol View MasterCard.
  • Consolidate debt with a personal loan. Our personal loans offer valuable alternatives to the high rates of most major credit cards. Consider consolidating that debt into a fixed rate personal loan with Capitol View.

It is easy to get carried away over the holidays. Major credit cards and retailers work hard to convince you to spend money. If you are one of the many of us who are sorting through your many holiday expenses, consider one of the valuable solutions Capitol View may be able to offer. You'll be back to that holiday cheer in no time!

Contact us to learn more
515-348-8350
BUpdated Member Disclosures
    Capitol View recently updated our 'Membership And Account Agreement' and our 'Electronic Fund Transfers Agreement And Disclosure' to detail differences between account actual balances and available balances. Copies of these disclosures are available at our office and on our website at www.capview.com by selecting "Disclosures" in the footer.
AnnualMeetingAnnual Meeting
April 15, 2020
    The Capitol View Credit Union annual meeting will be held on
Wednesday, April 15, 2020 at the Urbandale Golf & Country Club located at 4000 86th St, Urbandale, IA. Tickets will be required for this years event and a pizza buffet will be included. Doors will open at 5pm to get checked in and vote. The business meeting will start at 6pm, followed by drawings for cash prizes.

    If you are unable to attend the annual meeting, absentee ballots will be available beginning the week of February 10, 2020. Contact the credit union office for an absentee ballot for this year's board member elections.
Stay tuned for when tickets will be available for purchase.
Help us celebrate 76 years of service.
    Every year Capitol View Credit Union holds elections for our board of directors. This year there will be three seats elected which will each serve three year terms. The election will be held at the annual meeting on Wednesday, April 15, 2019 at the Urbandale Golf & Country Club.

As of Dec 19, 2019, members running for the board include Carl Martin*, Justin Willier*, and Matt McCormick* (* denotes incumbent). While the nominating committee is no longer accepting nominations, they will be accepted by petition to the Board Secretary, Lisa Kolontar, until January 24, 2020. There will be no nominations from the floor at the annual meeting.

Beginning the week of February 10, 2020, members may request an absentee ballot if they cannot attend the meeting and vote in person. You may email cvcu@capview.com, visit our office in person, or call us at 515-348-8350 to request an absentee ballot. All absentee ballots must be received by the election committee not later than April 3, 2020 in order to be considered valid.

Please take the opportunity to have a say in your credit union's leadership by considering becoming a candidate. If you have any questions regarding the board member election please email Brent at brentk@capview.com.

Contact information for the board secretary will be available soon through the office or our website.

    It is expected that 2020 will be another beneficial year to buy or refinance a home. Mortgage rates are still historically low and could continue that trend well into the year.

According to Zillow.com, Des Moines is leaning towards a seller's market. That suggests there is more demand than supply. As a result, prices tend to increase and houses are on the market for shorter periods of time. In fact, the average time a house is on the market in Des Moines is around 60 days. That's down from around 90 days since just 2018.

If you are hoping to find your dream home this year you should be sure to take steps now so you are prepared to act quickly. Here are a few ways you can get prepared:
  • Build Your Credit Score - The rate you pay on your mortgage will be determined largely by your credit score. Ways to improve your credit score include minimizing credit card debt, maintaining on-time payments, resolve any outstanding derogatory marks, and limit how often you apply for credit.
  • Save A Down Payment - A down payment does more than just establish initial equity in your home. It also determines whether you'll need private mortgage insurance (PMI). Any down payment less than 20% will require PMI. The further away from 20% down will increase the amount you'll need to spend each month on PMI.
  • Calculate How Much House You Can Afford - The house buying process can be exciting, but it is essential that you identify how much house you can realistically afford. Capitol View offers a calculator to help you with this at www.capview.com/calculators.
  • Get Pre-Approved - Capitol View works will Premier Lending Alliance for our mortgage services. It may be tempting to go to a national mortgage company, but you won't find rates and services like those at this local partner.
Contact Tim Wells To Learn More
515-867-2728


Source: https://www.zillow.com/des-moines-ia/home-values/

ScholarshipWarren A. Morrow Memorial Scholarship
    The Iowa Credit Union Foundation is considering applicants for the Warren A. Morrow Memorial Scholarship. This scholarship is for high school and post high school students who will be attending or are currently enrolled in higher education. The application deadline is Friday, February 7, 2020 at 5:00 PM. In 500 words or less, please answer the following question:

Credit Unions are financial cooperatives that operate from the philosophy of "people helping people." Service to members and the community is an integral part of the credit union difference. Share how your credit union demonstrates the people helping people philosophy in action. Also, share an experience of when you contributed your time and/or talents in the community and what you learned from that experience.

Visit www.capview.com/news to learn more and to apply. Incomplete, paper or late applications will not be considered. Applicants must be a current member (not just their parent) of an Iowa credit union. Winners will be notified in April, 2020 and their names will be posted to www.IowaCreditUnionFoundation.org.
StaffColumnQuarterly Staff Column 
"Should I Be Preparing For A Recession?"
    People have been hypothesizing about the probabilities of another recession occurring in the coming months and years. Like the weather, a recession can be difficult to predict with certainty. Some cite ongoing trade wars, inverted yield curves, and sluggish world economic growth as early bell weathers. On the other hand, we have continued to see surprisingly strong jobs numbers in recent months. So, what should we expect?

Without a crystal ball there is no way to answer that question with certainty. However, as my years in scouting taught me, it's always best to "be prepared". Forbes recently published an article listing seven things you should do to prepare yourself for a recession. They detail:
  • Make Sure Your Loved Ones Are Taken Care Of
  • Top Up Your Emergency Fund
  • Find Easy Ways To Cut Your Overhead Costs
  • Supplement Your Income
  • Pay Down High Interest Debt
  • Keep Investing
  • Boost Your Credit Score
The article offers some valuable advice during any economy. While we don't know what the economy will have in store, we can take steps on our own to protect our own financial well being.

You can check out the Forbes article for yourself by visiting
www.capview.com/news.


Benjamin Sheridan
Assistant Manager
Source: Maldonado, Camilo. "7 Things You Need To Do To Prepare For A Potential Recession." Forbes, Forbes Magazine, 4 Oct. 2019, https://www.forbes.com/sites/camilomaldonado/2019/10/04/7-things-prepare-for-recession/#48f22b94518b.
SecurityTipQuarterly Security Tip - Cloud Storage
    Cloud storage is becoming more accessible and affordable than ever. However, it can also expose your data to potential threats. Here are some tips when using cloud storage services:
  • Research the reputation and security measures of providers.
  • Use strong passwords for your accounts and change them regularly.
  • Keep your most sensitive data and files on a local computer with a local backup.
  • Never link a personal cloud to a work computer or network.
Capitol View Credit Union