december 2015 messenger - meriwest credit union 2015 ... gifts or foodstuffs you can buy on sale and...
TRANSCRIPT
877-MERIWEST (877-637-4937) | wwwmeriwestcom
MESSENGERDECEMBER 2015MERIWESTCOMNEWSLETTER
IN THIS ISSUEInvestments | Page 4
Your Year-End Financial Checklist | Page 5In the Community | Page 6
Making the Holidays Bright and AffordablePage 2
FEATURE FEATURE
Start with a list and make a budget Begin your planning by listing every possible holiday expense yoursquoll face ndash and donrsquot stop at gifts Use an online holiday budget planner to help organize your information and track your spending
Be open about money trouble If you are facing financial difficulties during the holiday season donrsquot spend to hide the problem Donrsquot be ashamed to make adjustments and tell friends and family members that yoursquod like to temporarily downsize your spending until conditions improve They might actually appreciate a spending reprieve too
Build a bargain-hunting strike force Let friends and family know yoursquore looking for particular toys gifts food or decorating items and volunteer to do the same for them Save and share coupons Encourage your group to find resources check prices and share requests and ideas via social media Results can come back in a matter of minutes
Evaluate all transportation costs Do you really need to run out for one or two items at a time Designate certain days of the week for particular items keep an eye out for free delivery and see if friends and fam-ily might want to share errands Those with large vehicles or trucks can help move deliver and even install appliances or electronics if they have the skills to do so Smart transportation choices extend to car pools or public transportation for events and entertainment
Leverage your creativity If therersquos some-thing you make or do really well that people love consider making such accom-plishments into gifts From specialty food items your friends enjoy to clothing or art anything done well can be a gift Donrsquot rule out lessons or skilled labor as poten-tial holiday gifts particularly for relatives who canrsquot afford such services at this time Smart shopping for ingredients or supplies can make such creative gifts a real money saver
Build a year-round gift stash If there are gifts or foodstuffs you can buy on sale and keep for a while yoursquoll have a ready source of thank-you gifts for hosts teachers or co-workers year-round Set aside a similar area for cards gift tags and wrapping pa-per Also keep in mind that many retailers put holiday-themed items on sale before the holidays are finished If you think yoursquoll need these items next year grab your cou-pons take advantage and put those items aside for future gift giving
Late saving for gifts Do it anyway If you donrsquot have a holiday fund set up donrsquot let that keep you from starting one Every little bit helps Take 5-10 percent of your next paycheck and set it aside doing it each week throughout the holidays If you keep it up your holiday fund can eventually become an emergency fund to be used for other savings goals including retirement
Take notes for next holiday season Create a paper or digital file where you can collect ideas for next year Check print and online resources like Consumer Reports for items that can be bought at specific times of the year at a discount so you are able to hide them for the holidays ndash but remember where you hid them
Bottom line Keeping holidays affordable isnrsquot a challenge when yoursquore willing to do a little planning idea-sharing and record-keeping Make it an activity you can do year-round
Already dreading what yoursquoll spend this holiday season It doesnrsquot have to be that way
Gifts arenrsquot the only budget-busting culprit during the holidays The weeks between Thanksgiving and New Years are also a peak time for spending on groceries travel events entertainment energy clothes and meals out
Financial advisors recommend you use no more than 15 percent of your annual income on holiday spending so consider the follow-ing suggestions to keep it under control
APR is Annual Percentage Rate 299 APR is effective for 12 months starting from the line open date and applies to most new approved home equity lines of credit opened after 040115 Some exceptions may apply At the end of the promo period the APR becomes a variable rate The rate terms and conditions as stated in membersrsquo Home Equity agreement will apply The Interest Rate will never be greater than 18 Also may be available on previously opened lines of credit Must meet eligibility criteria Contact the credit union for details Not applicable to refinance of existing Meriwest HELOCrsquos Meriwest home equity lines of credit are offered only in the states of California Arizona Washington Oregon and Nevada Applicable to owner-occupied primary residence only Property insurance is required Limited time offer
Membership is required with a one-time non-refundable $5 fee Federally insured by NCUA Copyright 2015 Meriwest Credit Union All rights reserved
Get the you needmoneyHOME EQUITY LINE OF CREDIT FOR 12 MONTHS375 indexed APR (as of 4115) thereafter
Home Improvements
A Family Vacation
Tuition
and moreCall Meriwest today to learn more at 877-637-4937 or visit us online at meriwestcomHELOC
Offer endsDec 15th
Making the Holidays Bright and Affordable
PAGE 2 | DECEMBER 2015 | MERIWESTCOMNEWSLETTER DECEMBER 2015 | MERIWESTCOMNEWSLETTER | PAGE 3
INVESTMENTS FEATURE
It will begin soon enough ndash all those ldquobeat the rushrdquo ads for holi-day shopping activities and events Right now you have a great opportunity to beat the rush to organize your year-end finances and make some smart moves for the New Year Consider the fol-lowing tasks for your year-end financial to-do list
Total up your year-to-date spending Whether you organize by computer or on paper make sure your tracking system for spend-ing saving and investment is up to date This way you can make sure you are on budget for the year and ready with data for tax time Once you are finished determine your net worth ndash what you own less what you owe ndash and get an early idea of what you need to change next year
Check in with your planner or tax professional Late December is a busy time for financial professionals Take a minute to see if they can review your numbers and make suggestions on year-end financial activities and new moves you should make in 2016
Make sure yoursquove reviewed all your credit reports for the year You are entitled to one free copy of each of your three major credit reports from TransUnion Equifax and Experian Itrsquos generally wise to schedule delivery of each at different points in the year to catch errors or irregularities
Check and rebalance your portfolio With the dramatic market swings this past year be sure to check if your retirement and other investments are still on track with your investment goals Get qualified help if necessary to see if the assets you own still fit your needs And if you need to do any tax selling by the end of the year now is the time to start thinking about it
Check your insurance coverage If you buy your own home auto life or other insurance policies contact two or three agents representing highly rated insurers to review the adequacy and pricing of your coverage If you have made any structural chang-es or improvements to your home make sure those actions are reflected in your homeowners insurance Such work may boost your homersquos replacement value Also if yoursquove had a major life or
financial event like a new baby or the purchase of a new home itrsquos time to make sure all your coverage is sufficient
Update your W-2 benefits and estate plan if necessary While yoursquore updating your insurance and investment needs for big life events related to family property or marital status see if your tax withholding and employee health coverage and investments need review Get qualified help to make this assessment if you are not sure
Empty out your flexible spending accounts If you have a Flexible Spending Account for health care or other qualifying expenses itrsquos time to submit outstanding claims from the doctor dentist or optometrist Remember you can only transfer $500 in your remaining balance over to the next year Make any appointments or medical purchases you need to now and get the paperwork in fast
Do a last-minute tax review If you work alone or with a tax professional review your annual income investment and spend-ing data to see if therersquos anything you can do in the final weeks of the year to save on taxes If tax-deductible donations to qualified charities and nonprofits are recommended consult sites such as GuideStar CharityWatch and Charity Navigator to evaluate your choices so you know your contribution is being well spent
