In the Pipeline
In the Loop
In the Community
Quarterly news for members of Wymar Federal Credit Union
In the Zone
SUMMER
2019
In the Know
On April 10, 2019, Wymar celebrated our 61st anniversary with our Annual Meeting, a “Picnic in the Parc,” which took place at Parc 73. Over 375 members showed up for the event and were treated to some good food, fellowship and almost $3,000 worth of door prizes. This is just another great example of how loyal our members are, which is the key to our continued success. We continually strive to improve our processes to become as efficient as possible and be good stewards of our members' money. We have recently streamlined both our loan and account opening processes to make them as paperless as possible and easy to complete. We have also begun sending out surveys to members following up on their loan application or new account opening experience, in an effort to find out if there are ways we can continue to improve. If you receive one of these surveys, we would greatly appreciate you taking the time to fill it out, as your feedback is important to us. If you have not received a survey and would still like to share any feedback with us, click here to leave a review on our website – we value all feedback! We also continue to try to provide the best products and services possible so that you have no need to bank anywhere else. Look for the rollout of our Debit Card Round-Up option for our checking accounts. This is where you can choose to have each debit card transaction rounded up to the next dollar and have those additional funds deposited into your share account. It’s an easy way to put aside a little extra money. Please contact us if you are interested in turning on this feature. You can visit our website to learn more and even submit an enrollment form! I would also encourage you to take a look at our Cha-Ching Checking account if you haven’t already done so. It’s an easy way to earn 3.00% APY* on the first $7,500 in the account just for doing the things you already do, like using your debit card, logging on to It's Me 247 to check your account and getting your statements delivered to you electronically. It’s a better way to have your primary checking account and get paid for it! Check out our website for more information. *APY=Annual Percentage Yield. It’s hard to believe that 2019 is already halfway over! Thank you to all of our loyal members for making our jobs so enjoyable. We attribute the continued success to all of you and our wonderful staff! Here’s to an even better second half! CEO, Ronnie Stephens
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wymarfcu.com
A Message from the CEO
Can’t say enough good things! The rates are fantastic, the service is awesome, the employees are always friendly and such a pleasure to do business with. The services go on and on - it’s my one-stop shop for all of my financial needs. - TESSI LORIO
Member Testimonials
I love Wymar FCU! Always friendly and helpful staff members. Most all of my family members use y’all. Whether it’s personal banking, personal loans, car loans, or fraud protection, etc., I feel that we are covered with all of our banking needs. Also, I love that they are affiliated with other credit unions. It makes banking so easy and convenient! Thank you for the great job y’all do! - AMBER TOWNSEND
Wymar Federal Credit Union is the best credit union!!! All of the employees are so nice and friendly and treat you like family. You always get great customer service every time. I have never had a bad experience, and they always get it right in person and on the phone. Thanks for being great! - TANYA THOMPSON
Heather Melancon
In May, we added another wonderful Member Service Representative to our team. Meet Heather Melancon! Heather was born and raised here in Ascension Parish, which makes it very clear why her passion is to help and serve both our members and our community. She comes to us with 21 years of experience in the financial industry. When she is not wearing that smile behind the teller line, she is enjoying some quality time with her daughter, friends, and family and going fishing, hunting, dancing or listening to music. Next time you come by the credit union, be sure to stop and say hello to Heather. She loves getting to know each and every one of our members and is eager to help you out. We are so appreciative of all the hard work and dedication she’s put forth to learn our products and services and how to best serve our members. Wymar FCU and our members are very lucky to have Heather!
Getting to Know...
SAVE THE DATE!
Wymar Supports BASF's Annual Golf Tournament for the American Heart Association – Baton Rouge
BASF's 2019 Annual Jambalaya Cook-Off
We were honored to have the opportunity to show our support by providing bags and working registration at this year’s BASF Annual Charity Golf Tournament for the American Heart Association of Baton Rouge, where they raised $50,000! These events are a great opportunity for us to visit with many of our members and potential members in a fun and active environment, while also giving back to a great cause. We had a blast and love any chance we can get to show our support in BASF’s charitable efforts!
