The Christmas decorations are already up, but we’re not done being thankful. We have some great people who celebrated anniversaries in November we want to celebrate.
If you want to be one of the people celebrating next year, check out our careers page.
Waunaversary Celebrants
Brianna Malcolm – 12 years What is your current position? I am a Virtual Teller Consultant. Whenever you call, I’m one of the happy voices I answer phones when you call any of the branches, or our customer service number. I also am one of the representatives you may see on one of our new Virtual Teller Units. They’re in Warrenton, Astoria, Clatskanie, and Long Beach right now, and coming soon everywhere else.
Brianna loves that she can bring her family to WCU events
What is something that working at WCU has taught you?
How to listen to what our members really telling us, not just the specific words they use. We were all trained in The Member Advantage (TMA). which teaches us to use AIDiNC to really listen.
If you could choose one new hobby what would it be? Going camping/riding with family at least once a month. This would involve traveling as far as I wanted or whenever I wanted exploring new places.
Jeremy Grover – 4 years
Jeremy was kind enough to sit down with us earlier in the month with his manager Chris to chat about their job at the credit union. Listen to their WaunaTalk episode at https://waunafcu.org/blog/waunatalk-with-chris-and-jeremy/
Jeremy joined CEO Robert Blumberg at the opening of our Long Beach Office
Mark Crandall – 3 years What is your current position? I work for our Mortgage Team. First and foremost I help people throughout Columbia and Washington County find the mortgage that’s right for them. I also work with vendors to help ensure we have the offer mortgage products and rates we can.
What is something that working at WCU has taught you? It’s taught to me to look at the larger picture and listen to our members to understand their needs. I’ve worked at larger institutions and it’s all about
Mark and his horse Joey
getting the details and sending it off. Now I’m listening more to their motivation, and matching it up to the products, and by having that complete product mix really opens the possibilities.
If you could choose one new hobby what would it be? We recently bought a property in North Plains with a small barn for our horses on it. I’d really like to expand the barn, and open to other people to go riding, especially to to people who haven’t had the opportunity to experience riding.
Stuff Your Stocking
Reward yourself this holiday season with our
Wauna Credit Union VISA Rewards card!
Double* rewards points for purchases made in November and December.
Triple* rewards points for purchases on Nov. 22-26 & Dec. 22-26.
New accounts receive 5,000 rewards points.
*Members using their Wauna Credit Union VISA Rewards Credit Card
will earn Double Rewards Points (2-Two Rewards Points for each $1
purchase posted to their account) between November 1 and
December 31, 2018. Members will also earn Triple Rewards Points
(3-Three Reward Points for each $1 purchase posted to their account)
for qualifying purchases made on these dates: November 23 (Black
Friday); November 24 (Shop Local Saturday); November 26
(Cyber-Monday); December 21-24; and, December 26 (Day after
Christmas). New VISA Reward Credit Card accounts opened
November 1-30, 2018, qualify for 5,000 Immediate Rewards Points,
and are eligible for the Double and Triple Rewards Points special offer.
Membership with Wauna Credit Union required. Rewards Points are
non-transferrable. Complete promotion details available at
waunafcu.org. This special offer ends December 31, 2018.
Wauna Credit Union
Apply 24/7
waunafcu.org
800-773-3236
NCUA
Your savings federally insured to at least $250,000 and backed by the full faith and credit of the United States Government
National Credit Union Administration, a U.S. Government Agency
What’s Down Your Chimney?
Something special for our members, a home equity line of credit?
At Wauna Credit Union, home of the Strong Mortgage
Need some extra spending money to make the season merry?
A personal or lifestyle loan might be just the thing Santa ordered!
Join us for another great edition of WaunaTalk. Hannah Woodbury loves working at Wauna Credit Union so much she’s thinking of changing the pronunciation of her first name so she can be Hauna from Wauna.
Hannah talks about our involvement in the community, financial education, and most importantly, staying on top of your spending.
Chris and Jeremy aren’t models, but they do model all the best that Wuana Credit Union has to offer. Listen to this edition of WaunaTalk to find out more about the work that goes into making a credit union run smoothly.
As your credit union, we want to help you make the most of your time and money during the holidays while keeping your financial information safe and secure. Smart shopping strategies can also keep your finances from going “into the red” on Black Friday.
This, the busiest shopping day of the year, signals the start of the holiday shopping season — and it promises to be robust. With low unemployment and increased consumer confidence, the National Retail Federation reports that Americans are expected to increase spending by 4.5 percent over last year, shelling out an average of $1,007 this holiday season.
Even if you don’t plan to spend thousands of those hard-earned dollars, the following tips will help you find the best bang for your buck, encourage safe shopping habits, and keep your finances going from black to red when shopping for deals and holiday steals.
Preparation is key:
Use a budget—and stick to it. Decide ahead of time how much you want to spend on your Black Friday shopping spree and do your best to resist impulse buying — especially if you’re not sure how good a specific deal is. Black Friday sales, including door-buster specials, are designed to get you into a store so that the retailer can sell you something else.
