June 2023

20 Ways to Celebrate Father’s Day — Without Breaking the Bank!

We all want to show our dads that we care on Father’s Day.

Many people panic and run straight for the ties. But unless your father is a necktie aficionado and you can land him the rarest of rare finds in men’s fashion, you may want to consider something else that shows how well you know and appreciate your dad.

Here are 20 ways you can honor your father this Father’s Day.

1. Get fishing licenses for both of you and go fishing!
2. College mascot-branded duct tape for the sports fan or handyman.
3. Take in a minor league baseball game.
4. Detail his car with a vinyl cleaner (Armor All) and a vacuum.
5. Take a trip to the driving range together.
6. Dust and sort his toolbox – don’t forget to label the wrenches and sockets!
7. Tackle the mowing, raking, or other yard work.
8. Personalized coffee mug – write on a blank mug with Sharpies, then bake at 450 degrees for 30 minutes!
9. Build your own BBQ rub or sauce using Dad’s favorite flavors.
10. Give the grill a thorough cleaning.
11. Clean and organize the shed or garage – it’s probably been on his to-do list all year!
12. Watch some of his favorite movies on Netflix.
13. Pick up a few cuts of meat and ask him to teach you how to grill them.
14. Offer him a “tech tutorial” on how to better use a device he already owns.
15. Volunteer for Habitat for Humanity together – working with him to improve your community!
16. Find a local historical site and arrange a walking tour.
17. Build something with him – like a birdhouse or a spice rack.
18. Pack a picnic lunch and head to a local park!
19. Just spend time with him doing the things he likes to do.
20. Put a new spin on the old necktie cliché – buy an old necktie at a thrift store, do a web search for “DIY Necktie Eyeglass case” and follow the instructions to make this unique gift. Buy a pair of sunglasses to put inside before you give them to him.

Need quick cash to celebrate Dad this Father’s Day? Click to apply for a JMAFCU Personal Loan today!

Downshift to lower payments by refinancing your auto loan!

We understand that life's twists and turns can sometimes put the brakes on your budget. That's why we're here to offer you an exciting opportunity to refinance your auto loan. With our rates as low as 4.99% APR* for used vehicles, you can now downshift your payments and have more cash in your pocket. Whether you're planning a road trip to the beach, a weekend getaway, or just cruising around town, JMAFCU has you covered.

So why wait? Let's make this summer the best one yet!

Refinance your auto loan with JMAFCU today and get ready for a sunshine-filled season of adventure and excitement.

• Rates as low as 4.99% APR* on used vehicles
• Quick, convenient online application and decision
• Flexible terms up to 72 months for used vehicles
• Finance up to 100% of NADA value
• No application fee or early repayment fee

Hurricane Season Begins

June 1, 2023

Q: I’m worried about the impending hurricane season. How can I protect my family and home from storm damage?

A: As a homeowner, a hurricane can prove to be your biggest nightmare. Storm damages caused by flooding, strong winds and airborne projectiles can cost thousands to fix. Of course, there are steps you can take to protect your property, but where do you begin? It’s all so overwhelming!

No worries: JM Associates Federal Credit Union can help you prepare! We’ll walk you through keeping you, your loved ones, your home, and your property safe when the wild storms blow in!

1. Check your insurance coverage

Your first step is a review of your homeowner’s insurance policy. If it seems insufficient, now is a good time to consider upgrading to a plan that will provide more extensive coverage. Flood insurance is available even if you do not live in a flood zone. Coverage must be in place 30 days before a named storm.

2. Protect your property against flooding

Before storm season, spend an afternoon cleaning your gutters and downspouts to ensure they’re in optimal working order. During the next rainfall, do a quick scout of your external drains and pipes, checking that they’re working effectively and that there are no areas where water gathers. If you spot a problem, take note of what needs to be fixed and tackle the job as quickly as you can after the rain.

3. Inspect your property’s structure

Ensure there are no structural issues on your property that can be worsened by a hurricane. Shaky roofs, loose shingles and weakened external walls can all give storm winds entry to your home where they can do substantial damage. Check your windows, too, sealing up leaks and making sure the latches are secure.

4. Review your evacuation route

Prepare your evacuation route in advance and make plans for where you’d stay in case of a storm.

