MEMBERC O N N E C T I O N

MODESTO’S FIRST FEDERAL CREDIT UNION

FALL 2017

UPCOMINGHOLIDAYS

Labor Day

September 4

Veterans DayNovember 10

Thanksgiving HolidayNovember 23 - 24

Christmas Day December 25

New Year’s Day

January 1

CONTACT US

Monday - Friday9 am - 5 pm

430 12th StreetModesto, CA 95354

(209) 521-2020 orToll Free (888) 945-2020

www.M1FCU.org

JOIN US FOR MEMBER APPRECIATION WEEKWe’d like to say THANK YOU to our loyal members by honoring you all week long. Visit the branch any time between October 16-October 20 to enjoy some goodies, enter our raffle, or say hello to our staff.

EVENTS WILL INCLUDE: Free Shredding* – Unclutter your home and paper files. Stop in, drop off your old paperwork in our shred bins and we will take care of the rest!

Insurance Services – Ruben Ramirez with Liberty Mutual, will be on site October 16 to help you with your insurance needs.

Auto Broker – Looking for a new or used car? Our partner, Pinnacle Auto Brokers, will be on site October 18 to help you find your dream car.

Financial Planning – Our partner, Karen Dejong, of Dejong Financial Group will be on site October 19 to talk with you about your family’s financial well-being. First Mortgage Loans – Looking for a new home or want to refinance your existing mortgage? Renee Nunes with Mason–McDuffie will be here on October 20 helping make your dreams of home ownership come true.

We appreciateyour support and continued business. We invite you to join us for Member Appreciation Week October 16 - 20! We look forward to seeing you.

*Shredding space is limited. Please no more than two medium-sized boxes of paper items per member. No newspapers, magazines or other periodicals. Paper must be dry.

Put extra cash in your pocket for holiday shopping or a much needed vacation.To qualify, you must be a member in good standing*. If you take advantage of this offer, it doesn’t change your monthly payment amount, but it does extend the loan’s term by one month. Interest continues to accrue on the loan balance from the last payment.You will be able to spend the money that would have been applied to your loan payment on anything you wish!

To take advantage of this offer, visit our website at www.m1fcu.org/skip-a-pay or stop by our office to complete the form. Hurry, this offer expires 12-31-2017.*To skip your payment, you must apply for the Skip-A-Pay program and be approved by the Credit Union. Joint loans require all borrowers’ signatures. Not offered on Visa, or Mortgage Loans (1st Mortgage Loans, 2nd Deeds or Home equity Lines of Credit), the first payment or loans with balances exceeding $60,000. Loans are limited to two (2) Skip-A-Payments per calendar year. There is a $25 service fee to skip each payment on each loan. By taking advantage of Skip-A-Pay, the skipped payment will be repositioned to the end of your loan. Interest will continue to accrue on a daily basis at the Annual Percentage Rate set forth in your loan agreement, both during and after the deferral period. Other restrictions may apply.

SKIP NOVEMBER OR DECEMBER’S PAYMENT - APPLY FOR SKIP-A-PAY!

MUST DO STRATEGIES FORBUYING A HOME?

If you are looking to minimize the stress associated with buying a home for the first time, you certainly are not alone. After all, no one is born knowing how to handle a real estate transaction. Using the following tips can help you get through this process with as little difficulty as possible. 1. Learn the Lingo

Understanding the terminology surrounding real estate and mortgages is a big part of not getting in over your head. Take the time to read up on what a real estate transaction involves before you start making offers. Likewise, you should have an understanding of what the annual percentage rate (APR), title insurance, origination points, discount points, and private mortgage insurance (PMI) are before you pick the mortgage that you want. 2. Get Pre-Qualified

Getting pre-approved for a loan is a sensible way to find out how much money you qualify to borrow for the purposes of buying a home. Simply go to any lender and state that you wish to apply for pre-approval for a mort-gage. In addition to finding out home much money you are qualified to borrow, your letter of pre-approval shows sellers that you are serious about buying a home. Your letter also places your offer in a favorable light, particular-ly if other prospective buyers haven’t obtained one yet. 3. Find a Real Estate Agent You can save a lot of time if you contact a real estate agent to assist you with your search. Ideally, you’ll want to choose an agent working in the locale where you wish to buy a home since he’ll be familiar enough with the area to answer questions you might have.