Make a list. The holidays are an exciting time, and it can be easy to get carried away. Making a list might keep you from buying something that’s beyond your budget.
Start early. You can no longer count on checking the ads in the Sunday paper to get the best deals. To judge how good a sale may be, you’ll need to track the deals leading up to Black Friday and Cyber Monday, too.
Know before you go. Study the ads — in print and online — the weekend before Thanksgiving.
Check one of the Black Friday websites. You’ll find tons of leaked Black Friday ads like net and blackfriday.gottadeal.com.
Gather your tools:
Use tech to comparison shop. You don’t have to go retailer-by-retailer to compare prices. Try Google Shopping and services like NexTag. Apps such as ShopSavvy and Shopkick let you scan bar codes or QR codes to compare prices, get discounts, and score coupons.
Check the retailers’ apps. Many Black Friday sites have their own apps but so do the big guys like Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart. Amazon’s app, for example, lets you use a smartphone camera to scan products and price-shop online.
Use loyalty programs. Stores with loyalty programs may offer sales and promotions to their members first, then let them earn rewards on what they buy. Black Friday shopping alerts can get you first dibs on promotions, coupons, and discounts.
Get social. The Facebook pages and Twitter feeds of your favorite retailers are a great way to find out about deals and promotions. Retailers will often reward customers who like or follow them with special alerts to Black Friday discounts and incentives.
Check the store’s policies. Almost all of the major retailers have some form of price-match policy, but some stores might suspend their price-match guarantees during the Black Friday weekend on certain items, so read the fine print.
Other money-saving options:
Try an older model. When buying electronics, consider older versions that may have been the latest and greatest just a few months ago.
Track your spending. Review your account statements, pay bills regularly, and monitor your accounts through online banking.
Use your talents. Give a homemade gift of baked goods, mason jar mixes, or art. Homemade gifts can cost a fraction of a similar item from a store.
Use Credit Card Reward Programs. Consider a WCU VISA Rewards card and earn big, big points. You’re spending money regardless, so give yourself something in return and save $$ on a lower interest rate over the big banks.
Strategies to safeguard your credit and debit card purchases:
At the store…
At the cash register, protect your PIN by blocking the keypad from the view of cashiers or other customers.
Some non-metal keypads have heat sensors that are active for several minutes. Infrared cameras on smartphones can be used to obtain your PIN. We suggest resting your fingers on other keys as you enter your PIN. May seem silly, but better safe than sorry.
When shopping online…
Do not use public wireless networks for online purchases.
Shop on trusted sites with https:// in the URL. Be sure an icon with a lock appears to the left. The “s” stands for “secure” and indicates communication with a site that is encrypted.
Type the merchant’s address directly into your browser; avoid links.
Use complicated passwords with at least eight characters. Include numbers, special characters, and upper- and lower-case numbers.
Keep the operating system, antivirus, and security software updated on your computers and mobile devices.
Set yourself up for success:
Use our online account monitoring service through U-Banking and report any suspicious activity to us right away.
Keep a list of all card account numbers in a safe place, so you can report it immediately if they are lost or stolen.
We recommend that you don’t store your payment information on shopping sites or shopping apps.
Increase your account security by linking your debit card to a secondary account rather than your main account. Or, opt to use credit cards exclusively for purchases.
The gift of a brighter financial future
Give yourself the gift of a brighter financial future this holiday season. Take education classes or look for low interest loans to help you achieve your financial dreams in the coming year. Stop by a branch or visit us online for possibilities. With the safety and security of Wauna Credit Union at your back, this is sure to be a wonderful holiday season!
We continue our visit to Clatskanie, with a chat with another one of the great MCs that make the branch tick. Jeannie is a life-long Clatskanie resident and loves helping the people she grew up with better their financial situation.
This edition of WaunaTalk features a lot of conversation about credit, as well as what it takes to have a smile for every member.
The team at the Clatskanie Financial Center always has a smile for everybody who walks in the door. Today Heidi, an MC in Clatskanie talks to us about the fun they have at the branch, and how that fun helps us serve our members.
Listen to the most recent edition of WaunaTalk, and learn more about managing your credit, and the things working at a credit union will teach you about your finances.
The Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection recently put out a guide for military veterans and souses to raise awareness on common tactics used to scam you out of pensions benefits. Read the guide below
Scammers are targeting the aid and attendance benefit, which is an increased monthly pension for veterans or their surviving spouses who are eligible for a VA pension and need help with activities of daily living, are bedridden, are patients in a nursing home, or have certain vision limitations.
Look out for:
Offers to file an application to get you benefits or increase your pension for a fee
Claims to get you benefits faster for a fee
Advice to move your money so you’ll qualify for benefits
How to apply safely:
It’s free to apply. Call (800) 827-1000 for information.
Report scams targeting your aid and attendance benefit to the FTC at ftc.gov/complaint.
Bureau of ConsumerFinancial Protection
While many people think of October as a scary month, we at Wauna couldn’t believe more differently. Why’s that you ask? It’s because of all the amazing people celebrating anniversaries this month. You might say it’s scary how good they all are.
