Centrisintouchnewsletterfall2014

Fall 2014

Member Spotlight:

Tom & SheliaPettigrew

2 InTouch / Fall 2014

President’s MessageIf You Build It...It Might Just Last 80 Years

Centris is celebrating 80 years of serving our members! In 1934, seven employees at the telephone company founded the credit union now known as Centris. These seven founding members started the credit union because their needs were not being met at other financial institutions, and with $49 in deposits that first day, a new way of banking was born in Omaha.

As President / CEO, it is my honor and privilege to say with confidence that, 80 years later, Centris is still about meeting the financial needs of our members. At Centris, we exist and promise to help you with at least one of the following benefits of membership:

• Help you save money• Help you make money• Lend you money• Help you save time• Help you protect your money

Much has changed in 80 years, but the core of Centris has remained the same: we exist for you and to meet your financial needs. To commemorate this milestone, I want to personally invite each of you to join us at our free movie night on September 19 at Werner Park. The family-friendly evening will begin at 6:00 pm with a carnival, and the movie will begin at 7:30 pm. This year, to commemorate the founders’ dream of building a successful credit union and to celebrate your dreams being approved for 80 years, we’re featuring Field of Dreams, the movie about a man building a baseball field that features the famous line, “If you build it, they will come.”

It would be fun to look back on that first founding meeting of the credit union and listen for similar phrases. Did they know that 80 years from that moment there would be over 80,000 members and more than $520 million in assets? Maybe not; but they still built it and you – ALL of you – have come to Centris.

Bill Randby from KETV will be joining the celebration that night as we partner with KETV and the Salvation Army for a winter coat drive. Bringing a nice, gently used coat isn’t required to gain admission, but it gives you a chance to clean out those closets and give back to the community in need at the same time.

In celebration of our thanks to you for 80 years of membership, bring your family and friends to this FREE event!

Here’s to another 80 years!

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Centris 80th Annual MeetingThe 80th Annual Business Meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 24, 2015 at 6:00 pm at the Centris Headquarters facility, 11825 Q Street in Omaha.

Voting procedures:Each qualified member of Centris who is at least 16 years of age, will receive a ballot mid-February. Ballots will be mailed to the address listed on your account. Make your selection and return the ballot in the postage paid envelope before the deadline.

We look forward to seeing you at the Annual Meeting.

Centris Member Scholarship ProgramDo you or someone you know need help paying for college? Centris is here to help by awarding four scholarships in 2015! We are inviting all high school seniors who are current members of Centris to apply.

Applications will be available online at www.centrisfcu.org on October 1, 2014. If you or someone you know is looking to gain a higher education and is a proud Centris member, let us help!

Meet Mike Sieler:Centris’ New Financial Planning Representative

Mike Sieler is a Registered Investment Advisor representative with Cetera Advisor Networks LLC, a full service Broker-Dealer and Registered Investment Advisor providing brokerage services, investment advice and financial planning.

Having entered the financial services industry in 2008, Mike is licensed in Nebraska for Life and Health Insurance as well as annuities. He places an emphasis on making intelligent and informed decisions by working closely with each client in order to develop personalized financial plans to meet their goals.

A longtime resident of Omaha, Nebraska, Mike is active in the nearby community of Elkhorn where his children attended school. He volunteers for various sporting activities and is also an active member of the Bethany Lutheran Church in Elkhorn. Any leisure time he may have is usually spent on outdoors activities, such as cycling, golfing, hiking or boating.

Contact Mike at (402) 697-6726 or [email protected]

Cetera Advisor Networks LLC, a member SIPC, is a full service Broker-Dealer and Registered Investment Advisor, providing financial planning, investment advice and brokerage services.

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4 InTouch / Fall 2014

Life Insurance: Who Needs It?You’re Married Many people mistakenly believe that they don’t need to think about life insurance until they have children. Not true. What it one of you died tomorrow? Even with your surviving spouse’s income, would that be enough to pay off debts like credit card balances and car loans, let alone cover the monthly rent and utility bills? If you’re planning to have children, you’ll want to buy life insurance now instead of waiting until pregnancy—some companies won’t issue policies to pregnant women.

You’re Married With Kids Most families depend on two incomes to make ends meet. If you died suddenly, could your family continue to meet all their financial obligations—from paying rent or the mortgage to daily living expenses? Could your family continue their standard of living on your spouse’s income alone? Would their plans for the future—like college —stay intact? Life insurance makes sure that your plans for the future don’t die when you do.

