Win a Big Green Egg at the Seattle Home Show

Planning a remodel? Then join us at the upcoming Seattle Home Show—it's a great time to get inspiration and sound advice.

Where:
CenturyLink Field Event Center in Seattle

When:
February 18 - 26, 2012

Times:
Saturday: 10:00am – 8:00pm
Sunday: 10:00am – 6:00pm
Monday - Friday: 10:00am – 6:00pm

BECU is proud to be one of the sponsors of the Seattle Home Show. Stop by the BECU booth and speak with a representative about the ways we can help you get the financing you need for your home remodel.

Enter to Win a Big Green Egg, courtesy of Aqua Quip*
While you're there, enter to win a Big Green Egg Grill with an Egg-Nest and Egg-Mate valued at $1,137.*

Get Your Ticket to the Show
Purchase your E-ticket online at Seattle Home Show. use Promo Code BecuS12 at checkout and receive 2-for-1 pricing with free parking at CenturyLink Field Event Center.

Cost to Attend
Adult: $12.00
Seniors (60+): $8.00
Juniors (ages 7–15): $3.00
Under 7: Free!

Certain restrictions apply. No purchase necessary. Must be 18 years of age or older. Odds of winning will depend upon the number of entries received. You need not be present to win. The winner will be notified by telephone or email by March 15, 2012. Big Green Egg Grill with an Egg-Nest and Egg-Mate valued at $1,137.* No cash value. The promoter and sponsor of the promotion are AquaQuip, 730 SW 34th St, Renton, WA 98057 and Boeing Employees Credit Union, 12770 Gateways Drive, Tukwila, WA 98168. All AquaQuip employees, BECU employees, board members, Supervisory Committee members and their families are exempt from this drawing. Details and qualifications for participation in the promotion may apply. See Official Rules and restrictions available at BECU’s booth at the Home Show.

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.

Get Your Debit Card with Free Gold Benefits

All BECU consumer debit cards automatically come with "gold" benefits at no cost. And, anyone with a free checking account at BECU can request a gold debit card. If you are a Husky fan, you can show your school pride by choosing our special University of Washington designed gold debit card.

Here are the "gold" benefits:

Extended Warranty
Ever wish you could extend the warranty and coverage that comes with your purchases? Now you can–if you make a purchase with a BECU debit card, you can double the time period and duplicate the coverage of your original manufacturer or U.S. store brand warranty for a maximum of one year.

Purchase Assurance
Make purchases with confidence–and get 90 days of insurance for theft, damage, or loss of purchases when you make a purchase using a BECU debit card.

Price Protection
Get the best price when making purchases using a BECU debit card. If you find a lower price within 60 days of your purchase, you will receive a refund on the difference.

Master RoadAssist Service
Get emergency roadside assistance service at pre-negotiated rates in the U.S. and District of Columbia with your BECU debit card. Includes jump-starts, towing, gas delivery, and tire changes. Charges are the responsibility of the cardholder.

Travel Assistance Services
Get the following travel-related assistance services with your BECU Gold Debit MasterCard, when traveling 50 miles or more from your home:

• Master Trip Travel Assistance - Provides pre-trip destination information, including information on weather conditions, documentation (visa, passports), immunizations, and currency exchange rates. Will help cardholders locate any lost or stolen travel materials, including luggage
• Travel Services Medical Assistance - Provides a global referral network of physicians, dentists, hospitals and pharmacies
• MasterLegal Referral Service - Provides referrals to attorneys, or consultations with local embassies or consulates

BECU Experiences Exceptional Growth

Special Note from Grace Semingsen, VP of Member Solutions:

BECU Experiences Exceptional Growth In 2011, BECU experienced tremendous growth welcoming in over 100,000 new members bringing our total membership to almost 750,000. We want to thank each and every one of you who worked extremely hard to spread the word about the benefits of BECU and credit unions in general to your family, friends, and the community in which you live.

With this large influx in new members, we expect that from time-to-time you may experience a little longer wait to use an ATM or visit with one of our member consultants. We want to assure you we are making our best efforts to maintain our service levels.

Accessing BECU
In 2012, we will be increasing our staffing levels across our branch network to accommodate the growth. We also have plans to open new Neighborhood Financial Centers in Mill Creek, Maple Valley and Factoria and will continue to evaluate other areas for expansion.

