Why St. Cloud Federal Credit Union is a Great Option for Your Loan Needs

So, you’re looking to apply for a loan. Where do you go? Choosing a big name bank may seem easier at first, but is it the right choice for you? Looking into St. Cloud Federal Credit Union can prove to be a better fit for your needs, and here’s why:

It’s important to trust your lender. Big Banks are for-profit organizations, and can have many hidden fees. Shareholders will ultimately do what is right for the shareholders - they care about the bottom line. At SCFCU, we are not-for-profit and our owners are our members, so our main focus is and always will be you.

At St. Cloud Federal Credit Union, you can be assured that we are on your side. Through big banks, customers are many times approved for large loans they might not necessarily need, which they may take out because they think it’s what's best- If you’re approved for it, why not, right? Most often, employees of big name banks are required to sell as part of their job. SCFCU takes the time to really assess your options. We do what is right for our customers, NOT the bottom line.The people who work at our credit union are local people, meaning they live in our community, and can better understand your needs.

Big banks have many employees that are constantly revolving in and out and it can be impossible to get to know your loan officer on a personal basis. At St. Cloud Federal Credit union, we will take the time to explain every part of a loan with you. You want a face to face, personal relationship with your loan officer, and you can get that at a St. Cloud Federal Credit Union. We guide you through the whole process and answer every question you may have on the way.

If you have any questions about taking out a loan from a credit union, we encourage you to stop into St. Cloud Federal Credit Union and meet with us. We are happy to answer any questions you may have!

St. Cloud Federal Credit Union Matches Grant Funding for Sartell High School Financial Education and Micro-financing Initiative

St. Cloud Federal Credit is proud to announce a $2,500 grant submission to the Minnesota Credit Union Foundation on behalf of Sartell High School was awarded. The credit union also committed to matching the grant if it was awarded; the high school now has $5,000 to fund a financial education program focused on helping people in developing countries.

The social studies department of Sartell High School is now teaching Human Geography to create a lending curriculum to fund student led micro-financing to people in developing countries around the world. The 9th grade students will create development plans for different parts of the world which will be presented to a panel. Finalized plans will result in research for micro-lending opportunities in those areas of the world selected. In turn the students will partner with Kiva, a global non-profit organization that helps people around the world alleviate poverty through small loans.

Sartell High School Teacher Roy Snyder researched and launched the program. Since the project’s inception, he has seen the students gain an immediate increase in financial and world knowledge and issues surrounding poverty, “these are real life stories; the biggest thing I see is empathy and increasing understanding that helping is not about a handout but about a partnership. They are acquiring financial and world knowledge, confidence and skills to develop passion by having to present their findings that result in a real impact,” stated Snyder.

Jed A. Meyer, President and CEO of St. Cloud Federal Credit Union submitted the grant and committed to the matching funds. The credit union created a panel of experts that the students will present to in order to help determine which countries will receive the grant money. “We are really excited about this opportunity to help kids in our community! We care about improving financial education and this program accomplishes that for these 9th grade students. In addition to the students, this program is improving the lives of people around the world and is an awesome opportunity that we are extremely proud to be a part of,” stated Meyer.

Most of the loans granted will be between $50 and $100 and will help the students with lending and collection knowledge in addition to global knowledge of developing countries. The payback of the loans will create a self-perpetuating program to be used by students in future years.

4 Fun, Inexpensive Things to Do in St. Cloud This Summer

Summer is right around the corner— as long as the typically temperamental Minnesota weather mood swings calm down. So what are your plans this summer? Lengthy road trips, summer camps for the kids, and excursions to the Mall of America can get expensive very quickly. If you’re looking for fun, inexpensive activities to do this summer while sticking to your budget, read on.

1. Parks and Rec
Whether you are interested in strolling around, people watching, dog walking, or disc golfing, St. Cloud offers a variety of parks for you to enjoy your time outdoors. In fact, with over 90 recreational parks to choose from, you have a site to suit your every need. Additionally, visit one of our specialty parks; you can learn about local history at the Stearns History Center and Nature Reserve, smell the beautiful roses at Munsinger and Clemens Gardens, canoe along the Beaver Island Trail and Park, or swim in the Quarry Park and Nature Preserve in neighboring Waite Park.

