Join a Credit Union

Stampede!

2008-10-02T21:10:00.000-07:00

You know all those customers who are leaving their banks? Where are they running to?

That'd be a local credit union. In a word -- owned!

(That's a credit union pun).

'Money in the Bank'

2008-10-01T22:10:00.000-07:00

Like I do every week or so, I was looking at the updated blogs at Mint.com. I totally stopped after I read this sentence:

"Until last week, the expression, 'money in the bank' was considered the ultimate in security."

"Bank" is a bad word these days (even more than usual). Don't take our word for it. Just read the headlines.

But it's more than that. Think about the kind of financial crisis many of us could be facing because of bank failures. It could be the kind of crisis where it changes our fundamental understanding of basic phrases -- like "money in the bank." It's seems crazy, but it's starting to happen.

After thinking about this for a minute, I was very happy to have access to free budgeting tools like wesabe.com and mint.com and the all the free services and budgeting help provided by my credit union. I know they're here to stay and they won't end up costing me anything that I didn't agree to pay for.

What's In Your Logo?

2008-09-30T21:03:00.000-07:00

Credit unions have been around in the United States for 100 years. But they grew more popular in the Great Depression after the stock market plummeted.

That's when this logo became widely used. It had meaning then, and, if you've seen the news today, it has meaning now.

First Impressions

2008-09-30T09:07:00.000-07:00

Have you ever had anything stolen from you? I have. My car was stolen a couple years ago. It was not fun, I was shocked and upset and angry. My damaged car was eventually recovered and declared totaled. I had to car shop, choose a car and get it financed in a matter of days. Talk about stressful! I was lucky enough to find the right car at the right price. But that left the loan process. I was not looking forward to it. I walked into a local credit union not knowing what to expect. I was pleasantly surprised. Shocked, actually. I was greeted with some of the best service ever! The people were patient with my questions and explained the answers thoroughly. They were able to give me the best rate around and did so without adding more stress to my day. It was a great first impression.

I love my car! And my CU!

Whoo-hoo Becomes Boo Hoo!

2008-09-29T17:31:00.000-07:00

Around the Northwest, the"economic nuttiness" affecting Washington Mutual customers was all the rage last week. But things have gotten much worse since then.

Today, the stock market lost about $1 trillion in value.
That's trillion with "T."
That's trillion with twelve zeroes.
That's trillion as in one million times $1 million.
Can you imagine a million millionaires going broke in a single day? You don't have to imagine. It's happening!

I think this blog post has lots of good information and links. But, of course, what I really noticed is all the comments on it. Most folks seem to know they're better off sticking with a credit union in these crazy financial times. That's no b@!%s.

You be hunky. I'll be dory.

2008-09-25T14:47:00.000-07:00

How are credit union members faring in this growing mortgage crisis?

The biggest paper in the national capital has this news:

"...less than 1 percent of credit union mortgages were in delinquency at the end of the first quarter.

'If they've got their money in a federally insured credit union, they're just hunky dory,' CUNA spokesman Patrick Keefe said."

You be hunky. I'll be dory. Together, we'll be better than B@!%S.

700 Billion Problems; 1 Solution

2008-09-23T19:04:00.000-07:00

If you've been watching the news lately, you probably heard there are about 700 billion reasons to be worried about the fate of the nation's banks these days.

The Seattle Times printed a story over the weekend that basically said you don't have to worry about credit unions in Washington state. In fact:

"Credit unions could not only weather the downturn, but could play an important role in keeping Washington strong. Careful lending practices, a focus on savings, attention to members and long-term planning should define Washington's credit unions now and for years to come..."

Good Food, Not Service

2008-09-22T11:13:00.000-07:00

I’ll admit it … I still have an account with a local bank. Up until now, I figured I would keep it. Here’s why I’ve changed my mind.