4. Choose a Location and Price Range Knowing where you want to purchase a home is a good place to start when you begin your search. After all, what’s the point of looking at homes in locations that don’t interest you? Additionally, it helps to give your real estate agent a heads up as to your price range. Why bother looking at homes that you cannot afford? 5. Visit Several Properties It is rare for people to find the “perfect” home when they are shopping for the first time. If you have the time to spare, you should visit as many homes as possible. You never know when you are going to find the “gem” that sets your heart on fire.

6. Include Additional Terms in Your Proposal It is important to include specifics in your proposal to buy real estate, particularly if some points are deal breakers. For example, you might prefer to make settlement by a certain date, or you might want the sellers to leave the draperies with the home. If these terms aren’t included in your proposal, you might not get the seller to agree to them later. 7. Request Inspections Although some inspections are required by law in some states, other ones are not. If you want an inspection that isn’t on the list, request it. Additionally, you might want to ask the sellers to pay for one or more of the inspections. You could make this a condition of your purchase, but there’s no guarantee the sellers will agree, particularly if you’ve offered less than their asking price. 8. Obtain Your Mortgage If your offer to buy has been accepted, it is time to obtain your mortgage. Don’t make the mistake of thinking that your pre-approval letter provides instant access to the money you need to finalize the deal. You still have to go through the process of getting the mortgage. 9. Make Settlement Your real estate agent will tell you when and where the settlement takes place. Be sure that you bring all of the requested documentation with you to avoid problems. Once the papers have been signed, you’ll receive the keys to the home. If you are going to buy a home, you might as well do it right. Find yourself a lender and a real estate agent for the guidance you need to make this process as smooth as possible. These two professionals will guide you through the process with ease.

Modesto’s First FCU is teamed up with Mason-McDuffie Mortgage Corporation, experts in a wide range of loan programs, one of which will fit your mortgage needs! Call Renee Nunes, Sr. Loan Officer (NMLS# 247592) at 209-827-3676 with your mortgage questions or visit www.m1fcu.org and click on First Mortgage to apply online today!

THE PERFECT GIFTLOOK NO FURTHER!Stress-Free Shopping for the Holidays!

M1FCU Visa® Gift Cards* can be purchased in amounts of $10.00 to $1,000.00 and can be used anywhere Visa® is accepted.

• Less hassle for you to find a gift• Your recipient can purchase what they want• Use them for purchases in-store, online, and by phone• Safer than cash• Save on shipping, if you’re sending your gift by mail

Stop by and visit our branch to learn more about Visa® Gift Cards or call us at (209) 521-2020.

Safe Shopping with M1FCU’s Platinum Visa® Card

The holiday season is fast approaching and now is a greattime to apply for M1FCU’s Platinum Visa® Credit Card**.

• No Annual Fee• No Cash Advance Fee• 25-day Grace Period on Purchases• Great low rate• Added Fraud Protection

Don’t wait, contact us at (209) 521-2020 to apply today and get started on your holiday shopping early!

*$3.00 Purchase Fee for VISA® Gift Card. Monthly inactive fee of $5.00 after 12 consecutive months of inactivity. Lost/stolen replacement card fee of $10.00. Other fees may apply. Gift Cards are issued by ICUL. For Terms and Conditions visit https://www.consumercardaccess.com/cugift2 and enter your Gift Card number. ** The annual percentage rate (APR) is variable and ranges between 8.99% - 17.99% based on creditworthiness at the time of application. For transactions initiated outside the United States, you will be charged a 2.00% conversion fee on the amount billed in U.S. currency.

