Tag: wauna credit union

BillPay Is Now (finally) In Online Banking! Learn More…

computer hugger billpayFor nearly a year, Wauna Credit Union staffers have been hard at work collaborating with our core processor to put our BillPay service right inside our Online Banking. It sounds simple when you say it, sure, and with all the big “fintech”, aka financial technology, advances we hear about almost daily in the news, a Single Sign-On BillPay seems like small potatoes, but really, it’s not!

BillPay is an amazing service that allows users to pay bills automatically, but not just to say regular monthly bills, one time payments can use bill pay, users can pay a co-worker for lunch, or send money to a broke nephew on a road trip.

For a long time, members of Wauna Credit Union would log-in to Online Banking, and then to utilize BillPay they would have to log-in to their BillPay account. To allow BillPay to be right inside Online Banking took months of updates, negotiations, programming, and a little bit of luck. It finally launched in Mid-November – without a hitch!

Now that we have it, and we know it works, The Wonderful World Of Wauna turned to two of our BillPay experts Debi Smiley, Chief Marketing Officer, and Jennifer Kenney, Operations Support Manager, to get some answers about the service, how it has changed, and its benefits.debismiley1jenniferkenney

Would you explain the benefit of the single sign on? 

Debi Smiley: The Single Sign-On (SSO) provides two benefits, convenience and security.  It allows for a member to log into various services with the convenience of one log in.  This mitigates the need to manage a large number of passwords.  It is also a much simpler process which adds a layer of convenience to the user.  It also reduces exposure to the risks of data loss.  Users can trust going through the WCU web site.

What has changed within the new Billpay?

Jennifer Kenney: A member with who had a bill pay profile before, will have the same profile – just the access is different. Members will no longer need a second login for bill pay, the Bill Pay link will remain the same and will now open a window within the Online banking system with bill pay screens that the members will recognize.

Members will no longer need to go through the same enrollment process.  In Online banking, they will click the Bill Pay link and they will be verified and be taken to the screen to set up their payments.

What are your favorite things about using billpay? 

Debi Smiley: Again, it is all about time and cost savings.  It only takes seconds to send off a bill where it would take much more time to do it the old traditional way of writing a check, filling out the envelope, putting all the information needed in the envelope, putting the stamp on it, and placing it in the mail.  With Bill Pay, you find the company you want to pay, enter the dollar amount, click submit, verify, and you’re done.  It is quite easy and fast.  The top reasons I like Bill Pay is:

  1. Convenience & Time Savings
  2. Security
  3. I control the who, how much, and when
  4. It keeps track of everything.  The history is right there to look things up quickly when/if I need it.

What’s an interesting feature of Billpay that users may not be aware of?

Jennifer Kenney: Billpay payments can be processed from a members account electronically (ACH) or via Check. (That means if a check needs to be mailed, Billpay does it for you!)

Now that Single Sign-On is available for Billpay, and maybe you learned a bit more about the service, consider signing up. Try one or two bills to start, and if you like it, add a few more each month. Soon you’ll wonder how you ever got along without Billpay!

All Credit Card Users – Enjoy the Gift of 1.5% APR* thru Jan 2017!

Have you seem our new VISA Credit Card special? It’s our gift to you!

New & current VISA Credit Card holders are getting a great gift from Wauna CU this year! It’s a 1.5% APR* on all new purchases and balance transfers from now thru the end of January 2017.VISA-shoppingbag-Adproof-Final2Current Credit Card users: You don’t need to do anything – but use your card that is – the savings is automatic, there is nothing to sign up for.

New Credit Card applicants: Benefit from this 1.5% apr now, and starting Feb. 1, 2017, you’ll still enjoy months of our introductory rate of 2.99%!

Apply for a credit card today! https://waunafcu.org/loans/credit-cards.shtml

Calculate Your Savings: http://calcubot.com/calcubots/740

Rewards VISA users: When you use our VISA Rewards card from now until the end of January, you’ll receive DOUBLE Reward points when you shop in person, and TRIPLE Reward points when you shop online.

Do not let this amazing offer pass by!

 *APR: Annual Percentage Rate. During the special promotional period, Wauna Credit Union VISA cardholders will receive a Promotional Interest Rate of 1.50% APR for new purchases and balance transfers posted to their account through January 31, 2017. The promotional 1.50% APR will begin on the credit card transaction date(s) during the promotion period, and remain in effect through the June 27, 2017 credit card billing cycle, at which time the cardholder’s regular Credit Card Account Agreement terms will apply. As of November 14, 2016, the Wauna CU VISA credit card APR range was between 8.90% – 18.00%). Some restrictions apply. Cardholders may not transfer balances from other accounts issued by Wauna Credit Union, or any amount of debt to their account that would cause their balance to exceed the account credit limit. All business credit cards are excluded. VISA Rewards cardholders will earn Double Rewards Points for purchases conducted in person, and Triple Rewards Points for purchases conducted online through January 31, 2017. Promotion details available at waunafcu.org. Membership with Wauna Credit Union is required. This special Promotion ends January 31, 2017.