Last Saturday, I needed to deposit some money into my bank account, but I wasn’t sure where a local branch was that was still open. So I called my bank’s 800 number to ask someone. After weeding through five rounds of instructions and entering my account number three times, I finally got a real person. Then I couldn’t understand them. Finally, I was able to decipher what they were saying. With my frustration, I asked where they were located. Guess what they said??? THAILAND!!! ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!?!

I’m done with banks.

If CUs offered stock, it would be up right now.

2008-09-18T11:23:00.000-07:00

Skimming the news this week, we read this line about credit unions posted on one of the most popular investors' sites around, www.thestreet.com.

This story cuts right to the chase.

"Credit unions, having escaped the financial crisis, are chipping away at their larger rivals' customer base. They offer what most consumers need: good rates, low risks and personal service."

Couldn't have said it better ourselves.

CUs Helping Victims Pull Thru

2008-09-15T13:33:00.000-07:00

Last weekend, the Gulf Coast -- especially the areas around Houston and Galveston -- got hit hard by a hurricane. Thankfully, there were not as many deaths as from Hurrican Katrina in 2005, but the damage was severe and many people won't be able to return home for weeks.

Luckily, credit unions are already pitching in to help affected Texans. The National Credit Union Foundation created http://www.cuaid.coop/ to help raise money to help those affected. It's easy to get news about the effort and to donate with just a few clicks.

Coming together to help people in times of need is just one more awesome reason to be a CU member.

Who deserves credit? Not B@!%S

2008-09-12T11:52:00.000-07:00

I just found this article on YoungMoney.com. It's kind of old, but you can't deny what it had to say about credit card charges that b@!%s slam you with.
--snip--
...there are marked advantages to getting an initial credit card at a credit union. According to CUNA's 2004 Credit Union Fees Survey, credit unions also charge less in fees for their credit cards. The average late fee for a regular card at a credit union is $15.68 vs. $36.50 at a bank, while the average over-credit-limit fee is $15.50 at a credit union vs. $29.23 at a bank, the survey found.
--snip--

Look at those numbers.
Late fee:
CU =$16
Bank=$36

Over-limit fee:
CU=$16
Bank=$30

Basically, b@!%s charge you twice as much to have a credit card. They have shorter grace periods for you pay, too!

Luckily, there are lots of good credit cards options out there if you’re willing to look for them at a credit union.

Simply Stated

2008-09-11T09:15:00.000-07:00

Yahoo! Finance states it simply in their headline

Credit unions help young adults save

I like this comparison chart from the news story that is linked above.

Credit unions don't charge you as much. It's really that simple.

Boring & Stressful & You

2008-09-09T16:17:00.000-07:00

Watching paint dry = boring.
Taking the SAT = stressful.
Budgeting = boring & stressful.

There are no two ways about it. Budgeting is both boring and stressful. Luckily, websites like mint.com are getting more popular and easier to use. They can help make budgeting simpler and less mundane. Mint.com is a money management site that can help you identify “spending leaks” and better ways to save your money -- for a week or a month or a lifetime. Other sites like wesabe.com, www.geezeo.com, www.smartypig.com, and save252.com also offer tips and tools to help you keep more of your money.

Most of these are FREE! So kick the tires on these websites and see if they work for you.

The four-letter word that starts with "F"

2008-09-05T13:12:00.000-07:00

Of course, we're referring to "fees."

Most banks will charge you a late fee of more than $30 if your payment is processed a day late – even if you get it to the bank on the due date. They can charge late fees based on when they process it, not when they receive it. And did you know that many more banks will jack up your credit card interest rate if you’re late with a payment. Sometimes the rate will more than triple. Also, we just found out the hard way that one large bank charges $15 to make a credit card payment by phone. Ouch! They seriously charge you for paying them! Isn't that what you're supposed to do? So why punish us?

It's all a bunch of B@!%S. It’s easy to find a credit union credit card with a grace period before you get slammed with a late fee.

Say bye-bye to the B@!%S" and hello to better service at a credit union.