2. Sports, Sports, Sports!
What better way to spend a warm summer night than catching a baseball game with the St. Cloud Rox at Joe Faber Field. St. Cloud also hosts a variety of summer league sports programs such as the Central MN Youth Soccer Association for kids or adult-league softball and volleyball. If you are more fan than athlete, visit the Minnesota Amateur Baseball Hall of Fame.

3. St. Cloud Standbys
Every August, the Benton County Fair arrives to the thrill of St. Cloud natives. With amusement rides, a petting zoo, numerous talent contests, fair food classics, and a beer garden, the Benton County Fair offers a mix of fun and entertainment for everybody. This year, the fair will be hosting, ‘The Wall that Heals,’ a 250 foot traveling replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Don’t miss it!

4. New Classics
Summertime by George at Lake George hosted by the St. Cloud Rotary Club has recently become a summertime classic. Every Wednesday night, Lake George plays host to a free music concert with different local artists every week. Set out a blanket and listen to wonderful music, then visit the craft and food stands with local fare available. This year also marks the 10 year anniversary of the Downtown St. Cloud Art Crawl. With two opportunities to enjoy free art, music, and entertainment, be sure to wander about St. Germain Street on the evening of June 12th and all day August 14th. 

Bonus for Kids A family-oriented town, St. Cloud hosts a variety of kid-friendly activities to enjoy. There are many playgrounds and splash pads around town, such as the River’s Edge Splash Pad, that offer sanctuary on days pushing 100 degrees. The Great River Educational Arts Theatre hosts a children’s theater year round for kids to engage in culture and entertainment on an affordable basis. St. Cloud institutions such as Parkwood Cinema and the Municipal Athletics Complex offer kid-friendly discount days for inexpensive fun for the family.

There are many options all around St. Cloud for you to enjoy a fun, carefree, and budget-friendly summer. Now get out there and enjoy the sun while Minnesota weather allows us!

Four St. Cloud Federal Credit Union Services You May Not Know About

St. Cloud Federal Credit Union provides personal financial care to its loyal members and community partners. We are a not-for-profit credit union that emphasizes building personal and genuine relationships and helping our members get the most out of their finances. Read on for four great St. Cloud Federal Credit Union services that you may not know about.


Free ATM Network

On the go and in need of cash? You should be able to have quick access to your own cash, and with a St. Cloud Federal Credit Union checking account, you can easily take advantage of a free ATM network service through CO-OP Network and the MoneyPass Network. By texting your location to a provided code, you’ll be able to find the nearest surcharge-free ATMs. Make sure to utilize all the available credit union benefits such as making free withdrawals up to $500 a day, transfers, and inquiries with a St. Cloud Credit Debit Card or ATM Cash Card, accessing your primary savings account or checking account 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.


Youth Savings Accounts

Help your kids develop an excellent financial future by helping them create a savings account. The St. Cloud Federal Credit Union has a variety of options for your child to begin saving at any age. They offer valuable benefits that include, but are certainly not limited to providing special incentives for deposits made by children, special gifts when a youth account is opened, a low minimum balance of only $10.00, no fees for monthly maintenance, and free 24 hour account access by phone. Opening a Youth Savings Account will help your child develop healthy financial habits at a young age, and it will help you in the long run as they save for their first car or budget for college.


Payroll Deductions and Direct Deposit

With the benefits of automatic payroll deductions, you can consistently add to your savings account without even thinking about it. It’s as easy as determining what percentage of your paycheck you would like to deduct, and watching the money enter your savings. This will make it much easier to visualize that new car or trip to Aruba that you’ve been saving your hard-earned money for.

St. Cloud Federal Credit Union also offers direct deposit, meaning that on payday, you can avoid the hassle of driving to the bank and waiting in a long line. On payday, you can withdraw cash at an ATM, transfer money and make payments online instantly.

Discounted Tickets

Planning for events for the whole family to enjoy shouldn’t create a huge hole in your bank account. In addition to excellent member services, you can take advantage of the community benefits and score great deals on tickets for the whole family to popular Minnesota summer events like Valleyfair and the Renaissance festival. St. Cloud Federal Credit Union even offers discounted movie tickets to Marcus Parkwood Cinema so that you can see all the latest summer blockbusters at a great value!
Don’t wait to get access to these great St. Cloud Federal Credit Union services!

