ZooTunes Concerts — Win Season Passes or VIP Seats

BECU ZooTunes at Woodland Park Zoo has announced the summer concert series lineup. We are proud to sponsor this family fun event for the 4th year in a row. The annual summer concert series will feature big names like k.d. land, Ziggy Marley, Pink Martini and more.

Win a Season Pass or VIP Seats
We are giving away a season pass for two to one lucky winner. And, another lucky winner will win two VIP seats to one concert of their choosing.

To find out more information, entry guidelines and official rules, check out our Facebook page.

The deadline is 11:59pm Thursday, May 31, so make sure to enter before then.

Bill Payment Log In Issue Resolved

The intermittent log in issue some members were experiencing when attempting to access Bill Payment has been resolved. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused and thank you for your patience while we worked to resolve the issue.

If for some reason, you are still experiencing difficulty logging into Bill Payment, please contact a BECU representative at 800-233-2328 so we can troubleshoot your specific issue.

BECU Family Night at the Mariners

Take the whole family out to the ballgame during BECU Family Night at the Mariners. Pick up select View Level seats for just $10. Day-of-game tickets are $12. For more information and to get your tickets, visit Mariners Ticket Specials .

Here’s a list of BECU Family Night Games for the 2012 season:

Mon, May 7
Mariners vs Detroit Tigers
7:10 pm

Mon, May 21
Mariners vs Texas Rangers
7:10 pm

Mon, Jun 25
Mariners vs Oakland Athletics
7:10 pm

Mon, Jul 2
Mariners vs Baltimore Orioles
7:10 pm

Mon, Jul 30
Mariners vs Toronto Blue Jays
7:10 pm

Mon, Aug 13
Mariners vs Tampa Bay Rays
7:10 pm

Mon, Aug 20
Mariners vs Cleveland Indians
7:10 pm

Mon, Sept 17
Mariners vs Baltimore Orioles
7:10 pm

Mon, Oct 1
Mariners vs Los Angeles Angels
7:10 pm

New ATM Location in Sammamish

We are pleased to announce that the BECU ATM in Sammamish has been relocated to:

Pine Lake Village
3012 228th Ave SE
Sammamish, WA 98075

This ATM is now available for you to make convenient 24/7 withdrawals, deposits and transfers between BECU accounts.

To find other surcharge-free ATMs near where you live, work, shop and travel, visit BECU locations.

New Money-Saving Opportunities on Jumbo Loans

If you are looking to purchase or refinance a home over $417,000 then you’ll want a BECU Jumbo Loan. And we are now offering the following money-saving opportunities:

• New Lower Rates on 30-Year Fixed and 5/1 ARMs
• No Origination Fee
• We offer up to a $750,000 loan amount at a 90% Loan to Value
• We finance up to$2.5 million dollars

We understand that buying a home could be a high value purchase. Our different home financing options can help you meet your specific financial needs over the life of your homeownership. If you are looking to purchase a high value home, our Jumbo Loans give you more purchasing power.

Do You Want a Fixed Rate or Adjustable Rate Mortgage?
It’s important to know if a fixed rate loan or an adjustable rate loan works for your specific financial situation and needs. Here’s a quick reference to help you determine which one may work for you.

A Fixed Rate may be a good choice if:

• You plan on staying in the home long-term
• You think interest rates will increase
• You don’t expect your income to increase significantly over the coming years

An ARM may be a good choice if:

• You want the stability of a fixed monthly payment for three, five or seven years—depending on which ARM you choose
• You want to keep your payments low initially
• You want to maximize the amount of loan you qualify for

To learn more about our Fixed Rate and ARM Jumbo Loan options, visit BECU Jumbo Home Loans BECU Home Loans.

Get More Details
BECU is your one-stop home loan resource. Our representatives are available to work with you through every stage of your purchase or refinance. It is our goal to provide you with affordable and responsible financial services that fit your specific needs. For more details, visit www.becuhomeloans.org or call our Home Loan Department at 206-439-6772 or 800-233-2328 (ext 5772).

Rate subject to change after initial period expires.
Certain restrictions apply. Home Loan programs, terms and conditions subject to change without notice.