Here in Louisiana, we love to show our support through food - especially some delicious jambalaya! This is the second year we had the chance to serve drinks to all of those who came out to BASF’s Annual Jambalaya Cook-Off and showed their support by purchasing a jambalaya plate. This year, there were 10 BASF cooking teams battling it out, leaving Danny Doody and Wymar member James Bourgeois taking home first place. Members Jeff Rouillier, Chad Buratt and Board Member Danny Robert proudly took home second place! The food was delicious, the cause was great, and we had a great time visiting and serving so many of our members. Thank you to BASF for another opportunity to support your great work with Capital Area United Way!
2019 Louisiana Credit Union League YPN Workshop Introduces Barran's Bears
BASF's 2019 Retiree Club Crawfish Boil
Our Marketing Coordinator, Kelly Duvall, is part of the LCUL Young Professionals Network (YPN) organization, where she represents on behalf of Wymar FCU! In May, Kelly attended the 2019 LCUL YPN Workshop in Lafayette, Louisiana, along with hundreds of other credit union young professionals in the state. While this is a great opportunity for everyone to come together and network and learn new ways to better serve our members, they also learned about a great organization called Barran’s Bears. Barran’s Bears is an incredible organization that was started in 2016 by Deputy Turner Barran of Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office. These first responders provide bears for children that they encounter at scenes of domestic violence, car accidents, crime scenes, and other traumatic events. Together, this group has donated 150 bears! If you have Facebook, we ask that you go and like Barran’s Bears' Facebook page and follow their story and the impact they have on the children of our community. If you don’t have Facebook, give their website a visit and see what they are all about and how you can help!
Retirement is sweet, so we bring treats! We love getting the chance to visit with the BASF Retiree’s Club as so many of them are wonderful and loyal members of Wymar FCU. This year, we provided drinks and some delicious cakes from our local Ralph’s Market & Bakery, while we got to enjoy some awesome crawfish from Tee-Wayne’s! It was great to see so many of our members and visit and catch up. As always, we appreciate BASF giving us the opportunity to participate in these events and be present with our members. Always a great time!
2019 Jambalaya Festival – Danny Robert Wins "Champ of Champs!"
At this year’s Gonzales Jambalaya Festival, our Board of Directors Chairman, Danny Robert, took home the title of “Champ of Champs!” He competed against the best of the best, and we couldn’t be more proud of this achievement. Danny has cooked jambalaya for many of our Wymar events and BASF Geismar events, and we know a winning jambalaya when we taste one. Congratulations, Danny! Thank you for all you do for Wymar FCU and our members!
We are always looking for better ways to serve and give back to our members. We understand the financial stress our bright future leaders face as they graduate high school and start their next chapter, whether it be college or straight to the real world itself. For the first time in 61 years, our credit union is now offering a College Scholarship Program for our members who are high school graduates and plan to attend college! This year, we rewarded three outstanding high school graduates with $500 College Scholarships! We would like to congratulate our three winners and encourage our other future leaders who will be high school graduates in the upcoming years to take advantage of this great program! 2019 Winners: Claire Aydell – Will be attending Louisiana Tech University & studying Cyber Engineering Kallie Comardelle – Will be attending Louisiana State University & studying Biology Beau Nannie – Will be attending Colorado School of Mines & studying Metallurgical and Materials Engineering
Wymar’s NEW College Scholarship Program!
In the Credit Union
We want our website to be a reflection of who we are. Because of that, we launched a brand-new website in March, designed to incorporate our field of membership that is BASF Geismar, while featuring a user-friendly interface, convenient buttons throughout the homepage, a review page, and so much more! Visit our website today and check out the changes for yourself. If there’s something you can’t find or would like to see on there – please do not hesitate to reach out to our Marketing Coordinator, Kelly Duvall, at kduvall@wymarfcu.com. She will be happy to help you locate what you are looking for or work to get it added if possible.
