ON THE MARKNuMark Credit Union NewsWINTER 2023IN THIS ISSUETIPS FOR AUTO PURCHASING IN 2023DEBIT CARDS ISSUED ON THE SPOT - COMING SOON!IS 2023 THE YEAR TOPURCHASE OR REFINANCE?NUMARK NEWSTIPS FOR AUTO PURCHASING IN 2023STRATEGIES & WAYSTO SAVEWREATHS ACROSS AMERICA - THANK YOUWhether you are thinking of buying a new car straight o a lot, a certified pre-owned vehicle or even an auto from someone you know, doing some research on the buying process and sticking to a budget is very important. Before you head out to look, here are a few things that you should keep in mind that will help you feel better prepared. Know your budget Think through how you would like to pay for your car. Do you plan to make monthly payments or one full payment? It is best to know what you can aord before going to the dealership. When you know what you can finance, you are better able to negotiate the best deal for you.Find the right vehicle Do your research! Look into the value of the car you are interested in on multiple sites, especially if it is not new or certified pre-owned. If you’re looking at a newer model that is out of your budget, look for an older model. Sometimes the dierence is something you can look past, andyou could end up with a better deal. Know your credit score If you’re not sure what your credit score may be, reach out to us.We can help you find out your score without aecting it. If you havea higher credit score, the easier it is to get approved for a car loan. - Article continues on the next pageAVOIDING ATM FEESNEW NUMARK HOURS
Is 10 days a long time to wait for your new debit card to arrive? We think so! Soon you will be able to stop into any of our oces and a new card will be issued to you within minutes. No more waiting for a new or replacement debit card. Have time to wait? You will still have the option to receive debit cards through the mail. Watch for details at numarkcu.org. The price of gas, the price of food, the price of just about everything seems to be rising. It may seem as though trying to save money right now feels impossible. Here are tips to help you build your savings, rather than eating into them.Pay yourself first – Make it a habit to put money asideevery paycheck. Whether it be $5, $10 or more, whatever you can aord and put that money in a savings account or a higher rate CD. This will help you build an emergency fund in case that you need it.Avoid unnecessary fees – Making your payments on time, not overspending or overdrawing your accounts, andfinding ATM’s that don’t charge a fee; these are allstrategies that will help you save.Learn to limit yourself – While it might be awesome to have that new TV, ask yourself if it is something that is a true necessity? Try to focus on your needs rather than your wants. You can always start savings to get that TV later down the road.At NuMark we would love to help you reach your savings goals and help you do more with your money. Give us a call at 815-729-3211 or visit us online at numarkcu.org.- Cover Article (Continued)If you happen to have a lower credit score, we can help you get to where you need to be. Get a preapproved loan When you are preapproved, it helps you set your budget, simplifies the buying process and often you will get a better deal. It will help you get the best interest rate possible and be able to complete the buying process with confidence. Look for deals Be on the lookout for special rates that might be available. Dealerships can also have promotional rates and trade-in rebates that you will want to research before you buy.Always know that you have the option to refinance ifneeded.Whether you are looking to purchase a new or pre-driven vehicle or save on your current vehicle loan, NuMark can help you do more with your money. Give us a call at815-729-3211 or visit us online at numarkcu.org.DEBIT CARDS ISSUED ON THE SPOT Thanks to the generosity of our members and sta, we were able to donate $6,780 to the Wreaths Across America Project andsponsor 678 wreaths that were placed at AbrahamSTRATEGIES & WAYSTO SAVE WREATHS ACROSSAMERICA - THANK YOULincoln National Cemetery on December 17th. Over the last eleven years, NuMark has proudly donated $38,614 and sponsored 3,951 wreaths! Thank you toeveryone who helped remember and honor our veterans and their families. To learn more, visit wreathsacrossamerica.org.