This year Modesto’s First Federal Credit Union is also partnering with St. Joseph’s Catholic Church and the Society of St. Vincent de Paul to bring Christmas dinner to many needy families throughout Stanislaus County.

We will be collecting non-perishable food at our branch location through Friday, December 15. We are seeking the following items: 5lb. canned hams, canned pineapple, fruit cocktail, pumpkin, yams, green beans, boxed potatoes, brownie, Jell-O and pudding mixes.

Annually the St. Vincent de Paul Ministry provides food for more than 32,000 people and during the holidays they prepare and distribute over 500 food baskets to families in need. This is a great way to help your community!

BRIGHTEN THE HOLIDAYS

DONATE A NEW TOY OR FOODLetters to Santa!

Modesto’s First Federal Credit Union is partnering with the Modesto Fire Department for their annual Letters to Santa program. We are asking our members to support this community outreach by purchasing a new toy or two. Please bring in the unwrapped toy/toys to the credit union by Friday, December 15.

The program brought Christmas to 120 foster children and 250 needy kids throughout Modesto in 2016. Each child received a new coat, shoes, and socks, under clothing, a pair of pants, a shirt/top and a toy. In addition to this gift from Santa 110 families received a complete Christmas feast including a turkey dinner with all the trimmings. For more information on how to support this great charity, contact Justin Crone at 209-678-3936; stop by the credit union and ask for Leslie; or visit the Letters to Santa website at www.letterstosantacharity.com.

HOPING TO BRIGHTEN THE HOLIDAYS FOR NEEDY FAMILIESIN STANISLAUS COUNTY

(209) 521-2020 or

Toll Free (888) 945-2020

www.M1FCU.org Routing number: 321173506

facebook.com/M1FCU

ELECTION & ANNUAL MEETINGOF THE CREDIT UNIONMark your calendars for Modesto’s First Federal Credit Union Meeting, scheduled for Thursday, February 22, 2018 at 5:30pm. The meeting will be held at our office located at 430 12th Street, Modesto.

In accordance with credit union bylaws, two of Modesto’s First Federal Credit Union Board Members will be elected to the Board of Directors at the next Annual Meeting. These non-paying positions are voluntary. Incumbent directors serving three year terms that are up for re-election are: Jessica Narayan, and Joanne Chipponeri.

If you are interested in applying, you must meet the following minimum criteria:

• Credit Union Membership in good standing• Legal age (18 years or older)• Bondable• Free from any conflicts of interest• Available for all Board of Directors, Committee, and other designated meetings unless excused.

Candidates should possess sound judgment, a desire to serve and a willingness to devote sufficient time to their duties. The Board of Directors is responsible for the overall conduct, direction and stability of the Credit Union. It establishes policy and procedures and guides the organization’s growth. The Board meets monthly, as required by the bylaws and at more frequent intervals as necessary.

To apply, please submit a letter to the Nominations Committee, 430 12th Street, Modesto, CA 95354. This should include a statement of qualifications (limited to 150 words). The deadline is 5:00pm December 8, 2017. You will be interviewed by the Nominations Committee in December 2017, if you meet the criteria.

Nominations may also be made by petition. Those applying in this manner must submit a statement of qualifications (limit is 150 words) and a petition signed by 500 fellow credit union members. Such applications must be accompanied by a signed certificate from the nominee stating he or she is agreeable to the process and will serve if elected.

The application deadline for nomination by petition is 5:00pm, December 8, 2017 to Nomination Committee at 430 12th Street, Modesto, CA 95354. Each applying member will receive a copy of election instructions. Elections will be conducted by ballot at the annual meeting. Nominations will not be accepted from the floor.

Please direct any questions regarding the duties and responsibilities of the Board of Directors, or the elections procedures, via mail to M1FCU Nomination Committee, 430 12th Street, Modesto, CA 95354.