Golden Valley Federal Credit Union

All in-branch services hours are 9:30 AM to 2 PM Monday thru Friday until further notice. We thank you for your cooperation in this difficult time.

Golden Valley FCU is responding to COVID-19 (Coronavirus) I am sure that the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) has made major changes to your everyday normal life. At GVFCU our primary goal is the safety of our members, our staff and families.... The Centers for Disease Control and our Federal, State and local governments are providing guidance and recommendations on effective ways to help prevent the spread of this virus. As of today March 19th we will operate at our normal business hours with limited services. As of Monday March 23rd the credit union hours will be 9:30 AM to 2:00 PM Monday Friday until further notice. The credit union is limiting access to our lobby to one member at a time for Teller services and one member at a time for Lending services as recommended by the CDC. The credit union office is asking all members that have a Debit Card to use our ATM for deposits or withdrawals. Additional services are available online through our Home Banking service. Utilize the night drop for other deposits and Loan payments. The Management of the credit union will make every effort to keep you and the credit union staff safe. If you are interested in applying for a loan you can complete a loan application online and fax it to 209-825-8162 or email it to [email protected]. Your credit union is federally insured by the N.C.U.A., a branch of the Federal Government, and your money is safe with GVFCU. Each account is insured for up $250,000.00. Be safe and watch out for scams. If you are having difficulties making your credit union loan payments because of the COVID -19 crisis, contact the Loan Dept. staff for assistance. Regards, Joann Wenk CEO

3 unique ways to save money on the day you buy a car Short of buying a home, many consumers will never spend more money than they do when purchasing a new vehicle. According to the automotive resource Kelley Blue Book, new-vehicle prices increased by 2 percent between April 2018 and April 2019, rising to slightly less than $37,000 in that period. With so much money at stake, car buyers' decisions in regard to which car to buy and how to finance the purchase are significant.... Some financial variables, including sales tax, may be set in stone. However, buyers can make the process of buying new cars more affordable. 1. Pay the taxes upfront. When buying a new car, buyers will receive a rundown of all of the costs from the dealership that's selling them the vehicle. Sales taxes will be included in that rundown. Buyers who are financing their vehicles can save money over the long haul by including the sales taxes in their initial down payment. Doing so means buyers will only pay interest on the vehicle and not the vehicle as well as the taxes going forward. 2. Use a cash back credit card when making your down payment and paying taxes on the vehicle. Some lenders may not allow down payments to be made in anything but cash, while others accept credit card payments. Car buyers who have cash back credit cards can use those cards when making down payments and/or paying the taxes on the vehicle to reduce the initial costs of buying the car. For example, if a credit card rewards card holders with 2 percent cash back on every charged purchase, buyers can then lower the cost of that down payment by 2 percent by simply using their cards when making the payment. Just be sure to pay the balance in full when the bill is due, as credit card interest charges can negate any savings you might earn. 3. Carefully read the service contract. Many dealerships now offer service contracts that can be rolled into monthly payments. These contracts may cover certain maintenance costs as defined in the agreement. Each auto service contract is different, and some may just be offering duplicate coverage already provided by the manufacturers' warranty. Buyers always have the option to decline the service contract and should never agree to it without first reading the entire contract. Requesting to do so can be difficult, as service contracts are often proposed as buyers finalize their financing agreements, and many packages must be accepted on-site before the loan is finalized. But buyers have the right to take their time and read the contracts. New cars are expensive, but buyers can employ various strategies to save money before signing on the dotted line.