LMCU Member News

LMCU Fall 2024 Newsletter

Written by Lake Michigan Credit Union | Oct 1, 2024 1:15:21 PM

Earn more. Pay less. Carve out time.

Learn what's happening at LMCU.

 

The 2024-35 Hutt Scholarship program is now accepting submissions.

LMCU was originally founded as Grand Rapids Teachers Credit Union by Lloyd F. Hutt, a local teacher. Our annual Hutt Scholarship program provides high school seniors with the opportunity to win one of twenty $2,000 higher education scholarships.

Students submit an original essay responding to a prompt or topic that changes each year. This year’s prompt is: What sort of legacy do you want to leave, and how will you live your life to make that legacy a reality?

2024 Hutt Scholarship applications can be submitted now through January 8, 2025. Winning essays are selected by a panel of independent judges. To learn more and submit an essay, please visit LMCU.org/Hutt.

 

 

Set a budget, plan for your future, and tackle your financial goals with our new LMCU Financial Wellness Center.

We’re excited to introduce LMCUFinancialWellness.org, your new resource to take your financial know-how to the next level. Create a free account and:

Discover new articles and topics in a constantly expanding and evolving educational library
Learn at your own pace with over a dozen courses designed to suit your busy schedule
Create a budget, track your progress each month, and set personalized financial goals
Measure your financial health, assess your risk of identity theft, project retirement savings, and more
Plan for your (or your kid’s) future with our College Explorer and Career Explorer

Each month, the LMCU Financial Wellness Center focuses on a specific topic, so there is always something new to check out.

October: Retirement Planning
November: Starting a Business
December: Holiday Spending & New Year Prep

What are you waiting for? Check out LMCUFinancialWellness.org now. Your finances will thank you.

 

 

Another LMCU Bridge Run has crossed the finish line.

On September 15, over 2,500 participants walked, ran, and rolled through downtown Grand Rapids for the 2024 LMCU Bridge Run, supporting community health.

We appreciate all the dedicated staff and volunteers who contribute to the success of this health-positive event every year. We can’t wait to run beside the West Michigan community again in 2025!

 

 

Join our employees and volunteers in Ending the Year Strong.

LMCU is focused on community involvement all year long, but throughout November and December, we invite our members to join in, too! Check our social media accounts for updates on how you can get involved with new volunteer opportunities and community activities to help us end 2024 strong.

 

 

 

 

You brought little heroes big hope.

This past August, our annual Band Together program raised over $80,000 for pediatric and kids’ care programs across 17 Michigan and Florida hospitals. These donations help purchase equipment and resources that save lives and bring comfort to children staying in the hospitals that serve our communities.

Thank you to everyone who donated! Your generosity makes a difference.

 

 

 

 

Whitecaps fans, thank you for a fantastic summer at LMCU Ballpark!

The West Michigan Whitecaps ended their 2024 regular season 37-28. LMCU members filled the stands by purchasing over 2,000 discounted tickets, including exclusive packages for four LMCU Member Night games featuring fireworks, family events, and more.

See you next year for another grand-slam summer at LMCU Ballpark! Go ‘Caps!

 

 

"We're paying our debt off a lot quicker with the low rate from LMCU's Prime Platinum card."

Cara and her husband love banking with Lake Michigan Credit Union and have for years. So naturally, when they needed to consolidate credit card debt to help with their growing family, their first thought was LMCU.

With a low interest rate and no balance transfer fee, LMCU’s Prime Platinum Visa card was perfect. Cara said, “We aren’t financial experts, but they taught us about our options. We are thrilled to see that consolidating our debt makes things simpler for us, and we are saving money while still paying our debt off a lot faster than we thought was possible.”

Find out what the Prime Platinum card could do for you, too. Learn more at LMCU.org/CreditCards or stop by your local LMCU branch.

Cara is an LMCU member and was compensated for her time.

Attend a virtual or in-person First-Time Homebuyer Seminar

Ready to find your first home but not sure where to start? That’s where our First-Time Homebuyer Seminars come in. LMCU’s mortgage loan experts will cover a variety of topics, including programs specifically designed to help first-time homebuyers purchase their home with as little as 0-3% down.*

We’re holding a virtual seminar on Tuesday, November 12, and an in-person seminar at our Grand Rapids corporate office on Tuesday, November 19. Reserve your spot here!

 *For well-qualified borrowers. The interest on the portion of the loan that exceeds the value of the dwelling is not tax deductible. Please consult your tax advisor.

 

 

Visit the fall Grand Rapids Parade of Homes.

The Home Builders Association of Greater Grand Rapids is holding its fall Parade of Homes October 4-12.

LMCU members and non-members can save $5 on tickets by stopping into any greater Grand Rapids branch for a discount code. Tickets for children 12 and under are free.

For details, please visit MyGRHome.com.

 

 

Refer new LMCU members and get up to $500!*

Have a friend, loved one, or neighbor who’d love banking here? Invite them to join LMCU through our Refer a Friend program and you’ll both earn an extra $50.* The more people you refer, the more you earn — up to $500 a year! Start referring at LMCU.org/Refer or through your local LMCU branch.

*Both Advocate and Friend must be over the age of 18 to qualify for the reward. Advocate must be a primary member of LMCU in good standing with a valid email address on file and refer an eligible prospect (Friend) to LMCU. Friend must open a qualified LMCU membership with checking account using Advocate’s referral link and meet the program criteria. The Friend must hold two or more recurring direct deposit(s) totaling $500.00 or more for 60 days. Following qualification, LMCU will deposit $50 into the Advocate’s primary savings account and $50 into the Friend’s primary savings account within 14 business days.

 

 

Keep your days merry and bright with these holiday fraud prevention tips.

The holidays are around the corner, and while they often bring the joy of gift-giving, time with family, and taking time off work, this is also the perfect time of year for scammers to take advantage of our hectic schedules and extra purchases. Fortunately, there are ways to protect yourself from fraud so you can ring in the New Year without added stress.

Protect your accounts. Before the holiday hustle hits, review your passwords and online account security. Create strong, unique passwords for each of your accounts or — at the very least — your banking and credit card accounts. Multifactor authentication is a strong safeguard against fraud as well. At LMCU, you can set up our mobile authenticator to send a one-time passcode to your mobile app, adding a layer of security.

Be cautious where you shop online. Make sure you’re only buying from secured and reputable websites. Online marketplaces like Facebook Marketplace, NextDoor, and Craigslist can be extra risky since you are often paying in cash and buying directly from an individual. Being asked to pay using a wire transfer or gift cards is a red flag as well. When possible, pay using an app like PayPal or Venmo that offers some purchase protections instead.

Visit the Security Center on LMCU.org. Our LMCU Security Center has more steps you can take to better protect yourself and your money while avoiding common scams.

If you ever suspect fraud or find suspicious activity in your LMCU account, you can reach our Member Services Department at (800) 242-9790. Stay safe, protect yourself, and enjoy the holidays.

 

 

 

Don't forget! Medicare open enrollment is October 15 to December 7.

Is your Medicare plan due for a checkup? Open enrollment is the only time you’re able to make any changes to your plan for 2025. Lake Michigan Insurance Agency will be your helpful guide through the process, making Medicare as stress-free as possible.

Learn more or schedule an appointment by visiting LMIAInsurance.org, emailing us at Medicare@LMCU.org, or calling (866) 603-2864.

 
 
 
 

 

LMCU Financials

As of August 31, 2024

Assets | $14,389,079,648
Loans | $11,938,335,944
Deposits | $12,218,117,337
Members | 605,862