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Small business is important to Central Oregon, and to Mid Oregon. Find tips and resources for business, and information about Mid Oregon’s commercial services and business members.
Tips for Last Minute Holiday Shoppers
Some people are experts at Holiday shopping. They start shopping for Christmas at the beginning of the New Year, searching for deals year-round. They squirrel away gifts in closets and attics, to have them ready for the holidays well in advance. They are definitely not last minute Holiday shoppers.
Waiting Until Right Before Christmas
On the other extreme, there are those who do not enjoy shopping. They wake up a week before Christmas, realize they have nothing for their sweetheart, and go into panic mode. If you usually find yourself in this camp, we have a few tips to help you.
The Week Before
If you have a week before the holiday get-togethers, try these options:
● Download the Wikibuy browser extension. Shopping online will save you time as well as enable you to compare prices at various stores. This browser extension automatically compares prices when you shop online, searching thousands of sites to find the best deal and to find online coupons for the item.
● Shop at Department stores offering extended sales. Because of the Pandemic, many stores want to avoid the usual holiday crush on Black Friday. Stores like Target, Best Buy and Walmart are offering extended sales events starting now and lasting until the Holidays. This gives you the opportunity to shop the last week before Christmas and still get comparable Black Friday prices. Check the stores’ website for specific details.
● Gift basket of small items. Buy small gifts like perfume, candles, envelopes of hot cocoa, a journal, whatever you think the gift recipient may enjoy, and put those items into a small decorative basket or box.
Christmas Eve
If you are truly one of the last minute Holiday shoppers, and you’ve only got a few hours left before the holiday, try these options:
● Give a subscription box. Subscription boxes are an easy gift to purchase that continues giving year-round. There are a variety of subscriptions services to choose from. You can give your loved one new clothes each month with Stitch Fix, Trunk Club, and ThredUp, for example. Other subscriptions deliver toys, arts and science projects, and books each month.
● Give a membership. Pay for a year’s membership to Amazon Prime, or a few months of Netflix, a wine club, or a coffee of the month club.
● Give a Gift Card. These are available at most retail outlets, particularly the big chains. You can get them for specific restaurants or stores, or simply purchase a Visa Gift card with a fixed amount loaded on to it to be used anywhere Visa is accepted.
Mid Oregon Credit Union offers its members Visa Gift Cards. They can be used almost everywhere Visa cards are accepted in Central Oregon, and at millions of places around the world-including retail and online merchants as well as mail and phone orders. The only exclusions are gas stations, ATMs, hotels, car rentals and airline reservations. It has all the protection and security features you expect from a Visa card.
Visit one of our seven Central Oregon branches to purchase a Visa Gift Card. But if you are shopping on Christmas Eve, come in early. Our branches close at 2 pm.
Solutions for A Merry Holiday Season
This holiday season might be a little different from those in past years, but we still have lots of solutions to make it memorable.
Whether you’re keeping it low-key and sticking to the necessities, or pulling out all the stops, Mid Oregon has loans and services to keep it merry—and a little easier on the wallet.
Loans for whatever you have in mind
If you’re thinking of splurging on a new spa or home office remodel, or looking to put a special surprise under the tree for the whole family, we can help with a number of easy loan options.
- Home Equity Lines of Credit for home improvements, hot tubs, and backyard makeovers.
- Vehicle Title Loans. If you have equity in your vehicle, this might be a lower cost option than a personal loan.
- Vehicle loans. Now’s a great time to buy that snowmobile or RV you’ve had your eye on.
- VISA Credit Cards for convenient spending—and much safer to use when shopping online than debit cards.
- Personal Loans for big-ticket purchases such as snowblowers, jewelry, traction tires, or other items.
- Business too! If you’re looking to add a work vehicle to your fleet, we can help! Rates are great right now, especially if you need the tax benefits of purchasing in 2020.
Need a little extra help?
We’re pretty sure that 2020 hasn’t finished with us yet. If you have special financial circumstances, or just need a little breathing room, we can help with that, too.
- CARE Loan. This special rate on a personal loan can help you if you’ve suffered a loss of income from COVID-19 or the recent wildfires. Borrow up to your gross monthly income at a special low rate, and your first payment isn’t due for up to 90 days.
- Skip-A-Payment Option. You can skip your vehicle, credit card, or Home Equity loan payment to free up a little extra cash. The fee is just $25 for each loan skipped. Complete the online form at least one week before your payment due date. (See form for guidelines and limitations.)
And if you’re still looking for that perfect gift, a Mid Oregon VISA Gift Card is always a great choice. Whether your special someone is ready to for a treat, or just needs to pay for groceries, they’ll have the flexibility to use your gift where it’s needed most. You can purchase a VISA Gift Card in a Mid Oregon branch in any amount from $10 to $1,000.
You can get started on your loan request right from the comfort of home. Just visit midoregon.com and click our easy online loan application. Or, if you need to speak with someone, call 541-382-1795 or stop by your nearest Mid Oregon branch. We’re open and ready to help you make this a memorable season—in more ways than just one!
Sisters Branch Is Now Open!
We are so exited to announce the opening of our newest branch location in Sisters! You can find our new location off Highway 20 at 650 N. Arrowleaf Trail, right next to McDonald’s. Our Sisters branch is now open!
This full-service branch offers drive-up lanes with ATM and video teller services, and the full range of loan and teller services inside. In addition, we will be adding a self-serve coin counting machine in the coming weeks.
Mid Oregon was proud to partner with Sunwest Builders, Taylor Northwest, and Steele Associates Architects to complete the new location. The design showcases the creativity of Sisters artisans and the beauty of the local landscape and features custom metal representations of the Three Sisters Mountains (Faith, Hope, and Charity) designed by Ponderosa Forge and Ironworks.
The new Mid Oregon Sisters branch is now open from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. on Fridays. You’re invited to stop by and see our convenient new location!