Great College Planning News for BECU Members

This is the time of year when Financial Aid award letters are typically received by students. Award letters explain how much money the student will be receiving in the form of scholarships, grants, financial aid, and/or Federal Student loans, while also outlining the ‘expected family contribution’.

As college costs continue to increase, more and more we are hearing parents express concern over funding their child’s college education—without sacrificing their retirement savings in the process. Currently, the cost of a college education is between $16,000 and $60,000 for one year per child.

The great news is that BECU offers a free web-based college planning service for members that can help you make smart, informed college planning and funding decisions and help you save money on your out-of-pocket college costs.

This online service is offered through our collaboration with Collegiate Funding Solutions (CFS). CFS is widely regarded as the premier provider of web-based college planning and funding solutions.

By investing a few minutes, you can obtain your own custom college planning and funding report that can help you better prepare and pay for college whether your child is eight months or 18 years old and regardless of your level of income.

Ready to Get Started?
Visit Collegiate Funding Solutions and invest a few minutes in using this free service to take concrete steps toward helping your child pay for college.

Are you eligible for Home Affordable Refinance Program?

If you're not behind on your mortgage payments but have been unable to get traditional refinancing because the value of your home has declined, you may be eligible to refinance through Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP) even if you owe more than 125% of the current value of your home. HARP is designed to help you get a new, more affordable, more stable mortgage.

Fannie Mae Owned or Guaranteed Loans
If your mortgage is owned or guaranteed by Fannie Mae, you may be eligible to refinance your mortgage at BECU under the enhanced and expanded provisions of HARP.

Freddie Mac Owned or Guaranteed Loans
Freddie Mac loans also qualify for HARP, but BECU does not have a current relationship with Freddie Mac. If you have a home loan at another financial institution that is owned or guaranteed by Freddie Mac you may be eligible for HARP at that financial institution.

Do BECU HLPR (HELPER) Loans Qualify for HARP?
Members who took advantage of the HLPR loan are not eligible under the HARP program at this time. We are aware of the impact this is having on our members, and we are trying to develop a solution. Please email us at harp@becu.org for further assistance.

Take the First Steps
Follow the steps below to determine whether you’re eligible to refinance your mortgage under the new HARP program and enjoy the benefits of a more affordable mortgage.

Step 1

Determine whether your mortgage is on file with Fannie Mae. To check, complete the short online form on their website:

Fannie Mae Website

Step 2
If you can answer “true” to the following questions, you may be eligible to refinance your mortgage with BECU under the HARP program.

True or False: I have verified that my loan is owned by Fannie Mae
True or False: I have made all of my mortgage payments on time in the past 6 months
True or False: My mortgage has not been previously refinanced under the HARP Program

Step 3
If you believe you meet the eligibility requirements for a HARP loan, you can apply today at BECU Home Loans or call us at 206-439-5772. If you have further questions, email us at harp@becu.org.

You Could Win Your Own Priceless New York Experience!

Use your BECU Gold Debit MasterCard^® between May – June 30, 2012, sign for your purchase and be automatically entered for a chance to win. Grand Prize is a 2 night/3 day trip to New York City with your choice of a culinary, shopping and entertainment experience!*

Your BECU Debit MasterCard can be used worldwide, everywhere debit MasterCard is accepted. It’s a better and safer option than check and cash transactions—and you can use it in-person, online and by phone with ease.

*NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Void where prohibited. PIN-based/International/MasterCard® Corporate card transactions are not eligible. Starts 5/1/12. Ends 6/30/12. Restrictions apply. See pnysweeps.mastercard.com for Official Rules and complete details.

How to Teach your Child to Save

Teaching your child about money is a valuable tool that will serve and empower them throughout their life. Kids look to their parents for money matters, but oftentimes parents are at a loss knowing what to teach their kids or how to go about it. Here’s some helpful tips that will make saving fun and rewarding for your child.