Keep YOUR Change with CU coin counters

2008-09-02T15:18:00.000-07:00

Did you know that dozens of credit unions offer change counting machines that you can use for FREE? Skip the trip to the grocery store and save the big fee those machines charge you to count your money! Find a credit union here let them count your money so you can keep it. Call the credit union and see if they offer the coin-counting machine free to members! That's savings you can take to the ~~bank~~ credit union.

Traveling Is a Pain in the Gas

2008-08-29T09:00:00.000-07:00

The Labor Day weekend has arrived, but this year fewer holiday road warriors will be putting the pedal down on their way to a final summer vacation.

Gasoline prices were recently at the highest level in history. Gas is still almost $4 per gallon in many parts of the country, and there’s no telling when the price will level off for any length of time. So what can you do about it? Plenty!

Instead of using a high-interest gas station credit card, pay for your gas at the pump with a credit union debit card. The money comes out of your checking account and is easy to manage on your account statement -- without any interest fees or late charges whatsoever. So what can you do about it? Well, lots actually. Here are just a few ideas!

Don’t shop inside the gas station convenience store!
Track your monthly gas expenses on your account statement
Cut down on unnecessary extra trips
Inflate your tires to the proper pressure
Keep your car tuned up
Travel with a friend or two and split gas money
Ride your bike or transit or both

It might take some adjustments, but it’s worth the investment because it’s your wallet that gets fatter when you save on gas.

Credit Card Blackmail

2008-08-25T12:59:00.000-07:00

Do you ever wonder why those credit card offers you get in the mail don’t come in black envelopes? Because that would be “blackmail.” The big banks don’t want to be quite that obvious. Consider a local credit union for a credit card. Most credit unions cap their credit card rates under 20% APR*, no matter how late you are with your payment. Shop around for a credit union with good credit card options. Many have cards with rates starting at 6.9%. Another good place to check is LowerMyBills.com and click on “Credit” to find a card that works for you.

Whether you’re a new student with little income, have bad credit or want to transfer a balance to get rid of your high-interest retail credit cards, it’s definitely in your “interest” to have a low-fee, low-rate credit card in your wallet.

*We’re required to tell you that APR means Annual Percentage Rate, even though we're sure you already knew that.

WSU Bash in the Grass

2008-08-22T15:02:00.001-07:00

Due to a downpour in Pullman this week, the annual “Bash in the Grass” wasn’t in the grass this year. So, it was wetter than ever, but still better than ever because of the prizes, gifts and gear being handed out by the WhatTheB.com Street Team.

The Bash is part of the Week of Welcome (WOW) for new Washington State University students. Before and during the four-hour Bash, the Street Team crisscrossed the campus, hyping a credit union promotion that’s especially for students and telling all Cougars how they could enter to win a $250 Bookie gift card (the Bookie is the WSU campus bookstore) or a $250 gift card to Bed, Bath & Beyond to help them deck out their new home away from home.

More than 500 WSU students checked out the WhatTheB.com booth and had a chance to pick up custom logo gear and win big prizes. The event ended at 9:00 pm Wednesday night in the WSU field house. Classes start on Monday, August 25. Good luck to all of you Cougs!

Check out the pictures we’ve posted from the Bash. Just click on them below.

WhatTheB.com - Pullman 'Bash in the Grass'

Welcome to the WhatTheB Dot Blog!

2008-08-15T17:00:00.000-07:00

Have you ever hated dealing with your bank? Hasn’t everyone?! That why we created WhatTheB.com. It’s the place for you and your friends to check out when you’re fed up with all the B@!%S. There’s a reason that “bank” is a four-letter word! We’ll frequently be posting news to help you get the straight scoop – and serious savings tips – on credit cards, car loans, checking accounts, home loans and much more. You don’t have to bank at a bank!

It’s time to say ‘No More B@!%S” and find out what a CU can do for you!