All loans subject to credit approval. Membership eligibility required. Contact 1st CCU for current rates, terms and qualifications. NMLS #411004. Federally insured by NCUA.
Here's What You Should Know.
Road trips are a top vacation choice for families this year. You can get out of the house, enjoy family time and experience some relaxation. And what better way to travel than as pilot of an RV? It’s your home and transportation, all in one. If you’re considering this option, here’s what you should know, according to ReserveAmerica.com. Consider whether to rent or buy. Renting allows you to try before buying. Know how it works. Steer clear of expensive, avoidable mistakes. Practice driving. Before go-time, practice pulling into parking lots, driving in traffic and going up hills. Pack equipment. Some helpful items include extra fuses, light bulbs and jumper cables. Plan ahead. Consider your budget, including food, activities and overnights. Prepare for the campground. Check the site for obstacles; locate the electrical, water and sewage hookups; level and secure your RV; then connect to the electrical and drain hookups. Tips for Vacationing During the Pandemic: Choose a destination with less risk, based on COVID-19 transmission rates. Check for self-quarantine requirements by state. Use curbside pickup. Pack cleaning wipes, hand sanitizer and a disinfectant. Bring your own equipment, to avoid renting. Pack your own food and water. Whether you’re buying or renting an RV, or purchasing equipment to enjoy while you travel, turn to us. We offer recreational vehicle loans, as well as vacation loans, with low rates and easy terms to make your time away memorable and affordable. Get started today at 1stccu.com/recreational-vehicle-loans. Sources: nytimes.com/2020/07/16/travel/virus-vacation.html reserveamerica.com/outdoors/quick-tips-for-rv-beginners.htm insider.com/summer-vacation-travel-future-predictions-2020-5
Dreaming of an RV Adventure?
Winter 2021 Newsletter
By choosing 1st Community Credit Union for your mortgage loan, we can help you save money and gain peace of mind. Visit 1stccu.com/meet-our-lenders.
Home Buying To-Do List
This is it. This is the year. You’ve made the decision to buy a house. That’s a big step for you, both personally and financially. As your financial institution, we share your delight in reaching this milestone and want to help you through the process. Whether you’re a first-time homebuyer or not, this simple “to-do” list will help ensure you have all the information you’ll need when starting the mortgage process. Establish Your Budget: Determine how much home you can afford. Typically, you want your monthly housing payment to be a maximum of 30% of your monthly income. Also, don’t forget to factor in costs such as taxes and insurance. Check Your Credit Report: Visit AnnualCreditReport.com to get a free copy of your credit report and ensure it's accurate. Get Pre-Approved: We can pre-approve your loan, which you can leverage when you make an offer on a home. For example, if the home you want to buy has multiple offers and the other potential buyer is not pre-approved, your offer has a better chance of being accepted. Interview a REALTOR®: Your real estate agent is your guide in the home buying process. You’ll share financial details with them, so make sure the chemistry is right. Know Your Terms: Most people think a 30-year mortgage is the only way to go, but there are other terms that may fit your needs much better. Talk with our lending team about your options.
You're Invited to the 60th Annual Meeting
*To be eligible to vote, you must be the primary account owner, must be at least 18 years of age and must have an account that was opened at least 90 days prior to the date of the Annual Meeting.
Date: Monday, March 29, 2021 Time: Doors open at 5:30 pm for registration and seating; business meeting begins at 6:00 pm Location: Jake’s Northwoods, 1132 Angelo Road, Sparta This is your chance to hear how the Credit Union did in 2020! Member/Owners will also vote* for two individuals for seats on the Board of Directors. All 1st Community Credit Union members are invited to attend the Annual Meeting. This year, we are keeping the meeting to a business agenda only. The event will not include a dinner or a guest speaker. We expect the meeting to last approximately 20-30 minutes. RSVP: Email marketing@1stccu.com or call 888-706-1228 to let us know you will be attending. Please note: If, for any reason, the meeting needs to be changed to a virtual format, those changes will be announced on our Facebook page and our website, 1stccu.com.
Submit photo(s) via email to marketing@1stccu.com by 11:59 pm on March 1, 2021. (Limit five photos per entrant.)
Submit a photo depicting the beauty of western Wisconsin, and it may be featured on the cover of 1st CCU’s Annual Report! One winning entry will be selected, and the winner will be awarded a cash prize of $100. The photo should be 600x800 pixels and no more than 2 MB in size. The photo may be of a local landmark, buildings, a park or nature scene, animals or plants. The photo must be taken within one of the 14 counties served by 1st CCU’s field of membership (La Crosse, Monroe, Vernon, Jackson, Trempealeau, Buffalo, Juneau, Adams, Wood, Clark, Eau Claire, Richland, Sauk or Crawford County) to be eligible. Images containing people will be disqualified. Full details, contest rules and conditions are available on our News & Events webpage.