Save time and cut back on waste with online bill pay and depos-its Automatic online bill pay means you wonrsquot have to waste time writing checks or risk late payment fees Scheduling bill payment through your checking and savings accounts can save time and money while setting up regular electronic deposits to savings and investment accounts can also help you save money before you are tempted to spend it
This article and Making the Holidays Bright and Affordable on page 2 by Nathaniel SillinVISA Inc Both articles are intended to provide general information and should not be considered legal tax or financial advice Itrsquos always a good idea to consult a tax or financial advisor for specific information on how certain laws apply to your situation and about your individual financial situation
Your Year-End Financial Checklist
The Top 5 Holiday Scams This holiday season could be the most wonderful time of year for cyber criminals according to digital identity com-pany ThreatMetrix In a new report the firm reveals that it has detected a 25 jump in attacks Following are the Top 5 Holiday Scams that you should be warned about
Black FridayCyber Monday Specials This time of year online scams use a variety of lures to get unsuspecting buyers to click on links or open attachments Bad guys build complete copies of well-known sites send emails promoting great deals sell products and take credit card information ndash but never deliver the goods Sites that seem to have incred-ible discounts should be a red flag Remember that when a ldquospecial offerrdquo is too good to be true it usually is For instance never click on links in emails or popups with very deep dis-count offers for watches phones or tablets Go to the website yourself through your browser and check if that offer is legit
Complimentary Vouchers or Gift Cards A popular holiday scam is big discounts on gift cards Donrsquot fall for offers from retailers or social media posts that offer phony vouchers or (Starbucks) gift cards paired with special promotions or contests Some posts or emails even appear to be shared by a friend (who may have been hacked) Develop a healthy dose of skepticism and ldquoThink Before You Clickrdquo on offers or attachments with any gift cards or vouchers
Bogus Shipping Notices From UPS and FedEx You are going to see emails supposedly from UPS and FedEx in your inbox that claim your package has a problem andor could not be delivered Many of these are phishing attacks that try to make you click on a link or open an attachment However what happens when you do that is that your computer gets infected with a virus or even ransomware which holds all your files hostage until you pay 500 dollars in ransom
Holiday Refund Scams These emails seem to come from retail chains or e-commerce companies such as Amazon or eBay claiming therersquos a ldquowrong transactionrdquo and prompt you to click the refund link However when you do that and are asked to fill out a form the personal information you give out will be sold to cyber criminals who use it against you
Phishing on the Dark Side A new phishing email has begun circulating that tricks people into thinking they could win movie tickets for the highly-anticipated film ldquoStar Wars The Force Awakensrdquo due out on Dec 18 However the email is a phishing attack Leading up to the filmrsquos release and shortly after you need to watch out for this social engineering attack and not fall for the scam Stay safe online
2016 The Year You Stop Procrastinating Your Financial Plan
Year-end is a good time to look at your expenses and your debt Look at your core living expenses (such as a mortgage payment car payment etc) Can any core expenses be reduced Investing aside you position yourself to gain ground financially when income rises debt diminishes and expenses decrease or stay (relatively) the same
Maybe you should pay your debt first maybe not Some debt is ldquogoodrdquo debt A debt is ldquogoodrdquo if it brings you income Credit cards are generally considered ldquobadrdquo debts
If yoursquoll be carrying a debt for a while put it to a test Weigh the interest rate on that specific debt against your potential income growth rate and your potential investment returns over the term of the debt
Of course paying off debts paying down balances and restricting new debt all works toward improving your FICO score another tool you can use in pursuit of financial freedom (wersquore talking ldquogoodrdquo debts)
Implement or refine an investment strategy Yoursquore not going to retire solely on the elective deferrals from your paycheck yoursquore to going retire (hopefully) on the interest that those accumulated assets earn over time plus the power of compounding
Manage the money you make If you simply accumulate unman-aged assets you have money just sitting there that may be exposed to risk ndash inflation risk market risk even legal risks Donrsquot forget taxes The greater your wealth the more long-range potential you have to accomplish some profound things ndash provided your wealth is directed
If you want to build more wealth this year or in the near future donrsquot neglect the risk management strategy that could be instrumental in helping you retain it Your after-tax return matters Risk manage-ment should be part of your overall financial picture
Request professional guidance for the wealth you are (or could be) growing A good financial professional should help to educate you about the principles of wealth building You can draw on that pro-fessional knowledge and guidance this year ndash and for years to come
This material was prepared by MarketingLibraryNet Inc and does not necessarily repre-sent the views of the presenting party nor their affiliates This information should not be construed as investment tax or legal advice All information is believed to be from reliable sources however we make no representation as to its completeness or accuracy
PAGE 4 | DECEMBER 2015 | MERIWESTCOMNEWSLETTER DECEMBER 2015 | MERIWESTCOMNEWSLETTER | PAGE 5
DID YOU KNOW IN THE COMMUNITYIN THE COMMUNITY
High School Students Earn a Chance at Winning up to
$1000 Enter the 2015 Annual Essay Competition for a chance to win Submit a 1000-word essay discussing the following
ldquoHow important is good credit to you How do you plan to build good credit and manage it in your life after high schoolrdquo
To enter visit meriwestcomessaycontest to download application complete competition rules and release form The deadline to submit essays is 500 pm PT on Monday January 4 2016 Winners will be no-tified mid- February 2016 You may also contact Jill Popolizio Meriwest Community Relations Manager at 408-365-6328 or jpopoliziomeriwestcom for details
Prizes are as follows9th Grade 10th Grade 11th Grade 12th Grade1st Prize $250 $300 $500 $10002nd Prize $150 $250 $350 $5003rd Prize $100 $150 $200 $250
We are excited to read all of your essay submissions
Meriwest Hosts a Holiday Wish Drive
For the holiday season Meriwest will host a Holiday Wish Drive We are partnering with Family Giving Tree an organization that fulfills gift wishes for Bay Area children and low-income households be-cause itrsquos their belief that no child should feel forgotten during the holidays In 2014 alone they fulfilled 71600 holiday wishes
Putting an asked-for holiday gift in the hands of a child in need who gets little else during this time of year may not seem like much But for some children itrsquos everything When a child who has so little re-ceives the exact gift he or she has asked for just brings tremendous joy That single specially chosen gift lets them know that someone is thinking of them
Wish tags will be on display in our Chesbro Financial Center De-cember 3-10 We encourage our members to support our efforts by selecting a personalized wish card shopping for that special toy and returning the gift (unwrapped) along with the wish card to our Chesbro center
If you are unable to visit our Chesbro branch but would like to support this campaign visit wwwfamilygivingtreeorgget-involved to find ways the Family Giving Tree welcomes ndash and needs ndash your involvement
Contact Jill Popolizio Meriwestrsquos Community Relations Manager to learn how you can get involved with our efforts at 408-365-6328 or jpopoliziomeriwestcom
It pays to makeinvestments
Earn a bonus up to $750
Could you be earning more with your current savings investments or retirement accounts