Bill Pay moving to Single Sign-On – Now in Online Banking!

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Bill Pay is now one step easier to access!

Great News!

Beginning November 16, 2016, Bill Pay users will no longer be required to use an extra Login procedure to access the Wauna Credit Union Bill Pay service!

Instead, on that date, Bill Pay users will simply login to their personal Online Banking page — and then click the Bill Pay service option (located in the left-side menu bar).  That’s it!

Important Note:

Any “Favorites” bookmarks created in an Internet browser (to access the Bill Pay service login page) will no longer connect users to Bill Pay. Instead, simply change the bookmark to the Wauna Credit Union website address and then access Bill Pay directly through the Online Banking service.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Wauna Credit Union representatives during regular business hours.

 

PLEASE NOTE: We have been running tests on the new Billpay for some time, please be patient if there are any minor issues when we go live on the 16th. Thank You!

Wauna Credit Union

PRESS: Committed To Coaching – Trainer creates advisers, advocates, leaders, and ambassadors among staff

Danea Press CU Magazine

(See the original article here: http://news.cuna.org/articles/111029-committed-to-coaching?platform=hootsuite)

Some people just know how to create their own destiny.

Danea Passmore, for instance, started her career with Wauna Federal Credit Union, Clatskanie, Ore., as an on-call teller.

Within a year she was promoted to full-time teller and then operations manager. Today, as vice president of training, she runs her own department.

When Passmore took on the role of part-time trainer several years ago, the management team noticed her drive, determination, and dedication.

“She was so committed to the credit union movement and our members and employees that she spent months networking and meeting with other credit union trainers and business partners, looking for the right training model,” says John Moore, chief sales officer for the $175 million asset credit union.

Under Passmore’s direction, each employee has gone through a seven-week training program on sales and service, and leaders have been trained on effective coaching.

Each new employee spends the first two weeks of employment being trained in the credit union’s culture and approach to member service.

“Wauna Federal is an amazing place to work and I love having the opportunity to train employees so they can be successful,” Passmore says. “I am honored to help our employees grow from where they are to where they want to be.”

Passmore believes in training employees to be advisers and advocates, leaders and ambassadors. She is passionate about hiring for the right attitude first, and then providing the necessary training and support.

As a result, members will stay loyal to the credit union because of its employees.

“What we do within our four walls is create a member experience,” says Moore. “But our job doesn’t end there. Our involvement within the communities we serve, where we champion the credit union difference, is equally important.

“Danea is heavily involved in supporting causes and serving as a leader in community programs,” he continues. “She has a life and light about her that drives us all to be better at what we do and who we are.”

EMPLOYEE OF THE QUARTER: Jacob Humphries, IT Systems Admin

jacob-circleJacob  Humphries is our reigning Employee of the Quarter (EOQ), and it’s no surprise given his expertise in all matters technological.

The Wonderful World Of Wauna caught up with our busy tech guru to get some questions answered. It shouldn’t really be a surprise that most of his answers were very short – except the one about video games – A techie to the core!

If you happen to see Jacob in a branch, be sure to say hi!

Name: Jacob W Humphries

Title: Systems Administrator II

How long have you worked at WCU? Little over 2 Years

What do you do at Wauna CU? If it uses electricity, I make sure it keeps doing so…

Where are you from, what did you do before you came to work here? I’m from Astoria, Ive been doing IT since the 90s

What is the best thing about working here? Each of the employees, We have an awesome Wauna family

Favorite color, why? Green, I enjoy nature!

Favorite food? Ice Cream, It’s a food, right?

Zodiac sign? Taurus

What do you do when you aren’t at work? I have 2 energetic kids so there is little time left for hobbies, but when I do have time, I build and race multirotor drones.

What is your favorite Wauna CU product or service? Why? Mobile banking, I use it more than any other service.

