Chaffey FCU Winter 2025 Newsletter

Hello, Chaffey Members!

Most of us might say this every January, but…wow, can you believe that the new year is upon us? I am very excited for 2025 and what it means for Chaffey FCU and you, our members. Here at the credit union, we are looking forward to implementing some new technologies (some you will see, some you will not) and continuing our pursuit of having each credit union staff member receive Financial Counselor training. This will allow us to continue serving you to the best of our abilities in our mission of helping you achieve and maintain financial wellness!

As you go through this quarter’s newsletter, we have a few tidbits that could speak to your New Year’s resolutions! If you are looking for ways to get more involved in your community, we have an exciting opportunity coming available for you to learn more about serving in a volunteer role here at Chaffey FCU. The Chaffey staff also shared some of their resolutions – ask your favorite staff member the next time you talk to them!

One of the credit union’s resolutions is to find ways to engage with our communities to the best of our ability. If you have an organization or an opportunity where we might be able to support you, contact our Donations Committee so we can learn more about you!

I realize that I have started a trend of including recipe suggestions in our newsletter – why stop now? I recently made this pistachio pesto pasta, and it was light, delicious, and paired very well with some air-fried chicken. If I’m being perfectly transparent, I chose that recipe because I had pistachios left over from making these cookies. In that “resolution” theme, perhaps these two recipes can address both ends of the spectrum!

From the team at Chaffey FCU, we wish you a healthy and happy new year! As always, thank you for your membership.

Diane Kotlewski

Chief Executive Officer

$34,000 - A year of giving back

We accomplished a lot in 2024! And we couldn’t have done it without our Members!

As a credit union dedicated to investing back into our community, we are proud to have donated over $34,000 to dozens of schools, organizations, and shelters throughout 2024. As Chaffey FCU Members, you are part of a credit union that has helped students launch their journey into higher education, supported local families in need of food, and given local school staff gifts to jump back into a new school year. We’re proud to have supported organizations such as There is Hope Foster Family Agency, Baldy View ROP (regional occupation program), the Time for Change Foundation, and many more!

As we look into 2025, we see even more community involvement and investment in Chaffey’s near future! Stay tuned this year for new ways that your credit union is making a direct impact in your community. Did you know: Chaffey FCU has a Donations Committee team, who, in addition to their regular positions, spends time organizing time and monetary donations to local groups! You might just see Chaffey FCU branch staff providing assistance the next time you pass by the Foothill Family Shelter or the Upland USD Student Wellness program offices!

New Years Resolutions

The time for reflection is here.

New Year’s is a time for reflection and organization for many of us. It’s a time to review the previous year, and decide what we can do to meet new goals in our lives. Wondering what Chaffey FCU’s goal for the New Year is? We’d like to spend even more time working hands-on in the community, and to continue bringing new financial resources to our Membership.

Looking to make a New Year’s resolution, but not sure where to start? Get some inspiration from the Chaffey FCU team!

Bernie

Get more sleep, save more money.

Virginia

Get healthy. Keep it simple: WWW.
Water (drink more water), Walk (walk more), & Weights (lift more weights).

Hilma

Invest in myself and do more journaling.

Know when something is “Too good to be true” …

Take a step back, and review the situation before you.

Have you ever come across something that seems just too good to be true? I’m sure we all have, and the circumstances surrounding the item or event can certainly have an influence on our emotions. For me, I vividly remember driving to my first day of work at Chaffey FCU back in 2009. After over a year of driving from Rancho Cucamonga to Long Beach for work, being selected for my initial Branch Manager role at Chaffey was almost surreal (the drive only took me 20 minutes!). I remember feeling afraid during the drive that I would show up for my first day and be told that it was a joke and I had not actually been hired! Thankfully, that fear was unfounded, and I am blessed to now be in my 16th year here at Chaffey!

Sometimes, those “too good to be true” moments come from a low point in our lives, which could cause us to make decisions that we later regret. From a financial standpoint, when we are in what feels like a desperate moment, an online offer for a debt consolidation or a payday advance loan can offer quick relief to a cash flow need, and end up costing much more that we anticipate in the long run. As an example, did you know that payday loans can have annual percentage rates (APRs) higher than 600%? That means that a $500 payday advance, if not paid in full quickly could end up costing over $3,000 in the course of a year! For larger loans, there are online lenders that will quickly approve you for personal loans in excess of $20,000, with a rate and payment that looks great! Yet if you do not check the details of the loan, you might miss that the payment and rate quoted includes an origination fee of up to 6% (at least on the one that I “test drove” while writing this).

I share this information with you, members, because oftentimes we are not aware of these circumstances. Again, if we are in a place of needing cash quickly, that origination fee or high interest rate may not matter in the moment. However, our goal here at Chaffey FCU is to provide you with products and services that help you achieve financial wellness, and products such as those I described could be detrimental to your financial wellness in the long run. I encourage you to reach out to us so you can educate yourself on the credit union difference as compared to these other loan sources.

Diane Kotlewski, CEO

Dinner, Prizes, and Chaffey’s Board of Directors

Chaffey FCU’s Board Meet & Greet

Join us for Chaffey FCU’s first Board Meet & Greet on January 21, 2025, 6:00pm! The Chaffey FCU Board of Directors supports the credit union, oversees Chaffey’s strategic mission, and works to encourage the financial well-being of Members like you. Meet current Chaffey FCU Board Members, enjoy complimentary dinner, and perhaps win a door prize!

If you are interested in serving as a Chaffey FCU Board Member, or just want to enjoy a night out and to learn more about your credit union, RSVP for our Board Meet & Greet. Don’t wait - attendance space is limited!

RSVP

CFCU Upland Branch

1024 W Foothill Blvd. Upland, CA 91786

Chaffey FCU Board Nominations

Do you know someone who is passionate about their community, interested in the credit union mission, and looking for ways to give back? Nominate them for the Chaffey FCU Board here!

By giving any names and contact information, you agree that you have permission from that individual to do so here. Names provided will be contacted to ask about their interest in serving as a CFCU Board Member. CFCU Board Members must be Members of the credit union; if not a current Member, a Membership must be opened before serving on the board.

Free Federal Tax Returns for Chaffey FCU Members!

Get a head start on tax season with FileYourTaxes.com

This Tax Season, we’re saying “Thank You” to Members with free filing for Federal Tax Returns* through FileYourTaxes.com! Start the year off right by saving some extra money when you file! Simply log into your free FileYourTaxes.com account by accessing it from Chaffey’s website through the button below. Your Federal Tax Return will show as “free” before you submit it.

FileYourTaxes.com is an IRS-approved tax software, striving to help you file your taxes quickly, easily, and securely. Get a head start on your taxes with a free 2024 tax season checklist.

FileYourTaxes.com

To take advantage of free federal filing, you must file your 2024 Federal Tax return with FileYourTaxes.com by logging into the FileYourTaxes.com web portal available on the Chaffey FCU website at chaffey.com/fileyourtaxes. Offer limited to current Chaffey FCU Members. Offer expires April 15, 2025.*

Chaffey FCU 62^nd Annual Meeting

The 62nd Chaffey FCU Annual Meeting is tentatively scheduled for Thursday, April 24, 2025! Our Annual Meetings allow Members like you to learn about the credit union, celebrate recent accomplishments, and get involved in Chaffey’s upcoming initiatives.

We invite all Members to join us for a night of complimentary dinner and sweets, door prizes, Board of Directors voting, and more!

More details coming soon.