October 2022

When we say WINcentive®, we mean to emphasize the WIN. With each $25 deposit in your WINcentive® savings account, you’re given another entry to win cash prizes with more than 30 drawings each year!

It’s a great way to build up healthy savings habits, and you’re rewarded for your success with the chance to win cash drawings, ranging from $100 to $5,000! 

And did you know you could build up your WINcentive savings automatically? Our Stash Your Cash program automatically rounds up your purchases to the next dollar and deposits the difference in a savings account. WINcentive accounts are eligible!

This means you not only save each time you buy, you also build toward more opportunities to win cash prizes. WINcentive accounts can also earn MyPlus Rewards™ points, and allow for limited withdrawals to encourage healthier savings practices. 

Make your savings work harder for you with WINcentive accounts, made even easier with Stash Your Cash! 

Learn more about WINcentive

Article Author, Jean Chatzky and SaavyMoney

Consider These 6 Strategies to Avoid Going into More Debt this Winter 

Even before epic inflation settled over the U.S., the most wonderful time of the year can also be the most expensive and stressful period for many adults.

Overspending could be one reason many people dread the holidays and the debt hangover that often lingers long after. It’s not just you. A recent report from Bankrate.com found that more than one-quarter of those surveyed (27 percent) say they will go into debt for purchases made during the holidays in 2022.

It’s possible to avoid overspending AND enjoy the holidays just as much — if not more — than visions of oversized credit card bills dance in your head. Here are some strategic ways to stay out of debt this holiday season:

Understand You’re Not Alone

Many people feel the squeeze of inflation every time they pay at the pump or swipe a debit card for groceries. Although it may not seem like it, your friends and family are likely in the same boat too.

Get a Side Hustle

There are many businesses cutting store hours because they can’t find enough workers to stay open as late as they used to. This is a perfect opportunity for you to consider a part-time job to supplement your income. Bookstores, coffee shops, and most retail centers hire additional staff during the holidays. One or two extra shifts a week may be just what you need to boost your holiday budget.

Set Spending Limits With Friends and Family

Consider using a Thanksgiving gathering as an opportunity to plan ahead for how you will handle the winter holidays. Instead of a marathon gift-giving session, you could decide to draw names for gifts. You could set a spending limit or come up with other ways to enjoy the holidays without maxing out your credit cards. Santa parties, cookie (or wine) swaps, and ornament exchanges are fun ways to spend less and still spread holiday cheer.

Create a Personal Holiday Budget

Here’s a fun money-saving tip. Do a search for “holiday budget calculator,” then use the calculator to determine your holiday spending. Before you buy a single gift, make a list of everyone you want to buy for, figure out how much you can spend on each person, and then stick to the budget.

Get Creative

Heartfelt gifts or gifts of your time can be a blessing to others. The new mom in your life may just love an afternoon to herself. Watching her little one while she gets some alone time outside the house is an inexpensive gift that goes a long way.

Use Your Gift Cards

The amount of money left on gift cards every year is in the billions. Yes, that’s billions with a B. Don’t let a gift card go unused. Instead, use it to buy a gift for someone on your list. Or, in a pinch, give the card to someone who might really appreciate it.

With reporting by Casandra Andrews

Every second Monday in October for the last 10 years, all Affinity Plus employees take the day to volunteer their time with community organizations and causes that matter the most to them, or simply spread kindness throughout the area. 

We celebrated our 10th annual Plus it Forward Day on October 10, and our more than 575 employees throughout the state got to work making a local impact. In addition to volunteer hours, Affinity Plus donated more than $40,000 to local organizations as part of Plus it Forward day 2022.

“Our branch leaders and Affinity Plus employees are the ones that connect with their community every day. They truly are experts in what would make a difference to people in their branch area,” Adam Layne, senior community engagement specialist, said. “By allowing our branch leaders to choose how they make an impact, Affinity Plus employees showed their support with a wide variety of activities, including providing winter clothes to a women’s center in Minneapolis, stocking food shelves in Mankato, and doing yard work in Bemidji.”

Affinity Plus CEO Dave Larson started this new tradition as a day of giving back, and eventually the idea grew into CU Forward Day, a statewide initiative of credit union employees, members and partners coming together to volunteer with local organizations. In 2022, more than 60 credit unions and partnering organizations participated, giving 2,300 employees the chance to volunteer over 10,000 hours. 

