at www.towncountrycu.com | 877-455-3015

1414 Chatburn Ave., Harlan, IA 51537 • 712-755-3881 102 N. Elm Street, Avoca, IA 51521 • 712-307-6881www.towncountrycu.com • 877-455-3015

January 2019

Too Many debtsWeighing Youdown?

Finance charges and late fees piling up? Take that weight off

your shoulders with a debt consolidation loan at the credit union. The low fi xed rate and fl exible terms add up to affordable payments.

Want even more conve-nience? Arrange for automatic payments or payroll deductions.

Get a handle on high-rate debt. A consolidation loan is a smarter way to pay.

Home Mortgages

from Town & Country Credit Union

Competitive rates and personalized service! • FHA •VA •USDA •Conventional *Low Down Payment Options Available*

Competitive rates and personalized service!

• FHA •VA •USDA •Conventional *Low Down Payment Options Available*

Apply Online Today!

Town & Country Credit Union Call (712) 755-3881 Click www.towncountrycu.com Visit us at 1414 Chatburn Ave.

Harlan, IA 51537

Town & Country Credit Union Call (712) 755-3881 Click www.towncountrycu.com Visit us at 1414 Chatburn Ave.

Harlan, IA 51537

Apply Online Today!

Apply Online Today!

Competitive rates and personalized service!• FHA • VA • USDA • Conventional

*Low Down Payment Option Available*

5 Steps for First-Time Home Buyers

1. Build your credit score. This three-digit score mirrors your credit habits and will determine if you get a home loan and at what rate.

2. Build a down payment. You may need as much as 20% to 30% to qualify for the best rate; if you aren’t there yet, talk to a credit union lender about your options.

3. Find an agent. A buyers’ agent works on your behalf rather than the seller’s. Ask friends and family for agent recommendations.

4. Get preapproved. Your credit union loan offi cer can help you learn what you can afford, how much you qualify for, and what kind of loan is best for you.

5. Locate the right house. Research neighborhoods and check out homes online to get ballpark pricing information.

VISIT ouR

NeW WeBSITe

TodAY!

Vacation Loan Special$1,000.00 at 8% APR

for 10 Months* Vacation * Graduation

* Repairs * Spring Cleaning

Stop by Town and Country

Credit Union

Roth IRA ConversionYou’ve heard the buzz about Roth IRA conver-

sions. If you have an individual retirement account, what does this mean to you?

You’re eligible to convert some or all of your tra-ditional IRA to a Roth IRA. Unlike a traditional IRA, if you meet certain requirements, a Roth provides you with tax-free withdrawals, a tax-free inheritance for your heirs, and no requirement to take minimum distributions from the account.

It’s a honey of a deal! Stop by the credit union and we’ll help you fi gure out if it’s sweet for you.

Yes it is true, we are now of-fering IRA’s for our members. Give us a call and we will give you the details.

Share Savings and Share Draft

Checking AccountsFree Check ImagingHoliday Club AccountsCertificates of DepositKirby Kids Club

Teen ClubBill PayVoice ResponseReloadable Debit Cards24-Hour ATMVehicle LoansHome Equity Loans

Mortgage LoansPersonal LoansBusiness LoansLines of CreditVisa Gift Card9.9% APR MasterCardDebit CardsDirect DepositPhotocopy Services

Phone TransfersPayroll ServicesOn-Line ServicesFree Internet BankingFree NotaryDrive-up ServicesWire ServicesFax ServicesNight Depositories

Credit Life and Disability Ins.

Gap InsuranceDraft ImagesAuto InsuranceHome Owners InsuranceTerm Life InsuranceAccident InsuranceWhole Life Insurance

Variable AnnuitiesFixed AnnuitiesLoan-term Care InsuranceVariable Universal Life

InsuranceMutual FundsFolio Investing (50 Stocks)529 College Savings Plan

Member Services

Tools For TeensYou let your teen have a Facebook account, why

not a debit card and checkbook?

Getting teens set up with these tools can help them learn to manage mon-ey now--while the stakes are small--so they don’t get into fi-nancial trouble later.

Visit the credit union today. Who knows...maybe your teen will even “Like” us.

BIG Plans?We can help.

Are you thinking of ...* Paying for college tuition for you or your child?* Purchasing a new car?* Buying a new house?* Starting a major home improvement project?* Financing a wedding?* Starting a small business?

Visit us today. We have a loan to help you put

BIG PLANS into action.