You’re a Stay-At-Home ParentJust because you don’t earn a salary doesn’t mean you don’t make a financial contribution to your family. Childcare, transportation, cleaning cooking, and other household activities are all important tasks, the replacement value of which is often severely underestimated. With life insurance, your family can afford to make the choice that best preserves their quality of life.

You Have Grown Children Just because your kids are through college and the mortgage is paid off doesn’t

necessarily mean that you no longer need life insurance. If you died today, your spouse will still be faced with daily living expenses. Would your financial plan, without life insurance, enable your spouse to maintain the lifestyle you’ve worked so hard to achieve now and into retirement?

You’re a Single Parent As a single parent, you’re the caregiver, breadwinner, cook, chauffeur and so much more. Yet nearly four in 10 single parents have no life insurance, and many with coverage say they need more than they have. With so much responsibility resting on your shoulders, you need to make doubly sure that you have enough life insurance to safeguard your children’s financial future.

You’re Single Most single people don’t need life insurance because no one depends on them financially. But there are exceptions. For instance, some single people provide financial support for aging parents or a sibling with special needs. Others may be carrying significant debt that they wouldn’t want to pass on to family members who survive them. Insurability is another reason to consider life insurance when you’re single. If you’re young, healthy, and have a good family health history, your insurability is at its peak and you’ll be rewarded with the best rates on life insurance.

For a no cost, no obligation life insurance quote, please contact our Branch Financial Specialist Cathy Cattlett at (402) 697-6792.

Not a Deposit Not Insured By Any Federal Government Agency

May Lose Value No Bank or Credit Union Guarantee Not NCUA Insured

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AD&D Vs.Life Insurance:Which is Better?Many people think that Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) policies are life insurance products. They are not. They are actually casualty insurance policies. These policies pay out indemnity benefits when the insured becomes disabled or dies as a result of a non-work-related accident.

What is the difference between AD&D insurance and regular life insurance? AD&D policies can be purchased as stand-alone policies or be made part of a regular life insurance contract. Under this policy there is a schedule for specific loses.

Life insurance policies pay out a death benefit when the insured individual meets death via a natural cause, a sickness or an accident. Life insurance policies are offered in a wide variety of choices. General types include term life, universal life and whole life.

Other differences between AD&D and life insurance include the following: • Medical requirements: AD&D

policies normally do not have a set of medical questions whereas regular life insurance requires the individual to present proof of insurability.

• Premiums: AD&D policies cost less because of their limited coverage.

• Benefit payout: Payouts in AD&D policies are dependent on the extent of an injury.

• People insured: With AD&D policies, the policyholder can include his wife as well as his children. Life insurance, meanwhile, only offers coverage to the individual, as each person’s situation is unique.

Do we need AD&D insurance if we have life insurance? Most experts agree that under most situations, you would not need AD&D insurance if you have life insurance. Yet, you can still choose to buy normal life insurance but with an accidental death rider. This way, in case of a death that is not a result of an accident, your insurer will payout 100% of the policy amount. However, if the death results from an accident they will pay a certain percentage more.

Other types of insurance that can provide the same coverage as AD&D policies include health insurance and workers compensation.

Should you buy accidental death and dismemberment insurance at all? There are certain gaps in insurance coverage that AD&D policies can fill in. AD&D policies make payouts in addition to what you will get from other policies. For instance, you happen to lose a limb while at work. Your workers compensation will cover your treatment expenses while the AD&D insurance would provide you with a lump sum.

We cannot stress enough, that it is especially important to read the fine print and generally avoid relying solely on an AD&D policy. The AD&D policy or rider will have its own definitions of what constitutes death by an accident so not all accidental deaths will get a pay- out. Furthermore, the death should occur within a certain period after the accident and be a direct result of it. For example, if you live in a coma for more than a month after an accident, your accidental death policy might not pay out the benefit.

Contact us for more information on AD&D and Life Insurance.

Not a Deposit Not Insured By Any Federal Government Agency

May Lose Value No Bank or Credit Union Guarantee Not NCUA Insured

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6 InTouch / Fall 2014

safety training for team captains and purchasing paint for each of the homes. The day of the Paint-A-Thon, Tom and Shelia can be found in the community visiting work sites and handing out donuts and juice to the volunteers. Once the event is over, they begin soliciting sponsorships and donations for the next year.

