The Bottom Line
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.

Visa Gift Cards Convenience!
Convenient & Flexible
We are almost at the last minute, when we can’t find the right gift, don’t have time to shop or when we don’t know what a person wants. Visa Gift cards remain an extremely popular gift choice. Mid Oregon Visa Gift Cards convenience can help you give that perfect gift without stressing out trying to find it.
A Mid Oregon Visa Gift Card can also be the tool that allows you to hold to your spending plan. By loading our Visa Gift Cards with your budget amount(s), you can limit your spending, and still have a great gift.
Shopping Flexibility
Mid Oregon Visa Cards 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.
Gift Visa Card recipients can go on-line to view transactions or update personal information. Lost or stolen cards are replaceable with the unused money still available, unlike cash. There is no disruption with your debit card and checking account, or hassle with your credit cards.
Great For Children, Too!
Mid Oregon Visa Gift Cards can also help young people with their Christmas giving. You can get each child a card with their Holiday gift giving money loaded and help them learn about sticking to a plan, how to use a card and have the safety of not losing cash.
Even those teenagers with whom your are helping learn money management with their own Mid Oregon Simply Free Checking account and debit card can benefit. Removing overspending temptations and reducing the risk are values for all of us.
How the Mid Oregon Visa Gift Card Works
Members can visit any Mid Oregon branch and buy Visa Gift Cards from one of our tellers. Activation of your cards happen within 24 hours, There is a one time cost of $3 per card, and the card will not expire for up to five years. There are no monthly maintenance fees unless the card is unused for 12 months. There is a minimum amount of $10 loaded onto the card, and a maximum of $1,000. Replacement cards are handled through the convenient Visa customer service center, and there is a modest fee to replace the card. More details are available at any Mid Oregon branch.
To purchase Mid Oregon Visa Cards a non Mid Oregon member would need to join the credit union. Details on joining are available on our website or by contacting us as per above.

Tis the Season to Avoid Online Shopping Fraud
Online holiday shoppers, gear up and hunker down. You could fall victim to serious scams unless you know how to distinguish a legitimate site from a rip-off.
“You really have no idea who’s on the other side of the transaction when you make a purchase online,” said Jim Stickley, founder of San Diego-based Stickley on Security. “You have a pretty good comfort level with big online retailers or known brick and mortars, but the same can’t be said for a no-name website that has an amazing deal that might be a little too good to be true.”
Stickley, whose education videos have been viewed more than one million times by credit union members, warns that there is no one simple thing you can do to guarantee an online website is real. But using a few different strategies together may help you separate safe sites from questionable sites:
Check for a security certificate
Before typing in any confidential information or account numbers, make sure the link changes from http:// to https://. That “s” at the end does not guarantee trust, but it does mean the retailer has filed for a security certificate, paid a fee, and given at least some verified contact information.
Find a real person
Call the contact phone number, but if all you get is a recording don’t count on getting satisfaction if a product fails.
Look for broken links and missing images
Poor website design is a warning sign; an even bigger danger now is a thief who knows you’re looking for errors and creates an error-free illegitimate site.
Use user reviews–with caution
Not all reviews are accurate, and some reviewers have a financial interest in an item or a competing item. Find sources with many reviews and look for patterns where reviewers agree on what they like and don’t like. Compare user reviews with those from the Better Business Bureau and Consumer Reports. Then conduct a separate search on the Internet by typing the website or company name and such terms as “complaints” and “reviews.”
Safeguard your computer or device
Don’t shop online unless your operating system, browser, and security software are up to date. If your smartphone doesn’t have security software, don’t use it to shop online until it’s protected.
By staying informed and following these tips, you can help protect yourself from identity theft and fraud, ensuring a safe and enjoyable shopping experience during the holiday season.
Mid Oregon provides a valuable resource for enhancing your online security. We invite you to explore our Stickley on Security section within the Security and Fraud Center. This platform offers timely articles covering a range of digital security topics, along with informative videos. Additionally, you can subscribe to receive news and alerts via email, ensuring you stay informed with the latest updates to keep your financial accounts secure in the digital landscape.