Assets transferred from an existing Meriwest account do not qualify Offer is a limited time offer and subject to expire at any time Security and advisory services offered through Cetera Advisors LLC (doing insurance business in CA as CFGA Insurance Agency) member FINRASIPC Cetera is under separate ownership from any other named entity The products offered are not insured by the NCUA NCUSIF or any other regulatory agency are not deposits or obligations of nor guaranteed by the
credit union or any affiliated entity and may lose value Cetera Advisors LLC is not affiliated with the Credit Union or CU Financial Partners LLC
Learn more u
Act on this offer by
1231
Have you heard Santa Claus is coming to Meriwest Come join us and Santa on Saturday December 12 2015from 930 am to 1230 pm at Chesbro Financial Center 5615 Chesbro Ave San Jose
Take a FREE professional photo with Santa Family and friends welcome
Your FREE photo with Santa Claus will be provided at the event
PAGE 6 | DECEMBER 2015 | MERIWESTCOMNEWSLETTER DECEMBER 2015 | MERIWESTCOMNEWSLETTER | PAGE 7
IN THE COMMUNITY
UPCOMING EVENTS Preventing Identity TheftThursday Dec 10 2015 - 6 pmChesbro Financial Center5615 Chesbro Avenue San JoseRSVP to Jill Popolizio at jpopoliziomeriwestcom
HOLIDAY CLOSURESIn observance of ChristmasMeriwest Financial Centers will be closing at 2 pm on Thursday Dec 24 and will be closed on Friday December 25 2015In observance of New Yearrsquos Meriwest Financial Centers will be closing at 2 pm on Thursday December 31st and will be closed on Friday January 1 2016
IMPORTANT INFOEmail
contact_centermeriwestcomCall
877-MERIWEST (877-637-4937)Routing Number
321176833 Headquarters
5615 Chesbro Avenue San Jose CA 95123
Lost or Stolen Visareg Debit CardInside US (877) 637-4937
Outside US (206) 352-3482 or visit wwwreportmycardscom
Lost or Stolen Visa Credit CardConsumer Credit Card
800-558-3424Business Credit Card
866-552-8855
Owning a home shouldnrsquot be just a dream However it takes planning to reach your goals When you find
the right house all it takes is the right loan to turn renters into
buyers Meriwest Mortgage has competitive mortgage rates
Start by speaking with a mortgage consultant today
Second Harvest Food Bank Helping our Local Community
We wish to thank our members and employees who came together to support our Second Harvest Food Bank Thanksgiving food drive Our donations provided 528 meals to those in need in our community
For most of us the holiday season is a time of celebration hope and happiness But for some local families itrsquos a struggle to maintain the holiday spirit in the face of hunger Many working families face an expanding gap between their paychecks and their basic needs One in 10 of our neighbors will turn to Second Harvest Food Bank for food Their goal this year is to raise $15 million and 2 million pounds of food to ensure that anyone who needs a meal in Santa Clara and San Mateo counties can get one this holiday season and all year long
Itrsquos not too late to help Visit httpswwwshfborgdonatenow and make a difference this holiday season Your support will help connect hungry children families and seniors to nutritious food in the neighborhoods where they live learn work and play Thanks again to all those who contributed
A standard $35 processing fee per loan applies Only two Skip-a-Pays per loan in a calendar year Cannot be combined with any other offer Skip-a-Pay does not apply to first mortgages Community Advan-tage Certificate Pledge Workout interest-only stock loans and interest-only HELOC loans Finance charges will continue to accrue on your loan account(s) during the month you skip your payment This service fee has the equivalent effect of changing your Annual Percentage Rate for the month of the skipped payment only Your regularly scheduled payment will resume the month after your skipped payment Promotion ends January 31 2016 Membership must be in good standing All loans must be current in order to be eligible for skipping a payment Loan must be at least six (6) months old You must meet all Meriwest qualifications Other restrictions may apply Membership is required with a one-time non-refundable $5 fee Federally insured by NCUA We do business in accordance with the Federal Fair Housing Law and Equal Credit Opportunity Act Copyright 2015 Meriwest Credit Union All rights reserved
Learn More u
PAGE 8 | DECEMBER 2015 | MERIWESTCOMNEWSLETTER FEDERALLY INSURED BY NCUA
FEATURE FEATURE
Start with a list and make a budget Begin your planning by listing every possible holiday expense yoursquoll face ndash and donrsquot stop at gifts Use an online holiday budget planner to help organize your information and track your spending
Be open about money trouble If you are facing financial difficulties during the holiday season donrsquot spend to hide the problem Donrsquot be ashamed to make adjustments and tell friends and family members that yoursquod like to temporarily downsize your spending until conditions improve They might actually appreciate a spending reprieve too
Build a bargain-hunting strike force Let friends and family know yoursquore looking for particular toys gifts food or decorating items and volunteer to do the same for them Save and share coupons Encourage your group to find resources check prices and share requests and ideas via social media Results can come back in a matter of minutes
Evaluate all transportation costs Do you really need to run out for one or two items at a time Designate certain days of the week for particular items keep an eye out for free delivery and see if friends and fam-ily might want to share errands Those with large vehicles or trucks can help move deliver and even install appliances or electronics if they have the skills to do so Smart transportation choices extend to car pools or public transportation for events and entertainment
Leverage your creativity If therersquos some-thing you make or do really well that people love consider making such accom-plishments into gifts From specialty food items your friends enjoy to clothing or art anything done well can be a gift Donrsquot rule out lessons or skilled labor as poten-tial holiday gifts particularly for relatives who canrsquot afford such services at this time Smart shopping for ingredients or supplies can make such creative gifts a real money saver
Build a year-round gift stash If there are gifts or foodstuffs you can buy on sale and keep for a while yoursquoll have a ready source of thank-you gifts for hosts teachers or co-workers year-round Set aside a similar area for cards gift tags and wrapping pa-per Also keep in mind that many retailers put holiday-themed items on sale before the holidays are finished If you think yoursquoll need these items next year grab your cou-pons take advantage and put those items aside for future gift giving
Late saving for gifts Do it anyway If you donrsquot have a holiday fund set up donrsquot let that keep you from starting one Every little bit helps Take 5-10 percent of your next paycheck and set it aside doing it each week throughout the holidays If you keep it up your holiday fund can eventually become an emergency fund to be used for other savings goals including retirement
Take notes for next holiday season Create a paper or digital file where you can collect ideas for next year Check print and online resources like Consumer Reports for items that can be bought at specific times of the year at a discount so you are able to hide them for the holidays ndash but remember where you hid them
Bottom line Keeping holidays affordable isnrsquot a challenge when yoursquore willing to do a little planning idea-sharing and record-keeping Make it an activity you can do year-round
Already dreading what yoursquoll spend this holiday season It doesnrsquot have to be that way
Gifts arenrsquot the only budget-busting culprit during the holidays The weeks between Thanksgiving and New Years are also a peak time for spending on groceries travel events entertainment energy clothes and meals out
Financial advisors recommend you use no more than 15 percent of your annual income on holiday spending so consider the follow-ing suggestions to keep it under control
APR is Annual Percentage Rate 299 APR is effective for 12 months starting from the line open date and applies to most new approved home equity lines of credit opened after 040115 Some exceptions may apply At the end of the promo period the APR becomes a variable rate The rate terms and conditions as stated in membersrsquo Home Equity agreement will apply The Interest Rate will never be greater than 18 Also may be available on previously opened lines of credit Must meet eligibility criteria Contact the credit union for details Not applicable to refinance of existing Meriwest HELOCrsquos Meriwest home equity lines of credit are offered only in the states of California Arizona Washington Oregon and Nevada Applicable to owner-occupied primary residence only Property insurance is required Limited time offer
