Those looking to buy a personal car should consider purchasing a repossessed vehicle. Those who are in the market to buy a repossessed car will find that there are many resources to check into when looking. The internet is full of listings that generally are categorized by a particular area; this eliminates finding cars that are too far to travel to buy.

Repossessed vehicles for sale often enable consumers to find the vehicles they are looking for at prices they can afford.  Most vehicles found for sale are in decent and ready to drive away shape, and most cars are serviced before being sold.

Individuals in the market for a decent used vehicle may be surprised by both the prices and selection of repossessed vehicles, and may be able to find anything from a family type vehicle to their child’s first car.

Repo Cars Guide (2012)
Retrieved February 6, 2012 from: http://www.repocarsguide.com/

Check out vehicles for sale by First Castle FCU.

Federally Insured by the NCUA.

We will have a collection box in our lobby until the close of business on Wednesday, February 29th.

Suggested Donation Items:

• Pasta
• Rice
• Dry Red Beans
• Peanut Butter
• Jelly
• Tomato Sauce/Spaghetti Sauce
• Canned Tuna and Meat
• Canned Vegetables
• Whole Grain Cereals
• Soup
• Macaroni & Cheese

If you are able, please come out and support the NRP and the Food Bank!

While shopping for others, you earned points every time you used your First Castle FCU debit card or credit card to make a purchase, and you deserve to be rewarded! Want airline tickets, gift cards, or the latest electronics? You can choose from a wide variety of options.

Redeeming your Uchoose points is easy, all you have to do is log in to your Uchoose account to view your point balance and see all of the rewards options available to you.

If you haven’t yet signed up for Uchoose, all you have to do is go to www.uchooserewards.com and enter in your debit card number, and it’s that easy! Click here for more information.

Thank you for choosing First Castle FCU.

Automate Your Paycheck
Set up Direct Deposit with your employer, and your paycheck will go directly into your account.  You will not have to worry about rushing into the branch to deposit your check, nor will you have to wait for your funds to become available.  If your employer provides direct deposit, they will need your account number and our routing number, 265075883. 

Automate Your Payments
Schedule transfers to automatically move your money however you wish. You can set up a transfer to your Christmas Club Account, Money Market, or even to someone else’s account (like your child’s account). You can also schedule your loan payments in advance and ensure that you never miss a payment.

Let Us Pay the Bills
Keep up with your bills and avoid late fees by using our online bill pay. Simply log into your online account, enter merchant information and payment dates, and we will take care of the rest.  Save on the cost of stamps, as well as the hassle of remembering to pay your bills on time.

Go Green – Sign up for Estatements
Simply login to your online banking account to sign up for Estatements, and we will send your monthly statement to your preferred email address.

• Our mascot “Dinero” was excited to be a part of the Castle Kids Parade at the Army Corps in New Orleans.

• Our V.P. of Lending and Director of Marketing addressed the Seniors of Mandeville High School about credit awareness and gave out specially-designed “Got Credit?” t-shirts.

• We proudly displayed the historic Covington High School bell in our Covington lobby, and hosted a social to spread the word.

• We became more social with Facebook and Twitter.  Here are a few of our favorite posts:

“I saved some money on FTD flowers for my mother’s b-day. This is a pretty cool service.” (Regarding our Relationship Rewards Program)

“We would like to thank First Castle FCU for their sponsorship of Friends Fest!”

“I love my Rewards! First Castle is the best”

• Bank Transfer Day brought awareness to the benefits of credit unions.  As a result, many people moved their money from banks to credit unions.

• We enjoyed being a part of several great community events this year, including: the Annual Kids’ Day Expo, YMCA’s Healthy Kids Day, Lakeview Hospital’s Boo Fest, St. Tammany Parish Hospital’s Monster Mash, YMCA’s Senior Day, St. Tammany Parish Hospital’s Benefits Fair, Habitat for Humanity’s Heroes Run 5k, The West St. Tammany Parish Chamber of Commerce’s Business Expo, Mandeville High School’s Project Graduation, the USACE’s Engineer’s Day Picnic, Pineview Middle School’s Fall Festival, and many more!

It was a big year, and we have some even bigger things in store for 2012! Happy New Year!

We can help you plan ahead for unexpected, expensive repairs by providing you with an extended warranty:

• If your auto loan is financed through us, we can provide you with a plan at no up-front cost; your monthly payment amount will stay the same.
• If your auto loan is paid off or financed elsewhere, we can provide an affordable monthly payment plan.
• All of our plans include rental coverage while your vehicle is repaired, 24 hour Roadside Assistance, Towing Service, Locksmith Service, and more!

Save big money and get peace-of-mind protection for your vehicle and your wallet!

Call us today for more information at (985) 867-8867.

• Retiring or applying for federal benefits soon? Be ready.  You must choose your preferred electronic payment option when you apply to receive federal benefit payments from the Social Security Administration, Veterans Affairs, Railroad Retirement Board, Office of Personnel Management or Department of Labor (Black Lung). Click here to find out what information you will need.

