Congratulations to the Class of 2023 and their parents!
Preparing for college is an exciting time, but it can also be stressful as you start to tally the costs. College is expensive! Before you get overwhelmed, take a deep breath and take the process one step at a time. How much will it cost? By now you should have received information from your college of choice about your cost of attendance (COA). The COA outlines what you’ll be responsible for paying for one academic year, including room, board, books and other fees. Remember that your true cost of attendance may vary based on things such as your housing situation (a single room will usually cost more than a double shared with a roommate) or where you purchase your books (look for deals online or with used books). How do I pay for it? Now that you’ve reviewed the costs, how will you cover them? You should have filed your FAFSA earlier this year in order to find out how much financial aid you will receive from the government or your school. The government and your college will use your FAFSA information to decide how much financial aid you will receive. This aid will come in the form of scholarships and grants. Start with these options because they typically do not have to be repaid – in other words, free money for college! The next option for financial aid comes from federal student loans. Federal loans come with many options to help you or your parents fund your college education. They also offer great benefits such as fixed rates, deferment, and income-based repayment, to name a few. Still need more help paying for college? Don’t wait until your fall tuition bill is due – now is the time to look into your options for paying for college! For more information, or to apply click HERE.
Private student loans are the final option you should explore. These loans come from a private lender like SRI Federal Credit Union. Our Student Choice lending solution comes with low-interest rates, flexible repayment terms, and a convenient line of credit structure that allows you to get funding for your entire undergraduate career with just one application. By borrowing from a trusted, local lender, you’ll get a fair value loan with the personal service you’ve come to expect from your credit union.
Send Your Student Loan Debt On A Permanent Vacation!
Summer is heating up, and you may be wishing you could send your student loan debt on a permanent vacation! Relax – SRI Federal Credit Union can help you beat the heat when it comes to student loan payments. When you refinance and consolidate your private, federal, and even parent (PLUS) loans into one manageable loan, you’ll get the benefit of one convenient payment and could potentially lower your rate, saving money over the life of your loan!* Grab a refreshing drink and your favorite pool float, and check out these benefits: Refinancing your federal and/or private student loans can be a great way to consolidate payments and potentially save money on interest over time. However, refinancing may not be the best option for everyone. That’s why it’s important to research and discuss your options with an expert you can trust. Don’t let the stress of paying down student loans burn you up – your credit union has a cool solution! Visit srifcu.studentchoice.org to learn more and apply. *Subject to credit qualification and additional criteria, including graduating from an approved school. IMPORTANT NOTICE: By refinancing federal student loans, you may lose certain borrower benefits from your original loans. These may include interest rate discounts, principal rebates, or some cancellation benefits that can significantly reduce the cost of repaying your loans. Please review this important disclosure for more information.
Find out how to get your FREE Popsicle!
On June 14th from 11 am to 4 pm the credit union will be giving away FREE Popsicles. Simply fill out the survey linked here, print out the confirmation page and bring it in.
Hope to see you on Friday, June 14th from 11 am to 4 pm.
Remember, with SRI FCU anything is popsicle! Popsicle Fun Facts: The Popsicle was invented by an 11-year-old who kept it secret for 18 years.
Save The Date!
All members and SRI International employees are invited to attend SRI Federal Credit Union’s 62nd Annual Meeting to celebrate the Credit Union’s success during 2018. The meeting will be held Wednesday, March 20th, at noon in the International Building of SRI. Let us share with you the Credit Union’s 2018 financial performance, accomplishments and featured products.
Back by popular demand, Apryll Held, our Mortgage Loan Specialist, will be on site to answer any mortgage related questions you may have. To speak with Apryll one-on-one, call us at 650-859-5477 to make an appointment. Availability is limited, so be sure to schedule your appointment before spaces run out!
We will have door prizes and giveaways that won’t disappoint! If you bring a guest who is eligible to join and they become a member both of you will be entered to win a special prize and both will receive $50 dollars! Following the meeting, we invite you to enjoy food and refreshments with other members and credit union staff.
Be sure to save the date, Wednesday, March 20th, at noon. See you there.
New Online Banking Update!
The new online banking update has been rolled out! Upon first sign-on, you’ll notice we now require a “One-Time Passcode” to access your account. Although the application looks the same, there are some new functions and enhanced security features.
New features include:
- One-Time Passcode – via Text, Email or Voice
- Email Change Alert – Now a standard feature, you’ll be notified if your email has been updated through online banking
- Member-to-Member Transfers now allow you to save a Payee (i.e. George’s Checking & George’s Savings)
- Update your contact info within online banking
- Improved Menu options
- Improved Account List View (upgraded from account tiles)
- Family Manager – Set up various access levels for everyone that needs to view your account. Stay tuned for more details!