5. Stock up!

To ease your pre-storm prep, get your stock ready now. Designate an area in your home for storm supplies and keep it stocked with bottled water, flashlights, extra batteries, a first-aid kit and non-perishable food items. You might also want to purchase a crank-powered or battery-operated radio in case of a power outage.

6. Take last-minute precautions

Here are some last-minute measures you can take in the days before a storm hits your area:

• Secure a tarp over external air conditioning units to prevent damage by airborne projectiles.
• Walk through your property, removing any scattered debris and loose-hanging branches.
• Patch any visible foundation cracks around your home.
• If your home has a sump pump, clear any debris and check that it’s operating properly.
• Double-check to ensure your gutters are completely cleared.
• Consider sealing and boarding your windows and doors.

7. Sign up for SideDrawer

Protect your personal documents with SideDrawer. SideDrawer is a new feature that provides a secure way to exchange sensitive documents with members directly. The platform also provides an option for members to upgrade and use to secure their own personal documents. Creating a SideDrawer allows you to securely store, access, and share important documents. It also helps you to avoid sharing information and documents via email or other less secure channels of communication.

SideDrawer can help with things like:

Resolving estates. Having an inventory of documents that might normally take months or years to identify what they are and where they are located. 

Identifying the whereabouts of your Will, life insurance, and other insurance policies, etc. is a critical component of appropriate estate and financial planning. SideDrawer allows that to happen effortlessly, securely, and with a great user experience.

Family members are most at ease when they know where the sensitive documents are kept – having more transparency around the estate situation is generally met with relief. If credit card numbers are not allowed over email, why is it ok to share your other tax, pay, and financial statements over email?

With a few clicks, grant access to any individual user who needs to be granted access to one, or more of your sensitive private documents. Revoke access with just a click.

Your email and multiple file storage accounts likely have thousands of important files. Make sure your family will be able to find the most critical ones when needed.

For Florida residents, the disaster preparedness tax holiday runs May 28 – June 10. For a list of qualifying items visit: https://floridarevenue.com/DisasterPrep/Pages/default.aspx

JM Associates Federal Credit Union wants to help. Call, click, or stop by today to ask about our fantastic rates on loans for hurricane or flood-related expenses. We’ll help you stay safe and dry this hurricane season!

Your Complete Guide to Vacation Budgets

It’s great to get away from the daily grind, but budgets never go on vacation. Good news! A vacation budget will actually make your trip more relaxing. When you know exactly how much money you have to spend in each expense category while on vacation, you don’t have to stress about how you’ll pay for this getaway when you get back to real life.

Here’s what you need to know about making a vacation budget.

Set your budget

First, determine how much you can actually spend while on your trip. It’s important to be real here. Otherwise, you may end up paying off this vacation for months, or even years, to come. Do some research on the location you want to visit along with the cost to get there, the price you’ll pay for accommodations and transportation. Look up local attractions to get an idea of how much these will cost. Make a basic list of anticipated expenses and work with that number to set a vacation budget.

Plan your expenses

Once you have your budget and a basic list of expenses, work on setting an exact dollar amount for each vacation category. Write out your vacation budget so the individual expense categories total the same as your overall budget. If the total amount is outside your affordable range, consider swapping out some expenses for cheaper, or even free, alternatives.

Track your expenses

Next, you’ll need to track your expenses to ensure you stick to your spending plan. When purchasing airline tickets, making hotel reservations, and purchasing items for your trip, be sure to record these expenses. Similarly, when on vacation, keep track of spending. A budgeting app, like Mint or YNAB, can make this easier.

If you find yourself overspending in any category, look for last-minute ways to cut back.



Tips for sticking to your vacation budget

Use cash. Keeping the plastic hidden while on vacation will force you to stick to your plan. Be sure to keep your cash in a safe place, such as a secure wallet or purse.

Book in advance. Hotel stays, car rentals, tours and more are nearly always cheaper when reserved ahead. You’ll also leave fewer spending choices for your actual vacation when your willpower may be weaker.

Keep a copy of your budget with you on vacation. Make a physical or digital copy of your vacation budget to carry with you during your trip. Pull out your copy whenever you come up against a money challenge on vacation to remind you of your spending plan.



