Posted: February 18, 2010

Tax Refund Scam – February 18

Posted: December 6, 2009

Mazuma launches redesigned website.
LATEST BLOG ENTRY > Kansas City Saves Week is coming! > VIEW BLOG POST
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I'M ALL ABOUT:
PUTTING MORE MONEY IN MY POCKET AT TAX TIME.

Preparing my own taxes can be complicated and costly. Luckily, as a Mazuma Credit Union Member, I can file my simple return FREE with Turbo Tax Federal Free Edition or save $30 on Jackson Hewitt preparation. That means I can save more money on my taxes!
Credit Unions are financially strong and offer many benefits over banks. When you join a credit union, you become a Member and an owner. Select More Info for a quick comparison.
Credit Unions   Banks
Credit unions have members, not customers. Each person who deposits money in a credit union becomes a Member of the credit union because his deposit is considered his share of the ownership. That means credit unions are Member-owned. Each Member is also an owner of the credit union.   Banks can serve anyone in the general public. Banks have customers who have no voice in how the bank is operated. Banks are owned by small groups of investors who expect a certain return on their investments.
Credit unions are democratically controlled. They are run by a volunteer board of directors elected by and from the membership. Each Member has one vote in electing board members and certain committee members and can run for election to the board or committees.   At banks, only the investors have voting privileges. Customers don't have voting rights, cannot be elected to the board, and have no authority in the overall governance of their bank.
Credit unions are not-for-profit. This doesn't mean that they do not or should not make a profit. After expenses are paid and reserves are set aside, surplus earnings are returned to members in the forms of higher dividends, lower loan rates and free or low-cost services.   In banks, only the investors get a share of the profits.
Federally chartered and many state-chartered credit unions are insured by the National Credit Union Share Insurance Fund (NCUSIF), which is managed by the National Credit Union Administration, an agency of the federal government. As a federal deposit insurance fund, the NCUSIF is backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government. The NCUSIF is the only deposit insurance fund that operates on a pay-as-you-go system, which prevents the accumulation of annual losses. The NCUSIF has never had to use taxpayers' money.   Banks are insured by the federal government. Their insurance fund is called the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. Part of this fund, which covers savings and loans, had to be bailed out by using billions of dollars of taxpayers' money. The FDIC is not operated on a pay-as-you-go system.
Credit unions are part of a worldwide support network that includes credit unions, state credit union leagues, a national trade association (CUNA) and a worldwide credit union organization ( WOCCU). They share ideas, information and resources.   Most banks belong to state and national organizations. However, banks usually are reluctant to share ideas, information and resources with each other.
My Mazuma
Woman on Beach
GET AWAY this year. You keep saying you are going to, but life is too short to procrastinate. The World has a lot to offer and Mazuma wants to help you see it. Home Equity Rates as low as 5.74%APR†.

My Mazuma
Older Couple on Vacation
Saving for the future is more important than ever. Build your wealth today with Mazuma CDs. Discover a wider range of investment options here.

I’m All About:
‘a better rate on my auto loan.’

When I needed a new car, I knew I could count on Mazuma Credit Union to give me an affordable rate. That’s because Mazuma is Member-owned, and all profits are distributed in a way that actually lowers interest rates. And, by using Automatic Payments, I received an even lower rate.
Your Savings Federally Insured to at least $250,000 and backed by the full faith and credit of the United States Government.