“As credit unions, we have a responsibility to serve our members and the communities where they—and our employees—work and live,” Layne said. “What better way to demonstrate that than by coming together in a day of service across the state? It makes me very proud of our industry.”

Expect the best out of life, but be prepared.

You want the best for your family and that means planning for life’s “what ifs.” Like what if you were to die unexpectedly, and they had to make ends meet without your income?

What’s covered?

Term life insurance helps protect your family from the loss of your income if you were to die. It pays income-tax free money they could use for the mortgage, debts, unpaid bills or any reason.

What are the advantages?

TruStage® Term Life Insurance is a good choice if you need high coverage amounts now, with payments that fit your budget. And it’s available entirely online, so you can apply in about 10 minutes*:

• Six-step application
• 100% online
• Just a few health questions
• No medical exam
• Instant decision (up to $100,000)

Don’t wait. Get an instant quote based on your budget today.

A Tradition of Strength

TruStage is underwritten by CMFG Life Insurance Company, which is rated “A” (Excellent) as of March 2019 by A.M. Best, an independent rating service which evaluates financial stability and operating performance, year after year. An “A” rating is the third-highest of 16 ratings.

TruStage® Term Life Insurance to Age 80 is made available through TruStage Insurance Agency, LLC and issued by CMFG Life Insurance Company, P.O. Box 61 Waverly IA 50677. This is a term policy that increases when entering each five year band: 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, and 75. Renewable to age 80. *Time estimate source: TruStage Internal Analytics Reporting, July 2018. Approval is based on your answers to the questions on the application. TruStage life insurance policies contain specific limitations, exclusions, termination provisions and requirements for keeping them in force. Please see your policy or contact us for full details. The insurance offered is not a deposit, and is not federally insured, sold or guaranteed by your credit union. Product and features may not be available in all states. For coverage amounts over $100,000 rates will be higher due to tobacco use. For coverage amounts up to $100,000 Base Policy Numbers: ICC16-A10a-039, A10a-039-2016.

© 2020 TruStage Insurance Agency

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As banking continues to evolve and get more sophisticated, so do the scammers who try to take advantage of our members. It’s of particular concern for members who might not be aware of how advanced these fraudsters can be. 

We’re here to help! 

Be Cautious & Curious

It’s common for scammers to seem confident and friendly, or to sound as though they’re part of a typical business. 

Frequent scams to watch for include:

• Claiming to be part of law enforcement or a financial regulation agency and requesting that you join part of an investigation: Real investigators never ask people for money.
• Claiming to be a town official or inspector insisting you owe money for a service: Insist on seeing identification and call the agency they claim to represent. If those are provided, use a check so you can track it – don’t use cash.

Claiming you won a prize/lottery or inherited money and need to pay taxes on it: Any fees required to receive a prize are scams. If it seems too good to be true, it probably is. 

Be aware of:

• Someone claiming to be calling to process a refund of money owed to you. The scammer will ask you to provide them a “code” sent to your phone or email. DO NOT ever provide a code like this to someone who has called you.
• Unsolicited texts with a hyperlink (a link that would take you to a website).

Here for You

If anyone is pressuring you for money or taking it without your consent, that’s not ok – even if you’re related. Contact us and we can help you work through the information, or contact the Elder Abuse Hotline at 1-800-252-5400.

If you feel you have fallen victim to a scam, here are some steps to take:

• File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission at ftc.gov/complaint
• Visit the FTC’s Identity Theft site
• Call the FTC at 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357)

   

   

It’s back-to-school season and Affinity Plus is celebrating in style with the grand opening of our new branch at Winona State University. Our new space is located in the Student Activity Center in Krzysko Commons.

The September 22 grand opening celebration included several members of the Affinity Plus senior team, Winona State University’s Director of Student Union & Activities, George Micalone, Winona Area Chamber of Commerce as well as local celebrities Wazoo, the Winona State mascot and Chip from Affinity Plus.

Everyone enjoyed snacks and fun prizes on one of the first crisp days of the autumn season – it was a great way to start what we know will be a wonderful partnership.  

We’re thrilled to join everyone on campus, thank you for such a warm welcome! We have a whole line of a banking services geared toward student life, including Better Than Free checking, automatic savings programs, loans for bicycles, technology, and more.

Stop by the campus branch if you’re at Winona State for all your financial needs. Go Warriors!