100 E. Erie St.Chicago, IL 60611

INSIDE...• HowtoSabotage Your Budget

• Lean,Clean&Green

• BanishYourBalanceBlues

• Set-and-forgetSavings

• AnnualMeeting Notice

NMLS#433914

This is your year.

Most people break their resolutions by June.

How to mess up your budget in a hurryA budget helps you control your money, instead of the other way around. If your budget isn’t working for you, it may be due to one or more of the mistakes below.

1. Relentless optimism. Positivity is admirable, but most people will need replacement tires, air conditioner repairs or medical expenses at some point.

2. Shoulder-shrug recordkeeping. If you have no idea how much your morning lattes cost or how many times you visit the non-network $3-per-visit ATM, it is much easier to assume that you have funds in your account to cover the mortgage and all the checks you’ve written.

3. Time flexibility. Seeing payment due dates as more of a suggestion will result in your creditors tending to tack late fees onto your total balance.

4. Cash on hand. Who doesn’t love the feeling of a fat stack of bills in their wallet? (Answer: People who know that money makes more money when it’s safe in an interest-bearing account, far from everyday temptations.)

5. Aspirational spending. No, you’re not a CEO of a Fortune 500 Company, but don’t you deserve to live like one? The latest electronics, luxury vacations and 5-star restaurants are only budget busters when you haven’t saved up the cost of the bill ahead of time.

Since we DON’T want you to blow your budget, please expect some rainy days ahead, track your expenses, pay your bills on time, take advantage of direct deposit for your paycheck, and set money aside for the special purchases and events in your life! Need help setting up direct deposit or a new savings account? We’re here to help members succeed.

The “Financial Tools and Resources” tab at MyCreditUnion.gov includes a variety of helpful tools. And if you could use help with specific money questions, don’t hesitate to ask. Contact any of our friendly representatives at 312-751-3111, or stop in and see us today!

As a MWRD ECU member, you have access to FREE financial education and counseling. Accel counselors are available Mon-Thurs 8 am-12 am, Fri 8 am-7 pm and Sat 9 am-1 pm (EST). Simply call 1-877-33ACCEL (332-2235) or visit www.accelservices.org.

E-Statements simplify your financesFree, secure and eco-friendly — E-Statements are PDF files that contain all the same information as paper statements. The only difference is they are delivered securely through Virtual Branch online banking instead of through the mail.

E-Statement Benefits•FREE: No-cost, safe access to Virtual Branch and E-Statements (up to 18 months of statements)•Frauddeterrence:Eliminatethepaper trail and reduce your chance of mail fraud or identity theft• Immediateaccess:View,downloadand print your statement the day it becomes available•Convenient,centralizedstorage:No moredisorganizedstacksofclutterin your home office•Eco-friendly:E-Statementshelpreduce MWRD ECU’s carbon footprint as well as paper and energy usage.

Go paperless today! Log in to Virtual Branch, select Self-Service, then Additional Services > E-Statements.

Lean, Clean & Green

Rates are on the rise...Lock in your low-cost financing with us before they go up again!

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Spice up your NEXT Season with our Holiday Club

Federally insuredby NCUA

*Please note: since Friday, Feb. 12th is a payroll day, we will be open regular hours on Thursday, Feb. 11th at Stickney.

Remember, you have access to your accounts online at www.mwrdecu.org or at 1-855-391-3788. PLUS, access cash from thousands of surcharge-free ATMs. To locate one near you, visit our website and select ATM Locator under “Helpful Links”.

