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Message ON THE MARKNuMark Credit Union NewsSPRING 2025IN THIS ISSUEHOME BUYING DO’S AND DON’TSTHE CREDIT UNIONDIFFERENCENUMARK NEWS -2025 SHRED DAY DATESCREDIT UNION YOUTH MONTH - A SEA OF SAVINGSWELCOME NEW PRESIDENT & CEO - MICHELLE BALOGNuMark Credit Union (NuMark) is excited toannounce that as of April 1, Michelle Balog hastaken over as the new President and CEO.Michelle will be taking over the position followingthe years of leadership under Lloyd Fredendall. Michelle first got involved in the financial industryassisting in the regulatory compliance programat a community bank while in law school. While working there she not only was involved in legal and compliance but also had theopportunity to learn about the operational and sales aspects ofbanking. She also spent a few years practicing law and teachingEthics & Business Law at Xavier University as an adjunct professorin between her time in banking. She then officially joined the credit union movement as the Executive Vice President at NuMark.“A friend from my banking days made the switch some years earlier and thought I would love to work for a credit union,” said Michelle on how she first got involved with the movement. “She referred me to the open position here at NuMark. At first, I thought I would stay for a couple of years and return to banking or private practice.ANNUAL MEETING NOTICEDON’T DRIVE YOURSELF NUTS FINDING A NEW CARArticle continues on the next page...

Needless to say, once you realize the mission of credit unions and ‘people helping people,’ it’s easy to see how so many people have made credit unions their lifetime career.”During her time at NuMark, Michelle not only experienced the 2008 recession and housing crisis, but also managedduring the global COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Both of these events were big learning curves for how to manage branch operations, while also making sure that members’ needs were being met. COVID-19 was an especially difficult time, as the credit union needed to learn how to be agile and change how they do business overnight while meetingmembers’ expectations and keeping members’ and staff healthy and safe. However, regardless of the challengesthat NuMark faced over the years, they knew that working as a team for the good of members allowed the institution to come out stronger on the other side. Putting members of the credit union and its surrounding communities first is a cornerstone of the credit unionmovement. Aside from making sure that member needs are met, and expectations are exceeded, NuMark alsotakes every opportunity possible to get out into the community and help support those in need – something that Michelle greatly values. “I love that NuMark is so generous and caring in our community,” Michelle said when asked about her favorite part of working at NuMark. “As a tribute to our board members who volunteer their time for the credit union, we have worked closely with organizations that serve our veterans, including Wreaths Across America and the Honor Flight Network. We have also worked very closely with organizations that tackle food insecurity and improve theopportunities for individuals in our community. I absolutely love being able to volunteer for these organizationsas part of my work at NuMark.” While NuMark is sad to say goodbye to Lloyd Fredendall and grateful for his tenure, the credit union is excited for thisnew era under Michelle’s leadership. Michelle and the NuMark leadership team have already begun planning for future tech advancements and partnerships to further improve member experience and strengthen our relationship with the surrounding communities. She’s confident in NuMark’s future success in continuing to be a trusted financialpartner for members, and is looking forward to more time working for an organization that she truly believes in. “I am very fortunate to have met so many great coworkers, members and colleagues in the credit union movement over the years and am very fortunate to have been mentored by both Ann Dubie and Lloyd Fredendall, who have set the best possible foundation for our future,” said Michelle. “I am looking forward to working with our board and staff to continue to serve the financial needs of our members and communities and building on what is already a strongorganization. NuMark truly is ‘where you are family.”- Cover Article (Continued)

Spring has arrived, which means that there is likely going to be an uptickin the number of people who are starting to look for a new home. Maybeyour family is growing, and you need more space, or a newlywed couplelooking for your first home together. Either way, there are some do’s anddon’ts that you should keep in mind that can save you some moneyduring the process: Homebuying Do’s • Use a local lender to acquire your loan. While many things can be done online these days, the benefit of working with someone who is local is precisely that – they’re local to your area, and so they know the current market in your area better than someone outside of where you’re looking to move to. • Do remember the phrase “marry the home, date the rate.” Don’t let a higher rate be the sole reason that turns you away from getting a home that you love. Rates can change at any time, and you can always refinance your home in the future for a lower rate when they drop. • If you’re a first-time home buyer, you should escrow your taxes and insurance with your mortgage payment. An escrow account is an arrangement where a third-party (an escrow agent) is responsible for managing funds or assets on behalf of the other parties involved. This account is to ensure that funds are being used for their intended purpose and are only released when specific conditions have been met. While it’s not required for all home buyers, if it’s your first time, you’ll likely need to have to get an escrow account due to your lower downpayment.Homebuying Don’ts • Don’t skip getting a home inspection before buying. We understand you’re excited to get the ball rolling so you can move into your new home but remember that sometimes problems with a home can happen below the surface where a professional might need to inspect. Having a home inspection done before committing to your home will ensure that there are no unseen issues with your home that could be costly to fix in the future. • Don’t pick just anyone to be your Realtor. While there are plenty of real estate agents out there to help you find your new home, not all of them are a great choice. Finding a full-time professional Realtor is a great idea, especially when you’re a first-time home buyer. Some part-time Realtors might not be as eager to really work with you to find a place you really love in the way a full-time Realtor would. • Don’t forget about your credit score! When it comes to getting a pre-approved loan for your new home, your credit score can play a hand in whether or not you are rejected. Check your credit score first before you go to apply. If you find that your credit score is too low, or in an spot that makes you a bit nervous, there is nothing wrong with seeking out advice from professionals, like NuMark’s Mortgage Team, for example, to figure out ways you can improve your credit score so you can get that pre-approval.Looking for a home can be a stressful process, and it’s normal to be overwhelmed by the financial aspect of the experience.It’s important to remember that there are ways to save money while looking to purchase, in addition to grants like theDownpayment Plus Program from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago. Speaking with experts like the Mortgage Teamat NuMark, can also help you learn more about the process, and give you even more tips on what you can do to get the homeof your dreams and reach your fantastic future faster!To learn more about NuMark’s Mortgage services visit our mortgage page on our website or give our mortgage team a callat 815-744-7497.HOME BUYING DO’S AND DON’TS