Q. Will 2023 be my year to buy, or should I wait?H. Every time you think the economy is bad, there are often opportunities. For instance, after COVID, things wereuncertain, but those who purchased homes found they came out ahead because of the deals available. If you have all your finances in order, now is the time to buy. Keep in mind purchasing a home is a long-term investment and there are always ebbs and flows in the market. Q. Is it a good to do a Cash-Out Refinance if you are a current homeowner?H. It depends. You may increase your rate, but if you are paying o high interest debt, that savings will o-set a higher mortgage rate. We can help you do the math to make sure a refinance benefits you.Do you have more questions for Harry?Harry and our mortgage experts will be happy to help!Call 815-744-7497. Ready to start right away? Applynow at numarkcu.org. We look forward to helping youdo more with your money!*Equal Housing Opportunity Lender. Not all borrowers will qualify.That’s a great question. We reached out to Harry Stewart, our Vice President of Mortgage Services, to get hisperspective. For over 26 years, Harry has helpedthousands of people become homeowners. Q. What is the biggest thing people need to know if they want to buy a house next year?H. Make sure that you are working with professionals who have experience working in a complex market, so you can make the right decisions for your situation. You also need a professional Realtor who focuses on real-estate full-time, so they will be ready to pounce on a deal for you.Q. Are mortgage rates good?H. I get this question a lot. Mortgage rates are higher,but they are still historically low. Rates have been verylow for a long time, but it is normal for rates to rise and fall.Q. Will there be homes to buy in 2023?H. I think so. People who have low-rate mortgages will probably not be anxious to sell, but there are always homes on the market. Buyers may have more choices now than they did a few months ago. The higher interest rates have normalized the frenzied seller’s market, so the competition has lessened. Q. If I’m renting now, are there things I should consider? H. If you are paying rent, that is like paying 100% interest every month. You are missing the opportunity to buildequity and personal wealth. Plus, rent prices are increasing. If buying a home is your goal, we can help you get there. Q. What can I do to better my position as a first-timehomebuyer in 2023?H. There are a few do’s and don’ts. You do need to make sure that your credit is good, you have saved enough for the down payment, and you have a budget that will withstand the extra expenses that come with a new home. You don’t want to quit or change jobs or take out additional debt.IS 2023 THE YEAR TO PURCHASE OR REFINANCE?Lincoln National Cemetery on December 17th. Over the last eleven years, NuMark has proudly donated $38,614 and sponsored 3,951 wreaths! Thank you toeveryone who helped remember and honor our veterans and their families. To learn more, visit wreathsacrossamerica.org.
included things like toothbrushes, soap, socks, coloring books, stued animals, and other helpful/comforting items they might need while here in The United States. Being able to provide these children with these backpacks will hopefully make their time here a little bit easier and oer a smile when they open them up to see what goodies are inside.The Illinois Credit Union League also hosted a Packs of Love packing event for their CU Kind Day service activity. Together, 200 backpacks were donated and will be dropped o with the Selfreliance Association and distributed to the Ukrainian refugee children.WHERE YOU ARE FAMILYAt NuMark, we want to help you do more with your money and that includes avoiding ATM fees. As a NuMark member, you have access to over 56,000 surcharge-free ATMs worldwide. Look for the Allpoint and CO-OP Network logos. To find a surcharge-free ATM near you, search locations on our mobile app or at numarkcu.org.Use your NuMark debit card anywhere VISA is accepted. However, if you use an out-of-network ATM, there is a $2.50 fee. Plus, the ATM owner is likely to charge a fee. If you need cash and you do not see a surcharge-free ATM nearby, consider using your PIN and getting cash back with a point-of-sale purchase.AVOIDING ATM FEESContact UsSr. Editors: The NuMark Marketing Dept.Ask@numarkcu.orgHoliday Closings:Martin Luther King, Jr. Day - Monday, Jan. 16Presidents’ Day - Monday, Feb. 20Visit numarkcu.org for branch locations and hours. NUMARK NEWS CU Kind Day - Packs of LoveIn celebration of the third annual CU Kind Day,the Illinois Credit Union League (ICUL) calledupon all Illinois credit unions to roll up theirsleeves and give back to the communities they serve. By participating in CU Kind Day, we aimedto show our communities how “people helping people” is at the heart of the credit unionmovement.NuMark Credit Union sta participated in thisday of kindness by dedicating their time assembling 100 backpacks for young refugee children arriving to the Chicagoland area from Ukraine. Items to fill these backpacks were donated by sta and NuMark Credit Union oces all participated in packing events for this day and packed 100 backpacks to donate!NEW NUMARK OFFICE HOURSThe new hours displayed here will be eective March 1, 2023 for all NuMark locations and Contact Centers: Lobby & DriveMonday 8:30 AM - 5:00 PMTuesday 8:30 AM - 5:00 PMWednesday 8:30 AM - 5:00 PMThursday 8:30 AM - 5:00 PMFriday 8:30 AM - 5:30 PMSaturday 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM