FoxFacts Newsletter
Welcome to Free Money Day
Auto Expert Tip: Never Let a Dealership Run Your Credit
July 2023
Student Loan Programs
Annual Percentage Yield*
We’ll pay you 5.00% on your balance up to $5,000 each month!
We’ll pay you back for any ATM fees each month! Up to $15**
There’s no minimum balance requirements and no fees – we simply pay you Free Money on the last day of every month. What will you do with your Free Money?
foxcu.org/foxrewards
*APY=Annual Percentage Yield, accurate as of 6/12/2023. To earn disclosed 5.00% APY, you must meet monthly qualifications and have a balance up to $5,000; the balance portion above $5,000 earns 0.50% APY. The dividend rate and APYs may change at any time. Dividends are calculated and accrued daily based on Fox Rewards Checking balance tier and if Monthly Qualification requirements are met. Monthly Qualification Cycle requirements are: (1) $500 or more direct deposit, automatic payment, or a combination, (2) enroll in Online Banking and elect to receive eStatements with a valid email address, (3) 15 Fox Communities Credit Union (Fox) debit card, Fox credit card or a combination of qualifying purchase transactions that post and settle during Monthly Qualification Cycle. Restrictions apply. If Monthly Qualification Cycle requirements are not met earnings reduce to 0.01% APY on account balance, and domestic debit card ATM fee refunds will not apply. For additional information, contact Fox. Limit of one Fox Rewards Checking per tax-reported owner. Membership required. **Fox will refund up to $15 in domestic debit card ATM fees if Monthly Qualification requirements are met during the Monthly Qualification Cycle.
Federally Insured by NCUA.
For those who have read my stories, you know they usually involve my experiences with our Fox members. Here’s my latest. I recently had a member call about refinancing their current auto loan. They informed me that they tried to do it in January, but their credit score wasn’t high enough to justify a refinance at that time, as his rate wasn’t going to improve.
Now, I’m not going to sugar coat this — I wasn’t very optimistic that we would be able to help him quickly. It takes time to improve a credit score enough to drop rates significantly. But I ended up being pleasantly surprised as this member brought their credit score up over 100 points in a short amount of time, proving that good coaching, hard work, and determination can work wonders. We were able to bring their rate down from 12.9% to 6.99%, saving the member quite a bit of money.
But that’s still not the most important aspect of this story for all of you to take away. During our conversations, I learned that while shopping around for vehicles, the member was letting dealers pull their credit to determine what they’d qualify for. This is a terrible idea! All the extra pulls only hurt your credit score.
So, if you’re going vehicle shopping, call Fox first and let one of our experts take a look at your credit and advise you on budgeting. Don’t let the dealers control this, as they are just interested in selling you a vehicle, not in your long-term finances.
I can’t wait to help! Contact me today.
school this fall? Are they planning on future education and need help funding their school expenses? We can help with low interest fixed and variable private student loans!*
For those who have already started or finished their higher education journey, we also offer refinancing for private or federal loans. We’ll help you find the best term for your budget. foxcu.org/student-loans
*Fox Communities Credit Union (Fox) private student loan program is offered through a partnership with CURevl and is not a federal student loan program. You may qualify for Federal student financial assistance, please visit studentaid.gov for additional information. Fox’s private student loans are subject to credit qualifications, loan amount, student’s enrollment in a participating school, and underwriting criteria. See a Fox Loan Officer for details or visit your local branch. Deposit products offered by Fox are Federally Insured by NCUA.
We’re excited to announce that we’re getting a new website to make it more intuitive, more helpful, more resourceful, and – put simply –all-around better.
Checking
Fraudsters Using Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Scam Calls
Our Fraud Expert, Heidi Kiecker, shares today’s top local scam to be on the alert for.