Consumers who fi-nance their vehicles through auto deal-erships are charged at least hundreds of millions and perhaps as much as a billion dollars annually in undisclosed finance markup charges, reports the Consumer Fed-eration of America, Washington, D.C. These hidden markups typically add at least $1,000 to the cost of an auto loan.

This markup practice is encouraged by all of the auto industry’s leading captive finance companies and top auto-lending banks. Marked-up finance rates are determined arbitrarily by the dealer and encouraged by the lender, regardless of the con-sumer’s creditworthiness, with kickbacks to both.

Don’t be part of the statistics. Come see us today for all your auto financing needs.

Auto Loan MarkupsCan Cost You

Harlan Hours: 7:30 A.M. – 5 P.M. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday; 9 A.M. – 5 P.M. Wednesday; 8:30 A.M. – 12 P.M. Saturday

Avoca Hours: 9:00 a.m. – 4 p.m. Monday-Friday

2019 Holiday ClosingsTCCU will observe and be closed on the following holidays.New Year’s Eve - Monday, December 31, 2018, Close at 12 pmNew Year’s Day - Tuesday, January 1, 2019

From our internet checking, to our high yield sav-ings, there’s a difference in all we do. From our com-petitive loan rates to our retirement accounts, you can count on us for financial services with the accent on service, because we’re member-owned and not-for-profit. There’s a difference in all we do.

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© MTIv1.0 - CREDIT UNIONThere’s a Difference

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A difference in all we do

From our internet checking, to our high yield savings, there’s a

difference in all we do. From our competitive loan rates to our

retirement accounts, you can count on us for financial services

with the accent on service, because we’re member-owned and

not-for-profit. There’s a difference in all we do.

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Community Business Lenders provides Iowa credit unions, including Town and Country Credit Union, with the resources and support to offer member business loans to small business owners and individuals who are eligible for credit union membership. Through CBL’s vision, “Building stronger communities - one business at a time,” CBL strives to strengthen Iowa’s credit unions, businesses and communities. For more information, please visit: www.cblenders.com or contact Denny Siemers, CEO, Town and Country Credit Union, at 712-755-3881.

Need a Business Loan? Turn to your local credit union.

Need A BuSINeSS LoAN? Turn to your local credit union. Community Business Lenders provides Iowa credit unions, including Town and Country Credit Union, with the resources and support to offer member business loans to small business owners and individu-als who are eligible for credit union membership. Through CBL’s vi-sion, “Building stronger communities - one business at a time,” CBL

strives to strengthen Iowa’s credit unions, businesses and communities. For more information, please visit: www.cblenders.com or contact Denny Siemers, CEO, Town and Country Credit Union, at 712-755-3881.

TCCU Credit Card: Your Best Bet• Choose the card with nothing to hide.

• Low 9.90% non-variable APR• No annual fees• No balance transfer fees• No cash advance fees• No penalty fee

Give us a call to enroll you today, 712-755-3881.

Your first step toward an affordable vacation is to save for it. When you plan a trip, consider us-ing a vacation club account.

You set up a vacation club account specifically to save for a vacation. That way the money is slightly less accessible and you’re less inclined to dip into it for other expenses. You can set aside a specific amount from each paycheck to ensure that you have enough money when your vaca-tion rolls around.

Stop in or call and ask how we can help you save for your next vacation.

at www.towncountrycu.com | 877-455-3015

1414 Chatburn Ave., Harlan, IA 51537 • 712-755-3881 102 N. Elm Street, Avoca, IA 51521 • 712-307-6881www.towncountrycu.com • 877-455-3015

February 2019

Save Big with an Adjustable Rate Mortgage

Jump into the new year with an outstanding mortgage rate! Whether you are in the market to purchase a home or have been considering refinancing your existing home, now is the perfect time to take advantage of a significantly low adjustable rate mortgage. Town & Country Credit Union is offering a low fixed rate of 5.50% APR for the first seven years. Rates may vary after that time period. Apply online or talk to our lending experts by calling 877-455-3015.

APR is defined as the annual percentage rate. Rates are based on a 30 year 5/1 and 7/1 ARM Conventional loan with a 10% down payment. With ARM loans, rates may increase after consummation. Actual rates may vary based on eligibility and market conditions. All loans are subject to income verification and credit approval. Mortgage services provided by Town & Country Credit Union NMLS #807403 (www.towncountrycu.com).