Skip-A-Loan Proceeds Help Boys and Girls Club of Central MN

This past holiday season, St. Cloud Federal Credit Union offered a Skip-A-Loan service to members. The goal of the service was to provide members with an option to accommodate for extra expenditures revolving around the holidays but give back to the community at the same time. The result was the Skip-A-Loan service. This option allowed members to “skip a loan” payment by paying a $30 fee. St. Cloud Federal Credit Union in return used a portion of that fee to give back to the St. Cloud area community.

The program was a great success. Many members participated in this service to allow for a more flexible budget during the holiday season. From the proceeds of the Skip-A-Loan service, St. Cloud Federal Credit Union was able to donate $2,500 to the Boys and Girls Club of Central MN. This money went towards the rebuilding of the Roosevelt School Gym that burned down last June. The destruction of the Roosevelt School Gym was a devastating loss to the neighboring Boys and Girls Club of Central MN. The loss was felt most by the older kids. Many of the older kids are mostly attracted to the Boys and Girls Club to play organized sports in the gym. Not having an indoor structure for sports made it difficult for the Boys and Girls Club staff to plan organized sports. With the construction of a new gym, the Boys and Girls Club of Central MN will once again have the ability to plan more organized sports.

Below is a picture of St. Cloud Federal Credit Union representatives presenting a check for $2,500 to the Boys and Girls Club of Central MN.

Employees pictured from St. Cloud Federal Credit Union are: Alyce Justin, Jed Meyer, Sarah Mason, and Tammy Butler. Employees pictured from the Boys and Girls Club are: Mark Sakry, Executive Director and Buddy King, Roosevelt Unit Director, along with Roosevelt Boys & Girls Club member

Even though the holidays have come and gone, we encourage our community to continue to reach out to those in need whether it is through financial donations, volunteering, or random acts of kindness.

The St. Cloud Federal Credit Union would like to thank all of the community members for their help in getting the gymnasium rebuilt. We are honored to have taken part in this and would like to thank our members who took part in the Skip-A-Loan program.

For any of your financial needs, feel free to contact one of our friendly representatives at (320) 252-2634.

For more information on the Boys & Girls Club of Central MN, click here http://www.bgcmn.org/

Your Piggy Bank Needs an Upgrade

Don't get us wrong, most piggy banks are absolutely adorable but we all reach a certain time in our life when a piggy bank just isn't enough. Read on to discover why opening a savings account is a good idea. 

Saving Up

Life is unpredictable. There’s no seven day forecast or crystal ball to show you what to expect. Instead, you are forced to walk along the path towards an unforeseeable future. Yet, there is one decision you can make in order to ensure you are prepared for upcoming events: open a savings account.

What is a Savings Account?

To put it simply, a savings account allows consumers to hold their money while also earning interest. However, savings accounts tend to have stricter rules and regulations than other types of accounts. For instance, individuals may only be able to access money from their savings accounts a few times a month. Still, savings accounts offer safe storage for everyone, and all accounts are insured from upwards of $100,000.

Why Should I Get a Savings Account?

Savings accounts provide individuals with a feeling of comfort and safety. In the case of a medical emergency or natural disaster, it is nice to have something to fall back on. Not only does it provide a feeling of relief, but it also accumulates interest as it sits. The longer you leave your money in your account, the larger your account becomes. That means you will have a larger safeguard when the time comes to use it.

How do I get started?

You can begin a savings account easily with $25 or less. After completing your registration you are free to add whatever funds you would like. Some individuals choose to set aside a portion of their paycheck to place into their savings account. Also, work bonuses and tax refunds are both smart decisions to add to your account. Keep in mind your other accounts as well. You cannot access your savings account every day, so it is best not to keep all your money saved up.

At St. Cloud Federal Credit Union, we understand how important it is to prepare for the future. We understand banking can be confusing, and that is why our highly trained staff is ready to help you every step of the way. Stop in today to see what rates we are able to provide for you. With St. Cloud Federal Credit Union, your future looks safe with a ninety-five percent chance of success!

