Tax season… it’s finally over!

Congratulations if you were one of the millions of Americans who paid your taxes and filed by the April 15 deadline. So now what?

Hopefully you don’t owe Uncle Sam anymore of your hard-earned money. If you do, work with the IRS to come up with a payment plan that works for you. If you happened to loan your money to the government over the past year and are receiving a refund, here is one word you’ll need to remember when it comes time to figure out what to do with your refund: Prioritize.

While your first thought might be to go blow all of your refund, here are a few options that you’ll thank yourself later for…

Visa Balance Transfer
Offer Ends Soon!

There’s still time to take advantage of our low 2.99% APR* balance transfer rate. What are you waiting for? Complete your transfers by June 30, 2015 and you’ll get this great rate through April 30, 2016. With a rewards program that provides exceptional value, you should be using your Unitus Platinum Visa Credit Card for everything. You’ll earn a point for every dollar spent. Then you can redeem those points for cash back, gift cards and airline travel – you’ll quickly discover our points go further than other programs. And, if you shop online, you can earn five times the points by using merchants through the Perks Points Mall. There’s no balance transfer fee or annual fee!

How much are you saving with your Unitus membership?

The Credit Union National Association has determined that Unitus Community Credit Union provided $7,424,157 in direct financial benefits to its 85,140 members in 2014. These benefits are equivalent to approximately $166 per member household. Unitus provided loyal high-use member households $893 in direct financial benefits. Here are a few examples:

• Platinum Rewards Visa Credit Card: Savings of $600
• First Mortgage Loan: Savings of $322
• New Auto Loan: Savings of $215
• Home Equity Loan: Savings of $163

Credit unions generally provide financial benefits to members through lower loan rates, higher savings rates and fewer/lower fees than for-profit banking institutions. Contact us today to discover how we can save you more money.

Source: Credit Union National Association Membership Benefits Report, Year-End 2014

Refinance your mortgage before rates go up!

Now is the time to contact one of our Mortgage Relationship Officers to determine whether a refinance is in your best interest. They’ll assist you every step of the way. They provide the resources and tools to help you make the most informed decision for your particular situation. Then they’ll take you through our stress-free financing process. Are you ready to take the next step?

Follow us on Facebook as we take a journey with the Rose Festival Court Princesses!

As a sponsor of the Portland Rose Festival Court, Unitus is so proud to be a part of this rich local heritage. Unitus connects each Princess with a local female executive, many of whom will be Unitus employees. They will provide one-on-one mentorship during her time on the court. We’ll be following their journey with lots of pictures and posts on where they will be as they travel across Oregon making a meaningful impact on others.

It’s time to invest in your future!

Are you in control of what your savings will be in 5, 10 or 20 years? Tax season is a great time to start contributing to an IRA. If you’re due a refund, use it to start an IRA and put yourself on a path of long-term, tax-deferred growth. If you already have an IRA, use your refund to contribute to it – you can write off your contributions next tax season. Also, consider rolling over any retirement plans from a previous employer. If you have thought about doing any of the above, we’ll show you how to get started. That’s what we’re here for!

Reminder! Scholarship Deadline is April 30, 2015

Be Happier Hour

Cinco de Mayo
3:30 – 5:30 p.m. Friday, May 1, 2015 | All Unitus Branches

National Donut Day
3:30 – 5:30 p.m. Friday, June 5, 2015 | All Unitus Branches

Financial Seminars

Understanding Your Credit
6:15 p.m. Thursday, May 14, 2015 | Mill Plain Branch
6:15 p.m. Thursday, June 11, 2015 | Mall 205 Branch
Register now

Home Buying
6:15 p.m. Thursday, April 23, 2015 | Beaverton Branch
6:15 p.m. Thursday, May 21, 2015 | Salem Branch
Register now

Branch Locations

For a complete listing of our branch locations click here.

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The written material in Connections is provided for general information only, and should not be used or relied upon as a substitute for specific financial, legal, or other advice. If such advice is necessary, please consult a specialist.

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