Town and Country 80th Annual Meeting

Is Just Around The CornerDon’t forget to mark your calendars and plan to

attend our 2019 Annual Meeting.

When: Saturday, March 30, 2019Time: Social Hour, 6:00 p.m., Dinner, 6:30 p.m.Place: St Boniface Parish Center, 403 Duren Street,

WestphaliaCost: $7.00 for Members $10.00 for Non-members

Sign up at the credit union office beginning February 1st. Must make reservation by March 18.

Take pride in your ownership of this organization and plan to attend this year’s Annual Meeting.

Keep Us in the KnowNew Name, Address, Phone Number, or Email?

There are times when it’s absolutely vital that we are able to reach you. Keep us posted on changes in your life by updating your account information online, in person at any branch, or by mail to 1414 Chatburn Avenue, Harlan, IA 51537 or email us to cuservices@towncountrycu.com

VISIT OUR

NEW WEBSITE

TODAY!

When your kids were little, you frequently heard re-quests such as “Will you read me a story?” or “Can we go for a bike ride?” Now that your offspring have mor-phed into teenagers, their pleadings often involve asking for money—your money.

How can you tame their cash demands and avoid the money wrangles, while also instilling a sense of fi nancial responsibility? Here are a few ideas:

• Make the most of “teachable moments”—Look for opportunities in your day-to-day interactions with your teen when you can slip in a money “lesson.” For instance, if you’re out shopping together, you can talk about your own shopping choices or why you’re delaying a purchase.

• Provide hands-on experience—These types of ex-periences have more impact for teens than just listening to you talk. For instance, have your teenager make the grocery list for the week. At the market, he’ll see for him-self how big a chunk of the family budget goes toward groceries.

• Model money monitoring—Sit down with your teen to go over her list of expenditures for the week. Discuss the following: Were these wants (things that just made you feel good) or needs (things like a new jacket to re-place the one that no longer fi ts)? How could you have spent your money differently?

• Introduce plastic, perhaps—You’ll need to decide

if your teen is mature enough to manage a debit card. You could give your teen a Town & Country Credit Union prepaid debit card with a spending limit. Again, go over transactions together.

• Talk about the future—What will come after high school? If it’s college, what portion of expenses will the teen have to cover? Older teens also begin to think about career choices. This is a good time to talk with them about saving for retirement. It’s never too early to have that conversation.

Let us help at Town & Country Credit Union. We can set your teenager up with his fi rst debit card and check-ing account. Getting teens established with these tools can help them learn to manage money now—while the stakes are small—so they don’t get into fi nancial trouble later. Call us today at 712-235-5555 or stop by today.

Teaching Teens Financial Responsibility

2019 Scholarship Now Open Until April 1, 2019

Pantone Pantone

What to Do If You Can’t Pay Your Bills* Don’t add new debt.* Contact your creditors and ask for options for your

situation.* Contact the National Foundation for Credit

Counseling at 800-388-2227 or nfcc.org.* Steer clear of credit repair services--don’t succumb

to enticing ads for repair services. * Ask the professionals at your credit union for help.

CONTACT TCCU TO ENROLL IN ONLINE BANKING.

Share Savings and Share Draft

Checking AccountsFree Check ImagingHoliday Club AccountsCertificates of DepositKirby Kids Club

Teen ClubBill PayVoice ResponseReloadable Debit Cards24-Hour ATMVehicle LoansHome Equity Loans

Mortgage LoansPersonal LoansBusiness LoansLines of CreditVisa Gift Card9.9% APR MasterCardDebit CardsDirect DepositPhotocopy Services

Phone TransfersPayroll ServicesOn-Line ServicesFree Internet BankingFree NotaryDrive-up ServicesWire ServicesFax ServicesNight Depositories

Credit Life and Disability Ins.

Gap InsuranceDraft ImagesAuto InsuranceHome Owners InsuranceTerm Life InsuranceAccident InsuranceWhole Life Insurance

Variable AnnuitiesFixed AnnuitiesLoan-term Care InsuranceVariable Universal Life

InsuranceMutual FundsFolio Investing (50 Stocks)529 College Savings Plan

Member Services

The average cost of a new vehicle today is around $35,000. Whether you’re looking for a brand new car or a reliable used ride, you want to get the most for your money. The process can be made easier by following the RAIN. method :

First, meet with a member of the lending staff at Town & Country Credit union to secure your financing. Then begin the RAIN process:

Research - Check out Consumer Reports, Kelley Blue Book, and other sources to make sure the vehicle you want is reliable and right for you. Use the buyer’s guide to find the wholesale price -- the price the dealership paid minus any rebates, hold-backs, or incentives. That is the price you’ll use to negotiate.

