Living Greater

Hello everyone, it’s nice to meet you. I’m Matt R. O’Fact, and I’m here to deliver some Real Talk.

What’s Real Talk? It is a few different things. First off, it’s the name of a new campaign that Greater Nevada Credit Union is running to ensure people know about the power of banking with us. And it’s also a promise. A promise from Greater Nevada Credit Union to the people of Nevada— we want to make it easier for you to achieve your goals.

We want to make banking simpler, easier to access and understand. We offer accounts and programs to help your money go further. We committee to taking banking terms and fine print and turn it into real talk that real people can understand.      

If you’ve bought anything online recently, you might’ve noticed online retailers offering the option of Buy Now, Pay Later Loans when you click to check out.

This type of loan—also known as a point-of-sale loan—gives you the option to pay off your purchase with bi-weekly or monthly payments over a period of time. Unlike credit cards, many Buy Now, Pay Later Loans (BNPL for short) offer 0% interest and no penalties for late payments.

On the surface, this can sound like a pretty attractive option; especially if your online cart is loaded with big-ticket items such as furniture, gifts, or household goods. However, it’s important to be aware of how BNPLs can impact your credit score before deciding to use this option.

There are plenty of reasons that you may need some extra cash ASAP—and a personal line of credit can help you get it while also potentially helping your credit score.

A personal line of credit from GNCU is the perfect option to help you consolidate your debt, protect your account from overdrafts, or lend a hand with unexpected life events, like a sudden auto repair or pet illness.

With a personal line of credit, you get instant access to your available credit when you need it. 

Member service representative, Edith Flores, loves animals. She wanted to turn that passion into action and find a way to help all the animals at the Nevada Humane Society as they wait to find their forever homes. With a goal of raising $3,000, Edith got creative, and with the help of Greater Nevada employees and community members, Edith reached her goal.

This April 24, I will join my fellow Greater Nevadans and hundreds of other participants to take the Polar Plunge in South Lake Tahoe. Together, we’ll brave a few minutes in freezing water to support Special Olympics Nevada and the incredible work it does to facilitate year-round sports training and athletic competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities.

It’s been over a year since sports leagues in Nevada were shut down to help slow the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. That’s an entire year of opportunities missed for the youth in our communities. Gloves sat in closets, cleats collected dust in garages and basketballs deflated while we waited for facilities to reopen and welcome us back.

From creating an emergency fund to paying off debt, here’s a game plan to use extra money to make a meaningful impact on your life.

In 2020, we witnessed and were a part of history in many ways, both good and bad. There were times that tested our resolve, our patience and even our ability to move forward.  With our members and clients in need, as Greater Nevadans, 2020 became our time to shine.  A time to show our members and our communities that we care about them and will do whatever we are able to help them Live Greater. And truly, a time to collaborate, celebrate and move forward together.

Tragically, we have all seen more boarded-up windows and “final sale” signs than we would like since the pandemic shuttered Nevada businesses’ doors back in March of 2020. Some of our favorite local places – restaurants, gyms, salons and others —have seen their final days come and go as a result. At Greater Nevada we’re working hard to do our part to prevent this from happening wherever and whenever possible.

The end of December usually is when we would share advice about what new year’s financial resolutions could help our members in the next 12 months. Traditionally, we’d talk about how to take control of your money, make better financial decisions, pay off credit card debt, and save for retirement and emergencies. However, 2020 has been anything but a traditional year, so our advice going into 2021 is different as well.
 

We’re surrounded by messages about things to be grateful for during the holiday season—our family and friends, physical surroundings, natural environment, skills and abilities, and more. Even so, sometimes it can be difficult to have an attitude of gratitude—especially in trying and challenging times. However, practicing gratitude has been proven to have many positive psychological benefits, can help you navigate uncertainty, and can even improve your finances.
 

University of Nevada Wolf Pack games have been a little different this year. There is no roar of the crowd coming from the stands, but that hasn't stopped the Wolf Pack Marching Band from keeping the spirit of the Pack strong.

If you’ve ever worried about not having cash on hand, then worry no more if you’re a Greater Nevada Credit Union (GNCU) member. Beginning December 10, 2020, GNCU’s new partnership with Zelle will give members a Greater way to send—and receive—money, right from your Personal eBranch.

In the face of the global pandemic, we at Greater Nevada had a number of choices to make regarding our annual meeting. Rather than altogether canceling or moving our annual meeting online this year, we took a different approach. By implementing new technology, ensuring protocols were followed, and working with event experts, we held our annual meeting and protected our team's safety. We're extremely proud that no new COVID cases were reported as a result of our event!
 

As we get closer to the new year, I believe we’re all trying to imagine what the future holds. None of us has a crystal ball to see how our community and economy will continue to adapt and adjust to current and future challenges. However, we can trust in the foundation that we’ve built together through the turbulent months of 2020. This is the second interview in a two-part series with Greater Nevada Credit Union’s President and CEO, Wally Murray. 
 