We thank you for your patience and cooperation in helping us improve your online banking platform. As always, please contact us with any questions, comments or concerns you may have – we value your feedback!
We’re moving on up!
SRI Federal Credit Union is pleased to announce that we will soon be opening our new main branch. Our new above ground branch will still be located at 333 Ravenswood Ave in Menlo Park. Its new entrance will be located to the left of the SRI building “A” lobby.
The new branch features an open floor plan that creates a comfortable, inviting atmosphere designed to enhance conversation and connection. It will feature several digital installations that will display information ranging from financial literacy to special deals and rates. Included below are pictures of the beginning of the construction.
Come and join us to celebrate our grand opening on Monday, November 12, 2018, from 11 AM to 1 pm, in the breezeway between SRI’s HR hallway and the new branch entrance (look for the balloons). In addition to great door prizes, refreshments and lunch, SRI’s Fitness center will be doing signups for any SRI employees that have not signed up yet.
Want to see how it all turned out? Make sure to mark your calendars for the special day and stay tuned for more news coming soon.
We’ve Increased Our Savings Rates…Again!
With interest rates rising, it’s a good time to review your finances to understand the effect of rate increases on your accounts. SRI Federal Credit Union has all you need to maximize your dividend yields.
You may have noticed our Savings and Money Market rates had a jump in August, and now we’re complementing those eye-popping rates with stellar increases to all our Certificate rates in October! The rate increase is a healthy .25% across all Certificate rates! Now you can get a CD with a rate as high as 2.55% APY!
Remember that our Money Market rates are still very competitive (with rates as high as 1.50% APY). Don’t miss the opportunity to start earning more interest on the money that you already have, by transferring it over to our high rate Money Market account and Certificates. You could be earning 1.50% in your Money Market account, why not start today?
We would love to discuss all the options with you. Call us at 1-800-986-3669, email us at connect@srifcu.org or visit our branch.
*APY=Annual Percentage Yield
Referral Rewards
Get Up To $500 A Year With Referral Rewards!
SRI Federal Credit Union will reward you for referring your friends or family. Referred new members will receive $50 when they open a new checking account. Referring members will also earn $50 for each qualified new member, up to $500 per year.
Simply fill out our Referral Rewards form found here, print it out and give it to a family member or friend and have them present it at the time of account opening. Opening the account online? Make sure the Referral Rewards section is filled out. After the new member joins, both of you will receive $50.
Referred members must meet the following requirements:
- Valid identification and proof of membership eligibility
- Establish a Savings account with a $5 deposit and a Checking account with a $100 deposit.
Referring Member must be in good standing with the credit union to qualify.
Spread the word about SRI Federal Credit Union and start earning Referral Rewards today!
Rates Are On The Rise
With interest rates rising, it’s a good time to review your finances to understand the effect of rate increases on your accounts. SRI Federal Credit Union has all you need to maximize your dividend yields.
You may have noticed our Certificate rates had a nice jump in July, and now we’re complementing those rates with stellar increases to the Savings and Money Market rates! With the introduction of additional balance tiers, you’re able to make up to 1.00% more on your deposits. Check out our new tiers and rates and don’t be afraid to spread the word!
That’s not all – our eye-popping Special 2.30% APY* Two-Year Certificate is still available through the end of August! Are you earning less than 2.30% APY elsewhere? Let us help you move those balances to SRIFCU and maximize your returns. This promotional certificate can earn you 2.30% APY for two years, with a minimum deposit of $10,000, new money only**. Click here to take advantage of this today.
You have lots of options and we would love to discuss them with you. Call us at 1-800-986-3669, email us at connect@srifcu.org or visit our branch.
*APY=Annual Percentage Yield
**New Money = For the purposes of this special New Money is categorized as any deposits made after July 1st, 2018
Protecting your accounts and identity
Our members’ security is a top priority. We’ll never ask you to send us personal information such as an account number, card PIN or your Social Security/Tax ID over email. If you do receive a request like this through the phone, text or any other suspicious phishing email, please forward it to us at connect@srifcu.org.
What you need to do:
- Be sure to keep your contact information, especially your cell phone number and email address, current. This ensures our fraud protection group can reach you if there is suspicious activity on your account. To update your address please call 800-986-3669 or send a secured message through online banking.
- Fill out a Travel Notification Form online to let us know of your travel plans. This will prevent transactions from being declined due to where the charges are originating from. Review your accounts regularly to verify all transactions are valid.
- Make sure your passwords are strong. Strength in numbers – passwords should not be shorter than 6 – 8 characters. There should be a mix of numbers, letters (both capital and lower case) and special symbols. Most importantly don’t use the same password for everything.
- Request your free credit reports annually and review them for inaccuracies. You can get complete information about obtaining your free reports at AnnualCreditReport.com.