As you may know, as a BECU member you have access to over 28,000 surcharge-free ATMs from the CO-OP Network, including ATMs located in many 7-11 stores and over 1,400 other credit union branch locations throughout the country. To make it easier for you to locate the nearest ATM to your home, work, or for travel plans, next month we will be launching a new locator search function that will show you all of your options on one screen saving you time and ensuring you are presented with the most convenient option for you.

In the meantime, you can find a BECU location, Partner Credit Union locations and surcharge-free ATMs by visiting Locations.

On behalf of the entire BECU team, thanks again for sharing the benefits of being a member of BECU.

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.

Discover Your Banking Options

More and more BECU members are discovering how easy it is to access their account information where they live, work and travel. On-the-go money management is made easy with these free, secure and convenient services:

Online Banking
Provides free, secure, 24-hour access to view your accounts and conduct transactions.

Mobile Banking
View account balances, transfer funds and pay bills all from your handy mobile device.

Telephone Banking
Using a telephone, you can do most of your banking transactions from any place you choose, 24 hours a day—make transfers, payments and apply for loans.

Enhanced ATM Banking
BECU offers free convenient ATM access nationwide at over 28,000 ATMs that carry the CO-OP Network logo, along with over 180 BECU ATMs throughout the Puget Sound region.

Get More Details
Learn more about these services at Account Access or call 800-233-2328.

*BECU Online, Mobile and Telephone Banking services are free; however your Internet provider, wireless carrier and telephone company may charge applicable usage fees.

Review Your Estate Plan and Assets in 2012

Take a moment to think about where your assets are and if they are invested appropriately. Who do you want to receive these assets and are you concerned with how they will be managed? Keep reading for some important information to help you along the way.

Why is it important to review your plan?
Establishing a proper and effective estate plan can be time-consuming and stressful. Once the initial plan is in place, individuals often forget the most important step to complete the process; review, review, review! Reviewing the assets within your estate is a key component in ensuring that they be disbursed per your wishes. In addition, your personal representative and heirs will face burdens if you do not plan appropriately. For example, if you have investments with multiple financial institutions, it can be time consuming and challenging to the individual in charge of settling your estate. They will have to ascertain all of your account information and work with each financial institution to transfer ownership or distribute your accounts.

Reviewing the ownership on all of your investment and deposit accounts, as well as your beneficiary designations, is crucial. If not titled correctly, your heirs may not receive the inheritance you intended for them. Joint ownership, as well as payable-on-death beneficiaries, can alter the distribution of your funds. The initial intent may be that the individual receiving the funds will split them up, however a gifting event may occur leaving a tax burden on that individual. By taking the necessary steps, you can assure that the transfer of your assets is completed timely and accurately.

We Are Here To Help
For additional information, contact *BECU Trust Company at 206-812-5176 or 800-233-2328 ext. 5176 or at BECUTrust@becu.org and we would be happy to assist you.

Get More Details
Learn more about these services at Account Access or call 800-233-2328.

BECU Trust Company is a wholly owned subsidiary of BECU with an account minimum of $500,000. Investment are: Not NCUA/NCUSIF Insured. May Lose Value. Not Credit Union Guaranteed. Not Obligations of BECU. Office located at BECU, 12770 Gateway Dr., Tukwila WA 98168.

IRS Circular 230 Disclosure
To ensure compliance with requirements imposed by the IRS, we inform you that any U.S. federal tax advice contained in this document is not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, for the purpose of (i) avoiding penalties under the Internal Revenue Code, or (ii) promoting, marketing, or recommending to another party any transaction or matter that is contained in this document.

Save the Date: Women, Money & Power Seminar

Learn how to empower your hidden financial personality and why you need a financial strategy at the Women, Money and Power—Take Control of Your Financial Future Seminar.

When: Tuesday, February 21
Where: BECU Tukwila Financial Center
Time: 5:30pm to 7:30pm

• Five financial personality types
• Life defining events
• Broken or damaged items
• The “Sandwich Generation”

Take the first steps TODAY.
This seminar is designed to provide sound financial strategies for women. Space will be limited and attendance is expected high. Please reserve your seat early by calling 206-439-5720 or 800-233-2328 ext 5720 or visit BECU Seminars.

