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.
6 Ways to Handle Unexpected Vet Bills
In Central Oregon, we love our animals. Because of local ranches, we have lots of livestock, and we even have our Alpacas and Llamas. And our smaller friends, such as dogs and cats, they seem to be everywhere with their owners, even grocery stores and restaurants. Many local businesses cater to animals along with their paying human customers. We thought sharing 6 ways to handle unexpected Vet bills would be a relevant topic.
Pet’s Medical Expenses Can Be Expensive
So, if you’re an animal lover with a few pets, you do your best to take care of your furry or feathered friends. Like you, they’ll need health check-ups and will get sick or injured at some time, requiring medical attention.
To make sure those expenses don’t become a financial burden, or are so costly that you can’t afford the treatment, here are six ways to help you prepare for and deal with them.
Six Ways to Meet The Need.
1. Negotiate an installment plan. If you’ve been a customer in good standing, your vet may be willing to accept payment in monthly installments.
2. Find animal welfare organizations or charities in your community. Some animal shelters offer veterinary loans and grant programs, and many veterinary schools run low-cost clinics.
Prepare in Advance
3. Create a savings account specifically for pet expenses. If you have many pets or one with a known medical condition, put aside a set amount each pay period in a separate account just for those expenses. Mid Oregon has a great tool to make this happen: Savers’ Club. Visit our Savings Account page and select the “Certificates” tab.
4. Pet insurance. There are quite a few pet insurance companies to choose from, like Figo Pet Insurance, Healthy Paws, and Trupanion. Many won’t cover pre-existing conditions, so choose an insurance company before your pet develops a chronic condition.
If You Need to Borrow…
5. Care Credit. Many vets accept this credit card which is specifically made for health care expenses, including your pet’s. It offers different financing options, some even foregoing interest charges for 24 months, as long as you make minimum monthly payments and pay the amount in full by the end of the promotional period. If you do not, interest is charged from the original purchase date.
6. Apply for a personal loan. If your pet’s treatment is going to be a major expense, then consider asking the credit union for a personal loan. The loans usually have a fixed rate and must be repaid in monthly installments within a set amount of time. We may be able to find a less-expensive loan option, so talk to us first.
Six Travel Hacks to Keep You Out of Harm’s Way
Traveling to new cities and countries is fun and exciting. Many times, we have been planning big trips for years, and have invested a lot of time and money in making it happen. That’s why Mid Oregon is providing these six travel hacks to keep you out of harm’s way.
To make sure you have a great time and only create happy memories of your adventure, keep these helpful tips in mind.
Keep important medical information on your phone
If you have a medical condition or severe allergies, consider using an app to display this information on your phone’s lock screen. You can use the Health App if you have an iPhone or Medical ID if you have an Android. This is especially helpful if you’re traveling alone.
Have a room reserved for your first day
Some people like to travel spontaneously, pulling into towns with no idea where they’ll stay. But what if there’s a special event going on and all the hotels are full? Prepare ahead of time and make sure you have somewhere to spend the night when you arrive. And don’t skimp too much – you’ll probably be tired the first day and not feel at your best, so choose a place that has good security and amenities.
Be willing to spend when you don’t feel safe
What if you did reserve a place to stay and your Airbnb rental or motel turns out to be in a neighborhood that doesn’t make you feel safe? Grab a cab and head to hotel or motel in a safer area for the night. The next day, look for something in your price range and stay there for the remainder of your stay. Saving a few dollars by lodging in an unsafe area is not worth the risk.
Be aware of your surroundings
Always be aware of your surroundings and keep your belongings close to you. Also, if you drink alcohol, drink responsibly. A drunk person is easy to rob or worse.
Hide cash in your shoe
If your wallet gets lost or is stolen, having a $50 or $100 in your shoe can be a lifesaver. Without a debit or credit card, you’ll have a difficult time getting food or even getting back to your hotel. The cash will help you get through the night until credit unions are open the following day.
Don’t keep all valuables in one place
Split up your cash, credit cards, and hotel keys so they’re not all in one wallet or purse. Put some in a pocket or money belt. That way, if you are robbed, you can hand over the wallet without losing everything.
Mid Oregon Credit Union has some additional resources to make your trip safer and more enjoyable. Our Travel Money Card or Prepaid Debit Cards can save you a lot of headaches while traveling. Check our website or visit one of our seven Central Oregon branches to learn more.
President’s Message: New Members, New Opportunities
High Desert Bank
On June 15, Mid Oregon Credit Union completed a purchase and assumption of the loans and deposits of High Desert Bank totaling approximately $21 million. The conversion was successful with extremely few issues. We made direct contact by phone and mailings and made sure they had checks, debit cards, and other resources in place and ready to go immediately after the conversion.
Although 2018 was setting up to be another successful year at Mid Oregon already, with healthy economic and job growth forecasts for Central Oregon—this purchase gave us additional opportunities.
New Relationships
To us, it was a chance to add strength, build on our position in the community, and forge new relationships. To the customers of High Desert Bank, however, it had the potential to be like so many bank mergers and takeovers— an unplanned inconvenience. Our team set out to change that perception and make the process of “unbanking” as seamless as possible.
We carefully planned the transition process, determined the best way to communicate with our new members, and walked them through the steps. When the conversion occurred in mid-June, we were delighted to welcome our new members aboard with minimal issues.
Increases Commercial Services Capacity
While we’re happy to offer increased services and convenience to our new members, our existing members also reap the benefits. Four of the five employees at High Desert Bank have chosen to join our team, bringing decades of experience in serving commercial accounts and allowing us to increase our capacity to serve the needs of more local businesses.
An accomplishment like this can’t happen without a great team—folks who work well together, dig in to solve problems quickly, and put themselves in the member’s shoes. Our team strives to be humble and open to feedback (especially the difficult kind), so we can keep getting better.
More Frequent Member Surveys
We welcome your feedback too! We’ve increased the frequency of our member surveys to four times a year to be as responsive as possible. If you’ve participated recently, thank you for the valuable feedback. If you haven’t, feel free to leave us a message or comment on our website, www.midoregon.com.
Thank you for being a member of Mid Oregon Credit Union!
Bill Anderson