6 Home Trends for Your Home Improvement Project

Believe it or not, spring is right around the corner and with a new season, comes new ideas!  If you’re looking to build a new home, add an addition or revamp your existing home’s bedroom, kitchen or bath, here’s what’s trending in 2014.

• There’s a new neutral in town – gray. Home designers are saying that gray has taken beige’s spot in the home for 2014.
• Metal backsplashes, in kitchens especially, are increasingly popular. While tile is still the most popular backsplash material, stainless steel has been moving up the list because of its sleek look.
• Factory engineered quartz is overtaking granite as the most sought after countertop material.
• Darker wood have been popular in recent years, but 2014 is different. Light and honey toned woods such as walnut, oak, and cherry are making a comeback.
• The open concept home continues to be a popular layout. Home designers have noticed that having a kitchen that flows seamlessly into other rooms has been a must have on everyone’s list.
• While “going green” may not be as trendy as it was in recent years, homeowners in 2014 are still opting for appliances with readily apparent energy and financial savings. 

Whether your existing home needs a little TLC or if you just want a makeover, a "No Equity" Home Improvement Loan can help. With a Community Financial home improvement loan, your interest rate will be lower than a credit card and you’ll have set monthly payments that will help you pay off your loan faster – all while increasing your home’s value.

For more information, visit cfcu.org.

 

Introducing Mobile Deposit

Community Financial now offers more flexibility and convenience with the new mobile deposit feature within their mobile banking app.  There’s no need to drive to a branch and wait in line to deposit your checks.  Members can deposit checks into their Community Financial accounts anytime, anywhere by snapping a picture of the check with the camera on their smartphone or tablet.  

To start using the mobile deposit feature, you must first establish an eBanking ID & Password. Then, download the FREE mobile app and register your mobile device to start enjoying the following benefits free of charge*:

• Convenient check deposit

• View account balances & histories

• Easy transfers within your accounts or to another member’s account

• Bill Pay

Members who use mobile deposit can rest easy knowing that Community Financial’s mobile banking system is secured by 128-bit Secured Socket Layer encryption. That’s a fancy way of saying we’ve got top notch security!  With this service you can deposit up to $2,500 per check and have access to a portion of the funds immediately.

For detailed information about mobile deposit, check out the Mobile Deposit FAQ’s and to learn how you can start using mobile deposit today, visit cfcu.org/gomobile.  

*Mobile Banking is free to establish and use, but standard text messaging and data rates apply from your communications service provider.

History of Black Credit Unions in the United States

In honor of Black History Month, Community Financial salutes the history of black credit unions that were established in the 1920s and 30s in America.

Early black credit unions were established by African-Americans to help move farmers and urban groups toward economic independence. Racial discrimination limited African-Americans from having access to the same opportunities as other Americans. The establishment of black credit unions meant African-Americans no longer dealt with financial rejection based on racial discriminatory practices.

The establishment of black credit unions skyrocketed in America with the energy of the Civil Rights Movement. During the 1960s, a flourishing number of credit unions were set up to serve low-income groups, often in African-American neighborhoods. From these credit unions birthed the National Federation of Community Development Credit Unions (NFCDCU) in 1974.  The NFCDCU promotes financial inclusion by organizing, supporting, and investing in credit unions that serve underserved communities. 

Today, the operation and development of credit unions that serve members in predominantly low-income and minority-based neighborhoods still thrives. It is to the credit of institutions such as these that a number of minorities and low-income families are able to purchase their first home, achieve financial stability, and obtain products and services that help make dreams come true.

Community Financial is proud to acknowledge the rich history of black credit unions and salute their accomplishments in the midst of economic, political, and social challenges.

We are also proud to celebrate our own history of lessening economic disparity in the communities we serve by donating to local organizations that help those in need. 

Community Financial Goes Red for Women

Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women, according to the Center for Disease Control.

The American Heart Association (AHA) established Go Red for Women to increase awareness about heart disease, a disease that claims more lives than all forms of cancer combined. Reports from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute show that 1 in 4 women die from heart disease each year.

This year, Community Financial will join the American Heart Association in spreading the word about heart disease.  On February 7^th, Community Financial will participate in National Wear Red Day®, encouraging all team members to wear red to work and by hosting a Go Red for Women Snack Bar in the branches with healthy heart snacks for our members to enjoy. 

Community Financial encourages women to maintain a heart healthy lifestyle and take preemptive measures to decrease the risk for getting heart disease.  Here are some suggestions and routines team members have adopted to keep their hearts healthy:

“I exercise 1 hour per day.”

“I go for a 30 minute walk each day!”

“I eat Cheerios!”

“I play soccer. There’s nothing like a little competition to get me moving!”

“I eat a serving of oatmeal every day.”

“I eat fruits, vegetables, lean meats, and whole grains every day.  It must be a lifestyle change and NOT a diet.”

“I take fish oil daily and encourage women I know who still smoke to STOP!"

“Try to eat healthy and keep up with annual cholesterol checks.”

“Instead of observing my children playing, I get in the action!  This includes riding bikes with them, playing football, baseball or kicking the soccer ball around. This keeps my heart both happy and healthy.“

Stop by any one of our branches for a healthy heart snack from our snack bar this Friday.  To learn more about heart disease in women, visit the American Heart Association’s website, Go Red for Women.