Read additional blog articles on cyber security and fraud.
As a reminder, Mid Oregon will never initiate a call asking for personal or account information via phone, text, or email.

Financial Tips to End 2024 Strong
[Nine minute read time]
As the year draws to a close, it’s the ideal moment to reflect on the past eleven months and evaluate your journey in 2024. Did you reach your financial goals? Have you experienced significant growth personally, professionally, and financially?
On the financial side, perhaps you successfully built up your emergency fund or paid off lingering debts like a credit card balance—kudos to you! Conversely, if impulsive spending derailed your plans or you faced the unexpected cost of replacing an aging vehicle, remember to be kind to yourself. Life is unpredictable, and it’s easy to veer off course.
Before we welcome a new year, take a proactive approach by implementing these essential year-end financial strategies:
Evaluate your financial goals
Now is the perfect time to revisit your financial goals and determine if you’re on track for success. This assessment will enable you to prioritize decisions and make any necessary adjustments before the new year arrives.
Maximize retirement contributions
If you haven’t already maxed out your contributions to your retirement accounts, such as a 401(k) or IRA, consider taking action now. Doing so can provide substantial tax benefits and enhance your retirement savings. You can contribute a portion of your earnings to a 401(k) account tax-free, subject to annual limits set by the IRS. However, if you’re experiencing financial strains, prioritize your immediate financial health before pushing contributions to their limits.
Review or update beneficiary designations
Now is the time to make any needed updates to the beneficiary portion of your bank accounts, retirement accounts, life insurance policies, annuities, etc. Doing so will avoid your estate going through probate, which is costly and time-consuming.
To help keep track of your beneficiaries, write down their names along with the date. If the beneficiary has a common name, consider including the person’s birthdate and social security number, along with their relationship to you. Also, be sure to designate a contingent beneficiary in the event your primary beneficiary passes away.
Stay Organized
- Store vital insurance and financial records in two secure locations for ease of access.
- Ensure that all information is complete and accurate—dates, policy numbers, coverage amounts, and agent details.
- Inform your beneficiaries where these documents are located so they can find them when needed.
Review tax deductions, credits and withholdings
Before the year ends, review any tax deductions or credits that you may be eligible for. This can help you minimize your tax liability and potentially increase your tax refund. Did your marital status change or did you add a new family member to your household? Did you receive unemployment compensation or experience a job loss? These questions help determine your tax withholding amounts. If you want to calculate how much withholding you will need in order to avoid paying taxes in the coming year, you can use the IRS’ handy Tax Withholding Estimator tool.
While we are on the subject of taxes, start prepping for your returns by ensuring your financial institutions and employers have your correct contact information. Start gathering the documents you’ll need to file your 2024 taxes (prior returns, receipts, bank and credit card statements), as well as any applicable W-2, 1099, 1099-G (for unemployment) or 1098-E (for student loans) documents.
When it comes time to file your taxes, remember that Mid Oregon members receive discounted pricing for Turbo Tax and H&R Block through our Love My Credit Union Rewards.
Review your insurance needs
Health insurance, life insurance, homeowners insurance and auto insurance—the types of insurance you may need seem endless. To ensure you have the proper coverage, consider any changes in your circumstances that may require adjustments to your coverage.
Reviewing homeowners insurance
Homeowners insurance premiums can fluctuate for numerous reasons such as weather/climate disasters or increasing crime in your area. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to help decrease the cost of your premium:
- Increase your deductible.
- Consider using the same insurance company for your homeowners and auto coverage. Bundling your insurance can significantly lower your premium.
- Home improvements, such as removing dry brush around your property (we do live in a fire-prone state) may help decrease your premium.
Also, if you accumulated more possessions since the time you purchased your policy, reevaluate your homeowners policy to be sure it covers everything of value.
Reviewing auto insurance
Every state has minimum car insurance requirements. Review the types of coverage Oregon requires and explore potential rates and discounts, or work with a professional to get an affordable rate.