Lincoln’s BirthdayFriday, Feb. 12*

Presidents DayMonday, Feb. 15

Credit Union Holidays

www.mwrdecu.org24 hr. Audio Response 312-751-5868

(Toll-free 1-855-391-3788)

Fax 312-751-6125

Main Office: 312-751-3111100 E. Erie St. • Chicago, IL 60611

Hours:M, T, Th, F 8:30am-4:00pm

W 8:30am-12:30pm

Stickney Office: 708-588-38856001 W. Pershing Rd. (Cafeteria Level)

Stickney, IL 60804Hours:

T, F 7:30am-3:30pm

Lost or Stolen Debit Card800-523-4175

Lost or Stolen ViSa CreDit Card 800-325-3678

PleasejointheBoardandStaffforourAnnualMeetingonMarch23,2016.We’llreviewtheeventsof2015anddiscussplansfor2016,

followedbyasocialhour.Refreshmentswillbe

served.Remember,youareamember/owner,andyouhaveavoiceinthecreditunion.Hopetoseeyouthere!

If you would like to be considered as a candidate for the Board of Directors by the Nominating Committee for the next election, please submit a request and a brief statement of qualifications to the Credit Union office or to any member of the Credit Union’s Board of Directors.

ANNUAL MEETINGANNOUNCEMENT

1/16

NMLS#433914

Holiday expenses can throw even the most careful budget off track. Make it easier this year with our Holiday Club! Set aside just a little each month through payroll deduction to quickly build a significant balance. For example, save $50 each pay period starting now and you could have over $900 by November! Complete the form below and return it by mail, in person or via messenger service to get started right away!Annual rate, compounded quarterly on the average daily balance and paid annually on October 31.

Spice up your NEXT Season with our Holiday Club

#

#

q YeS! Let’s set up my Holiday Club account!

Name _______________________________________________________________

Phone (Days) ________________________________________________________

Email _______________________________________________________________

Providing your email allows you to receive communication, notices and promotions from the credit union. We do not transmit account numbers or specific account information via email. We do not share your email address with outside organizations,andyoumayoptoutatanytime.

BanishYourBalanceBlues!

IT’S A NEW YEAR — LET’S MAKE A NEW PLAN! Ifyouowemoneyonhigh-interestcreditcardbills,ourVisaBalanceTransfer1 specialisanexcitingopportunitytoloweryourmonthlycosts!FromFebruary1,2016throughMarch31,2016,theinterestrateforallbalancesfromoutsidecreditorstransferredtoyourMWRDECUVisaPlatinumwillbejust2.99%APR*for12months.

Don’tpay15%,18%oreven29%foryourholiday,travel,electronics,medicalorotherbills.Transferyourbalancetoyourcreditunioncreditcard,andyou’llpaylessforeveryiteminthelongrunbecauseyourinterestratewillbedramaticallylower!CompleteaBalanceTransferFormatwww.mwrdecu.orgoraskusforonetoday!

Don’t carry our card yet? Noreasontomissoutonlow-costcredit!Applynowandenjoyourlowintroductory2.90%APR*foreverycredittransactioninthenext12months.

*APR=AnnualPercentageRate,subjecttochange.Notapromisetolend;standardcreditqualificationsandsomerestrictionsapply.1OfferdoesnotapplytobalancesatMWRDEmployees’CreditUnion.2.99%APR*isalimitedtimeoffer,validonlyonbalancestransferredFebruary1,2016throughMarch31,2016,subjecttochangewithoutnotice.Balancetransfersmadeuptocreditcardholder’sapprovedcreditlimit.Balancesonothercreditaccountsmaynotbepaidinfullifcreditcardholderdoesnothaveasufficientcreditlimit.CreditUnionisnotresponsibleforbalancetransferpaymentsthatarelostordelayedinthemail.Cardholderisresponsibleforallcreditaccountsuntiltheyareconfirmedpaidinfullbyoriginallender.Ratesafterspecial2.99%APR*periodbasedonapplicant’screditscoreandrangefrom9.90%APRto19.90%APR.Creditandcashadvancelimitsvaryaccordingly.Missedorlatepaymentswillresultinrevocationofthespecialrate;creditcardholderwillthenpaythePenaltyrate.Penaltyrateis24.9%APR.CompleteVisaPlatinumtermsandconditionsavailableatwww.mwrdecu.org.

2.99%Balance Transfers

for transfers2/1/16 - 3/31/16

APR*

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