Last good movie you saw? Star Trek Beyond

Last good book you read? ‘It’s Your Ship’ by Captain D Michael Abrashoff

Favorite video game? I was a Halo fan until they killed off Master Chief at the end of the third game. I packed away the Xbox never to touch a game console again. I like Battlefield and Star Wars Battlefront on PC.  My favorite game of all time was Day of Defeat. It was a WW1 FPS game on the PC, Axis vs Allies. There was a third team called spectators which you could join to just view the game as if you were a ghost. We found a way to join the spectator team right after being killed and drop from the sky holding the last gun that was in your hands prior to your death. Since there was no player model for the spectator, Allies would see the Spectator as an Allie and Axis saw the same spectator as being in Axis Clothes, Each team would think we were on their team. When a Spectator would capture a flag or hold a control point, the game would just remove said flag, Thus ending the normal game play completely as nobody could get the flag after it was gone. If they ever killed one of us, we would just drop from the sky once more the moment we got shot. We would get into a server, stop the normal game, then hide in buildings and shoot anyone who got too close. Soon Axis and Allies were cooperating to find us and end the madness, Since we always looked like a friendly soldier and never an enemy, this created distrust amongst the real players and they would shoot each other as the whole game devolved into anarchy. Think Cylons of WW1.

Are all tech people sci-fi geeks? Not all but to succeed in tech one should be capable of imagining where tech might be in the future in order to foresee the innovations one can make.

 

The Clatskanie Sign Returns From Its Makeover!

New Clatskanie Signs Mark another Milestone in the Wauna CU Branch Remodel

Wauna CU’s Clatskanie branch had some Special deliveries recently! The monument sign that sits atop a Sphinx-like brick structure has returned with a new, modern face. A new Wauna logo sign appears atop the front door entrance of the branch, AND a brand new LCD display was affixed to the building, ready to share the time, weather and great information to all passersby!

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The Clatskanie branch has been going through a major renovation since April of this year and is finally nearing completion. Phase 4, which includes the second floor operations and administration areas, will soon be finished to accommodate our growing organization and give staff a more modern facility to work in.

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The updated outdoor signage is just another leap in this process. Earlier we launched our new “Financial Center” for members, and out staff was given additional training to allow them to help the member from the beginning to the end of their transaction – whether it’s a simple deposit or a home loan, our Member Consultants are ready, willing and able to assist.

Stay tuned for news on our Grand Re-opening coming this fall!

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Wauna Credit Union Proudly Supports Local Backpack Program

Backpack-Check2016
Wauna Credit Union officials, church members, and volunteers hold the giant check for the Backpack Program

Recently, Wauna Credit Union celebrated a successful staff fundraiser with the presentation of a giant check. The check for $6486.42 was presented to the Clatskanie Baptist Church for the Backpack Program they organized at several local schools. While every organization Wauna Credit Union staff votes to fund-raise for does amazing work, the Backpack Program was especially close to many of our hearts.

The Backpack Program helps fight childhood hunger in America by supplying children in need with a backpack of prepared, or easy to prepare food, to sustain them over the weekend. Many children in America must rely on free school lunch and breakfast programs in order to eat on a daily basis, so this can make for a long and painful weekend if they live in a home without enough food. It is terribly sad to think about and abhorrent in a nation such as America.

Wauna Credit Union’s Jenifer Katon nominated the cause. She found out about the program and the great work they were doing, and was disheartened to learn there was a waiting list for kids. The waiting list meant that all the children in need would line up on Fridays and organizers would hand out as many bags as they could, this left many children walking away empty handed!

Jenifer decided the Backpack Program needed to benefit from our fundraising immediately, so instead of the money accruing in an account, she gave it out as it came in. Almost immediately, all children were off the waiting list so no one had to go home empty handed. Then, the program was able to expand to another school and another.

In total, the program was able to serve 5 local schools, and give out thousands of meals to children through the last school year, and even into the upcoming one! It was a huge boost for all of us on the Wauna Credit Union staff to hear how the program was growing and serving more and more children in Clatskanie and St Helens each month.

Of course our staff benefitted too through the many raffles that offered cash, sports tickets, and even a beach weekend getaway with the beach house donated for the cause by the amazing folks at Paulson Printing. There was an auction, payroll deductions, “Jeans Days”, and plenty of in branch candy sales, which helped everyone’s sweet tooth, members and staff alike.

Oftentimes members will buy a chocolate bar or a lollipop as a quick snack or in support of “the cause”, but without understanding what that cause even is or where that money is really going. Everyone who gave into the craving for a chocolate pretzel or other treat should be proud of themselves that the pretzel they munched on helped a hungry child to eat on the weekend. Thanks to all who support our staff fundraisers, they do so much more than you realize.

If you want to volunteer or donate money to the Backpack Program, please contact The Clatskanie Baptist Church.

Ways to Financially Prepare Before College, Or Smart College Budgeting

college_nerdwallert_blog

No matter your major, you can graduate from college with an honorary degree in personal finance by paying attention to where your money is coming from and where it’s going.