Membership is required with a one-time non-refundable $5 fee Federally insured by NCUA Copyright 2015 Meriwest Credit Union All rights reserved
Get the you needmoneyHOME EQUITY LINE OF CREDIT FOR 12 MONTHS375 indexed APR (as of 4115) thereafter
Home Improvements
A Family Vacation
Tuition
and moreCall Meriwest today to learn more at 877-637-4937 or visit us online at meriwestcomHELOC
Offer endsDec 15th
Making the Holidays Bright and Affordable
PAGE 2 | DECEMBER 2015 | MERIWESTCOMNEWSLETTER DECEMBER 2015 | MERIWESTCOMNEWSLETTER | PAGE 3
INVESTMENTS FEATURE
It will begin soon enough ndash all those ldquobeat the rushrdquo ads for holi-day shopping activities and events Right now you have a great opportunity to beat the rush to organize your year-end finances and make some smart moves for the New Year Consider the fol-lowing tasks for your year-end financial to-do list
Total up your year-to-date spending Whether you organize by computer or on paper make sure your tracking system for spend-ing saving and investment is up to date This way you can make sure you are on budget for the year and ready with data for tax time Once you are finished determine your net worth ndash what you own less what you owe ndash and get an early idea of what you need to change next year
Check in with your planner or tax professional Late December is a busy time for financial professionals Take a minute to see if they can review your numbers and make suggestions on year-end financial activities and new moves you should make in 2016
Make sure yoursquove reviewed all your credit reports for the year You are entitled to one free copy of each of your three major credit reports from TransUnion Equifax and Experian Itrsquos generally wise to schedule delivery of each at different points in the year to catch errors or irregularities
Check and rebalance your portfolio With the dramatic market swings this past year be sure to check if your retirement and other investments are still on track with your investment goals Get qualified help if necessary to see if the assets you own still fit your needs And if you need to do any tax selling by the end of the year now is the time to start thinking about it
Check your insurance coverage If you buy your own home auto life or other insurance policies contact two or three agents representing highly rated insurers to review the adequacy and pricing of your coverage If you have made any structural chang-es or improvements to your home make sure those actions are reflected in your homeowners insurance Such work may boost your homersquos replacement value Also if yoursquove had a major life or
financial event like a new baby or the purchase of a new home itrsquos time to make sure all your coverage is sufficient
Update your W-2 benefits and estate plan if necessary While yoursquore updating your insurance and investment needs for big life events related to family property or marital status see if your tax withholding and employee health coverage and investments need review Get qualified help to make this assessment if you are not sure
Empty out your flexible spending accounts If you have a Flexible Spending Account for health care or other qualifying expenses itrsquos time to submit outstanding claims from the doctor dentist or optometrist Remember you can only transfer $500 in your remaining balance over to the next year Make any appointments or medical purchases you need to now and get the paperwork in fast
Do a last-minute tax review If you work alone or with a tax professional review your annual income investment and spend-ing data to see if therersquos anything you can do in the final weeks of the year to save on taxes If tax-deductible donations to qualified charities and nonprofits are recommended consult sites such as GuideStar CharityWatch and Charity Navigator to evaluate your choices so you know your contribution is being well spent
Save time and cut back on waste with online bill pay and depos-its Automatic online bill pay means you wonrsquot have to waste time writing checks or risk late payment fees Scheduling bill payment through your checking and savings accounts can save time and money while setting up regular electronic deposits to savings and investment accounts can also help you save money before you are tempted to spend it
This article and Making the Holidays Bright and Affordable on page 2 by Nathaniel SillinVISA Inc Both articles are intended to provide general information and should not be considered legal tax or financial advice Itrsquos always a good idea to consult a tax or financial advisor for specific information on how certain laws apply to your situation and about your individual financial situation
Your Year-End Financial Checklist
The Top 5 Holiday Scams This holiday season could be the most wonderful time of year for cyber criminals according to digital identity com-pany ThreatMetrix In a new report the firm reveals that it has detected a 25 jump in attacks Following are the Top 5 Holiday Scams that you should be warned about
Black FridayCyber Monday Specials This time of year online scams use a variety of lures to get unsuspecting buyers to click on links or open attachments Bad guys build complete copies of well-known sites send emails promoting great deals sell products and take credit card information ndash but never deliver the goods Sites that seem to have incred-ible discounts should be a red flag Remember that when a ldquospecial offerrdquo is too good to be true it usually is For instance never click on links in emails or popups with very deep dis-count offers for watches phones or tablets Go to the website yourself through your browser and check if that offer is legit
Complimentary Vouchers or Gift Cards A popular holiday scam is big discounts on gift cards Donrsquot fall for offers from retailers or social media posts that offer phony vouchers or (Starbucks) gift cards paired with special promotions or contests Some posts or emails even appear to be shared by a friend (who may have been hacked) Develop a healthy dose of skepticism and ldquoThink Before You Clickrdquo on offers or attachments with any gift cards or vouchers
Bogus Shipping Notices From UPS and FedEx You are going to see emails supposedly from UPS and FedEx in your inbox that claim your package has a problem andor could not be delivered Many of these are phishing attacks that try to make you click on a link or open an attachment However what happens when you do that is that your computer gets infected with a virus or even ransomware which holds all your files hostage until you pay 500 dollars in ransom
Holiday Refund Scams These emails seem to come from retail chains or e-commerce companies such as Amazon or eBay claiming therersquos a ldquowrong transactionrdquo and prompt you to click the refund link However when you do that and are asked to fill out a form the personal information you give out will be sold to cyber criminals who use it against you
Phishing on the Dark Side A new phishing email has begun circulating that tricks people into thinking they could win movie tickets for the highly-anticipated film ldquoStar Wars The Force Awakensrdquo due out on Dec 18 However the email is a phishing attack Leading up to the filmrsquos release and shortly after you need to watch out for this social engineering attack and not fall for the scam Stay safe online
2016 The Year You Stop Procrastinating Your Financial Plan
Year-end is a good time to look at your expenses and your debt Look at your core living expenses (such as a mortgage payment car payment etc) Can any core expenses be reduced Investing aside you position yourself to gain ground financially when income rises debt diminishes and expenses decrease or stay (relatively) the same
Maybe you should pay your debt first maybe not Some debt is ldquogoodrdquo debt A debt is ldquogoodrdquo if it brings you income Credit cards are generally considered ldquobadrdquo debts
If yoursquoll be carrying a debt for a while put it to a test Weigh the interest rate on that specific debt against your potential income growth rate and your potential investment returns over the term of the debt
Of course paying off debts paying down balances and restricting new debt all works toward improving your FICO score another tool you can use in pursuit of financial freedom (wersquore talking ldquogoodrdquo debts)
