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ON THE MARKNuMark Credit Union NewsWINTER 2025IN THIS ISSUEGET A JUMP ON THE HOLIDAYS- JOIN THE CHRISTMAS CLUBWREATHS ACROSS AMERICA - THANK YOU!NUMARK NEWS - CU KIND DAY VOLUNTEERINGGIVING TUESDAY GIVEBACK - NORTHERN ILLINOIS FOOD BANKTAKING CARE OF COLLEGE SAVINGS IN THE NEW YEAREARN WHILE YOU SAVE WITH AMONEY MARKETWith the holidays coming to anend, and the arrival of the new year,it’s normal that your mind isbeginning to dream about thewarmer months ahead and howyou’ll spend them. Maybe you’reexcited for a Spring Break trip withyour family, doing some homerenovations, or starting that gardenthat you’ve always wanted. Withthese exciting plans and endlesspossibilities, it’s normal for the one nagging worry on your mind to be the financial aspect of making these things happen. That’s where our Money Market account can help you turn those dreams into reality!You’ve probably seen financial tips online talking about the benefits ofhaving a savings account in the case of emergencies, like weather damageto your home, but savings accounts can be used for a variety of otherreasons. Our Money Market accounts offer the opportunity to keep your money liquid, while earning a competitive interest rate typically higher than a savings account. That means the more you save, the higher your balance (and the sooner you can start renovating or planning that trip). In addition to that, you can withdraw up to six times a statement cycle and have check writing capabilities. Message

loved ones. That’s where our Christmas Club account comes in handy! NuMark’s Christmas Club account is a savings option built specificallyto help you make sure you’re ready for the holiday. Over the year, buildup your balance with direct deposits, so you don’t have to worry about transferring the money into the account. Once October 1st comes along, the balance will automatically be transferred to your Share SavingsAccount, so you are ready to start shopping for the season.Stop into your nearest NuMark branch or give us a call at 815-729-3211to open your account, do more with your money, and still have a bright 2025 holiday season!Federally Insured by NCUA.Thanks to the generosity of our members and staff, we were able to donate $4,964 to the Wreaths Across America Project and sponsor 292 wreaths that were placed at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery on December 14th, 2024. Over the last fourteen years, NuMark has proudly donated and helped raise $49,351 and sponsor 4,879 wreaths! Thank you toeveryone who helped remember and honor our veterans and their families. To learn more, visit wreathsacrossamerica.org.WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA - THANK YOUThe holiday season has come and gone, and now it’s time to look forward to the days growing longer and the weather growing warmer as Spring grows near. But, before you know it, the holidays will be here again, which means you’ll be putting the decorations back up, packing to see out-of-town families, and buying gifts for yourGET A JUMP ON THE HOLIDAYS,JOIN THE CHRISTMAS CLUB!Whether it’s a trip you’ve been wanting to take, that car that you’ve had your eye on, or any large expense that you might need to plan for, havinga Money Market account can help lessen the financial strain it might cause. In addition to our Money Market accounts, NuMark offers a variety of options to help you save, so you can do more with your money.To learn more about our Money Market accounts, visit our website atnumarkcu.org or stop by your nearest branch to speak with one of our experienced staff members.APY=Annual Percentage Yield. Federally insured by NCUA. Rates effective as of December 1, 2024. Ratesand terms subject to change without notice. Interest will be forfeited if the account is closed before monthend. Limited withdrawals. Fees may reduce earnings on accounts.- Cover Article (Continued)