1. Communicate with your child your values concerning money – how and why you save, choices you’ve made to make your money grow, and how you spend it wisely. A good example of this is when you’re in the grocery store and you choose items on sale versus regular priced items. Or choosing generic brands instead of the more expensive brands.
2. Help your child learn the difference between wants and needs – this is really key for teaching your kids good decision making. Needs are those things that support your life (home, electricity, food, etc.) and wants are things we would like to have but can live without (fancy cars and restaurants, the latest in electronic gadgets, etc.)
3. Set Goals with Your Child – Help your child set goals for things they want or might need. Help them consider something to save for, like a bike or Xbox game, or their own spending money for an upcoming trip. Instill the idea that they always want to leave money in their savings account for other things that come up that they haven’t thought of. When your child asks you to buy something for them, use it as an opportunity to teach them how they can buy it by setting a goal and saving their money.
   Consider encouraging your child to save by matching the amount they save, or telling them if they save for the whole amount, you will pay for half so the other half can stay in their savings account. This helps them stay on track and also creates excitement.
4. Open a Savings Account for Your Child – and be sure to take them with you when you do! It makes them feel important and empowered.
5. Teach Your Child to Save, Share and Spend – One of the joys of money is that you can share it by donating to charity or causes. By teaching your child to share they will have a balanced view of money and its ability to help others plus they’ll feel good about themself. When you open a BECU Early Saver Savings Account for your child, they will receive a Savertooth Money Box that is ideal for this. It has three compartments: saving, sharing, and spending.
6. Allowance and Decision Making – If your child receives an allowance, pay it in smaller bills to encourage and make it easier for them to save a portion of the allowance. For example, if the amount is $5, give five $1 bills so some of the money can be set aside for savings. This way your child can easily set aside $1 for savings and have $4 to share and spend. A good rule of thumb is to save at least 10%. That rules applies to adults too!
7. Spending Decisions – Let your child learn from their spending choices, good or poor. Before spending takes place you can initiate an open discussion of spending pros and cons. One way to do this is to provide your child with alternative choices when they want to buy something. For example, if your child wants to buy a football for $20, you could also point out to them that the same $20 could buy movie tickets and popcorn, or a helmet for their bicycle. This teaches your child to think about choices and how to make decisions.
8. Keep Good Money Records – Another important skill for kids to learn is to keep track of their money! Teach your child to keep receipts so they can see what they have been able to purchase with their money. Review their savings account statements with them, show them how they are earning interest, and show them how to add deposits and subtract withdrawals in their savings register.

• earns 6.17% APY on the first $500 in the account
• no fees to maintain account
• get started with as little as $5

Teaching your kids to be good savers is a gift that lasts a lifetime. Open an Early Saver account today at any BECU location.

Rates stated as Annual Percentage Yield (APY) on the first $500, effective 3/27/12 and subject to change.

A Gift for Grads and Moms

BECU MasterCard® Gift Cards are a popular gift for both the giver and receiver. For the giver, the prepaid gift cards save time that would otherwise go toward tracking down that perfect gift. Because BECU Gift Cards can be used anywhere MasterCard is accepted, the receiver enjoys the benefit of selecting their ideal present without any disappointments.

Smart Tips to Remember When Using Your BECU Gift Card

• Sign your gift card before using and keep record of the card number in a safe place.
• Keep track of your gift card balance online at myprepaidbalance.com or by using a transaction register.
• Your gift card acts as a credit card–when making purchases enter "credit" or give your card to the merchant and sign the receipt.
• If you are making a purchase larger than the balance on your gift card, have the merchant run your card for the remaining balance and then you pay the difference with cash or another card.
• Many restaurants automatically add 20% to the bill amount for gratuity–make sure the balance on your gift card is at least 20% more than the bill.
• When buying gas, do not use your gift card at the pump–pay inside at the cashier.
• Use your gift card within 12 months of purchasing the card, because starting in the 13th month, a monthly maintenance fee of $2.95 will be assessed.

Where to Purchase Your BECU Gift Card
Visit any BECU location and make your gift shopping a little easier.

May Neighborhood Events

There are a lot of activities taking place in neighborhoods around the Puget Sound. BECU will be present at several activities during the month of April. Take a look at where we will be and stop by if you are in the neighborhood:

We Appreciate Hearing from Our Members

Member feedback and participation is important to us. We appreciate hearing from our members about their experiences with BECU. Your feedback helps to drive the decisions we make on the products and services that we offer.

Member Surveys and Focus Groups
Periodically, we conduct member surveys and focus groups to help us gain a better understand of our members’ experiences and needs. Members are selected according to criteria based on the research we are conducting. We encourage you to participate in these surveys and focus groups if you are contacted by BECU or a third party on BECU’s behalf. You may be contacted by email or by phone to participate.

Members’ Feedback Put into Action
We make it a priority to provide member-first financial services. And, hearing from you lets us know what we are doing right and where we can improve.

For instance, we’ve heard from members who want more access to ATMs. We currently have 180 ATMs throughout the Puget Sound region, and BECU members have access to over 28,000 ATMs nationwide through the CO-OP Network. Thanks to members’ feedback, this year we have made it a focus to increase and improve the number of BECU ATMs that we have in our fleet.

You may have also noticed that we now offer Instant Issue ATM and Debit cards at all BECU locations. When you open a new account at a BECU location, you can receive your card right then and there. Also, if you lose your card, we can issue you another right away at any BECU location. This change is a direct result of feedback we received from our members.

In addition, last year we saw our membership grow by 70,814, ending 2011 with 744,354 members. The growing membership is great for the cooperative movement, but at the same time many members started to experience longer lines and longer wait times. We listen to your feedback and we are actively working to rectify these concerns. We remain committed to providing the service our long-term members and new members expect from us.

Share Your Experiences
When you use the accounts and services that we offer, we want to make sure these services are convenient, user-friendly and beneficial for you with great value. We encourage you to share your experiences with us. You can email your feedback and suggestions to membersuggestions@becu.org

Students: Sign up for Washington Business Week

It’s time for local high school students to gear up for Washington Business Week (WBW), a week-long opportunity for high school students across the state to learn about teamwork, leadership and setting real-life goals. During WBW, students run a simulated business, face real-life challenges and prepare for their futures. Participating students have the opportunity to stay on campus, live in the dorms and experience a college environment.

Who Can Participate
Public, private or home school students currently in grades 9-12 are eligible to attend WBW. No business experience is needed.

How Much Does it Cost
Washington Business Week is fortunate to have many financial supporters. Through their generosity, students receive a sponsorship to partially offset the full $1,200 cost of the program. The three-tier price structure allows parents to choose the price that best suits their family.

BECU members get $50 off any of the following tiers:
Tier A: $855 – Registration Fee + Overall Program Support
Tier B: $655 – Registration Fee + Overall Program Support
Tier C: $455 – Registration Fee
Financial Assistance is available.

Regardless of how much you pay, the registration fee covers:

• a week’s stay on the college campus
• all meals
• all program materials
• t-shirt

1. Go to WBW Online Application
2. Choose your tier
3. In the comments, say that you are BECU member and you will receive $50 off the registration fee

More Details
For more information on the summer programs, visit Washington Business Week.

BECU Members Get a 15% Discount on TurboTax

Keep more of your money during tax time. BECU members get a 15% discount on TurboTax online. To receive your discount, you must access TurboTax using the link below:

Get started with TurboTax

Doing your taxes is rarely fun. Here are a few helpful tips to help get you through this tax season:

1. Gather your records…asap! It’s never too early to start gathering any documents or forms you’ll need when filing your taxes: receipts, canceled checks, and other documents that support your income or a deduction you are taking on your return. Also, be on the lookout for W-2s and 1099s, coming soon from your employer.
2. Take your time. Rushing to get your return filed at the last minute increases the chance you will make a mistake.
3. Double-check your return. Mistakes will slow down the processing of your return. In particular, make sure all Social Security Numbers and math calculations are correct as these are the most common errors made.
4. Save time and money by filing your taxes online. TurboTax is a step-by-step online tax-filing system that asks simple questions and automatically places your answers onto IRS-approved forms. TurboTax double-checks your return for accuracy and files it electronically. Direct deposit refunds are typically received in 7-15 days. BECU members receive a 15% discount when filing online with TurboTax® using the above link.
5. Consider Direct Deposit. If you elect to have your refund directly deposited into your bank account, you’ll receive it faster than waiting for a check by mail.
6. Relax. There’s no need to panic. We all have to go through this every year. There are plenty of tax resources available for you when you access TurboTax online.

2012 Holiday Closures

BECU will close in observance of the following federal holidays:

Account Access
We offer several ways to access your accounts, so you have the freedom to take care of your finances when it’s convenient for you. Learn more about our free and secure remote services, including Online, Mobile, Telephone and ATM Banking—visit BECU Account Access.