Check Out Our New Website
Our Financial Counselors Are Here for You
We would like to congratulate Lorri Burns, as she has become our fourth Certified Credit Union Financial Counselor! She joins Ashley Parrott, Anita Lamons and Nakita St. Julien, after passing a rigorous eight-month course. Educating our members on how to manage and take control of their own money is one of the most important services we provide, which is why we offer FREE Financial Counseling for all Wymar members. These ladies are here to help you improve your credit score, set up a budget, pay down debt, afford a new home and so much more! Set up your free appointment today and start your journey towards financial health with help and support from Wymar! Lorri Burns, CCUFC - 225-673-7190 - lburns@wymarfcu.com • Ashley Parrott, CCUFC - 225-673-7186 - aparrott@wymarfcu.com Nakita St. Julien, CCUFC - 225-673-7188 - nstjulien@wymarfcu.com • Anita Lamons, CCUFC - 225-673-7185 - alamons@wymarfcu.com
Work Hard, Play Hard
In April, we celebrated our 61st Annual Membership Meeting & Dinner at Parc 73, themed “Picnic in the Parc!” We had over 350 members come together and take a look back with us on the fantastic 2018 year our credit union had, while enjoying a delicious BBQ brisket dinner. It was a beautiful day filled with great food, great prizes and even better fellowship. We hope everyone had a great time, and if you were not able to make it this year, we look forward to an even better event next year. Thank you all again!
Wymar FCU's First Staff & Family Crawfish Boil!
61st Annual Membership Meeting - "Picnic in the Parc"
We love any excuse to get all of our staff together, and we also love any excuse to eat crawfish, which is why we had our first of many Wymar FCU Crawfish Boils! After business hours, our entire staff, Board of Directors, Supervisory Committee, and our family and friends gathered at the BASF Geismar Picnic Grounds and enjoyed some delicious crawfish from T’Chews. This was a great way to show our appreciation for the incredible staff and officials we have who work so hard to take such great care of our members. Never a dull moment with this crew; we can’t wait for next year!
“Cha-Ching!” is a sound we all know and love. If you’re looking for a checking account that shows your wallet a little extra love, then our NEW Cha-Ching Checking account is for you! Wymar FCU members can now earn 3.00% APY* by simply doing things you are likely already doing, like using your debit card, direct deposit, checking your account online, and receiving eStatements! Plus, Cha-Ching Checking has no transaction limits, no minimum balance requirements, and no monthly fees! We also offer overdraft protection with free automatic transfers! When you open a Cha-Ching Checking account, you can track your qualifying status within your online banking account! It will simply tell you what else you need to do to qualify that month, and it will also congratulate you once you’ve met all the basic qualifications!
*Annual Percentage Yield. **Rates may change after the account is opened. Members must meet listed qualifications to receive the higher yield of 3.00% on any account balance up to $7,500. Members are limited to one Cha-Ching Checking account as a primary account holder. No commercial account may participate in this program. Dividends are paid on accounts with positive balances. All 15 debit card transactions must be posted during the month of the Qualification Cycle — transactions may take one or more banking days from the date the transaction was made to post to and settle in the account. Balances up to $7,500 receive an APY of 3.00%, and balances over $7,500 receive a 0.25% APY on the portion of the balance over $7,500. If qualifications are not met on Cha-Ching Checking accounts, all balances earn 0.05% APY. The Qualification Cycle is defined as the first calendar day of the month through the last calendar day of the month. ATM-processed withdrawals do not count as qualifying debit card transactions. Transfers between accounts do not count as qualifying transactions.
WHAT YOU GET: 3.00% APY* on Amounts up to $7,500** 0.25% APY* for Any Amount Over $7,500** 0.05% APY* If You Do Not Qualify** ATM Rebates up to $20 a Month First Custom Wymar MyPic Debit Card – FREE! No Low Balance Fee No Minimum Balance
QUALIFICATIONS: 15 Debit Card Transactions Each Month Receive eStatements One Online Banking Login Each Month (Wymar Mobile App and/or Desktop) Direct Deposit or ACH of at Least $250
If you currently have a Wymar FCU Checking Account, simply call us at (225) 673-7191 and let a Member Service Representative know you’d like to switch to Cha-Ching Checking. NOTHING about your account changes except the rewards you will reap if you qualify! Don’t have a checking account with us yet? Take advantage of our 3.00% APY* by simply logging in to your It’s Me 247 account, go to “New Accounts,” click “More Share Info,” then proceed to open your Cha-Ching Checking account!
Short Sale, Foreclosure and Bankruptcy are approved on a case-by-case basis. Most in-house programs are available for Primary Residence only. Minimum Loan Amount $5,000. Equal Housing Opportunity Lender. NMLS 797135. Federally Insured through NCUA. *Other restrictions may apply.
Put the Hammer Down on a HELOC This Summer!
