Welcome to even better Digital Banking!

How did we ever manage without today’s technology? Think of the number of times you use your phone to read messages from friends and family, order the groceries you need, find out what the weather will be like, or even spend a few minutes watching funny videos starring cats. Our phones, tablets, computers, and other devices have brought a lot of value and convenience to our daily lives. We recognize that by celebrating National Technology Day on January 6.

We are adding more power and convenience to help you manage your money. We’ve just updated to a new platform for our Online and Mobile Banking. It offers all the features you already enjoy — and adds new ones to help you save time and take more control over your money.

Indiana Members Credit Union Announces Kenneth A. Beckley Scholarship

Indiana Members Credit Union (IMCU) announces it is establishing the Kenneth A. Beckley Scholarship at The Media School at Indiana University in honor of its longtime board member.

Beckley has been part of IMCU’s volunteer board for 19 years, serving on various committees and sharing his expertise in marketing and strategic planning. Beckley served as the IMCU spokesperson for many years, appearing in commercials throughout the Central Indiana market through 2014.

GIVE BACK FOR THE HOLIDAYS

Make the holidays brighter for kids

We treasure our childhood memories of the holidays and how exciting it was to find a new toy with our name on it. Right now, you’re probably recalling one of your favorite holiday gifts and remembering how you’d hoped it would be waiting for you.

Thousands of children in the Indianapolis area are dreaming about their own holiday gifts, but without your help, their holidays might not be as bright. That’s why Indiana Members Credit Union and the Indiana Members Foundation (IMF) are partnering with the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve’s annual Toys for Tots program.

Each year, Toys for Tots collects new unwrapped toys at locations throughout central Indiana and distributes them to less-fortunate children around the Indianapolis area. As the presenting sponsor for Toys for Tots, IMCU is providing donation sites for toys at all of our Indianapolis-area branch locations.

National Scholarship Month

Help your college student create a strong foundation

College is the place where we learn lifelong lessons. Many of those lessons come through the classes we take in the career field we’ve chosen, but others aren’t quite as obvious. One of the most important things students learn is how to manage money.

This is National Scholarship Month. Many college students scramble to find as much scholarship money as they can. While that can help them pay for college, it’s even more important for them to learn what to do with what they earn. Just ask people who are still struggling to pay off college loans into their late 30s.

Indiana Members Credit Union Awards Over $63,000 in Scholarships and Grants

Indiana Members Foundation, the charitable arm of Indiana Members Credit Union, recently awarded over $63,000 in scholarships and grants through its Robert E. Martin Collegiate Scholarship Program, Mike and Marti Ney “People Helping People” Grant, Joan Wolfe Legacy Grant for the Arts Program, and the Terry Renick Legacy Golf Grant. 

Indiana Members Foundation awarded the 2020 Scholarship and Grant recipients individually this year in front of their high school, alma mater or organization, in lieu of its annual awards banquet, to maintain social distancing. 

National Financial Planning Month

Do you have a plan?

“A plan for what?” you may ask. October is National Financial Planning Month, so the kind of plan we’re talking about is for your money. If you haven’t already developed a financial plan, now is a great time to start.

Some people think financial planning is only for wealthy people or those who invest a lot, and it’s true that people who have a lot of assets benefit from financial planning. But it’s just as important for everyone else. Whether you’ve just started working, are simply trying to get ahead of each month’s bills, or starting to give serious thought to retirement, basic financial planning can help you make the right choices.

National Mortgage Professional Month

 

Great mortgages — and great people, too

Thinking about buying a house? If you’re like many people, you find the process of buying a home both exciting and stressful. The exciting part comes with finding a place that meets all your dreams. The stressful part? That’s usually the financial side of the transaction.  For many, the mortgage process can be challenging.

Unless they received their home loan from Indiana Members Credit Union, that is. Since we’re a non-profit that’s focused on serving our members, we do everything we can to make the homebuying process easier. We offer a wide variety of loan programs to ensure you can find the loan that’s best for your situation. You can choose between fixed and adjustable-rate mortgages, government programs like FHA and VA loans, and jumbo loans for people buying their dream homes. With our online application, you can even handle the process from the comfort of your current home.

National Family Fun Month

Learning about money can be fun

What would you think about a fun family activity that will not only keep your kids entertained, but teach them important lessons about money? August is National Family Fun Month, and here at Indiana Members Credit Union, we’re all for any activity that helps kids better understand money and how it fits into their lives.

Family money activities are especially important, because most of the money habits our kids will develop will come from the things they see us doing with money. That includes good habits and bad. If they see us spending recklessly, we shouldn’t be surprised when they grow up to do the same. But if they see us discussing money in positive and rational ways with our partner, they’ll learn how to do the same.

6 Tips To Decoding Your Financial Aid Offers

 

Decoding Your Financial Aid Offers

6 Tips You Should Know Before Making the Big Decision

1. The acronyms you need to know
   Cost of attendance (COA): an estimate of what one full year of school will cost. It includes
   tuition, along with room, board, fees, books, and more. Check your school’s website for a detailed COA.Expected Family Contribution (EFC): an estimate that the school uses to determine how much financial aid you could get—the amount you actually pay may be different.
2. You might get a few types of financial aid
   Scholarships and grants: free money that you won’t have to pay back—seriously!
   Work-study: money you earn by working a part-time job through your school
   Loans: money you can borrow that you will have to pay back with interest
3. Remember this equation
   COA – financial aid = what you’ll payDo this equation for every school on your list. If you still owe money, you may need to use savings, private student loans, or other sources to cover the difference.
4. Hold on: don’t just pick the biggest offer
   A small financial aid offer with more free money may be better than a larger offer with more loans. Why? Because you’ll have to start paying back those loans after graduating.
5. Read the fine print
   Before you pick your offer, pay attention to the conditions. Some types of financial aid may be renewable, and some may be for one year only. Also, some scholarships might require you to maintain a certain GPA.
6. Choose what works for you
   You don’t have to accept all the aid listed in your financial aid offer. Pick the types and amounts of aid you need, and make sure to respond before the deadline.

In Partnership with Sallie Mae ®

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All You Need to Know About Student Loan Changes During COVID-19

With unemployment levels rising and many employers cutting work hours, lots of college grads are now struggling to meet their student loan payments. Thankfully, the federal government has passed legislation to ease this burden. Unfortunately, though, many borrowers are confused about the terms and conditions of these changes.

Here’s all you need to know about the changes to student loan debt during the coronavirus pandemic.

All federal student loan payments are automatically suspended for six months