Implement or refine an investment strategy Yoursquore not going to retire solely on the elective deferrals from your paycheck yoursquore to going retire (hopefully) on the interest that those accumulated assets earn over time plus the power of compounding
Manage the money you make If you simply accumulate unman-aged assets you have money just sitting there that may be exposed to risk ndash inflation risk market risk even legal risks Donrsquot forget taxes The greater your wealth the more long-range potential you have to accomplish some profound things ndash provided your wealth is directed
If you want to build more wealth this year or in the near future donrsquot neglect the risk management strategy that could be instrumental in helping you retain it Your after-tax return matters Risk manage-ment should be part of your overall financial picture
Request professional guidance for the wealth you are (or could be) growing A good financial professional should help to educate you about the principles of wealth building You can draw on that pro-fessional knowledge and guidance this year ndash and for years to come
This material was prepared by MarketingLibraryNet Inc and does not necessarily repre-sent the views of the presenting party nor their affiliates This information should not be construed as investment tax or legal advice All information is believed to be from reliable sources however we make no representation as to its completeness or accuracy
PAGE 4 | DECEMBER 2015 | MERIWESTCOMNEWSLETTER DECEMBER 2015 | MERIWESTCOMNEWSLETTER | PAGE 5
DID YOU KNOW IN THE COMMUNITYIN THE COMMUNITY
High School Students Earn a Chance at Winning up to
$1000 Enter the 2015 Annual Essay Competition for a chance to win Submit a 1000-word essay discussing the following
ldquoHow important is good credit to you How do you plan to build good credit and manage it in your life after high schoolrdquo
To enter visit meriwestcomessaycontest to download application complete competition rules and release form The deadline to submit essays is 500 pm PT on Monday January 4 2016 Winners will be no-tified mid- February 2016 You may also contact Jill Popolizio Meriwest Community Relations Manager at 408-365-6328 or jpopoliziomeriwestcom for details
Prizes are as follows9th Grade 10th Grade 11th Grade 12th Grade1st Prize $250 $300 $500 $10002nd Prize $150 $250 $350 $5003rd Prize $100 $150 $200 $250
We are excited to read all of your essay submissions
Meriwest Hosts a Holiday Wish Drive
For the holiday season Meriwest will host a Holiday Wish Drive We are partnering with Family Giving Tree an organization that fulfills gift wishes for Bay Area children and low-income households be-cause itrsquos their belief that no child should feel forgotten during the holidays In 2014 alone they fulfilled 71600 holiday wishes
Putting an asked-for holiday gift in the hands of a child in need who gets little else during this time of year may not seem like much But for some children itrsquos everything When a child who has so little re-ceives the exact gift he or she has asked for just brings tremendous joy That single specially chosen gift lets them know that someone is thinking of them
Wish tags will be on display in our Chesbro Financial Center De-cember 3-10 We encourage our members to support our efforts by selecting a personalized wish card shopping for that special toy and returning the gift (unwrapped) along with the wish card to our Chesbro center
If you are unable to visit our Chesbro branch but would like to support this campaign visit wwwfamilygivingtreeorgget-involved to find ways the Family Giving Tree welcomes ndash and needs ndash your involvement
Contact Jill Popolizio Meriwestrsquos Community Relations Manager to learn how you can get involved with our efforts at 408-365-6328 or jpopoliziomeriwestcom
It pays to makeinvestments
Earn a bonus up to $750
Could you be earning more with your current savings investments or retirement accounts
Assets transferred from an existing Meriwest account do not qualify Offer is a limited time offer and subject to expire at any time Security and advisory services offered through Cetera Advisors LLC (doing insurance business in CA as CFGA Insurance Agency) member FINRASIPC Cetera is under separate ownership from any other named entity The products offered are not insured by the NCUA NCUSIF or any other regulatory agency are not deposits or obligations of nor guaranteed by the
credit union or any affiliated entity and may lose value Cetera Advisors LLC is not affiliated with the Credit Union or CU Financial Partners LLC
Learn more u
Act on this offer by
1231
Have you heard Santa Claus is coming to Meriwest Come join us and Santa on Saturday December 12 2015from 930 am to 1230 pm at Chesbro Financial Center 5615 Chesbro Ave San Jose
Take a FREE professional photo with Santa Family and friends welcome
Your FREE photo with Santa Claus will be provided at the event
PAGE 6 | DECEMBER 2015 | MERIWESTCOMNEWSLETTER DECEMBER 2015 | MERIWESTCOMNEWSLETTER | PAGE 7
IN THE COMMUNITY
UPCOMING EVENTS Preventing Identity TheftThursday Dec 10 2015 - 6 pmChesbro Financial Center5615 Chesbro Avenue San JoseRSVP to Jill Popolizio at jpopoliziomeriwestcom
HOLIDAY CLOSURESIn observance of ChristmasMeriwest Financial Centers will be closing at 2 pm on Thursday Dec 24 and will be closed on Friday December 25 2015In observance of New Yearrsquos Meriwest Financial Centers will be closing at 2 pm on Thursday December 31st and will be closed on Friday January 1 2016
IMPORTANT INFOEmail
contact_centermeriwestcomCall
877-MERIWEST (877-637-4937)Routing Number
321176833 Headquarters
5615 Chesbro Avenue San Jose CA 95123
Lost or Stolen Visareg Debit CardInside US (877) 637-4937
Outside US (206) 352-3482 or visit wwwreportmycardscom
Lost or Stolen Visa Credit CardConsumer Credit Card
800-558-3424Business Credit Card
866-552-8855
Owning a home shouldnrsquot be just a dream However it takes planning to reach your goals When you find
the right house all it takes is the right loan to turn renters into
buyers Meriwest Mortgage has competitive mortgage rates
Start by speaking with a mortgage consultant today
Second Harvest Food Bank Helping our Local Community
We wish to thank our members and employees who came together to support our Second Harvest Food Bank Thanksgiving food drive Our donations provided 528 meals to those in need in our community
For most of us the holiday season is a time of celebration hope and happiness But for some local families itrsquos a struggle to maintain the holiday spirit in the face of hunger Many working families face an expanding gap between their paychecks and their basic needs One in 10 of our neighbors will turn to Second Harvest Food Bank for food Their goal this year is to raise $15 million and 2 million pounds of food to ensure that anyone who needs a meal in Santa Clara and San Mateo counties can get one this holiday season and all year long
Itrsquos not too late to help Visit httpswwwshfborgdonatenow and make a difference this holiday season Your support will help connect hungry children families and seniors to nutritious food in the neighborhoods where they live learn work and play Thanks again to all those who contributed
A standard $35 processing fee per loan applies Only two Skip-a-Pays per loan in a calendar year Cannot be combined with any other offer Skip-a-Pay does not apply to first mortgages Community Advan-tage Certificate Pledge Workout interest-only stock loans and interest-only HELOC loans Finance charges will continue to accrue on your loan account(s) during the month you skip your payment This service fee has the equivalent effect of changing your Annual Percentage Rate for the month of the skipped payment only Your regularly scheduled payment will resume the month after your skipped payment Promotion ends January 31 2016 Membership must be in good standing All loans must be current in order to be eligible for skipping a payment Loan must be at least six (6) months old You must meet all Meriwest qualifications Other restrictions may apply Membership is required with a one-time non-refundable $5 fee Federally insured by NCUA We do business in accordance with the Federal Fair Housing Law and Equal Credit Opportunity Act Copyright 2015 Meriwest Credit Union All rights reserved
Learn More u
PAGE 8 | DECEMBER 2015 | MERIWESTCOMNEWSLETTER FEDERALLY INSURED BY NCUA
INVESTMENTS FEATURE
It will begin soon enough ndash all those ldquobeat the rushrdquo ads for holi-day shopping activities and events Right now you have a great opportunity to beat the rush to organize your year-end finances and make some smart moves for the New Year Consider the fol-lowing tasks for your year-end financial to-do list
