All lobbies are open, with revised lobby hours: Mon.–Fri., 9 am to 5 pm; Sat., 9 am to 12 pm.

On June 15, we opened up our branch lobbies, with safety measures in place for the health and well-being of our members and staff. We require that you wear a mask upon entering our building (if you do not have a mask, we have one for you) and we ask that you maintain social distancing.

JULY 2020

People Helping People

From the President

Helping Members Is What We Do

“Where Members Always Come First!”SM

A Publication for the Members of First Nebraska Credit Unionfirstnebraska.org

LOBBIES ARE OPEN!

Annual Meeting NOTICE

The Annual Meeting has been rescheduled for August 24 at 5:30 pm, as a virtual event. Details will be provided online at firstnebraska.org/annual-meeting, and via email when the time gets closer. We hope you can join us!

We have gone through unprecedented times during this pandemic that is unlike anything the world has experienced in over a century. It has taken its toll on the economy causing a recession and high levels of unemployment; thus much financial stress. You can rest assured that First Nebraska remains financially strong and is able to withstand crises and economic challenges. We have almost 15% capital, which means we have set aside enough to sustain us through tough financial times so you can feel secure knowing your money is safe at the credit union.

For the past few weeks our communities started the reopening process, attempting to re-turn some parts of our daily lives to normal. Although things may look much different than what we once knew, we want you to know that we are here to help!

Monday,August

24

1 Shred is limited to two containers with a maximum of 50 lbs. total. Event is intended for securely destroying paper documents. No need to remove staples, paperclips or folders. Non-paper items are not permitted.* While supplies last.**FNCU Elkhorn $100 Giveaway is open to FNCU members and non-members. Open to eligible entrants, at least 18 years of age and United States Residents. Receipt of ticket by visiting the event is required. Odds of winning are based on number of entrants. The winning ticket numbers will be shared on Facebook and the FNCU website on July 13, 2020. No purchase necessary. Visit firstnebraska.org/elkhorn-giveaway-rules for full terms and conditions.+ All loans subject to approval. Rates, terms and conditions vary based on creditworthiness, qualifications and collateral conditions.

DRIVE-THRU

EVENT

PAPER SHRED & PRIZES EVENT AT ELKHORN

No need to get out of your vehicle! FNCU staff will unload your shred items and deliver goodies to your vehicle. However, if you'd like to come in and see our lobby, or take care of your banking needs, we will be open and ready to help you.

Join us for this FREE community event!

A bag of FREE FNCU gifts and coupons from businesses in the neighborhood.

Shred truck on-site for your paper-shredding needs.

Paper Shredding1 Swag Bag*

$100GIFT CARD

Receive a ticket for a chance to win one of three $100 gift cards.

$100 Visa® Gift Card Giveaway**

Everyone in the car will get a pre-packaged snack.

Treats*

Saturday, July 11 9 am-Noon

At our Elkhorn Branch20241 Manderson St.

(204th and Maple)

Swag Bag

ELKHORN

We’ll be closed for the following holidays:

Independence Day Saturday, July 4

Labor Day Monday, Sept. 7

Our philosophy of “People Helping People” has not changed. We have stepped up to help members through many crises, and will continue to do so during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our goal is to help you, our member, and the communities we live in! We are there for you in good times and times of trouble.

We continue to offer a variety of crisis assistance to ensure the financial well-being of our members including:

• Deferment of payments or modifications to existing loans

• Emergency loans to meet immediate needs

• Loan restructuring or refinancing to reduce payments

• Financial counseling, debt consolidation and other services

First Nebraska has been helping its members since 1964 and we’re glad to help relieve members’ financial stress when it’s needed the most.

Sincerely,

Ann M. Loftis, President/CEO

AUTO LOAN

Federally insured by NCUA.

FNCU NMLS# 416540Branches in Omaha, Lincoln & Elkhorn (see website for locations)

Save Money on Home Improvements If spending so much time at home lately has you thinking about all the projects you’d like to tackle, you aren’t alone. Even if you don’t have a ton of extra cash right now, there are things you can do to spruce up your house.

Good planning – and a consideration of your skills and free time – can help you save on your next project.

Here are some tips to brighten up your home without breaking the bank.

Evaluate how much of the work you can realistically do yourself. For instance, if you’re looking to add a room onto your house, perhaps you can paint the walls and stain and varnish the trim when it’s complete.

Ask your friends. Perhaps your best friend’s husband has a background in construction or carpentry. Maybe your neighbors just redid their porch. If they’re people you trust, you can count on them to give you a great price and quality work. Who knows? They might have time on their hands as well.

Set priorities. Decide what is critical and what isn’t. You may need to rethink the scale of your project to fit your budget, and you may find simple changes – such as new fixtures, a different paint color or improved lighting – can alter the feel of a room without gutting out and overhauling the entire space.

Consider less costly alternatives to project details – such as a prefabricated fireplace unit versus traditional masonry. Or laminate or linoleum countertops instead of granite. Or stock cabinets instead of custom ones.

Plan everything. Do this well ahead of time to avoid making changes once the contractor has started working. Changes usually involve additional costs.

Get a handful of quotes from different contractors. Rates vary widely due to factors like contractors’ schedules, their distance from the job and the time of year.

Try to schedule your project for an “off” time of year. For instance, schedule your central air installation in winter, not summer.

Shop for materials that are on sale. Building supply stores often mark down items due to overstocks or other factors.

Stretch the value of your future dollars by doing improvements that offer a strong return on your investment, especially if you plan to sell your home in a few years. Experts often suggest kitchen appliances, bathrooms and landscaping as some of the top features to capture a buyer’s attention.

Keep your credit score in shape by avoiding these bad habits:

• Not paying bills on time or not paying at all.• Maxing out your credit cards – Even if you keep up with

minimum payments, it can hurt your score, because one element of your score is the percentage of your available credit in use.

• Closing old cards or cards with balances – This may sound reasonable if you’re trying to reduce credit use. But, your

*APR=Annual Percentage Rate as of 6/12/2020. All loans subject to approval. Rates, terms and conditions subject to change and vary based on creditworthiness, qualifications and collateral conditions. Other restrictions may apply.

Financing available for all of your vehicle needs.

% APR*2.86

RATES AS LOW AS

New, Used or Refinanced Auto Loans.

APPLY ONLINE TODAY!

Improving Your Credit Scorelength of credit history counts for 15% of your credit score.

• Applying for several credit cards or loans – Expanding the number of cards or lines of credit you have makes it look like you’re in trouble financially and trying to supplement your cash flow with credit.

• Having too few kinds of credit – Lenders like to see that you have diverse credit sources. New credit and your mix of credit each account for 10% of your credit score.

PERSONAL LOAN

...and just like that, it’s

Get a Personal Loan to help pay for whatever summer brings.

Use the funds for anything you need.

Apply online or call today!firstnebraska.org • (402) 492-9100