Monday, June 29, 2009

Maine vacations are filled with fun, without emptying your wallet

School is out and summer is here, now it’s time to relax and take a vacation! But with rising gas prices and today’s economy, taking a trip can be hard on your wallet. So why go broke taking a vacation out of state? People travel from all across the country to vacation in Maine! Why spend your summer going somewhere else when there are plenty of things to do right here! Maine offers everything from sailing in Bar Harbor to shopping in Portland and Kittery, with everything in between. So whether your ideal vacation is shopping, laying on the beach, white water rafting or visiting amusement parks Maine has something for everyone without ruining your budget.

Maine’s credit unions offer over 200 ATMs as part of the SurF network, and many are part of the Shared Branch Network. So, you know that you will never have to pay a four dollar surcharge fee to use an ATM, or have to wait till you get home to access your account. With access to branches and ATMs throughout the state you know that whether you’re antiquing in Belfast, waterskiing in Naples, hiking in Acadia National Park or visiting the Wildlife Park in Gray, there’s always a credit union there to help you save your money. So why go elsewhere? After all, Maine is Vacationland.

Monday, June 15, 2009

A lot goes into having your first job, Maine credit unions are here to help.

Starting your first job is equal parts daunting and exhilarating; you think about everything from what you have to wear, to what time you need to wake up in the morning. There are some things that you don’t always think about, though. Things like needing an account in case your job requires direct deposit, or making sure you have enough money saved if you happen to have car trouble.

Then there are numerous problems that can occur. What if you need to make it to the bank one day, but it closes before you can get there, or your bank is charging you for several fees? That’s when being a member of a credit union becomes helpful. You will have an account already set up for direct deposits, and with many credit unions a member of SURF and Shared Branching, you have access to over 200 ATMs and over 100 credit union locations throughout the state. And because credit unions tend to have lower interest rates, getting a car loan is easy, ensuring that you always have transportation. The transition from school to your first job is exciting, and being a credit union member helps make the transition a smooth one.

Friday, June 5, 2009

Recent college grad finds that Maine credit unions offer more when entering the ‘real world’

After four long years of staying up drinking coffee and RedBull like it’s your job to finish those last minute term papers, a new group of college graduates are released from the safe confines of college campuses to the real world. Just when you thought life would get easier we are faced with the economic problems of the world today. From the struggle of finding a job, to having to move back in with your parents, money is a big issue. From where to get it, to how to save it; college graduates just know that they want it, now.

Looking back, I realize that college would have been a lot easier if I had used a credit union that had Shared Branching, allowing me to access more than 200 ATMs throughout the state, instead of my small local bank that was three hours away nine months of the year. But like many college students I didn’t even know there was a difference between a credit union and a bank. I hadn’t considered what would happen after graduation, or how I was going to manage my money; I was more concerned about passing my classes, hanging out with friends and being obsessed with checking Facebook every minute of the day.

Now that I am done with school, reality has set in. With the price of apartment rentals and car insurance weighing on my mind, I’m wondering how I will start to pay off my school loans in a few months, in addition to rent, food, and other daily expenses. This has helped me to appreciate the difference being a CU member makes. Credit Unions have lower fees and lower interest rates on loans than most banks; with loan types ranging from personal to credit card, this makes affording the things I need easier. Maine credit unions are owned and organized by its members, not shareholders making money off of my account.