The first year that Brush Up Nebraska was held, teams from the sponsoring organizations, Diamond Vogel, US West, ConAgra and Norwest Bank, painted 50 homes in the Omaha community. Today that number has grown to over 2,500 homes. “A lot of people want to give back, but don’t know how,” says Shelia, “Many people can paint.” The goal of Brush Up Nebraska is to give volunteers an opportunity that has a high impact, high visibility but minimal time commitment. The program allows people in the community to give back, but more importantly, it gives the recipients who receive the services dignity to see their home look nice again. “For many of our clients, their home is their biggest asset. So for them, it’s their pride and joy,” explains Shelia.

On average, the day of the Paint-A-Thon, approximately 80-100 homes will be painted. Teams typically consist of about 25 individuals. The teams are assigned to houses that Tom and Shelia feel are a good fit for the volunteers. If teams are smaller, they will be assigned to painting things like garages or foundations. Larger teams will be assigned to paint entire houses. Tom and Shelia note that the event goes smoother for the teams if they elect a leader who organizes the work and keeps everyone on task. They also note that if there are more volunteers than painting requires, the homeowners often appreciate having their yard mowed and cleaned up. “We aren’t a repair service,” says

Member Spotlight: Tom & SheliaPettigrewHousing is a basic need of all people. It provides shelter from the summer heat and winter cold. It provides a safe place for its resident and, for many people, is a source of pride. There are times however, when individuals cannot take care of their homes. Perhaps they cannot afford to pay for upkeep or are physically unable to do the work themselves. How then, are they able to maintain a beautiful home?

For many years, the answer to this question has been answered by Paint-A-Thons; community events where people come together to beautify homes whose residents are unable to do the work themselves. In the Omaha metro area, Brush Up Nebraska has been holding an annual Paint-A-Thon since 1989. Centris members Tom and Shelia Pettigrew have been the executive directors of Brush Up Nebraska since its inception. They are passionate individuals who believe in the mission of the program. “We appreciate the fact that we’re doing this. It’s a blessing to us to have this organization here for the people,” they say.

The Brush Up Nebraska Paint-A-Thon is held each August. Anyone can sign up a team of volunteers. For the Pettigrews, Brush Up Nebraska is a year-round project. They begin working with social services agencies to find candidates who meet the eligibility requirements and then begin taking applications in the springtime. Once the recipients of the Paint-A-Thon have been identified, they begin matching teams to the homes and prepare for the day of the event. Preparation includes

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Editor’s NoteAre you a Centris member making a unique contribution to the community? Know someone who is? Tell us your story for a chance to be featured in the Member Spotlight of the Centris Newsletter. Simply contact us at [email protected] or by phone at (402) 758-6520.

Tom, “but we do enough to make sure we can paint the house properly.”

Tom and Shelia have been instrumental in running the Brush Up Nebraska program and have done such a great job with it, that they are often asked to mentor other Paint-A-Thon programs. In the past, Tom and Shelia have provided guidance to Paint-A-Thons in Lincoln and smaller Nebraska communities, a program in Sioux Falls, SD and 13 programs across Iowa. “There are so many non-profit programs that are struggling and we’d like people to support them because it’s especially difficult with small or no staff for these programs to survive. We always think about how much of an impact this has. There are plenty of small agencies that are working hard trying to support the community and we hope people recognize that,” says Tom.

Tom and Shelia’s love for their involvement and support of Brush Up Nebraska is contagious. They have dedicated their lives to working for this program and have grand visions for its future. They explain how they’d like to be able to hire professional painters so they can paint two story homes. Ideally, they would like to have pros paint the second story while volunteers work on the first story. This would allow the program to expand and accept larger projects than they’re currently able to support.

The husband and wife team also talk about their desire for the Paint-A-Thon program to continue long past the days when they are able to run it. “It’s a non-profit organization, but to us, we feel that we’re the ones to keep this going. We love it as much as the day we started and we love everyone who’s involved. It’s all done in good spirit.” Though the recommended minimum age for painters is 16, many of Brush Up Nebraska’s

volunteers begin when they are young children. Tom recalls one scene that he feels captures the spirit of what Brush Up Nebraska is all about. “I remember we visited one house the day of the Paint-A-Thon and there was this little boy, about five, who had his own bucket and was “painting” the foundation. The bucket was really only filled with water, but he was concentrating so hard, he didn’t even want to visit with us! Many of our volunteers start out as little kids and it makes us feel good to know they’re learning to do good.”

