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.
Do You Need to Take a Breath?
Here in Central Oregon, the summers are not nearly as long as we would like. How many of us try to cram 6 months worth of activity and recreation into three months? At Mid Oregon Credit Union, we know that with increased activity often comes additional spending. Throw in preparing for the new school year- K through 12 or college- and all the other fall kick-off activities and expenses, and the end of summer finances can be a challenge. Do you need to take a breath?
Fortunately, Mid Oregon members who have loans have a way to give themselves some breathing room. Skip-A-Payment is designed to give some relief during those tight-budget months.
Budget Relief Without Additional Borrowing
If your budget is a little tight this back-to school season, get take the pressure off with Skip-A-Payment. Skip your Mid Oregon loan payment for just $25. Get the cash you need without taking out additional loans or cash advances.
Qualified members can skip their loan payment(s) for just $25 per loan skipped. Part of your fee will support local community efforts. Some restrictions apply, so please contact us for complete details. Skip-a-Payment does not include real estate secured loans.
Skip-A-Payment Details
Skip Payment Guidelines:
• You must have made at least six (6) consecutive payments.
• Your loan(s) must be in good standing (and not under a modification agreement).
• Interest will continue to accrue on all skipped payments; your loan term may be extended.
• If you normally make your payments by payroll deduction, the deduction will still be deducted from your paycheck, but it will be deposited back to your regular share account.
• This offer does not include real estate secured loans.
Note: More than two skips on a loan protected by optional Guaranteed Asset Protection (GAP) may result in a reduced GAP claim payout.
To participate in Skip-a-Payment, complete the form available on our website, and return to Mid Oregon in one of the following ways.
• Mail to Mid Oregon Credit Union, PO Box 6749, Bend OR 97708
• Drop it off at the Mid Oregon branch location nearest you
• Or just call us at (541) 382-1795 or (800) 452-3313—we’ll take it from there!
For Loans Not With Mid Oregon
If you have a loan at another lender, and could refinance your loan with Mid Oregon Credit Union and save. Mid Oregon is one of the most popular lenders in Central Oregon, and we commonly refinance auto and RV loans, saving members hundreds or thousands of dollars in interest.
You can look into refinancing your loan from another lender by emailing our loan team, visiting a branch, calling us at (541) 382-1795, or going right to our online loan application. Maybe we can help you save!
Member Gives Record Donation to Kick Off Supplies 4 Schools!
Redmond resident provides 140 stuffed backpacks to help local students
Mid Oregon Credit Union kicked off our annual Supplies4Schools drive in a spectacular way: A record donation from a one member who dropped off more than 140 backpacks stuffed with school supplies at our Redmond branch.
“I am always amazed at the generosity of the people in this community,” said Mid Oregon Vice President of Marketing, Kyle Frick. “Every year our members surprise us with their commitment to helping children get a successful start at school.”
Passion for Kids Formed as School Employee
Our donor, Vikki Olds of Redmond, says that she spent most of the year purchasing school supplies and assembling the backpacks. Her husband Andre and son-in-law Cameron helped load a trailer with the backpacks for delivery to our Redmond branch on 17th Place, near Bi-Mart. Olds says that she began this project after years as a bus driver in La Pine, Ore.
“I would see kids without coats or socks or warm clothes,” she said. “I just couldn’t get it out of my mind. I felt bad to think of these kids not having what they needed for school. This is my way of tithing for the year.”
Although Olds shops the sales and finds good prices on all the supplies she purchases, she says she still spends a few thousand dollars on the effort. She fills high-quality backpacks for elementary and high school students with supplies that include a three-ring binder and paper, pens and pencils, zipper pouches, standard or scientific calculators, hygiene items, and other tools.
Can Others Step Up, Too?
Olds challenged other Central Oregon residents to match her donations in the nearby communities including Prineville, Madras, Sisters, and Bend.
“I know there are people out there who have the ability to give more,” she said.
The Supplies4Schools fundraiser and supply drive is underway during the month of August at all seven Mid Oregon Credit Union locations. All donations of cash and supplies stay in the community where they are collected. In most communities, Mid Oregon partners with the Family Access Network (FAN) to distribute the supplies to students through the in-school FAN Advocates. In Jefferson county, we distribute directly to the school districts.
Donations of Money Are Appreciated
It’s not too late to purchase school supplies for this effort! However, cash donations are appreciated, and no donation is too small. A lot of $5 and $10 donations add up to a significant amount of needed backpacks, ear-buds, binders and rulers!
Visit our branches, call us at (541) 382-1795 or go online to our Supplies4Schools post for more details.
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.