Total up your year-to-date spending Whether you organize by computer or on paper make sure your tracking system for spend-ing saving and investment is up to date This way you can make sure you are on budget for the year and ready with data for tax time Once you are finished determine your net worth ndash what you own less what you owe ndash and get an early idea of what you need to change next year
Check in with your planner or tax professional Late December is a busy time for financial professionals Take a minute to see if they can review your numbers and make suggestions on year-end financial activities and new moves you should make in 2016
Make sure yoursquove reviewed all your credit reports for the year You are entitled to one free copy of each of your three major credit reports from TransUnion Equifax and Experian Itrsquos generally wise to schedule delivery of each at different points in the year to catch errors or irregularities
Check and rebalance your portfolio With the dramatic market swings this past year be sure to check if your retirement and other investments are still on track with your investment goals Get qualified help if necessary to see if the assets you own still fit your needs And if you need to do any tax selling by the end of the year now is the time to start thinking about it
Check your insurance coverage If you buy your own home auto life or other insurance policies contact two or three agents representing highly rated insurers to review the adequacy and pricing of your coverage If you have made any structural chang-es or improvements to your home make sure those actions are reflected in your homeowners insurance Such work may boost your homersquos replacement value Also if yoursquove had a major life or
financial event like a new baby or the purchase of a new home itrsquos time to make sure all your coverage is sufficient
Update your W-2 benefits and estate plan if necessary While yoursquore updating your insurance and investment needs for big life events related to family property or marital status see if your tax withholding and employee health coverage and investments need review Get qualified help to make this assessment if you are not sure
Empty out your flexible spending accounts If you have a Flexible Spending Account for health care or other qualifying expenses itrsquos time to submit outstanding claims from the doctor dentist or optometrist Remember you can only transfer $500 in your remaining balance over to the next year Make any appointments or medical purchases you need to now and get the paperwork in fast
Do a last-minute tax review If you work alone or with a tax professional review your annual income investment and spend-ing data to see if therersquos anything you can do in the final weeks of the year to save on taxes If tax-deductible donations to qualified charities and nonprofits are recommended consult sites such as GuideStar CharityWatch and Charity Navigator to evaluate your choices so you know your contribution is being well spent
Save time and cut back on waste with online bill pay and depos-its Automatic online bill pay means you wonrsquot have to waste time writing checks or risk late payment fees Scheduling bill payment through your checking and savings accounts can save time and money while setting up regular electronic deposits to savings and investment accounts can also help you save money before you are tempted to spend it
This article and Making the Holidays Bright and Affordable on page 2 by Nathaniel SillinVISA Inc Both articles are intended to provide general information and should not be considered legal tax or financial advice Itrsquos always a good idea to consult a tax or financial advisor for specific information on how certain laws apply to your situation and about your individual financial situation
Your Year-End Financial Checklist
The Top 5 Holiday Scams This holiday season could be the most wonderful time of year for cyber criminals according to digital identity com-pany ThreatMetrix In a new report the firm reveals that it has detected a 25 jump in attacks Following are the Top 5 Holiday Scams that you should be warned about
Black FridayCyber Monday Specials This time of year online scams use a variety of lures to get unsuspecting buyers to click on links or open attachments Bad guys build complete copies of well-known sites send emails promoting great deals sell products and take credit card information ndash but never deliver the goods Sites that seem to have incred-ible discounts should be a red flag Remember that when a ldquospecial offerrdquo is too good to be true it usually is For instance never click on links in emails or popups with very deep dis-count offers for watches phones or tablets Go to the website yourself through your browser and check if that offer is legit
Complimentary Vouchers or Gift Cards A popular holiday scam is big discounts on gift cards Donrsquot fall for offers from retailers or social media posts that offer phony vouchers or (Starbucks) gift cards paired with special promotions or contests Some posts or emails even appear to be shared by a friend (who may have been hacked) Develop a healthy dose of skepticism and ldquoThink Before You Clickrdquo on offers or attachments with any gift cards or vouchers
Bogus Shipping Notices From UPS and FedEx You are going to see emails supposedly from UPS and FedEx in your inbox that claim your package has a problem andor could not be delivered Many of these are phishing attacks that try to make you click on a link or open an attachment However what happens when you do that is that your computer gets infected with a virus or even ransomware which holds all your files hostage until you pay 500 dollars in ransom
Holiday Refund Scams These emails seem to come from retail chains or e-commerce companies such as Amazon or eBay claiming therersquos a ldquowrong transactionrdquo and prompt you to click the refund link However when you do that and are asked to fill out a form the personal information you give out will be sold to cyber criminals who use it against you
Phishing on the Dark Side A new phishing email has begun circulating that tricks people into thinking they could win movie tickets for the highly-anticipated film ldquoStar Wars The Force Awakensrdquo due out on Dec 18 However the email is a phishing attack Leading up to the filmrsquos release and shortly after you need to watch out for this social engineering attack and not fall for the scam Stay safe online
2016 The Year You Stop Procrastinating Your Financial Plan
Year-end is a good time to look at your expenses and your debt Look at your core living expenses (such as a mortgage payment car payment etc) Can any core expenses be reduced Investing aside you position yourself to gain ground financially when income rises debt diminishes and expenses decrease or stay (relatively) the same
Maybe you should pay your debt first maybe not Some debt is ldquogoodrdquo debt A debt is ldquogoodrdquo if it brings you income Credit cards are generally considered ldquobadrdquo debts
If yoursquoll be carrying a debt for a while put it to a test Weigh the interest rate on that specific debt against your potential income growth rate and your potential investment returns over the term of the debt
Of course paying off debts paying down balances and restricting new debt all works toward improving your FICO score another tool you can use in pursuit of financial freedom (wersquore talking ldquogoodrdquo debts)
Implement or refine an investment strategy Yoursquore not going to retire solely on the elective deferrals from your paycheck yoursquore to going retire (hopefully) on the interest that those accumulated assets earn over time plus the power of compounding
Manage the money you make If you simply accumulate unman-aged assets you have money just sitting there that may be exposed to risk ndash inflation risk market risk even legal risks Donrsquot forget taxes The greater your wealth the more long-range potential you have to accomplish some profound things ndash provided your wealth is directed
If you want to build more wealth this year or in the near future donrsquot neglect the risk management strategy that could be instrumental in helping you retain it Your after-tax return matters Risk manage-ment should be part of your overall financial picture
Request professional guidance for the wealth you are (or could be) growing A good financial professional should help to educate you about the principles of wealth building You can draw on that pro-fessional knowledge and guidance this year ndash and for years to come