Some extra benefits you get with a HELOC from Wymar FCU include: 100% LTV (loan to value) available (subject to creditworthiness for qualified borrowers) NO closing costs,* NO appraisal fees, NO title fees and NO annual fees Since it’s not an interest-only loan, you can pay and reuse for up to 20 years Easy access to make withdrawals, on YOUR time Typically tax deductible - consult with your CPA Visit our website to check out our other Mortgage Products or click here to apply for a HELOC today!
A Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC) is a line of credit where the collateral is the equity in your house. It is not a loan where you get a lump sum - you simply have access to this revolving line of credit. In most cases, members most often open a Home Equity Line of Credit for: Financial flexibility Planning a major home improvement, such as getting a pool or renovations Investment Applying for a HELOC is seamless and can all be done online.
I have been a member of Wymar FCU for over 20-plus years. I wanted to take this opportunity to commend Ashley Parrott and her entire mortgage staff at Wymar FCU. I recently purchased a home in New Orleans. It was not a typical purchase transaction, and I was initially concerned as to if it could even be done. After speaking with Ashley and her staff, I was told that they have done this type of transaction many times in the past, and I could rest assured that they could not only get it done…but get it done in the small time frame that the sellers were expecting it to happen by. Ashley and her staff consulted and walked me through each and every step of the mortgage process, and I honestly have been blown away by not only their extreme knowledge in mortgage lending…but also their fast and always courteous customer service. KUDOS TO YOU ALL! - Rowland Holley
Introducing our NEW Debit Card Round-Up Feature!
We have just launched a brand-new feature to encourage our members to save more money with every swipe! Our new Debit Card Round-Up feature will allow members with a Wymar debit card and checking account to round every debit card transaction up to the nearest dollar, while the remaining amount is deposited straight into your Wymar FCU savings account! For example, if you spend $6.40 on breakfast, that will be the exact transaction amount posted to your checking account. The extra $0.60 remaining, along with any other amounts rounded up from other purchases throughout the day, will be transferred from your checking account to your savings account! Learn more about this new feature by visiting our website. Are you ready to join in on this fun new savings habit now? Simply click here to submit an enrollment form and our Member Service Representatives will activate it on your account!
Don't Forget to Submit Your Travel Notice With Us!
In order to minimize fraud and the associated costs to your credit union, we constantly monitor trends and will occasionally place blocks on certain areas of the country, merchant types, and foreign countries. By submitting a travel notice or giving us a call to let us know the times and places you will be out of town, we can lift existing debit card blocks in the areas you will be traveling. To help prevent rejected transactions, please submit a travel notice by completing this form or give us a call (during business hours) at 225-673-7191. Happy traveling!
Going Out of Town?
Are you in the market for a one- to three-year-old, quality pre-owned vehicle? Look no further! With our new partnership with Enterprise Car Sales, our members have access to a HUGE selection of certified pre-owned vehicles. By quality, we mean Enterprise takes the top 1% of cars from their rental fleet to be sold and makes them pass a rigorous inspection performed by ASE-Certified technicians. Best of all, they offer a seven-day buyback guarantee. When you purchase through Enterprise Car Sales and finance with us, you will receive a 1% Member Rate Discount as well as a $25 discount on our GAP Insurance product, which will not only pay the difference between what you owe on your car and what insurance pays, but will reimburse your deductible up to $500 on any car you own if financed with Wymar!
First-Time Car Buyers Program We have partnered with Enterprise Car Sales® to bring our members our very own First-Time Car Buyer Program. This excellent program is designed to help young people get off on the right foot when purchasing their first vehicle, with or without Mom and Dad’s help! Our program includes: 1% Member Rate Discount $75 Auto Maintenance Package Gift Certificate Free Financial Counseling Session Short Videos About the Basics of Auto Maintenance Auto Budget Checklist Visit our website to learn more about how we can help you get that new or used vehicle, RV, motorcycle or tractor you need - with rates you will love!
Car buying made easy! Auto Link™ allows you to research vehicles, find local dealers, take virtual test drives, and so much more. It’s an incredibly user-friendly experience, and those who buy a new car from a TrueCar® Certified Dealer have saved thousands off MSRP! Plus, when you finance your vehicle purchase through Wymar Federal Credit Union, you automatically get a FREE four-year myEZ Car Care® VIP membership! Finance your vehicle today!