During the month of April, credit unions in Illinois and across the countrycelebrate National Credit Union Youth Month and National Financial LiteracyMonth! While credit unions take financial education seriously all year long,this month provides us even more opportunities to work with our membersand community partners to promote financial wellness, especially to ouryoungest members.This year’s theme is “A Sea of Savings” because when kids learn about the importance of saving money for the future, they are laying the foundation for financial success!At NuMark, we offer youth accounts to help your young savers learn thefundamentals of smart saving. They can start learning this important skill with our NuSaver Savings Account (kids aged 12 and younger) or a NuDreams Teen Saving/Checking Account (teens aged 13 to 17).To learn more about our youth account offerings and open an accounttoday, visit our youth accounts page on our website or give us a call at815-729-3211.CREDIT UNION YOUTH MONTH - A SEA OF SAVINGS

Being a credit union is something that NuMark is proud of, and we workevery day to uphold the credit union belief of “people helping people.” We’re dedicated to providing our members with the best financial service possibleand providing our surrounding community members with support throughvarious outreach efforts and fundraising.Because we are a financial cooperative that is owned by our members, and because we serve members of specific communities of Chicagoland, wedon’t advertise as widely as bigger corporate-owned banks, which meansthat it’s not unusual for someone to have little to no knowledge of creditunions and what we can do. There are often some misconceptions aroundcredit unions and the services we are able to provide, like that we don’tprovide loan or mortgage services, which is wholly untrue.Credit unions are able to provide members with all the same services thatBig Banks can, often with better rates and more empathy for the membersthat work with us. Since credit unions aren’t owned by shareholders that are given profits by the banks they own, our main focus is to keep our members happy and to make sure they’re able to live their best lives without having to worry too much about finances.Another major difference between the two financial institutions is thatcredit unions put a strong emphasis on the importance of supporting ourmembers and surrounding communities, making it a cornerstone of creditunion operations. Credit unions believe in the power of “people helpingpeople,” and it’s why they were created in the first place – to help underserved and underbanked communities have somewhere secure to keep their finances,while also having access to resources to help them maintain good financial health. This has been statistically backed up, with 89% of credit unionmembers saying their respective institutions have improved their financialwellbeing*. Our “people first” mentality also means that we spend manyhours volunteering for local organizations, like the Northern Illinois FoodBank or Wreaths Across America to name a couple, as well as providingfinancial support for them through fundraising and donations.NuMark has been serving its communities for over 70 years, providingfinancial products and services to our members, and providing supportand resources to our surrounding communities. It’s something that we’repassionate about and continually work to improve upon, so that we can give you the best experience possible when you stop by a branch or are usingour online and mobile banking. We’re grateful for all the support that we’ve received over the years from our members and community partners and are looking forward to many more years of being able to serve you all.THE CREDIT UNION DIFFERENCEMission Statement:Working to enrich the financial lives of our members.Vision Statement:To be a lifelong trusted financial partner, turning dreams into reality.*Source: America’s Credit Union (ACU).