(November 23, 2020) – Greater Nevada Credit Union (GNCU) has contributed $25,000 as the first corporate sponsor and financial institution to the Audacity Fund Reno, which provides funding, education and support to local business owners from underserved populations.   
 

More and more people are looking to indulge in the holiday season a little bit earlier this year. Many hope to spark some much-needed joy by putting up festive decorations, baking up some favorite goodies, or creating the perfect gift list.
 
However, without careful planning, many Americans could find themselves in a world of debt come January 1. For example, in 2019, Americans took on an average of $1,325 of holiday debt, according to a survey conducted by MagnifyMoney. But come January 2020, 78% of people weren’t able to pay off their holiday debt.

It seems like decades ago since the COVID-19 pandemic first began impacting our communities in Nevada and California. In the months since March 2020, all of us have experienced a lifetime’s worth of change. This is the first interview in a two-part series with Greater Nevada Credit Union’s President and CEO, Wally Murray. 

Financial fears—those thoughts that keep you up at night with worry and concern. They’re like the grown-up version of the monster under the bed or the ghost in the closet. These shadowy specters haunt more than half of U.S. adults and can cause anxiety and mood changes. But unlike childhood nightmares, the financial frights persist during daytime hours and can affect an individual’s ability to concentrate and achieve their professional goals.

However, there are ways to conjure an antidote or counter-curse to banish these money monsters from your life. Here are six common financial fears among U.S. adults and ways to overpower them.

Sometimes, you want to be able to access a banking resource on your terms. Maybe you just remembered to pay your credit card bill at 2 a.m. Or, you want to be able to check your account balance or deposit a check from the comfort of your couch. With digital banking resources, you can manage your money where and when you need to, which gives you time back to focus on what is most important to you.

Ice cream, puppies, team sports and credit unions—all four of these have an official day to applaud the goodness they bring to the world. In honor of International Credit Union Day, here are a few reasons why credit unions deserve some accolades on this day, and really every day of the year.

If you ask most people how much money they have, they’ll likely tell you the current balance of their checking account. It’s fundamental to each person’s finances. Along with a savings account, a checking account is one of the cornerstones of how you manage your money. That’s why choosing the right type of checking product can greatly improve your financial health and satisfaction.

It’s crucial to protect your identity right now, as many criminals and scam artists see COVID-19 as an opportunity to prey on Americans—especially seniors. According to data from the Federal Trade Commission, Americans have lost $145 million to fraud related to COVID-19. Since the beginning of 2020, consumers have filed more than 205,000 reports of fraud linked to the coronavirus, according to the FTC.

In less than 10 months, almost 1,000 Greater Nevada members have taken the leap and invested in themselves by creating good savings habits. This is especially encouraging given the statistics regarding the number of Americans who haven't been able to save money for an emergency. About 78% of American workers live paycheck-to-paycheck, more than half of U.S. households don't have an emergency savings fund, and 40% would struggle to cope with a $400 unexpected expense.

Amid all the other crises of 2020—a global pandemic, the largest wildfire season recorded in California history, murder hornets (remember those?)—many people are also experiencing their own financial emergency. Some have lost their jobs due to the COVID-19 pandemic or seen a dramatic dip in their hours and pay. Others have watched their retirement savings fluctuate due to market conditions. For some small business owners, the one-two-punch of state-wide closures and the threat of the coronavirus has led to an almost 27% dip in revenue.

As we all respond and adapt to the massive changes brought by COVID-19, it’s vital to recognize how crucial the role rural businesses play in the recovery of our national economy. When a global health crisis disrupts America’s rural economies and communities, the ripple effects can impact supply chains of essential services and products. Without the food, transportation, manufacturing, and energy that America’s rural businesses produce, people in metropolitan areas suffer needlessly.

When you were a child, did you ask your parents for ten dollars because you wanted to buy something that you couldn’t afford? Did they reply, “Okay, but you’re going to have to pay me back, plus interest.” If they did, they were teaching you a valuable lesson about borrowing.

Reno News & Review (RN&R) has just commenced its “Best of Northern Nevada” campaign to celebrate the businesses, events and places that make us proud to call northern Nevada home. At Greater Nevada Credit Union we love to support the communities we serve and in honor of the “Best of Northern Nevada 2017” awards we wanted to share a few of the events and places that make this region great.
 

Every year, February brings about the start of tax season. For some, the process may be quick and painless while others may spend months gathering the needed documents. During tax season, procrastination can be one of your worst enemies. Here are four reasons why you should think about filing early.

Today, there are so many choices for consumers when it comes to banking. If you’re unhappy with your current financial institution, why not think about switching? One of the biggest reasons most people stay with their financial institution is because switching seems like a difficult process, it really isn’t.  In fact, here’s a simple checklist of steps to follow. You may find yourself saying, “Wow. That was easier than I thought.”