Simply Invaluable! MEMBER NEWS & INFORMATION FEBRUARY 2016

Credit Score Cheat Sheet - Five Tips for a perfect score – Bryan Flores, Vice President PUT A FREEZE Consumer Lending ON YOUR CAR Your credit score is important when PAYMENTS! applying for a , but you’ll also likely NO PAYMENTS undergo a credit check when you rent FOR 3 MONTHS! an apartment, apply Rates as low as for an insurance policy, • Finance the purchase of a new or set up utilities in your home. Employers % or used vehicle may even review your credit before offering APR(1) 1.89 Refinance an existing auto loan you a job! • 60 month term from another lender Bottom line: Your credit score is viewed Make no payments for 3 months as a marker of your overall financial • responsibility. Here’s how to score an A+: APPLY TODAY! Stop by your local branch or online: 1. Payment history. Make payments on www.sikorskycu.org/loanapp time every month. Late payments are a negative. The later the payment, the more points you lose. 2. Credit utilization. Don’t max out your credit limit, even if you plan to pay off the ® bill every month. Some scoring models like NEW VISA CHIP-ENABLED to see 30% or less of your available credit DEBIT CARDS COMING SOON! used each month. 3. Credit history. The longer you own a , the more it improves your score Exciting News! If you currently have (provided you pay it off every month). a Checking Account and a debit card When you receive your new VISA debit card, 4. Credit use. Scoring models look at how with us, you will soon receive a new be sure to update your information with: many forms of credit you have (credit cards, chip-enabled debit card with an 1. Billers who automatically charge your auto, mortgage, utilities, etc.) and how well added layer of security. Keep in mind: card regularly. you manage them. 1. Your debit card number, expiration 2. If you have preset accounts set up for 5. New credit. It’s okay to apply for a credit date and 3-digit security code WILL online purchases. card, but if you apply for several at the same change. time, it may be an indication you’re using Important! Activate your new debit card 2. Your PIN WILL NOT change. one to pay off others and that could be and destroy your old card immediately. looked at as a negative. 3. To activate your new debit card, Your old card will be deactivated make a PIN-based transaction at approximately 15 days after you receive Request a free annual credit report yearly an ATM or Point of Sale terminal. your new card. from each of the three major credit bureaus Learn more at: www.sikorskycu.org/chipcard at www.AnnualCreditReport.com – Bryan (1) APR = Annual Percentage Rate. Payment deferment loan promotion applies to autos financed through Sikorsky . Deferment will occur in the first 3 months and interest will accrue during the deferment period. The first payment must be received upon completion of the 3 month “no payment” period. The initial payment(s) made on the loan will be applied first to accrued but unpaid finance charges before being applied to principal. Rates reflect a .25% discount for automatic payments from a Sikorsky Credit Union account. Available for qualified borrowers only, subject to credit approval. Offer is not available for existing Sikorsky Credit Union . Rates are subject to change without notice. Rates may range from 1.89% to 14.49%. A payment example for a $15,000 new/used auto loan for 60 months with an APR of 1.89% is approximately $262.20 per month. The 3-month deferred payment option will end February 29, 2016.

STRATFORD • MILFORD • SHELTON • SEYMOUR • DANBURY • www.SikorskyCU.org

Federally Insured by NCUA. © Sikorsky Financial Credit Union, Inc. 2/16

Freezing in FINANCIAL February? FREEDOM STARTS HERE. Forget about bundling up to go to the branch - use Online and Mobile Banking! Register for and download our app to use Mobile ADVANTAGE MORTGAGE Banking on your phone. It’s easy and RATES AS LOW AS: secure. No snow boots required! Sign up for our free online % REFINANCE & RELAX! service today! 8 yr. 2.59 APR(1) • Pay off your mortgage faster www.sikorskycu.org/ebanking and live mortgage-free % • No closing costs, points, 12 yr. 2.99 APR(1) or appraisal fees $25,000 - $250,000 loan amount. Rates are low & it’s easy to apply: Only a $499 Application Fee. Stop in any branch office, or online: Need to borrow more than $250,000? Just ask! www.sikorskycu.org/freedom

We’re Open: Presidents’ Day (1) APR = Annual Percentage Rate. Nonrefundable Application Fee of $499 is required. Finance up to 80% of the value of your home. Payment example Monday, February 15, 2016 for an 8 year fixed rate $100,000 loan with an APR of 2.59% is repayable in 96 monthly payments of $1,154.43. Payment example for a 12 year fixed rate $100,000 loan with an APR of 2.99% is repayable in 144 monthly payments of $827.32. Taxes and insurance are not included in payment example. This program is only for refinancing eligible single family, owner occupied dwellings in Connecticut. Rate is determined by your credit history. Rates are subject to change without notice. Terms and conditions apply. APR may be slightly higher based on amount of prepaid interest collected at closing (which is determined by your closing date). Together we can make it happen. IN THE COMMUNITY I welcome the opportunity to learn Career Day at Bunnell High School about your unique goals and needs. Together we can create a strategy We recently visited Bunnell High School for designed to help guide you along a “Career Day” event where we had the opportunity to talk to students about a career the path toward financial well-being. in Marketing. It was a rewarding experience to share our knowledge and possibly help – John R. Morris someone realize their career focus. Financial Consultant 1000 Oronoque Lane High School Interns give a Lesson in Stratford, CT 06614 “Credit Union 101” Phone: (203) 383-7404 How is a Credit Union Different from a Bank? Fax: (203) 378-7214 That question was answered at a recent visit e-mail: [email protected] to Stratford High School. We were invited to talk to students in Christina Rusate’s Personal Finance classes. They were learning about “Financial Services”, and what you need to know when choosing where to bank. The focus John Morris is a registered representative with, and securities offered was a “Credit Union 101” overview with a side through LPL Financial, member FINRA/SIPC. Insurance products offered discussion about checking accounts. Three of our Interns, who also are Stratford High through LPL Financial or its licensed affiliates, Sikorsky Financial Credit School students, assisted with the presentation. The Interns related their experience Union and Sikorsky Financial Services Group are not registered about the topics; they all did a wonderful job! broker/dealers nor affiliates of LPL Financial. Not NCUA Insured Not Credit Union Guaranteed May Lose Value

Stratford ...... 1000 Oronoque Lane (203) 377-2252 Milford ...... 15 Turnpike Square (Post Road) (203) 876-3370 www.SikorskyCU.org Shelton ...... 711 Bridgeport Avenue (next to Sears) (203) 929-2004 or call 1 (888) 753-5553 Seymour ...... 253 West Street/Route 67 (203) 881-0550 Danbury ...... 345 Main Street (203) 743-3891