Summer will be here before you know it, and you’ve probably already started thinking about all the fun activities you have planned, like road trips with your family or friends. You might even be realizing that you could benefit from getting a newcar to be ready for those trips, or that it’s just the time for a change.It’s not unusual if even the thought of looking for a new car starts to stress you out, because dealerships can sometimesovercomplicate the process. At NuMark, we don’t think that getting a car should be a stressful experience. That’s why wewanted to give you some tips to keep in mind while you’re shopping for that new vehicle that can help ease that financialburden:Build a BudgetThe first thing to do when planning to buy a new vehicle is to plan out a budget. Be sure that you’re considering all costs. There is more to purchasing a car financially than just what the listed price is, like the regular maintenance work, gas, insurance fees, and the other aspects that come with ownership. Once you’ve accounted for all those expenses, you can have a clearer idea of how much financial responsibility you can take on, and help you determine a monthly payment that’s realistic for you. Inaddition to planning your budget, another thing to consider doing before you start shopping is to get preapproved for a loan. While it might be tempting to go through with a dealership loan, they may have higher interest rates than your chosen financial institution. Getting pre-approval can help you avoid the chance of being upsold by the dealership because you already know your budget, and you can feel more in control.Research & CompareYou can’t go shopping for a car before first figuring out what kind of car you want. Do you want an SUV for taking your children to after-school activities, or a small sedan for your commute to work? Are you trying to get a brand-new car off the lot, or are you content with purchasing a pre-driven vehicle? Before shopping, narrow down your choices to maybe 2 or 3 vehicles that have the features you’re looking for, so you can have a more focused experience. If you don’t have an idea of which car you want, you could increase the chance of being upsold for a more expensive make or model that doesn’t fit into your budget. When comparing different cars, be sure you’re checking out the features that you prioritize and look at a few differentdealerships to compare their prices (this will also help you later in the process). While it might seem tempting to get thenewest, nicest model of a vehicle, it’s sometimes more logical (and budget-friendly) to get a pre-driven vehicle to save some money on monthly payments. The same goes for optional additional features. That sunroof or heated seats might sound nice, they might not be necessary at this time and could be a “dream” feature that you save up for when it’s time to purchase a new car again.Necessary NegotiationsAlthough it’s not entirely unusual that the salesperson you work with at the dealership might be hoping that you have littleto no knowledge of the process, they also are expecting there to be some negotiating during the experience as well. Whileyou might be someone who’s uncomfortable with pushing back or confrontation, negotiating is an important part of buyinga vehicle that can help prevent you from paying for more than what the vehicle is actually worth.Negotiations are why researching and comparing prices between dealerships ahead of time is so important. If the salesperson is trying to give you a higher monthly payment estimate, you have prices from competitors already on hand to bring attention to, meaning they’d be more likely to lower the price to make the sale. It’s important while negotiating that you are being polite and firm with your stance, and also to remember that as the consumer, you have the power to decide that you’re not getting the deal you want or deserve, and to walk away. There are a lot more cars out there, including more of the same make and model that you want.Before you goPurchasing a new car is a big decision, and it can be easy to get overwhelmed by the process. With all the hoops thatdealerships might make you jump through to get the best rate, you could find yourself accepting a rate that you normally wouldn’t just because you were worn down by the salespeople. Buying a car shouldn’t be so difficult, which is why NuMarkis currently offering auto loan rates that help you do more with your money. Click here to see our current loan rates.Our NuMark experts are always happy to take the time and sit with you to discuss your financial goals, and make sure that you’re getting the best deals for you with large purchases like vehicles. Don’t be afraid to stop by your nearest branch, or call 815-729-3211, to learn more and start getting to your fantastic future faster!DON’T DRIVE YOURSELF NUTS FINDING A NEW CAR

WHERE YOU ARE FAMILYContact UsSr. Editors: The NuMark Marketing Dept.Ask@numarkcu.orgHoliday Closings:Memorial Day - Monday, May 26Juneteenth - Thursday, June 19Independence Day - Friday, July 4Visit numarkcu.org for branch locations and hours. NUMARK NEWS Federally Insured by NCUA.2025 Shred DaysShredding old personal information is a great way toprevent identity theft. We are happy to announce thatwe have partnered with Document Destruction LLC to bring back our Shred Days again for 2025!Watch your documents get destroyed before your eyes! Click here for a list of which items to keep and which ones to shred. YOU CAN BRING UP TO TWO BOXES OF PAPERS & ELECTRONICS.* *Closed bags and boxes with lids only. Tube televisions, clothor metal items, glass, monitors and clothing are not accepted.Saturday, April 26thWarrenville Branch3S555 Winfield Rd.9:00am-11:45amSaturday, May 17thCountryside Branch9809 W. 55th St.9:00am-11:45amSaturday, June 7thCrest Hill Branch2380 Caton Farm Rd.9:00am-11:45amSaturday, August 9thSublette Branch303 S. Pennsylvania Avenue9:00am-11:45amSaturday, July 19thTinley Park Branch8001 W. 159th Street9:00am-11:45amNUMARK ANNUAL MEETINGThe Annual Meeting for our members for the election of directors and other business will be held at Ashbury’s at Boughton Ridge, 335 E Boughton Rd, Bolingbrook, IL 60440 on Tuesday, April 29th at 4:00 p.m. Members are encouraged to attend. Refreshments will be provided.SAVE THE DATE