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.
Celebrating a Year of Innovation and Growth
2019 a Great Year for Mid Oregon!
2019 wrapped up as one of the best years in our 63-year history. Given our strong performance in the past several years, that bar was a high one to clear, and our team delivered! In addition to exceeding our goals for
loan growth and building more meaningful member relationships, we also successfully completed multiple projects to improve our core systems, added new services, and announced some new initiatives to meet our community’s financial needs.
Home Loan Department Launch
For instance, in late 2019 we launched our new Home Loans department, enabling Mid Oregon to provide members with the same great in-house service on their home loans and investment properties that they’re used to receiving on their other loans. As part of this expansion, we also announced a first-of-its-kind product to help address the shortage of local housing for working families. Our Workforce Housing Loan Program helps those seeking to provide rental properties at affordable rates to receive discounted financing on their loans.
Samsung Pay™ & Apply Pay™ Available
We’ve barely cracked the cover on 2020 and already we’re hard at work on a more innovations to make your financial life even easier. You can now use your Mid Oregon debit and credit cards with Samsung Pay™ or Apple Pay™ mobile wallets, providing additional convenience and security when you shop, dine, and travel.
New Digital Banking Service
We’re also delighted to announce that our new Digital Banking service is scheduled to roll out in mid-April. It features the same login and experience whether you use the desktop, mobile, or tablet version, and offers any of the best-in-class features you’ve been asking for.
New Branch in Sisters
As much as our members embrace technology, we also know you appreciate visiting a branch and working with our talented team in person. That’s why we’re also delighted to announce the groundbreaking of our upgraded Sisters branch in Spring 2020. This new full service branch, located between St. Charles Clinic and McDonald’s just off Highway 20, will be designed with the convenience and access of our growing membership in Sisters in mind.
With 2019 a Great Year for Mid Oregon, we can’t wait to see what else 2020 brings. Thank you for being part of the Mid Oregon family.
Bill Anderson
Mid Oregon Expands Commercial Services Team
(Image, from L-R): Steve Ferber, Marc Madron, Lara Eckstine
Mid Oregon Credit Union announced the expansion of its Commercial Services team, promoting branch manager Marc Madron to the role of Commercial Deposit Relationship Officer. Madron will focus on meeting the needs of Mid Oregon’s growing business membership, as well as expanding his involvement in underwriting commercial loans and assisting branch teams in meeting the needs of local business owners.
Developed Small Business Lending
“I am very excited about adding Marc to our growing Commercial Services team,” says Steve Ferber, Director of Commercial Services for Mid Oregon. “Marc has a strong understanding of Mid Oregon, and has played a pivotal role helping to implement our Small Business Lending initiative. In his time at the Sisters branch, he was instrumental in reaching out to the business community and determining how Mid Oregon could meet their needs for business services. He’s active in the Sisters Chamber, as well as in local youth sports as a coach and volunteer.”
Expanded Business Services
Marc’s promotion into this role has been part of our nearly two-year effort to significantly expand and develop its Commercial Services capabilities. These efforts have included introducing Remote Deposit Capture and ACH origination services for businesses, as well as announcing a new Workforce Housing Loan Program in December 2019. In mid-April, Mid Oregon will also release an updated Digital Banking platform with enhanced features for businesses. The institution has experienced strong business deposit growth, now serving more than 1,800 business depositors. Business lending has also been brisk, funding more than $18 million in commercial loans in 2019, and holding approximately $50 million in outstanding business loans.
Before moving into this role, Madron served Mid Oregon for approximately three years as the manager at the Sisters Branch location. Another member of the Sisters Branch team, Lara Eckstine, has moved into the manager’s position vacated by Madron.
Spring Break on a Budget
For most college students, the fun and freedom of a spring break adventure is a rite of passage. But what if you have a limited budget? Can you still go on vacation? The following tips will help you go on a fun spring break getaway, even if you haven’t got a lot of money to spend. You’ll be happier later if you do your Spring Break on a budget!
9 Ways To Do Spring Break On A Budget
• Money saving strategies – First and foremost, shop around. No matter where you’re headed, ask for student discounts at rental car agencies, hotels, sightseeing attractions and air/hotel packages. If a hotel doesn’t offer a student discount, ask for a group discount – often honored if you and some friends rent a block of rooms.
• Read the deals carefully – Review the details so you won’t be fooled into paying hidden costs, like fees for maid service.
Getting There And Back
• Travel by car – Sure, it takes longer to get from point A to point B by car, but you may be able to save a bundle if you drive to a destination closer to home.
• Save on transportation at your destination – Bring your bike along if your car or van has the space. When you reach your destination, use public transportation (ask for student discounts), or ride your bike to save money.
• Don’t rush into a deal – If you have to “act now” to get in on a good deal, resist the pressure. It’s true, availability of airfare and lodging constantly changes, but reputable companies don’t pressure you to make fast decisions.
What About Lodging
• Rental property – By going on your trip with friends, you can split the cost of your lodging. Check out Airbnb or Vrbo for rentals within your budget. You’ll also save on meals by preparing them yourself in your rental’s kitchen.
• Check reviews – Find online reviews about the travel company you’re considering. If specific hotels are part of your travel package, get local phone numbers, not “800” numbers, and addresses. Call the hotel and ask questions about the tour package director.
• Get trip details in writing – If you work with a travel agent, ask the agent to provide a document with details of the trip, including all costs, before you buy. Then read the fine print carefully. Never sign a contract with blank spaces; additional information could be added after you sign.
• Get receipts – It’s important to get a receipt from your travel agency or rental provider, so if you pay by cash, ask for receipts. A safer way to pay for a spring break vacation is by credit card – if you’ll be able to pay off the bill in full when it comes. Talk to someone at Mid Oregon Credit Union about the credit cards we offer.
We want our college student members- all of our members- to have a better financial life. If you are traveling do your Spring break on a budget!