Newsletter2019 FALL

MOUNTAIN AMERICA CREDIT UNION

Guiding You Forward

As technology advances, money moves more seamlessly through our highly digital world. I have been asked if these new advancements cause concern about the future of credit unions. My answer is, of course, no—the future of credit unions, and the in-person connection, is very bright. The digital landscape offers many conveniences, and we have tapped into those with our digital products. We offer a variety of features through online branch and mobile banking:

u Send money to friends and family.u Pay bills and transfer funds.u Set up account alerts.u Apply for loans.u View your FICO® Score.* u Lock access to your credit report. Taking personalized guidance furtherWhile these digital services are essential, they lack the brick-and-mortar, in-person experience that our members have told us they value when making big financial decisions. So, in addition to a comprehensive digital platform, our in-person interactions through the branch and service center provide you with the local, personal, expert financial advice you need. Though you can easily open an account online, you get the benefit of expert advice when you open an account in person. Here, our employees ask in-depth questions to provide you with a comprehensive suite of products that fit your individual financial goals. The same is true with your larger purchases. You can quickly get pre-approved online for a car loan. However, when you meet with an expert, you can ask about optional coverage options such as Guaranteed Asset Protection and Major

MOUNTAIN AMERICA CREDIT UNION NEWSLETTER 2019 FALL

MESSAGE

Many small business owners are aware of the numerous business services provided by large banks and financial institutions. Did you know that Mountain America offers many of those same services?

Here are just a handful of ways Mountain America can help your business:

SBA loans—If you’re like most small business owners, you’ll need to borrow funds to help achieve your goals. One of the most popular lending options is an SBA loan. These federally-backed loans can be used for operation, expansion and other costs. You could purchase new equipment, open another location or, in certain instances, even obtain working capital.

Business checking—Each business is different. That’s why, at Mountain America, you can choose the business checking account that’s right for you. We also provide mobile and remote deposit, to help you manage your money more efficiently.

Merchant services—The ability to accept various payment forms is critical for the modern business owner. Mountain America’s merchant services provide

you with payment solutions that fit your business model—whether you need recurring payments, e-commerce execution, a point-of-sale terminal or mobile payment options.

Payroll services—If you have employees, you know payroll can be time consuming. So why not leave some of the heavy lifting to us? We offer both web-based and fully-outsourced payroll services to streamline the process and save you time and effort.

Business credit cards—Keep your company’s expenses on track with a business credit card from Mountain America. It’s an easy way to separate business purchases from personal ones, manage daily expenses and maintain your records.

Commercial real estate loans—If you need to purchase a commercial building or property, we can help with that too. Our commercial real estate loans offer low rates and favorable terms.

For more details about these services, visit macu.com. You may also call 1-888-845-1850 (business services) or 1-888-848-8376 (SBA loans). p

PRESIDENT/CEOPresident’s

STERLING NIELSEN,

Mechanical Protection. When you look to buy a dream home, our experts can help you find the best loan type. Moving ahead into 2020As we approach a new year, we want you to know that we remain committed to building a financial ecosystem that blends the human touch with cutting-edge technology. We look forward to serving you, both now and in the future. p

*FICO® is a registered trademark of Fair Isaac Corporation in the United States and other countries.

YOUR BUSINESS FORWARDGuiding

MOUNTAIN AMERICA CREDIT UNION NEWSLETTER 2019 FALL

Black Friday and Cyber Monday are right around the corner! The holiday season is a great time to maximize the benefits of a rewards credit card. Start by establishing a budget to keep your spending in bounds. Then, unlock the benefits of using credit.

Credit card perksTriple your rewardsOne of the biggest benefits of using a credit card over a debit card is the ability to earn rewards to use for travel, event tickets, gift cards, cash back and more. From October 15 through the end of the year, you’ll earn triple points on all purchases with your Mountain America Rewards card.

Boost your creditBuying with credit has the potential to build or repair your credit score. Make sure you keep your spending within budget and pay your balance off each month. Another way to boost your score is to keep your card balance below 30% of your credit limit.

Keep your money safeSince credit cards are not linked to your checking account, unauthorized charges won’t deplete your balance. If your card is lost or stolen, use Card Manager on our mobile app to freeze your card in seconds. Review your accounts daily or weekly and quickly report any charges you don’t recognize.

Protect yourself from identity theftIn 2018, there were 14.4 million victims of identity theft. Luckily, there are steps you can take to avoid becoming the next statistic.

u Monitor your credit report. Report suspicious activity immediately.

u Beef up your passwords. Create strong, unique passwords for every account.

u Use a VPN. Choose a secure virtual private network (VPN) over public Wi-Fi.

u Upgrade your devices. Current software will help protect you from the latest security threats.

u Shred old documents. Keep your personal information out of the hands of dumpster divers.

u Be vigilant. Be aware of email (phishing) and phone scams trying to mine data like your Social Security number, PINs and passwords.

u Invest in ID theft protection. Services like ID Protect will monitor the internet, alert you of any suspicious activity and help restore your stolen identity.