Wymar members receive exclusive discounts and benefits from trusted partners, just by being a member! We would hate for you to miss out, so visit our website or give a Wymar representative a call today to ask how to take advantage of these great rewards!
Take Advantage of Exclusive Member Discounts!
TurboTax® – Receive a 10% discount on TurboTax’s Federal Deluxe version. You can also receive a coupon good for $30 off the price of a service engagement with Jackson Hewitt. TruStage® Insurance by CUNA Mutual Group Get discounted rates, financial planning products, and services exclusively for members of federal credit unions. View insurance products here. Sprint® – Members can get $100 for every new line activated with Sprint. Get $50 for each line transferred; plus, new and existing customers get a $50 loyalty reward for every line you have. SimpliSafeTM – Receive a $100 gift card for new customers, free installation, upgrades, and free Showtime® and HBO® for three months!
Sprint - An exclusive cash rewards program only available for credit union members who activate with Sprint. For a limited time, credit union members earn $100 in CASH REWARDS per new line on unlimited lines with Sprint and receive a $100 annual loyalty reward every year. Current Sprint customers who transfer into the program receive a $100 annual loyalty reward on their 12-month anniversary of transferring into the Cash Reward program. Existing Sprint customers can earn $100 in cash rewards per new line with Sprint. Plus, you get 25% off select accessories purchased in Sprint stores. SimpliSafe - Get Whole Home Protection for Less As a member, save big on SimpliSafe, the #1 expert pick for home security. It’s reliable protection for your whole home, with 24/7 professional monitoring and 3.5x faster dispatch. All at fair prices. With no contract. Plus receive a free home security camera and 2 free months of monitoring service! SimpliSafe was named CNET Editors’ Choice and “the best home security system” by Wirecutter. Over 3 million people rely on it already. Now’s a great time to join them. TruStage Insurance - Protect what you value most with insurance coverage that’s uniquely designed and priced for credit union members. Get Trusted Protection and True Savings with TruStage Auto & Home Insurance Program. It offers competitive savings for credit union members. You could save hundreds on car insurance, some members could save even more from all of the various discounts offered. TruStage offers great values on home insurance too! Coverage you can count on. Call 1.800.789.6286 today and see why more than 500,000 credit union members have already switched. TurboTax - Love my Credit Union Rewards has partnered with TurboTax to offer credit union members great savings on TurboTax products. Credit union members have saved over $16M on the #1 best-selling tax software. TurboTax guarantees 100% accurate calculations so you can be confident your taxes are done right and get your biggest possible refund. And with TurboTax Live, you can even talk with a tax professional onscreen for unlimited advice and a final review of your return You don't need to be a tax expert to get your taxes done right. Love My Credit Union Rewards makes filing taxes affordable.
With eStatements, you get access to your monthly statements sooner than you would your mailed statements, and you have access to look at old statements from the convenience of your phone. The best part is they are better for the environment, as they greatly reduce the amount of paper and envelopes used while also cutting costs! To sign up for eStatements, simply log in to your It’s Me 247 account, find the “My Documents” tab, then click on “Go To eStatements” and sign up. If you have any questions, feel free to give us a call at (225) 673-7191.
WE LOVE FEEDBACK! The only way we can continue to grow and better serve our members is to hear honest feedback from those who matter most - our members! Please visit our website and share with us any feedback you have on a Wymar member experience. We truly appreciate and value what our members have to say so click here to leave your review today!
Sign Up for eStatements!
New Year's Day Tuesday, January 1 Martin Luther King Jr. Day Monday, January 21 Presidents Day Monday, February 18 Good Friday Friday, April 19 Memorial Day Monday, May 27 Independence Day Thursday, July 4 Labor Day Monday, September 2 Thanksgiving Thursday, November 28 Friday, November 29 Christmas Tuesday, December 24 Wednesday, December 25
Connect With Us Wymar Office: 37269 Hwy. 30, Geismar, LA 70734 Hours: Monday-Friday 7 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Mailing Address: P.O. Box 457, Geismar, LA 70734 Phone: (225) 673-7191 Fax: (225) 612-6405 CU*TALK (audio response teller service): (844) 219-0850 wymarfcu.com Online Banking
2019 Holidays