Here’s how to get started:

Set a budget

Start by identifying the income sources you’ll have in college, such as wages from a part-time job, scholarships and financial aid. Then estimate how much you’ll be spending. You can probably ballpark costs such as tuition, room and board, school supplies, laundry and transportation.

You should also allocate some money for discretionary spending, such as food outside your meal plan and entertainment. Consider limiting these expenses with a weekly allowance.

Your budget can show you when you need to cut back on spending and when you can afford a treat. If you need help, try an online tool like Mint.com.

Apply for the right financial aid

There are two main types of student loans: federal and private. It makes sense to borrow as much as you can in federal loans before resorting to private ones, because federal loans generally have lower interest rates and broader repayment options.

Fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, to get federal loans and see if you qualify for need-based aid, including grants, work-study and some scholarships.

Do your best to figure out how much you’ll need before you take out loans, whether they’re from the government or a private lender. Either way, you’re on the hook to repay them, so borrow only what you have to.

Manage credit cards responsibly

Credit cards can be tricky, particularly if you’ve never had one. They’re useful tools for building a credit history — but they’re also fraught with danger if you overextend yourself.

To get the greatest benefit out of a credit card, use it wisely. That means paying off your balance in full each month to improve your credit score and avoid costly interest charges.

It helps to view your credit card as you do your debit card: You can’t spend what you don’t have. Speaking of debit cards, make sure you don’t authorize your banking institution to charge an overdraft fee if you inadvertently withdraw more money than you have in your account.

If you want a credit or debit card, consider getting one from a nonprofit, member-owned credit union like Wauna Credit Union. These financial institutions generally offer lower interest rates and fees than traditional banks.

Take advantage of your student status

Many major companies offer student discounts. Among them: Amazon, Apple, Microsoft and Banana Republic. If you’re hoping to make a purchase and the merchant hasn’t advertised a student discount, there’s no harm in asking.

You can also save money on textbooks by buying used copies from websites such as Abebooks and Chegg.

A degree doesn’t guarantee you a great-paying job. But college graduates still generally out-earn people without degrees, according to a 2014 report by the Pew Research Center.

And this much is certain: Developing smart budgeting and spending habits in college will continue to pay off long after you graduate.

Peter Lewis, NerdWallet

© Copyright 2016 NerdWallet, Inc. All Rights Reserved

*Thanks to our friends at NerdWallet for this informative guest blog!

EVENT: Groundbreaking at future Long Beach WA Mortgage Origination Office, Aug. 4, 2016

PRESS: Purchasing a home in Pacific County: Mortgage Origination Office offers lending avenues

MOOinCRBJCoast River Business Journal Reports On New Mortgage Office On Long Beach Peninsula

Debi Smiley, Wauna CU COO, with Long Beach Fire Chief Matt Bonney at the groundbreaking ceremony.
Debi Smiley, Wauna CU COO, with Long Beach Fire Chief Matt Bonney at the groundbreaking ceremony.

LONG BEACH — Pacific County residents looking to purchase real estate will have a new financing option on the Peninsula in September. Wauna Credit Union, based in Clatskanie, is opening a Mortgage Origination Office at 910 Pacific Avenue in Long Beach. There was a groundbreaking ceremony Aug. 4. Completion is tentatively slated for late September.

“The purpose is to meet the mortgage financing needs of the area,” said Debi Smiley, chief operations officer for Wauna Credit Union, “Mortgage/Real Estate Lending will be the initial services rendered.”

Growing demand for Pacific County property

The new mortgage financing office will serve a growing demand for Pacific County real estate.

“Recently it was brought to our attention by local real estate Agents that there was a growing demand for Real Estate Lending in Pacific County,” Smiley said. A feasibility study was conducted and the results reflected that the number of real estate transactions has significantly increased during the past 5 years and continue to climb annually.

“This reflects a strong demand for Real Estate financing,” Smiley explained, “We believe WCU can assist in meeting this need,” said Smiley adding that WCU has served Pacific County since July of 2012.

A growing enterprise

“It is our goal to provide a service that assists individuals in purchasing the home of their dreams,” she summed. WCU has braches offices in Astoria, Clatskanie, St. Helens, Scappoose, Vernonia, and Warrenton, Oregon with total assets exceeding $200 million.

“Total Membership exceeds 22,000 members including more than 600 in Pacific County, and employs more than 100 local employees,” according to Mike Chapman, WCU vice president of marketing. “WCU officials partnered with local businesses for our construction needs including Rickenbach Construction, Inc. (RCI), of Astoria, Oregon. RCI was selected as the general contractor for the Long Beach project and recently-built branches in Warrenton, St Helens, and the current remodel of the Clatskanie Branch.”