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.
Yes—we have a loan for that!
Whether you’re ready to spruce up your home for the holidays or upgrade your vehicle for winter driving, we’re here to help! Yes, we have a loan for that!
A Loan On Your List?
As the seasons change from fall to winter, it seems there’s suddenly so much to do—it can be hard to keep up with the demands on our time and budget. Holiday shopping, family visits, preparing for winter driving season—and that’s just the beginning! Relax, we’ve got you covered. Our experienced loan team can find a great loan and competitive rate for almost anything you have on your list this winter, including:
Auto loans for you—or your business. Whether it’s a new all-wheel drive SUV to keep your family safe this winter, or a new work truck for your business, we can help you find the term, payment, and payment date that works for you. Take up to 60 days to make your first payment and have a little more cash this holiday season!
Equity loans for home improvements. Want to update your kitchen or install new floors before family arrives this holiday season? Get started with a convenient Home Equity Line of Credit to keep your project on track!
Home loans too! Thinking of a new home for the holidays? Our in-house team of mortgage experts has more options than ever to help you purchase your
next home. Or, let us help you refinance your current residence to lower your monthly payment while rates are low!
Apply Online, On the Phone or In Person
It’s easy to get started—just visit www.midoregon.com and go to Apply for a Loan, give us a call at 541-382-1795, or visit your nearest branch.
Already have a loan with Mid Oregon? Maybe you could use a little extra cash for holiday gifts this year? Take a look at our “Skip-A-Payment” program, detailed below.
Simplify Holiday Spending With Skip-A-Payment
Big holiday plans, but not the budget to make them happen? Free up cash for the holidays with our Skip-A-Payment program. Just complete our simple request form and get a little breathing room to enjoy the holiday season.
The fee is just $25 per loan payment skipped. Plus, part of the Skip-a-Payment fee is donated to local nonprofit organizations. Do some good while you’re at it!
Request your loan skip now using the form at www.midoregon.com, or email info@midoregon.com at least seven days before your loan payment is due. (Please see our form for exclusions and guidelines.)
Eight Tips for Safe Holiday Shopping
It’s the season for shopping, decorating and entertaining. Mid Oregon Credit Union reminds you to be alert with your plastic cards – online or in a store. Thieves know that the holiday season is a busy time with all the shopping, decorating, and entertaining- so be extra alert – there are a lot of ways thieves may try to take advantage of you to get your sensitive information. Our list of eight tips for safe holiday shopping is below.
Be Safe and Secure
Here are some things keep in mind for safe and secure holiday shopping:
- Always monitor credit and debit card account charges and contact your financial institution immediately if anything looks unusual or even causes you to pause. Mid Oregon Online Banking provides security tools as an extra layer of protection. You can set up Account Alerts, check your balances, print statements, change your security PIN, and more.
- When shopping online, check to make sure the site is verified and the URL begins with https://. Treat public hot spots like the transparent environment they really are. Only shop from your home computer with a private Wi-Fi connection. And finally, don’t ever store your card information on a retail site – it may be convenient but it’s just not safe.
Which Card to Use?
- Credit cards offer consumers the most protection. Consider a local Visa credit card from Mid Oregon Credit Union where it can be easily monitored and where you can talk to a local person if you need assistance.
- When you make a debit card purchase, always run your debit card as a credit. If a thief runs off with your card number, there is a time lag before the issuer pays the charge. When using your PIN, the charge essentially comes out as cash so the thief can run your account dry before you have time to react.
- ATM safety: Check to see if the card reader has been tampered with or if there are any cameras or prying eyes watching you. If something seems odd about the machine, don’t continue and report it to your financial institution.
- Mid Oregon Credit Union offers a notification service for credit or debit charges. If a suspicious charge is made to your card for a set amount, or any amount, they’ll contact you so that you can investigate it right away if needed.
- As an alternative, use Pre-paid Debit cards or Gift Cards and load them with the amount you want and spend only the amount you have. Cardholders can get reimbursed for stolen pre-paid cards, if you report them right away.
Stay Up To Date With Stickley On Security
- Stickley on Security keeps you informed with up-to-date security news, education, and alerts. Go to midoregon.com and navigate to Security Alerts on the Resources Tab. Last but not least, don’t let holiday stress get the best of your holiday spirit. Make time to get together with family, friends, and neighbors. And think about reaching out in the spirit of the season and helping someone who’s less fortunate or lonely.
5 Reasons Credit Unions Offer the Best Auto Loans
Best Auto Loans at a Credit Union?
The average cost of a new vehicle today is around $37,000.
The purchase of a car likely will be the second largest expenditure you have, second only to the purchase of a home. Whether you desire the shiny, brand new one, or if you are content with finding a reliable used one, we want to help you to get the most for your money.
Five Reasons You Want To Talk To Us
Here are 5 reasons credit unions offer the best auto loans, and it makes more sense to get your loan through us.
1. We provide personalized service. Because they are non-profit organizations and work to provide members with high-quality customer service, policy decisions are made by a group of volunteer board members rather than a corporate office. You can openly discuss your concerns about your loan, talk about flexible repayment options, and review your financial situation with a professional lending officer. This can alleviate some of the pressure of applying and securing financing for your vehicle and you can be more confident that the credit union is working with your best interests in mind.
2. We offer educational resources. Many credit unions will provide information such as financing options and how to make the best decisions when assessing the value of your car purchase. If you’re a first-time car buyer and apprehensive about the loan process, you can turn to a credit union for unbiased answers.
3. We offer a non-sales approach. Unlike some other financial institutions, which often give their lenders bonuses or some type of compensation for the loans they get approved, credit unions, as not-for-profit financial institutions, work for their members and do not try to sell you something you don’t need.
4. Getting Approved. With us, you have a better chance of getting your loan approved. Even though the loan application process is the same and the underwriting process is similar, the credit union may make some adjustments that a commercial bank would not. Many credit unions are also more inclined to listen to its members’ needs and unique situations—sometimes adjusting terms of a loan accordingly. A recent CreditKarma.com article mentions better approval odds at credit unions: “One of the perks of credit union membership is that credit unions may be more willing to work with members with less-than-perfect credit.”
5. We have lower rates. A five-year term is the most common loan term for a new or used car, and rates at a credit union are typically much lower than the average rate at a competitor bank. The savings in interest alone is a major reason to consider this financing. In 2019, financing a $25,000 new automobile for 60 months at an Oregon credit union will save members an average of $126 per year in interest expense compared to what they would pay at a banking institution in the state. Just think of what you can do with that money.
Members Benefit From Our Earnings
The bulk of a credit union’s profits go back to members in the form of lower rates on financial products and more flexible loan options. If you don’t like the pressure of working with lenders from other financial institutions, a credit union is the answer.
To find out more, call us at (541) 382-1795, email us at info@midoregon.com or visit one of our Central Oregon branches. Or, you can start your auto purchasing journey with our online application. We hope you experience the 5 Reasons Credit Unions Offer the Best Auto Loans…with us!