Most importantly, Tom and Shelia explain that they start from zero every year. Zero applications and zero dollars to fund the program. To sustain Brush Up Nebraska, they need approximately 150 applications from home owners in need to be submitted a year and to raise about $75,000 to purchase enough paint, materials and management of the program. To learn more about the Brush Up Nebraska program, visit www.brushupnebraska.org for information.

Centris has been a proud participant of Brush Up Nebraska since 2010.

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8 InTouch / Fall 2014

Brush Up Nebraska 2014A special thanks to the nearly 30 Centris volunteers who assisted with this year’s Brush Up Nebraska home in August. Their commitment to the communities we serve,

ensured the success of this annual event.

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10 InTouch / Fall 2014

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Look to Usfor All Your Mortgage NeedsIf you’re in the market for a new home or ready to refinance, look no further than your nearest Centris branch. Our neighborhood mortgage experts are here to assist you through the home buying process. From pre-approval to closing, Centris has the products and services you need and some benefits you won’t find anywhere else.

Here’s YourChance to Win...Now for a limited time, you have the opportunity to Win A FREE Mortgage For A Year! (Up to $10,000. Odds of winning based on number of entries received.*) Apply in person, online or call and get pre-qualified before you shop for your new home. We’ll show you why Centris is your trusted neighborhood mortgage partner.

Contact Us For Complete Information.*12 consecutive monthly mortgage payments (principal and interest only) of not more than $833.33 per month (“Monthly Maximum Prize”) totaling up to $10,000 in the aggregate. Exact prize amount will be determined by amount of eligible winner’s mortgage payment. Winner must pay any portion of winner’s monthly mortgage payments not attributable to principal or interest or otherwise in excess of Monthly Maximum Prize. Odds of winning depend on number of eligible entries received. Number of written prize notices to be distributed will depend on number of inquiries about the promotion. Beginning 1/1/14 through 12/13/14, when you open a mortgage loan with Centris Federal Credit Union (“Centris”) in Nebraska or Iowa, you will automatically be entered to be drawn as a winner in the “Centris Federal Credit Union Free Mortgage Giveaway”. Participants and winner(s) must be Nebraska or Iowa residents at least 18 years old as of 12/13/14, and have a valid driver’s license. To enter, you must be Centris members and have closed and have received funds for a mortgage loan or mortgage refinance from Centris on or after 1/1/14. One entry per person and/or household. If a winner is disqualified or cannot accept the prize as stated, Centris reserves the right to determine an alternate winner in its sole discretion. Prize is not transferable, redeemable for cash or exchangeable for any other prize. Centris may require winner to complete, execute and return affidavits of eligibility, liability releases and publicity releases prior to taking possession of prize. Failure to sign these documents, or if winner cannot be notified, or if winner is found to be ineligible or not in compliance with these Official Rules, will result in disqualification and an alternate winner will be selected.

Federally Insured By NCUA.

Your Chance to Win with FREE Mobile BankingHave you ever found yourself wishing you could check your account balance or make a transfer after the branch has closed? With mobile banking, we make that possible! The FREE Centris Mobile Banking App can be accessed via your smartphone or tablet. Get the convenience of being able to access your account 24/7 and the peace of mind knowing that your private information is safe with our protected and secured channels.

Countdown to 12,500We’re close to having 12,500 members enrolled in Centris Mobile Banking! To celebrate, we’re going to offer an LG 42” 1080p LED HDTV to one lucky member who is currently enrolled in Centris Mobile Banking when we reach 12,500*! Contact us today for more information. Members who already have Centris Mobile Banking are automatically entered.

Enjoy the benefit of 24/7 access that Centris Mobile Banking offers plus the opportunity to win. For official rules, go to www.centrisfcu.org.*One winner will receive an LG 42” HDTV (LG 42LN5200). Odds of winning depend on number of entries received. Entrants must be a Centris member and be currently enrolled with mobile banking. Additional terms, conditions and eligibility restrictions apply. Official rules available at www.centrisfcu.org

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