Saying Goodbye to Your Lease and Hello to Your New Home: Where to Start

Thinking of putting your days of renting behind you? Between credit scores, bank accounts, mortgage rates and existing loans, when is the right time to switch from renting to buying? Take these factors into account before saying goodbye to your lease and rest assured your venture into the land of mortgages will be successful.

Understanding your Credit Score

There’s a magic number in the world of mortgages, and it’s called the credit score. If you’re thinking of purchasing, this number is no longer an invisible variable, it’s now a transparent factor in securing the best rate available to you. A mortgage, or the loan acquired to finance the purchase of a house, is likely one of the largest debts that you’ll ever willingly take on and your credit score is a record of your past debts and spending habits used by your financial institution to help determine whether you are financially stable and reliable enough to pay back your loan in monthly installments, typically within 15 to 30 year agreements.

An excellent credit score of 750 points or above will ensure you receive the lowest mortgage rates on the market, costing you less in interest paid over the course of your mortgage, while a credit score ranging between 640-660 leans towards the lower end of the lending spectrum; anything below these scores and your ability to obtain a mortgage may be in jeopardy.

To improve your chances for securing the lowest mortgage rate possible, take a look at your credit score online to verify that you aren’t being penalized for past settled debts and transgressions. Refrain from opening any new credit cards at least a year before applying for financing, as too many open lines of credit will add up to a lower credit score, and may scare off potential lenders.

Consider the “Don’ts”
A few Don’ts to consider: don’t start closing all of your unused credit cards before applying for financing. Closing unused credit cards or transferring credit debt to a new account will lower your credit score and affect your ability to secure the best mortgage rate available. Tempted to purchase that new car you’ve been coveting? Hold off; adding a new loan to the mix or spending your hard earned savings could stave off your chances for acquiring home financing. Skipping or defaulting on any current loans and credit payments will take your credit score down notches as well. Prepare for obtaining a new mortgage by ensuring on-time payments to your open accounts.

Timing is everything
The right time to purchase a new home is when you can comfortably afford a mortgage payment, and not a moment sooner. A rule of thumb to ensure financial stability; home expenses should never exceed more than 28 percent of your monthly income. Committing to a mortgage with constraints that are too tight on your monthly budgets is a recipe for disaster. Until you can afford a mortgage that easily operates within your budget, you are better off renting.

A desirable loan candidate has at a minimum of 3-5 months worth of mortgage payments set aside in a savings account. Make sure you’re depositing a sizable portion of each monthly paycheck to pad your savings account if you plan on purchasing in the near future.

Consider the down payment and loan fees. Your mortgage will end up costing you more than just your monthly payments; you’ll be responsible for down payments and loan fees upfront. Start saving now, you’ll need anywhere from 3 to 20% of the home’s price for your down payment, and roughly $2,000- $4,000 to settle closing costs.

Pre-approval
There’s such a thing as a ‘pre-approval process’ that amounts to extra time spent garnering mortgage financing before you even set out searching for your perfect home, and shopping for the best loan available to you is an integral part of the financing process. Call around to financial institutions in your area for a free, over the phone estimate of the loan you would likely qualify for. Be prepared to offer information regarding your income, assets, and debts. Pre-qualification can help you better understand the price range you’ll be working within when you do set out to check out your potential palace.

Pre-approval requires an appointment with a lending institution and delves into your credit history and current circumstances to potentially offer you a pre-approved loan in good faith, laying out the likely terms of your mortgage agreement in the event that you decide on a home to purchase and opt for a financing agreement with said financial institution. Going through the pre-approval process with several different lending establishments allows you to compare terms among different financial institutions to garner the lowest possible rate on your mortgage.


Dreaming of becoming a new home owner? St. Cloud Federal Credit Union can get you there. We can offer you a stress-free mortgage experience complete with the one on one attention you’re looking for to assist you in better understanding your options and the home buying process. We aim to provide you with the best loan available to you, to not only meet your needs, but exceed your financing expectations. From pre-approval options to indepth information to assist you in your first home buying experience, our mortgage loan department is ready to accompany you on your home-buying journey. Give us a call or stop in to our St. Cloud loan department today.

* Educational topics are meant to provide you general information. Examples are for illustration purposes only and are not specific to St. Cloud Federal Credit Union products.