• If you are already receiving federal benefits by paper check, be prepared and make the switch today! You must make the switch from paper federal benefit checks to electronic payments by March 1, 2013. Click here to learn more or sign up now.

If you do not choose an electronic payment option by March 1, 2013, or at the time you apply for federal benefits, you will receive your payments via the Direct Express® card so you will not experience any interruption in payment.

If you are already receiving your federal benefit payments electronically, this change will not affect you.

If you would like set up a direct deposit to your First Castle Account, you will need your account number and our routing number: 265075883

If you are not sure of your account number, please call as at (985) 867-8867 and we will be happy to assist you.  We would also be happy to assist your friends and family members with opening a new account for direct deposit.

•    The ancient Greeks threw coins into their wells to keep them from going dry. Today, we toss coins into wells and fountains for good fortune.
•    If the palm of your right hand is itchy, money will come to you. But if you scratch it, the money won’t come. If your left palm is itchy, it means you will have to pay for something—so by all means scratch it!
•    When you give a wallet or purse to someone as a gift, placing money in it, even a penny, ensures that the recipient will never be without.
•    It is said that money attracts money, so never leave your pockets, purse, or wallet completely empty and never completely empty your bank account. Always keep at least a coin or two with you.
•    When you find money, even if it’s only a penny, it means you’ll receive more money soon. If you are walking in the street and you see a coin or a bill, always pick it up as it will attract more your way.
•    A bee landing on your hand indicates that wealth is on its way to you.
•    Naming a child Penny ensures that she will enjoy good fortune throughout her life.
•    Writing with green ink whenever you can means profits will flow freely from your hand.

Money Superstitions (2011)
Retrieved September 21, 2011 from: http://www.freemoneyfinance.com/2011/05/money-superstitions.html

To set up you account online simply visit our website, (www.firstcastlefcu.org) and click on the online banking button located on the upper left-hand corner of the screen.  See picture below:

Next, go to first time user and click the “enroll” button. Your PIN will be the last four digits of your social security number.  This is a one-time initial login, and once you are signed in the system will guide you through the process of creating a username, password, and security questions.

Once you are set up in online banking you may…

Sign up free bill pay: Save time and money with our free bill pay service.  Click on the “Bill Pay” tab once logged in to your account.  Then click on “Merchant Accounts”, and “Add Merchant.”  Once you have filled out the merchant information for all of the accounts you want paid through bill pay, click the “Pay Bills” tab, select the merchant name and schedule the payment.

Make A Transfer:
Click on the “Overview” tab, and then click “Schedule a Transfer” and use the dropdown arrows to select the accounts from which you would like to transfer.

Sign up for E-Statements:
From the main screen, click on “Self-Service” and then “E-Statements” to enroll (the screen to enroll in E-Statements appears in a popup, so you may need to temporarily allow pop-ups in order to access it).  Once you are enrolled, you will receive email alerts whenever statements are available, and you have the ability to download and print your last six months of statements.

Set up Balance Alerts:
Click “Self Service” tab, and then sign up to receive an email when your balance reaches your designated amount.

More:
You can also order checks, stop a check pay, view account history, and submit a loan application.

We are committed to keeping your personal information private, and our multi-factor authentication process provides the best security for your account. Should you have any questions or experience any problems, please call us at (985) 867-8867.

As a credit union member, be sure to take advantage of two great and free sites that will not only save you money, but reward you with merchandise and cash back for everything you buy online!

Uchoose Rewards 

By now, most of our members are familiar with our relationship rewards program and already earn points every time they use their debit card (and complete a variety of other banking transactions).  But, a lesser number of people seem to be aware of the fact that you can earn even more points for shopping online directly from the Uchoose website. 

All one has to do is login on the Uchoose Site, and then click on their preferred retailer’s site via the Uchoose Site.  The Uchoose home page lists direct links to the sites, as well as information about how many extra points you can earn from each retailer.  When you complete a purchase from those sites, you earn the additional points ON TOP of the points we already give you for using your First Castle Debit or Credit Card.  Just remember to pay with your First Castle Debit or Credit Card and your extra points will automatically be added to your account.

Love My Credit Union/ Shop America

The Love My Credit Union site offers a number of discounts to all credit union members, including wireless service, moving services, flowers, travel and more.  They also feature a free program called “Shop America” that allows credit union members to earn cash back for the things they buy online!  Simply visit the Shop America website, create an account, and then click on your preffered retailers via the website.  You will automatically earn a percentage of cash back for everything you buy, and you can view your account balance on the Shop America website to see how much cash back you will recieve each month.

Although online shopping can increase your options and save you time and money, there are a number of factors to keep in mind, especially when you disclose personal information or pay with your debit or credit card.  Click here to read some great pointers on how to safely and securely shop online.