Need financial assistance? JMAFCU can help you enjoy the trip of a lifetime without breaking your budget. Visit us at www.jmafcu.org or call our contact center at 800-581-2256. 

Savings Rates are on the Rise

If you are looking for a safe savings vehicle look no further. JMAFCU is raising savings rates and now is a great time to grow your savings. Your savings balances at other financial institution could be earning a lot more if you transfer them to JMAFCU. You can transfer those balances using our External Transfer feature.

JMAFCU Now Offers External Transfers – ACH via SAFE IB or Mobile Banking!!!

What is External Transfer or ACH Origination? This is the ability for JMAFCU members to create electronic withdrawals, loan payments and deposits from other institutions where they are the owner of the account.

Does JMAFCU offer ACH Origination through SAFE IB? YES!! Through SAFE IB it is called External Transfers. It can be found under the Transfer section.

How are my other accounts verified? Once you create an external transfer, three micro-deposits will be sent to the receiving account. When adding a new account, you must verify these micro-deposits before you can transfer funds. The micro-deposits are deposited into the external account, creating the verification information. They are then withdrawn the next day.

Are there limits to external transfers (ACH Origination)? YES!! When members transfer through SAFE IB, there is a $2,500.00 rolling 30-day limit. For JMAFCU originated transactions, there are no limits. If you need to withdraw or transfer funds more than $2,500.00, reach out to our contact center at 800-581-2256.

What type of transactions can be created using ACH Origination? We want to encourage members to make their loan payments via external transfer if they need to pay from another financial institution. This is a perfect use for this form of transfer. Members can also make deposits to their JMAFCU share accounts or transfer funds to an account they own. Members cannot advance on a JMAFCU line of credit, loan, or credit card via the ACH origination or external transfer platform.

What if I want to send an ACH to a third party? ACH origination is account owner to account owner. It’s an “A” to “A” transaction. It is not an “A” to “B” transaction. Don’t worry, we have other methods for you to pay other parties. If you want to pay rent for example… we recommend using bill pay. 

7 Ways to Spot a Loan Scam

Your credit’s trending the wrong way and you’re desperate for a loan. Unfortunately, though, it seems that no reputable institution is willing to work with you – and the few that are offer very unforgiving terms.

Then you see it: an ad for an easy loan for which almost anyone can qualify. Plus, there’s the promise of great terms and a willingness to work with borrowers in any financial state. It’s a dream come true!

Or, more likely, it’s a scam.

Loan scams target people who are in dire straits and likely will do anything to get their hands on some cash.

Once a loan scammer has snagged a victim, they will have the borrower fill out an “application” with sensitive and personal information. The scammer will use the victim’s information to hack their accounts.

Arm yourself with knowledge and awareness. Here’s 7 ways to spot a loan scam:

1. There’s no credit check

Reputable lenders will verify that the borrower can, and will, repay the loan before they agree to the transaction. If a lender doesn’t bother to check your credit, you’re about to get scammed.

2. You’re asked to pay an upfront fee

When a lender asks you to pay for a loan collateral, insurance or other fees using a prepaid debit card, it’s a scam. Back out of the deal before it’s too late.

3. The lender isn’t registered in your state

As per the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), every lender and loan broker must be officially registered in the states where they do business.

4. The lender is not affiliated with any financial institution

Authentic lenders must operate under a bank or credit union charter. This information should be posted on the lender’s website. If it’s missing, you might be dealing with a scammer.

5. You’re urged to act immediately

If a lender pushes you to submit your information and make an upfront payment RIGHT NOW, it’s probably a scam.

6. The site isn’t secure

Verify the site’s security by checking for an “s” after the “http.” If it’s there, the site is secure; if it’s not, back out immediately! You should also check the site’s security as soon as you hit the homepage. Lots of hackers use keystroke loggers to record as you type. So, even if you don’t hit submit, they may already have the information they need to scam you.

7. The lender has no physical address

Do a quick online search using the lender’s official name. If it’s legitimate, a search should bring up a physical address for the company. If the lender’s name doesn’t turn up anything beyond the online world, opt-out immediately.

Short on cash? Let us help! Call, click, or stop by JM Associates Federal Credit Union today to learn about our personal loans and more.

JMAFCU branch offices will be closed

Tuesday, July 4, 2320

Have a safe and happy holiday!