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Explore Better Banking at Trailhead

by Marketing

CaptureWe’ve just started partnering with Trailhead Credit Union, a local financial cooperative committed to guiding people on their own individualized path to success. Trailhead is well aligned with Portland Pedal Power; they are local and homegrown, they actively support non-profits in our community like the Bicycle Transportation Alliance and the Forest Park Conservancy, and they are committed to supporting the individuality that makes Portland thrive.

Trailhead has been around since 1935, founded during the great depression when there was high demand for small salary advances and loans. Portland Gas and Coke (now NW Natural Gas Company) employees organized to form the union to benefit all employees of the companies. While the credit union has evolved in the last 80 years, the commitment to “serve the underserved” has made Trailhead an valuable option for anyone living in Multnomah County.

Capture 57The great thing about credit unions is that they are not-for-profit and they exist to serve their members. You can be sure your money is not going to big business and you don’t pay excessive banking fees.

Because credit unions have lower operating expenses in general, they pass those savings on to their members. Trailhead offers an interest rate on their checking account for members who qualify and they will reimburse ATM fees. Trailhead also has an app that allows for mobile deposits easy peasy.

If you’re disillusioned by big banks and big fees, it’s time to switch to a credit union. Trailhead is a community bank that is “small enough to know better.” Make the switch today and bank local. Also, keep your eyes peeled for the gorgeous Trailhead bikes on the road!

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Why You Should Switch to a Credit Union ASAP

by Marketing
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Bike your way to a better bank!

Back in 2011, during all the activities related to Occupy Wall Street, I took my money out of my big bank and switched to a credit union as part of Bank Transfer Day. It was a small move in the right direction for me. I have never regretted this choice.

Credit unions are not-for-profit organizations that exist to serve their members rather than to maximize corporate profits like big banks. I can always get someone on the phone, there are no wonky hidden fees, and they have a really usable phone app.

By nature of being member-driven, credit unions tend to be involved in the community and are run under the philosophy of “people helping people.” One of our current partners USAgencies, was founded in 1936 under this foundational philosophy.

Over the years USAgenices has grown to be one of the best member-driven cooperative credit unions in the Pacific Northwest.

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People helping people

As a member, you’ll receive super convenient, anytime-anywhere banking with personal one-on-one service, with access to thousands of ATMs and shared branches, online and mobile banking, and 24-hour phone access.

Over the years, USAgencies has expanded their field of membership to serve many more groups in the Pacific Northwest including: active and retired military personnel; state, county, city and municipal employees; Native Americans; and family members of any eligible member.

USAgencies works to be a consistent resource for members along the path of their financial life. Through the USAgencies Community Giving Team they support the social mission of credit unions – to assist with meeting basic needs and to invest in programs to strengthen and enhance the community.

They also offer some pretty smart tips and tricks for managing home maintenance, encouraging members to use the CU as a resource for putting home equity to work. If you have equity in your home, you can use it for nearly any purpose: remodeling, vacations, debt consolidation, and even education expenses. It’s a way to maximize your assets so you can meet your financial goals.

Look into working with USAgencies and switching to a credit union ASAP, you won’t regret the move!

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Bicycle loans at awesome rates? Sign me up Point West!

by stacy

So you’ve had your eye on that beautiful bike in the window, you know, the window of that bike shop you walk by every day on your way to work. It’s a beautiful light weight Colnago M10 S road bike with carbon fiber frame. You’ve tortured yourself with day dreams of this bike for a little over a year, but this bike is upwards of $3,000 dollars. You may or may not have the money, but $3,000 dollars is a lot of money out of pocket!  Or perhaps you’re looking at the latest release from Portland Pedal Power, The Pyxis, for your start up business to transport items, but you just don’t have the expendable cash!  Well our friends at Point West Credit Union have a couple of perfect solutions for you!

Point West is proud to support Portland’s favorite means of alternative transportation as it recognizes our city’s growing bicycle community. In support, Point West offers bicycle loans with rates as low as 4.49% so you can finance that amazing piece of pedal powered machinery that you’ve been drooling over, not to mention all the fine accessories that set recreational cyclists apart from the hardcore!  Yet loans aren’t for everybody, and perhaps it’s not just a bicycle you’re looking at.

Its hard to find a good Visa card these days and a decent line of credit with a great APR. Once again, Point West comes to the rescue offering a very competitive rewards Platinum Visa with an 8.95% APR on purchases. There are no annual fees or international transaction fees on this bad boy either! (for you more worldly types) You earn a point for every piece of moola you distribute back into the economy which in turn, can be redeemed for brand name merchandise, travel, gift cards, and more. All Point West VISA cards earn ScoreCard Rewards Points.  For those of you who have high card balances at other banks or credit unions, with the Platinum VISA at Point West, you can transfer all those balances at 12.45% APR with only a $5.00 fee. Consolidate and spend less on interest, with no outrageous balance transfer percentages

This year will be their 80th year of serving the Portland Community under the motto of people helping people. When you become a member of Point West, you are becoming a member of a cooperative of credit unions which gives you access to better loan rates, competitive deposit products and a suite of services all under one roof provided by people who only have their member’s best interest at heart.

If you’d like to learn more about Point West and get some SCHWAG come visit PPP’ers this Thursday at First Thursday or next Tuesday at Portland Parks and Recreation’s National Night Out at Holladay Park off NE 11th and Holladay! We will be packing some goodies to give out to you who are so fortunate to happen upon us, and more information on Point West and how awesome they really are!

For more information on Point West Credit Union visit their website! For more information on PPP and all our happenings visit our website or blog or follow us on Facebook or Twitter.
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