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.
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
Refer a Friend-Win a Traeger?
Word of Mouth is Best Advertising
Mid Oregon Credit Union knows that our members are generally very satisfied with their experiences with us. It’s one of the biggest reasons we’ve just surpassed the $300 million in asset milestone in June, after eclipsing the $200 million mark less than 4 years previous.
We know that Word of Mouth is a trusted way for people to learn about their buying options, and that is certainly true for financial services. That’s why a couple of years ago we launched a new referral program called “Tell-a-Friend.” Anyone who refers another person who opens up a new checking account gets a $10 gift card, with no limit on how many gift cards you can earn. This is another reason we continue to grow.
Refer Someone for Mid Oregon Checking Account
Part of the Tell-a-Friend program’s success is that the new checking account members are automatically entered into a drawing at their branch. Winners in the past have taken home new TVs, $250 gift cards to Bi-Mart & Sportsman’s Warehouse, Alaska Airline certificates, and more. And right now, through August 25, the drawings will be for a new Traeger Pellet Grill from Fin and Fire in Redmond, valued at $429.
But now, we’ve done something more- through 9/20/18, the person who refers the new checking account member will automatically be entered to win a Traeger Ranger Grill, valued at $399! So, for every new checking account they refer, they’ll get the $10 gift card, and will get one entry into the Ranger drawing to be held on 9/21.*
The Traeger Ranger Grill
The Ranger grill is a unique, portable style suitable for not only for camping and backyard BBQs, but tailgating and other mobile uses. We will be showing the grill at the Deschutes County Fair on Friday, August 3, and at other events and activities around Central Oregon for the next several weeks. Come and say hi when you see us, and see the grill in person!
How To Enter to Win?
So how can you easily get a Tell-a-Friend and enter our grill drawing?You have two options:
- Right now, visit our referral webpage to send emails to your friends, family, neighbors and co-workers. It’s easy and allows you to add a customized message to each email.
- Pick up some Tell-a-Friend slips from us at events or any Mid Oregon branch. You briefly fill in your part, give them to your friends, and they bring the coupon with them when they open the account. It is pictured below.
- Remember, either way, when they open their new checking account they’ll be entered to win a Traeger Pellet Grill (or a different prize after 8/25) and you will get a $10 gift card. If one of your referred people opens a new checking account, you’ll be entered into the drawing!
* Traeger Drawing Rules: No purchase necessary to enter or win a prize. Must be 18 years of age or older. Entries accepted through September 20, 2018. No cash equivalent, substitution or transfer of prize permitted. Other restrictions apply. See a Mid Oregon Associate for details.
Join Us at the Deschutes County Fair on Friday, August 3rd!
99th Deschutes County Fair and Rodeo
As we have for the last several years, Mid Oregon Credit Union is sponsoring Friday at the Deschutes County Fair on August 3rd, with The Bulletin. Find us just inside the main entrance collecting school supplies, sharing about our Traeger Grill promotion, and having a great time with fair-goers!
Friday at the Fair- Too Much Fun!
At the fair on Friday, which is open from 10 am to 11 pm, visit The Bulletin Family Fun Zone and enjoy Mutton Busting, Legendary Longhorns, pony rides, and more…all free! Grand Funk Railroad plays at the First Interstate Bank Center at 7 pm (doors open at 5:30 pm), and of course rides, exhibits and loads of activities for the whole family are there to experience!
You can see the rodeo on Friday night as well. Starting at 6:30 pm, admission is free, but seating is first come, first serve.
To see all of Friday’s Deschutes County Fair activities, view the 2018 Deschutes County Fair and Rodeo website. For those of us who prefer to stay even more connected digitally, you can download the Fair App, too.
You Can Support Supplies4Schools
Please come see us when you go to the fair, and bring a small bag of school supplies (or monetary donation) if you can. During the month of August Supplies4Schools is in full force as Mid Oregon collects school supplies and monetary donations for all of Central Oregon public schools.
Each year we collect bins and bins of supplies and donations from our members, partners and the community, distributing them through FAN (the Family Access Network) in Deschutes and Crook Counties, and to the schools in Jefferson County.
Watch Our Social Media
Watch our Facebook and Instragram pages for updates on what we are doing at the fair. Who knows, we may have some concert tickets available. And you WILL be able to check out the Traeger Ranger Grill we will be giving away this summer. Details will be posted on Friday, but stop by the booth and say hi, and don’t miss any details!
See you at the Fair!