If you want to be one of the people celebrating next year, check out our careers page.
Waunaversary Celebrants
Sharon Borgardt – 24 years What is your current position? I’m the Chief Human Resources Officer at the credit union. I oversee the HR Dept and all functions relating to hiring, employee promotions, benefits administration, employment law compliance and HR strategies to help us attract and retain outstanding employees. Also, I’m a member of the Executive Team, and work to carry out our credit union strategies. Our employees are very valuable assets here at Wauna. I am honored to have a role in ensuring that Wauna is an incredible place to work. I feel it is important to provide career opportunities and to celebrate our employees’ successes.
Those who know Sharon know that she has a soft spot for dogs and cats. Here she is with Great Pyrnees rescue Mica.
What is something that working at WCU has taught you?
I cannot say that this was something I learned only at Wauna, but it is something I practice with passion. When faced with difficult interactions with others, it is imperative to have a high level of empathy, understanding and kindness toward everyone involved. I strive to practice this at work and in my personal life. And I am proud to say that I see this in the way our employees treat our members, too.
If you could choose one new hobby what would it be? Is becoming a world traveler a hobby? It sure would be exciting, especially if I had my own private jet! But on a more realistic note, one day when I have more free time I will take up painting again (if I am not too busy traveling!).
Kailynn Fischer – 6 years
What is your current position?
I am a training specialist II, my job is to help employees reach their career goals by training them in everything from delivering top-notch member service to opening accounts, lending and everything in between.
What is something that working at WCU has taught you?
Working at Wauna has taught me the importance setting goals. I keep my immediate goals, and even my five and ten year goals written down and review them on a regular basis with my supervisor. Having them written down at my desk keeps them fresh in my mind and sharing them with someone helps to keep me accountable. It is something that is really encouraged here at Wauna and something that has been instrumental in my success.
If you could choose one new hobby what would it be?
A hobby I would love to have is diving! I went scuba diving for the first time earlier this year on a trip to Thailand and now I’m hooked. I’ve always loved being in the water but being able to explore it from that depth is a totally different and surreal experience. I would love to explore so many of the breathtaking dive sites all over the world!
Kailynn’s lifetime love of water recently brought her below the surface
Marti Gwin – 2 years What is your current position? I’m the Compliance Manager. I have a great team that consists of our Compliance Specialist and two team members in the Cash Intensive Business Department which services our cannabis business members. My job is to ensure that we stay compliant with regulations and laws governing the services we offer. The primary way we do this is through our policies and procedures and through training. The Compliance Department works closely with all other departments in the credit union to keep them informed of compliance requirements and to help answer compliance questions.
What is something that working at WCU has taught you? Working at Wauna has taught me about how great the credit union movement is. People that work for credit unions love to give back to the communities they are in and genuinely love their members.
If you could choose one new hobby what would it be? Well I actually just started taking guitar lessons one evening a week after work. My fingers are still very sore! Another thing I’ve been thinking about is horseback riding lessons. I used to do take riding lessons for years but it has been over 25 years since my last riding lesson.
Marti and members of the team recently wore plaid to support the backpack program
Sarah Jones – 1 year What is your current position? I’m a Compliance Specialist. I get to serve our internal members and the credit union by providing guidance and making sure we are compliant with current rules and regulations. Our members trust the credit union to keep their money safe and secure, and compliance is an important part of that.
Sarah and her husband Jason enjoy Maui
What is something that working at WCU has taught you?
It’s all about teamwork! The Compliance Department is involved is all areas of the credit union, so we have to have good communication among all of the departments, including our own. We have an amazing team of employees who work great together!
If you could choose one new hobby what would it be? If I lived on a warm, tropical island I would like to try surfing. But since I live here in the PNW, I would take up kayaking and paddle boarding.
Riley Woodall – 1 year What is your current position? I am a Member Consultant in the Vernonia branch! I am here to make sure our members are taken care of to the fullest of my abilities. I have never imagined myself pursuing a career like this but here I am and I am loving every second of it. I so look forward to furthering my career with Wauna!
Riley just recently discovered her love of travel
What is something that working at WCU has taught you? Since working at Wauna I have learned SO much! One of the big things is to believe in yourself, and have the confidence to step out of your comfort zone. I recently did that and traveled to Hawaii. I have never been a big traveler unless we could go by car, so needless to say it was out of my comfort zone! Before I started here I never would have believed I could do something like this , but now that I have, I will continue pushing myself to do and try more!
If you could choose one new hobby what would it be? I’d like to pick up a rec sport! I loved sports in high school but stopped after graduation. I’m also interested in trying my hand at pottery or sculpting.
Joe Talamantez joins us on Wauna Talk today. After years of working in Mortgage in Clatsop County, Joe hopped across the river to lead our efforts in Pacific County.
Joe talks about his career history, and what working at WCU means to him. He also talks about the importance of Pacific County for the credit union’s future.
As your credit union, we want to help you make the most of your time and money during the holidays while keeping your financial information safe and secure. Smart shopping strategies can also keep your finances from going “into the red” on Black Friday.