This material was prepared by MarketingLibraryNet Inc and does not necessarily repre-sent the views of the presenting party nor their affiliates This information should not be construed as investment tax or legal advice All information is believed to be from reliable sources however we make no representation as to its completeness or accuracy
PAGE 4 | DECEMBER 2015 | MERIWESTCOMNEWSLETTER DECEMBER 2015 | MERIWESTCOMNEWSLETTER | PAGE 5
DID YOU KNOW IN THE COMMUNITYIN THE COMMUNITY
High School Students Earn a Chance at Winning up to
$1000 Enter the 2015 Annual Essay Competition for a chance to win Submit a 1000-word essay discussing the following
ldquoHow important is good credit to you How do you plan to build good credit and manage it in your life after high schoolrdquo
To enter visit meriwestcomessaycontest to download application complete competition rules and release form The deadline to submit essays is 500 pm PT on Monday January 4 2016 Winners will be no-tified mid- February 2016 You may also contact Jill Popolizio Meriwest Community Relations Manager at 408-365-6328 or jpopoliziomeriwestcom for details
Prizes are as follows9th Grade 10th Grade 11th Grade 12th Grade1st Prize $250 $300 $500 $10002nd Prize $150 $250 $350 $5003rd Prize $100 $150 $200 $250
We are excited to read all of your essay submissions
Meriwest Hosts a Holiday Wish Drive
For the holiday season Meriwest will host a Holiday Wish Drive We are partnering with Family Giving Tree an organization that fulfills gift wishes for Bay Area children and low-income households be-cause itrsquos their belief that no child should feel forgotten during the holidays In 2014 alone they fulfilled 71600 holiday wishes
Putting an asked-for holiday gift in the hands of a child in need who gets little else during this time of year may not seem like much But for some children itrsquos everything When a child who has so little re-ceives the exact gift he or she has asked for just brings tremendous joy That single specially chosen gift lets them know that someone is thinking of them
Wish tags will be on display in our Chesbro Financial Center De-cember 3-10 We encourage our members to support our efforts by selecting a personalized wish card shopping for that special toy and returning the gift (unwrapped) along with the wish card to our Chesbro center
If you are unable to visit our Chesbro branch but would like to support this campaign visit wwwfamilygivingtreeorgget-involved to find ways the Family Giving Tree welcomes ndash and needs ndash your involvement
Contact Jill Popolizio Meriwestrsquos Community Relations Manager to learn how you can get involved with our efforts at 408-365-6328 or jpopoliziomeriwestcom
It pays to makeinvestments
Earn a bonus up to $750
Could you be earning more with your current savings investments or retirement accounts
Assets transferred from an existing Meriwest account do not qualify Offer is a limited time offer and subject to expire at any time Security and advisory services offered through Cetera Advisors LLC (doing insurance business in CA as CFGA Insurance Agency) member FINRASIPC Cetera is under separate ownership from any other named entity The products offered are not insured by the NCUA NCUSIF or any other regulatory agency are not deposits or obligations of nor guaranteed by the
credit union or any affiliated entity and may lose value Cetera Advisors LLC is not affiliated with the Credit Union or CU Financial Partners LLC
Learn more u
Act on this offer by
1231
Have you heard Santa Claus is coming to Meriwest Come join us and Santa on Saturday December 12 2015from 930 am to 1230 pm at Chesbro Financial Center 5615 Chesbro Ave San Jose
Take a FREE professional photo with Santa Family and friends welcome
Your FREE photo with Santa Claus will be provided at the event
PAGE 6 | DECEMBER 2015 | MERIWESTCOMNEWSLETTER DECEMBER 2015 | MERIWESTCOMNEWSLETTER | PAGE 7
IN THE COMMUNITY
UPCOMING EVENTS Preventing Identity TheftThursday Dec 10 2015 - 6 pmChesbro Financial Center5615 Chesbro Avenue San JoseRSVP to Jill Popolizio at jpopoliziomeriwestcom
HOLIDAY CLOSURESIn observance of ChristmasMeriwest Financial Centers will be closing at 2 pm on Thursday Dec 24 and will be closed on Friday December 25 2015In observance of New Yearrsquos Meriwest Financial Centers will be closing at 2 pm on Thursday December 31st and will be closed on Friday January 1 2016
IMPORTANT INFOEmail
contact_centermeriwestcomCall
877-MERIWEST (877-637-4937)Routing Number
321176833 Headquarters
5615 Chesbro Avenue San Jose CA 95123
Lost or Stolen Visareg Debit CardInside US (877) 637-4937
Outside US (206) 352-3482 or visit wwwreportmycardscom
Lost or Stolen Visa Credit CardConsumer Credit Card
800-558-3424Business Credit Card
866-552-8855
Owning a home shouldnrsquot be just a dream However it takes planning to reach your goals When you find
the right house all it takes is the right loan to turn renters into
buyers Meriwest Mortgage has competitive mortgage rates
Start by speaking with a mortgage consultant today
Second Harvest Food Bank Helping our Local Community
We wish to thank our members and employees who came together to support our Second Harvest Food Bank Thanksgiving food drive Our donations provided 528 meals to those in need in our community
For most of us the holiday season is a time of celebration hope and happiness But for some local families itrsquos a struggle to maintain the holiday spirit in the face of hunger Many working families face an expanding gap between their paychecks and their basic needs One in 10 of our neighbors will turn to Second Harvest Food Bank for food Their goal this year is to raise $15 million and 2 million pounds of food to ensure that anyone who needs a meal in Santa Clara and San Mateo counties can get one this holiday season and all year long
Itrsquos not too late to help Visit httpswwwshfborgdonatenow and make a difference this holiday season Your support will help connect hungry children families and seniors to nutritious food in the neighborhoods where they live learn work and play Thanks again to all those who contributed
A standard $35 processing fee per loan applies Only two Skip-a-Pays per loan in a calendar year Cannot be combined with any other offer Skip-a-Pay does not apply to first mortgages Community Advan-tage Certificate Pledge Workout interest-only stock loans and interest-only HELOC loans Finance charges will continue to accrue on your loan account(s) during the month you skip your payment This service fee has the equivalent effect of changing your Annual Percentage Rate for the month of the skipped payment only Your regularly scheduled payment will resume the month after your skipped payment Promotion ends January 31 2016 Membership must be in good standing All loans must be current in order to be eligible for skipping a payment Loan must be at least six (6) months old You must meet all Meriwest qualifications Other restrictions may apply Membership is required with a one-time non-refundable $5 fee Federally insured by NCUA We do business in accordance with the Federal Fair Housing Law and Equal Credit Opportunity Act Copyright 2015 Meriwest Credit Union All rights reserved
Learn More u
PAGE 8 | DECEMBER 2015 | MERIWESTCOMNEWSLETTER FEDERALLY INSURED BY NCUA
DID YOU KNOW IN THE COMMUNITYIN THE COMMUNITY
High School Students Earn a Chance at Winning up to
$1000 Enter the 2015 Annual Essay Competition for a chance to win Submit a 1000-word essay discussing the following
ldquoHow important is good credit to you How do you plan to build good credit and manage it in your life after high schoolrdquo
To enter visit meriwestcomessaycontest to download application complete competition rules and release form The deadline to submit essays is 500 pm PT on Monday January 4 2016 Winners will be no-tified mid- February 2016 You may also contact Jill Popolizio Meriwest Community Relations Manager at 408-365-6328 or jpopoliziomeriwestcom for details
Prizes are as follows9th Grade 10th Grade 11th Grade 12th Grade1st Prize $250 $300 $500 $10002nd Prize $150 $250 $350 $5003rd Prize $100 $150 $200 $250
We are excited to read all of your essay submissions
Meriwest Hosts a Holiday Wish Drive
For the holiday season Meriwest will host a Holiday Wish Drive We are partnering with Family Giving Tree an organization that fulfills gift wishes for Bay Area children and low-income households be-cause itrsquos their belief that no child should feel forgotten during the holidays In 2014 alone they fulfilled 71600 holiday wishes
Putting an asked-for holiday gift in the hands of a child in need who gets little else during this time of year may not seem like much But for some children itrsquos everything When a child who has so little re-ceives the exact gift he or she has asked for just brings tremendous joy That single specially chosen gift lets them know that someone is thinking of them