This holiday season, keep your money and information safe while enjoying the benefits of shopping with your rewards credit card! p

SMART AND SAFE

Holiday Spending

MOUNTAIN AMERICA CREDIT UNION NEWSLETTER 2019 FALL

SupportingOUR COMMUNITY

As the weather cools down during autumn, the risk of residential fires goes up. Heating is the second leading cause of home fires—accounting for 15% of all residential fires across the nation, according to the United States Fire Administration (USFA). In many cases, these tragic events can be avoided by taking a few simple precautions.

The USFA makes the following recommendations:

u Hire a qualified professional to clean and inspect your furnace, chimneys and other heating equipment on an annual basis.

u Only use heating equipment that has been approved by a recognized testing laboratory.

u Maintain adequate space around all heating equipment. Keep anything that can burn at least three feet away from heat sources.

u When using space heaters, plug them directly into electrical outlets rather than using extension cords or power strips.

u Install carbon monoxide alarms and smoke detectors in your home. Test the alarm monthly, replace the batteries yearly* and replace the entire smoke alarm unit every 8 to 10 years.

Of course, accidents can still happen, which is why it’s important to keep your homeowners or renters insurance up to date. This way you have financial protection to repair your house, replace valuables and cover living expenses if you need to stay elsewhere temporarily.

To get a free homeowners or renters insurance quote, fill out the form at macu.com/insurance or call 1-877-276-7882.** p

*Note: You cannot (and should not) replace lithium batteries. If your smoke alarm is powered by this type of battery, the entire unit should be replaced according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

**Insurance products offered through Mountain America Insurance Services, LLC, which is a subsidiary of Mountain America Credit Union.

Insurance products are not deposits, not an obligation of and not guaranteed by Mountain America Credit Union. Insurance products are not protected by the NCUA, may be subject to risk and, in the case of life insurance, may go down in value.

SAFETY

Mountain America Credit Union lives by the philosophy of people helping people. As a member-owned financial institution, we’re committed to assisting the communities where our members live, work and play, and we often host public events to support this goal. Here are a couple recent highlights:

Kids’ Cash FairTeaching kids how to recognize currency, earn money through chores and make smart financial decisions can be challenging—unless you make it into a game.

On August 7, we transformed the Mountain America Expo Center in Sandy, Utah, into a giant financial playground. Over 900 people participated in the Kids’ Cash Fair, engaging in activities designed to help children develop a healthy relationship with money and learn sound financial principles.

Charity ConcertSuicide is a major problem in the United States. In 2017, it was the second leading cause of death among individuals ages 10 to 34, and the fourth leading cause among individuals 35 to 54.*

To help combat this epidemic, Mountain America hosted a charity concert on August 22 with acclaimed singer and performer, Alex Boyé. Over $30,000 was raised to help support suicide awareness and prevention. All proceeds benefited the Bend Not Break Foundation. Learn more at bendnotbreak.org. p

*Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) WISQARS Leading Causes of Death Reports

Home Fire

www.macu.com

Federally insured by NCUA. Loans subject to credit approval. NMLS 462815

07MTN117230

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Scott Burt, Chair

Lynn Ure, Vice Chair Charlie Fulks, Secretary

Michael AllenSam BlundellBruce ReadingJoel Steadman

David SwanJulie Wray

SUPERVISORY COMMITTEEMatthew Taggart, Chair

David KwantMike Ramsey

Melody RichardsonAnn Woodbury

Mountain America Corporate Offices P.O. Box 2331, Sandy, UT 84091

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Service Center 1-801-325-6228Toll-Free 1-800-748-4302Investments 1-800-540-7670Mortgage Loans 1-800-277-7703Business Services 1-888-845-1850Student Loans 1-801-325-6574Insurance 1-877-276-7882

*On approved credit. Introductory purchase rate of 0% APR is good on all purchases made between August 1, 2019, and May 31, 2020. Not available on cash advances or balance transfers. After the introductory period expires, the rate will revert to the standard variable rate, ranging from 10.24% to 18.00% APR based on creditworthiness. Card must be opened by November 30, 2019. Subject to

change without notice. Membership required—based on eligibility.

0% ON ALL PURCHASES*

Open a new Mountain America credit card by November 30, 2019, and enjoy 0% interest on all purchases

through May of 2020.* Apply at macu.com/zero.