The RAIN Method for Buying a CarAsk - Ask

the dealership for informa-tion about the average cost of upkeep. This informa-tion is critical as you exam-ine the overall costs of the purchase. In-surance is an-other big cost. Contact your insurance company to find out the rates you can expect with the vehicle you are looking at.

Investigate or inspect - If you’re thinking of buying a new car, tell the salesperson at the dealership that on this trip you will be test driving only and not ready to make a deal yet. This is your opportunity to get a feel for the car. Will it meet your needs? How does it handle? Will you be happy with it for years to come?

If you’re buying a used vehicle, the inspection process is very important. Check out the exterior and interior. Take it for a test drive and see how it handles, how it accelerates and brakes. If everything looks good, take it to a certified mechanic for a full diagnostic check. It may cost you $100, but not only will you get a detailed report of the condition, most will provide you with a list of problem areas and the cost to fix them. This will be helpful for your last step.

Negotiate - Many people find the negotiation process is intimidating, but it’s important if you want to get a good deal. Pick out two to three dealerships to visit.

Tell the salesperson that you’re checking out other dealerships and the one that offers the best deal will be getting your business. Ask them “What’s the lowest price you can offer on this vehicle?” Take that number and visit your other dealerships. See which offer comes in the best. If you still aren’t happy with the offers, tell them what you think is fair based on the research you have done. If they say no, move on.

Purchasing a vehicle is probably going to be the sec-ond largest expenditure in your life. Being prepared is key to getting the best deal

Harlan Hours: 7:30 A.M. – 5 P.M. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday; 9 A.M. – 5 P.M. Wednesday; 8:30 A.M. – 12 P.M. Saturday

Avoca Hours: 9:00 a.m. – 4 p.m. Monday-Friday

2019 Holiday ClosingsTCCU will observe and be closed on the following holidays.Presidents’ Day - Monday, February 18Memorial Day - Monday, May 27

If you’re expecting a tax refund this year, now is a best time to start planning how you’ll use that extra money. The best uses are to pare down dept and bulk up your savings. For instance, you can:

1. Open an emergency fund or add to your existing one. Aim to save enough to cover three to six months of expenses for those unexpected emergencies, like your car breaks down, your refrigerator dies, or you lose your job. Put your tax refund into a savings account opened specifically for these emergencies.

2. Fund your IRA. You can make up to a $5,500 con-tribution ($6,500 if you’re 50 or older) to a Roth or a traditional individual retire-ment account (IRA) for tax year 2018.

3. Open a 529 plan. If you save for your child’s college education in a 529 plan, you may get a tax de-duction for your efforts. Vis-it SavingforCollege https://www.savingforcollege.com.

4. Take a class to im-prove your career pros-pects. If you think you lack certain skills to get ahead in your career, use the refund to purchase classes to learn those skills. You may be

Tap Your Home’s EquityIf you need cash to remodel your kitchen or bath, a

home equity loan or home equity line of credit (HELOC) might be your best bet.

These loans let you bor-row money using the equity in your home as collateral. Unlike almost any other con-sumer loan type, the interest on a home equity loan or HELOC of $100,000 or less is likely to be tax-deductible ($50,000 if married filing sep-arately).

A HELOC is much like a credit card or any other type of open-ended credit. You

able to deduct those expenses from your taxes using the Lifetime Learning Credit.

5. Pay off debt. Use your refund to pay off any high-in-terest-rate credit card debt you may have. Try to pay off the debt in full so you can stop getting interest charges added to your balance every month.

6. Start a Holiday Club account. This account lets you save for holiday spending year-round so you don’t have to rely on credit cards in December. If your employer offers direct deposit, make saving even easier by having a set amount automatically deposited to this account.

can borrow money as needed, up to the credit limit your lender assigns, by calling to make a transfer into your checking account. A HELOC is usually a variable-rate loan, so your monthly payments will change based on

your outstanding balance and fluctuations in the prime rate.

Talk to the home loan spe-cialists at Town & Country Credit Union today for more details about our home equi-ty loan products. Stop by or call today at 877-455-3015.

Six Ways to Use Your Tax Refund