When determining how much you should pay, car insurance companies determine your premium by considering your age, driving record, the type of vehicle you drive, where you live, and credit score (check your free score using Credit Savvy in your Mid Oregon Digital Banking platform). However, that doesn’t mean you can’t do things to help lower your car insurance cost:
- Increase your deductible.
- Bundle your insurance policies.
- Review your type of coverage. Do you still have full coverage from when your vehicle was new and you were making loan payments? If it is paid off and a few year’s older, you might consider switching to lesser coverage. Review how much you need and get quotes from a few different companies.
- Look for other discounts:
- Good driving record, vehicle’s antitheft devices and safety features.
- Miles driven each year. If you are one of the many people with previous office jobs who now work from home, see if you can use that to your advantage.
Review your investment portfolio
Evaluate your investment portfolio to ensure it aligns with your risk tolerance and financial goals. Consider rebalancing your investments if needed and make any necessary adjustments. Make sure your financial plan still fits your needs, wants and wishes. Did you inherit some money in 2024, or perhaps find your job less secure than it was last year? Your portfolio should reflect investment objectives that are appropriate for your current life stage. Your age, risk tolerance, tax status and time horizon, among other factors, are all important.
We can help you ensure your financial portfolio and investments are on track. Contact your credit union financial professional, Marc Cabanilla, Mid Oregon Wealth Management for more information.
Spend eligible flex dollars
A healthcare flexible spending account (FSA) can save you money— as long as you spend the pre-tax dollars before the end of the year. If you do not, you run the risk of losing it (unless your employer offers a grace period or allows you to carry over a specific amount into the next year). So, make that last-minute dental or acupuncture appointment while there’s still time.
A tip for next year’s open enrollment period: If you, your spouse or your child is going to need medical services, consider contributing to your FSA at least the amount of your health insurance deductible.
Check-in on your emergency savings account
In a perfect world, we all would have three to six months’ worth of emergency savings set aside. We know this goal is difficult—especially with rising food and fuel prices, which make it difficult for some to care for their family’s everyday needs.
Remember that unexpected emergencies, such as a car repair, loss of job, or a medical expense, could set you back financially. To help ensure that doesn’t happen, try building up your savings by automatically depositing some money from your paycheck into a dedicated savings account.
Mid Oregon has an array of savings account options to choose from to help build your emergency nest egg.
If you have kids, contribute to their college fund
College tuition isn’t for the faint of heart. But having a tax-advantaged strategy in place can help you prepare for the rising costs. If you already have one, try to contribute as much as you can. Ask your Mid Oregon team members what options would be a good fit for your specific situation.
Make charitable donations
Donate to an organization that’s close to your heart. The benefits are two-fold: You will reduce your taxable income and feel good about giving some of your hard-earned dollars to a good cause. Mid Oregon is currently holding its annual Holiday Dough fundraiser, which benefits local-area food pantries—ensuring that every family has help with holiday meals and other essentials this season.
Plan for the future
You blink, and now 2025 has started as quickly as 2024 ended. Next steps—be sure to set some new goals (or keep some of the same ones) and commit them to paper. Do you want to beef up or start building your retirement, or simply save some money for your child’s swimming lessons? Do you have any big changes on the horizon such as having a baby or changing your career? Creating goals surrounding these anticipated events will bring peace of mind and hopefully money to your account.
If it’s realistic, try to create a savings plan for a family vacation or another memorable event. It’s a great motivation to save when you have something to look forward to, even if that something will occur sometime down the road. This is another great reason to open a dedicated savings account and set up an automatic transfer of funds to get you closer to your destination. And don’t minimize how effective dropping your loose change into a change jar can be.
Regardless of your financial situation, your Mid Oregon team is here to help you every step of the way—please stop by, call, or visit us online at midoregon.com. We also encourage you to stay tuned to future member newsletters, blogs, and workshops for more financial fitness topics.
We hope you find the above tips helpful as you wrap up 2024 and move forward with your financial future. And remember, it’s progress not perfection.