Reports have come in regarding scammers using AI technology to mimic the voices of the relatives of credit union members throughout eastern Wisconsin, claiming various emergencies in which the credit union member needs to send their “loved one” money in the form of wire transfers, cryptocurrency, gift cards, or other hard to track means.
foxcu.org/ai-scam-calls
A Successful Bike Collection
Free Webinar - ‘Drive Away Happy: Car Buying Decisions’
Buying a car can be overwhelming with all the decisions to make: new or used; buy or lease; zero percent financing or rebate (not to mention what color to pick). Webinar participants will learn tips and tricks to have the best car shopping experience possible, while also making wise financing decisions.
Tuesday, July 11 12:30 - 1:30pm
Thursday, July 20 7:30 - 8:30pm
foxcu.org/car-buying-decisions-webinar
While not a webinar, we also offer a radio show on this same topic. Tune into 1150 WHBY on July 10, 11:00 - Noon.
*Webinars are offered exclusively by BALANCE, a California based non-profit organization. Please note that when you register for a BALANCE webinar, you will be directed to a site not operated by Fox Communities Credit Union (Fox). Fox is not responsible for the security or content of the BALANCE site. The presentation is intended for educational purposes only and does not replace independent professional advice. Statements and opinions are those of the presenter individually and not necessarily the opinion or position of Fox. Fox is not an affiliate of BALANCE Financial Fitness. Loans subject to credit approval.
Matching Donation Challenge!
To help the Foundation reach their $50,000 goal, we will match all donations, up to $25,000, through August 13.
COLLECTION
We could not have asked for a better response to our first-ever Pedal It Forward bike drive. Thanks to you all, we collected almost 100 bikes to donate to Golden House, Harbor House, Riverview Gardens, and St. Vincent de Paul Appleton.
Jessica Somers-Lee, Director of Community Engagement, St. Vincent de Paul Appleton. As part of her thank you note to us, she stated, “Bikes are a hot commodity at St. Vincent de Paul Appleton. So far in 2023, we have vouchered out for free 50 bikes to individuals in need of transportation to and from work. The bikes we received from your bike drive will allow several neighbors in need to get their ride on this summer!”
Online & Mobile Banking Menu Updates
Starting July 24, you will notice a new menu navigation. It’ll enhance user experience with quick access to key features.
Bike to the Beat is Only
Our match in 2022 raised over $45,000. So far in 2023, the Foundation has been able to grant over $76,000 to local nonprofits whose mission is to help the hungry, the homeless, or provide access to the arts throughout the communities we serve.
Please consider supporting the Foundation with your personal and/or business contribution. Together we can continue to make our communities strong!
Want to support the Foundation in a different way? Join Swing Fore Fox Sake on July 24!
It’s time to get ready for Bike to the Beat, happening Saturday, August 5!
Have you secured your spot for this family friendly bike ride? You won’t want to miss out on all the live music, local food and beverages, and fun! Register at biketothebeat.com
Biking not your thing, but you still want in on the fun? Volunteer to help hand out food and beverages at Bike to the Beat. You’ll get to pal around with awesome people while helping out an amazing cause. Check out biketothebeat.com/volunteers to see what open opportunities fit your liking.
The annual Swing Fore Fox Sake, a charity golf outing supporting the Fox Cares Foundation* and its mission of fighting hunger, ending homelessness, and providing access to the arts, takes place on Monday, July 24, at Fox Valley Golf Club in Kaukauna.
Visit foxcares.org to learn more about the Foundation, secure your spot at Swing Fore Fox Sake, and/or donate to have your funds matched by Fox Communities Credit Union.
*Fox Cares Foundation, Inc. is a Wisconsin nonprofit corporation with 501(c)(3) status effective June 21, 2016. Fox Cares can make no representation with regard to deductibility of any contribution. Please speak with your tax advisor regarding the tax implications of any charitable contribution to Fox Cares Foundation, Inc. While Fox Communities Credit Union actively supports Fox Cares Foundation, Inc. the entities are neither legal affiliates nor subsidiaries of each other.
Thank you all for voting!