1st Community Credit Union Photo Contest
Deadline: March 1, 2021
Be sure to check out the fresh, new look coming soon to our Centsables website! Watch videos of your favorite team of super friends fighting crime and bad money habits, play games and more. Visit 1stccu.com and click the Centsables For Kids link under the Resources tab to start learning about smart money management in a fun way! You asked, and we listened – we’ve revised the Centsables punch card redemptions so it’s easier than ever to earn a prize,* and we’re bringing back the Scholastic® book prizes! 4 punches on a punch card earn a fun pencil 8 punches earn a Centsables coin pouch or jigsaw puzzle 16 punches earn a Scholastic book 20 punches (1 full punch card) earn a journal and pen 40 punches (2 full punch cards) earn a cool Centsables action figure
*While supplies last. Prizes may vary throughout the year depending on merchandise inventory and availability. Some restrictions may apply. See a 1st CCU Member Service Representative for full details and eligibility. The purpose of the punch card is to help our youth establish healthy habits of saving on a regular basis. Punch card deposits may be done once per day (deposits may not be split into smaller deposits to gain multiple punches).
Hey Kids!
April Is National Credit Union Youth Month! Be sure to watch our website and Facebook page in April for information on ways you can celebrate Youth Month!
Centsables Corner
*Consult a tax advisor for advice on tax return retention. Do not destroy documents tied to pending litigation. Never destroy vital records such as wills, deeds, titles, birth or death certificates, etc.
1st CCU electronically delivers 1099-INT and 1098 tax forms to members who are enrolled in eStatements. An eTax Form is an electronic version of the 1099-INT or 1098 tax form. Tax forms are sent out if you’ve earned $10 or more in dividends or paid $600 or more in mortgage interest. You won’t get an eTax Form if neither of those apply to you. An email notification will be sent when eTax Forms are ready to view. Tax forms for members who are not enrolled in eStatements will be mailed by January 31. When you receive your tax forms, review them to verify that the information is correct and contact 1st CCU to request a correction if necessary.
Save the Date for Our Next Shredding Event!
Saturday, April 17, from 8:30 – 11:30 am in the parking lot of 1st CCU in West Salem
Tax Season Reminder
Get FREE SHREDDING of three boxes/bags of documents in exchange for a nonperishable food donation. Safe destruction of outdated sensitive documents* (i.e., financial statements, receipts, invoices, checks/duplicates, etc.) Up to three brown paper bags or three medium-sized boxes (up to 100 pounds) per person may be shredded All types of paper are acceptable to shred (no non-paper items will be accepted) Staples and paper clips can be shredded, but butterfly clips need to be removed Items in ring binders or similar hard covers need to be removed before they will be accepted Discs are no longer accepted for shredding
To view or print your eTax Form, follow these steps: Log in to Online Banking. (If you have multiple accounts, log in to each individual account separately to retrieve any tax forms for that account.) Click on the eStatement tab and then on the Tax Documents tab. Click on the date to view, save or print the tax form.
1st Community Credit Union firmly believes that local community organizations are essential when it comes to supporting our communities, and 1st CCU’s employees believe that it is essential to support those organizations. To finish out 2020, each of our three branches took time to donate to our local community. We are extremely proud to announce that 1st CCU was able to donate over $28,000 throughout 2020 to local organizations in the Tomah, West Salem and Sparta areas.
Giving Tree
On Friday night, December 11, and Saturday afternoon, December 12, several 1st CCU employees volunteered at downtown Sparta’s Kriskindlmarkt. This outdoor market has become a destination for Christmas shoppers of all ages, and 1st CCU helped out by selling brats, hotdogs and pretzels!
Fun at Kriskindlmarkt!
LOOK WHAT YOU DID! Thank you to all the wonderful members and 1st CCU employees who helped in any way with the Christmas for Kids Giving Tree in Sparta this year! 1st CCU committed to fulfilling the wishes of 100 kids, and you came through in a BIG WAY – thank you so much! Our Tomah branch helped fulfill wishes from the Tomah Boys & Girls Club Giving Tree. What a wonderful way to spread joy and show our commitment to our local communities this year! Local support is essential, and so are YOU!
Community Involvement
Local Support Is Essential
1st CCU donated to local organizations, thanks to each new member who joined at the West Salem office in August and September, and thanks to each new member who joined at the Sparta office in October and November! Each new member was able to choose from a list of organizations, and the credit union donated $10 on their behalf and even matched the donation!
When You Join 1st CCU, You Are Helping Your Local Community
As of December 31, 2020
For Your Information
Reminder: All items mailed to 1st Community Credit Union (deposits, payments, documents, etc.) must be addressed to a P.O. Box address rather than a street address. Sparta: P.O. Box 167, Sparta, WI 54656 West Salem P.O. Box 913, West Salem, WI 54669 Tomah P.O. Box 407, Tomah, WI 54660 Call Center 888-706-1228 Website 1stccu.com
Assets: $205,616,019 Loans: $145,559,141 Savings: $181,435,011 Members: 13,103
Monday, March 1, Photo Contest Deadline Monday, March 29, 1st CCU’s Annual Meeting, doors open at 5:30 pm Saturday, April 17, Free Shred Event at 1st CCU in West Salem, 8:30 – 11:30 am April 2021, National Credit Union Youth Month Monday, May 31, 1st CCU’s offices closed for Memorial Day
Mark Your Calendar