It’s that time of the year when college is on the minds of many olderhigh school students and their parents. Even though it can be fun to goon college tours, and there’s a lot to look forward to when your childrengraduate and pursue their higher education, the financial strain cancause a lot of stress in your life. While there are few ways to avoid yourchild having any college debt, there are ways that you can help to reducesome of that financial strain. Here are some tips for how to save forcollege, so you can ease the financial burden on you and your child:Prepare Your Finances EarlyIt’s never too early to start, but you should be prepared before you do.It’s a good idea that when you’re planning to add to your family, that youtake some steps to prepare before you save for any tuition. It’s important that you have an emergency fund started (someexperts suggest starting with/adding $1,000 to the fund), and that you’ve paid off any debt aside from your mortgage. It can also be helpful to make sure that you’ve saved up to three to six months’ worth of expenses in the emergency fund, before you start a savings account for your child’s future higher education.Scholarships & GrantsThis one might seem obvious, but many people forget that there are more scholarships out there than what’s offered by your child’s college, and educational grants for prospective college students. There are all kinds of scholarships for things outside academics and athletics, like scholarships for minorities, first generation college students, community service, and lots more.As you and your child start discussing and planning for college, take the time to look into scholarships that are offered bylocal organizations. There are a lot of organizations that want to help college students, and this money could be put towards their expenses, so they can focus more on getting their degree and future career.Explore Other Savings OptionsAside from taking out a traditional loan, scholarships, and grants, there are also plenty of other options that will allow you to save up money for education that can be a huge help. There’s a wide variety of savings plans to choose from based on your needs, such as 529 and Coverdell educational savings plans.NuMark wants to make sure you’re making the best decision for you and your loved ones financially. That’s why we haveinvestment experts who can walk you through each option, to make sure you’re confident in the choices you make financially.As a parent, you always want what’s best for your children, and that means providing them with access to the best education you can give them. College is expensive, and the cost of tuition alone continues to rise each year. When you’re planning tostart your family, don’t forget to consider the expenses of college, and that there’s no such thing as too soon. If you’re looking for more options to help with paying for college, NuMark offers a variety of loans and also partners with Sallie Mae to offerprospective students loans for undergrad and graduate degree tuition, along with career training opportunities. Our expertsare more than happy to talk about your goals for your children’s educations, or even your own continued education. Stop by your nearest NuMark branch today or head to numarkcu.org to learn more!TAKING CARE OF COLLEGE SAVINGS IN THE NEW YEAR

WHERE YOU ARE FAMILYContact UsSr. Editors: The NuMark Marketing Dept.Ask@numarkcu.orgHoliday Closings:Martin Luther King, Jr. Day - Monday, Jan. 20Presidents’ Day - Monday, Feb. 17Visit numarkcu.org for branch locations and hours. NUMARK NEWS CU Kind Day - October 14, 2024CU Kind Day was started by the Illinois Credit Union League (ICUL) in 2019to support and spread kindness throughout our communities. It’s a day whenvolunteers at credit unions across the country get together and donate theirtime to local charities, packing food, organizing clothing donations, runningfood drives, and more. This year was the 6th Annual CU Kind Day, and NuMark was proud to take part in the fun this year.NuMark spread its efforts to support three different local communities. One group volunteered at The Bridge Teen Center in Orland Park, where they processed donations of clothes, furniture, home goods and much more, for those in need in the community. The team sorted through 370 bags of donations which equates to 19 students being able to be sponsored for their after school program. The second team of volunteers spent their time at St. Patrick’s Food Pantry in Amboy, sorting food donations and packing a total of 76 meal boxes to feed 76 families in need in the community. The third and final group of NuMark volunteers helped out at DuPage Pads, cleaning up the building grounds, restocking their resource room, washing windows, organizing the Communal Library, and serving lunch to thosein need at the center.If you would like to learn more about these amazing organizations, please visitthebridgeteencenter.org, stpatrickamboy.org/food-pantry, or dupagepads.org.DISCLOSURE: FEE NOTICEFederally Insured by NCUA.Effective March 1, 2025, the fee for International Wires will vary by country.We are happy to share that this year for Giving Tuesday NuMarkhelped raise $3,505 in donations for Northern Illinois Food Bank!Combined with the donation matches from the food bank and severallocal organizations, our contribution equates to $84,120 in nutritiousgroceries for our hungry neighbors!If at any point during the year you would like to donate to the Northern Illinois Food Bank, please visit https://support.solvehungertoday.org/campaign/numark-credit-union/c614633 to make your donation to the NuMark group page.