Wish tags will be on display in our Chesbro Financial Center De-cember 3-10 We encourage our members to support our efforts by selecting a personalized wish card shopping for that special toy and returning the gift (unwrapped) along with the wish card to our Chesbro center
If you are unable to visit our Chesbro branch but would like to support this campaign visit wwwfamilygivingtreeorgget-involved to find ways the Family Giving Tree welcomes ndash and needs ndash your involvement
Contact Jill Popolizio Meriwestrsquos Community Relations Manager to learn how you can get involved with our efforts at 408-365-6328 or jpopoliziomeriwestcom
It pays to makeinvestments
Earn a bonus up to $750
Could you be earning more with your current savings investments or retirement accounts
Assets transferred from an existing Meriwest account do not qualify Offer is a limited time offer and subject to expire at any time Security and advisory services offered through Cetera Advisors LLC (doing insurance business in CA as CFGA Insurance Agency) member FINRASIPC Cetera is under separate ownership from any other named entity The products offered are not insured by the NCUA NCUSIF or any other regulatory agency are not deposits or obligations of nor guaranteed by the
credit union or any affiliated entity and may lose value Cetera Advisors LLC is not affiliated with the Credit Union or CU Financial Partners LLC
Learn more u
Act on this offer by
1231
Have you heard Santa Claus is coming to Meriwest Come join us and Santa on Saturday December 12 2015from 930 am to 1230 pm at Chesbro Financial Center 5615 Chesbro Ave San Jose
Take a FREE professional photo with Santa Family and friends welcome
Your FREE photo with Santa Claus will be provided at the event
PAGE 6 | DECEMBER 2015 | MERIWESTCOMNEWSLETTER DECEMBER 2015 | MERIWESTCOMNEWSLETTER | PAGE 7
IN THE COMMUNITY
UPCOMING EVENTS Preventing Identity TheftThursday Dec 10 2015 - 6 pmChesbro Financial Center5615 Chesbro Avenue San JoseRSVP to Jill Popolizio at jpopoliziomeriwestcom
HOLIDAY CLOSURESIn observance of ChristmasMeriwest Financial Centers will be closing at 2 pm on Thursday Dec 24 and will be closed on Friday December 25 2015In observance of New Yearrsquos Meriwest Financial Centers will be closing at 2 pm on Thursday December 31st and will be closed on Friday January 1 2016
IMPORTANT INFOEmail
contact_centermeriwestcomCall
877-MERIWEST (877-637-4937)Routing Number
321176833 Headquarters
5615 Chesbro Avenue San Jose CA 95123
Lost or Stolen Visareg Debit CardInside US (877) 637-4937
Outside US (206) 352-3482 or visit wwwreportmycardscom
Lost or Stolen Visa Credit CardConsumer Credit Card
800-558-3424Business Credit Card
866-552-8855
Owning a home shouldnrsquot be just a dream However it takes planning to reach your goals When you find
the right house all it takes is the right loan to turn renters into
buyers Meriwest Mortgage has competitive mortgage rates
Start by speaking with a mortgage consultant today
Second Harvest Food Bank Helping our Local Community
We wish to thank our members and employees who came together to support our Second Harvest Food Bank Thanksgiving food drive Our donations provided 528 meals to those in need in our community
For most of us the holiday season is a time of celebration hope and happiness But for some local families itrsquos a struggle to maintain the holiday spirit in the face of hunger Many working families face an expanding gap between their paychecks and their basic needs One in 10 of our neighbors will turn to Second Harvest Food Bank for food Their goal this year is to raise $15 million and 2 million pounds of food to ensure that anyone who needs a meal in Santa Clara and San Mateo counties can get one this holiday season and all year long
Itrsquos not too late to help Visit httpswwwshfborgdonatenow and make a difference this holiday season Your support will help connect hungry children families and seniors to nutritious food in the neighborhoods where they live learn work and play Thanks again to all those who contributed
A standard $35 processing fee per loan applies Only two Skip-a-Pays per loan in a calendar year Cannot be combined with any other offer Skip-a-Pay does not apply to first mortgages Community Advan-tage Certificate Pledge Workout interest-only stock loans and interest-only HELOC loans Finance charges will continue to accrue on your loan account(s) during the month you skip your payment This service fee has the equivalent effect of changing your Annual Percentage Rate for the month of the skipped payment only Your regularly scheduled payment will resume the month after your skipped payment Promotion ends January 31 2016 Membership must be in good standing All loans must be current in order to be eligible for skipping a payment Loan must be at least six (6) months old You must meet all Meriwest qualifications Other restrictions may apply Membership is required with a one-time non-refundable $5 fee Federally insured by NCUA We do business in accordance with the Federal Fair Housing Law and Equal Credit Opportunity Act Copyright 2015 Meriwest Credit Union All rights reserved
Learn More u
PAGE 8 | DECEMBER 2015 | MERIWESTCOMNEWSLETTER FEDERALLY INSURED BY NCUA
IN THE COMMUNITY
UPCOMING EVENTS Preventing Identity TheftThursday Dec 10 2015 - 6 pmChesbro Financial Center5615 Chesbro Avenue San JoseRSVP to Jill Popolizio at jpopoliziomeriwestcom
HOLIDAY CLOSURESIn observance of ChristmasMeriwest Financial Centers will be closing at 2 pm on Thursday Dec 24 and will be closed on Friday December 25 2015In observance of New Yearrsquos Meriwest Financial Centers will be closing at 2 pm on Thursday December 31st and will be closed on Friday January 1 2016
IMPORTANT INFOEmail
contact_centermeriwestcomCall
877-MERIWEST (877-637-4937)Routing Number
321176833 Headquarters
5615 Chesbro Avenue San Jose CA 95123
Lost or Stolen Visareg Debit CardInside US (877) 637-4937
Outside US (206) 352-3482 or visit wwwreportmycardscom
Lost or Stolen Visa Credit CardConsumer Credit Card
800-558-3424Business Credit Card
866-552-8855
Owning a home shouldnrsquot be just a dream However it takes planning to reach your goals When you find
the right house all it takes is the right loan to turn renters into
buyers Meriwest Mortgage has competitive mortgage rates
Start by speaking with a mortgage consultant today
Second Harvest Food Bank Helping our Local Community
We wish to thank our members and employees who came together to support our Second Harvest Food Bank Thanksgiving food drive Our donations provided 528 meals to those in need in our community
For most of us the holiday season is a time of celebration hope and happiness But for some local families itrsquos a struggle to maintain the holiday spirit in the face of hunger Many working families face an expanding gap between their paychecks and their basic needs One in 10 of our neighbors will turn to Second Harvest Food Bank for food Their goal this year is to raise $15 million and 2 million pounds of food to ensure that anyone who needs a meal in Santa Clara and San Mateo counties can get one this holiday season and all year long
Itrsquos not too late to help Visit httpswwwshfborgdonatenow and make a difference this holiday season Your support will help connect hungry children families and seniors to nutritious food in the neighborhoods where they live learn work and play Thanks again to all those who contributed
A standard $35 processing fee per loan applies Only two Skip-a-Pays per loan in a calendar year Cannot be combined with any other offer Skip-a-Pay does not apply to first mortgages Community Advan-tage Certificate Pledge Workout interest-only stock loans and interest-only HELOC loans Finance charges will continue to accrue on your loan account(s) during the month you skip your payment This service fee has the equivalent effect of changing your Annual Percentage Rate for the month of the skipped payment only Your regularly scheduled payment will resume the month after your skipped payment Promotion ends January 31 2016 Membership must be in good standing All loans must be current in order to be eligible for skipping a payment Loan must be at least six (6) months old You must meet all Meriwest qualifications Other restrictions may apply Membership is required with a one-time non-refundable $5 fee Federally insured by NCUA We do business in accordance with the Federal Fair Housing Law and Equal Credit Opportunity Act Copyright 2015 Meriwest Credit Union All rights reserved
Learn More u
PAGE 8 | DECEMBER 2015 | MERIWESTCOMNEWSLETTER FEDERALLY INSURED BY NCUA