Let Us Help
Now is the perfect time to contact one of the Financial Advisor* of BECU Investment Services to help you create an investment portfolio that will help you pursue your financial goals. While there’s no doubt you could try to do-it-yourself approach, a Financial Advisor* has the experience, time, resources and knowledge at his or her disposal that you just don’t have. We can help you determine your best options.

*Financial Advisors are with, Securities, Advisory Services offered through LPL Financial, Member FINRA SIPC. Insurance products are offered through LPL Financial or it’s licensed affiliates. BECU and BECU Investment Services is not a registered broker/dealer and has a brokerage affiliate arrangement with LPL Financial. LPL Branch office located BECU, 12770 Gateway Drive, Tukwila, WA 98168. Investments are:

New Tool Helps with Debt Consolidation

Juggling multiple high-interest rate debts can be costly and stressful. Consolidating those debts can offer a fixed plan to help you pay down your debt. You may even find that a lower interest rate will save you more money over the life of your debt.

BECU recently launched a new guided Debt Consolidation tool to help you analyze your current debt and compare possible solution for consolidating the debt to something that you can better manage. This is a guided tool that walks you through all the steps of debt consolidation. It will help answer any questions you may have, along with providing you informative tips about debt and finances.

Ready to Give it a Try?
This is a free service that we offer to all members and you are not obligated to sign up for anything. You can only benefit from learning more about your debit, what you are paying in interest and possible solutions for paying less each month. And, it only takes a few minutes to go through the guided steps. You can even have the results emailed to you in case you want to review at a later date.

Visit How Can I Consolidate My Debt? to get started.

Related Articles: Debt & Credit

Prepare For Boating Season with a Low Rate Boat Loan

If you are looking for a little boating adventure this summer, now is the time to take advantage of these off-season money-saving opportunities. Low post season prices on boats, have many adventure-seekers shopping for great deals. Combine these low prices with, BECU’s low rates and you might find yourself saving more.

• Low competitive rates
• Flexible repayment terms
• Free online account access
• Optional Loan Payment Protection - BECU offers this program to help safeguard your family from financial stress if you’re injured or lose your job

Enjoy Greater Boat Loan Rate Discounts with Member Advantage
If you have BECU’s Member Advantage checking and savings accounts, you’ll enjoy additional benefits, such as lower rates on boat loans just for using our free electronic services. To learn more, visit Member Advantage.

Learn More and Apply

1. Visit Boat Loans online
2. Call us at 800-233-2328
3. Visit any BECU Neighborhood Financial Center

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.

We’re Giving Away 500 Tickets To Seattle U Men’s Basketball

Due to an overwhelming response to last month’s give away, we are doing it again! BECU is a proud sponsor of Seattle University athletics. And, we are happy to offer another great opportunity for our members and their families to see Seattle U Men’s Basketball in action at their last home game of the season.

We are giving away 500 tickets to the Saturday, March 10 game against Portland State at Key Arena in Seattle.

How do you get your tickets
Click here Get Seattle U Tickets

1. Include your name and other required information on the spreadsheet.
2. Each person may request up to four tickets.
3. You will receive a confirmation as soon as your information has been sent. If you see a confirmation, then you have received tickets. This will serve as your only confirmation and reminder.

Where do you pick your tickets up?
You may pick you tickets up at Key Arena East Box Office on game day —there will be a window designated for BECU ticket giveaway. You will be required to show valid photo identification to claim your tickets. The will call window opens at 5:30pm the day of the game. The doors open at 6:00pm and the game starts at 7:10pm.

This is a great activity for the whole family…hope you enjoy the game!

Paying College Tuition? Maybe the IRS Could Help

When it comes to paying for college, students may get a little help from an unlikely friend: the IRS. There are a number of tax credits available for students, and since tax credits reduce your tax bill dollar for dollar, it’s like having the IRS help pay for your education.

Here are some tax credits students may qualify for:

The American Opportunity Credit: This credit was due to expire but has been extended through December 2012. This credit pays the most with a maximum of $2,500 per student and can be used for four full years of post-secondary education (but not after that). You do have to be working toward an undergraduate degree or other educational credential. What makes it even better is that forty percent of it is refundable which means if your credit is worth more than what you owe in taxes, the difference—up to $1,000—is refunded to you to help offset the cost of tuition, fees and books.

The Lifetime Learning Credit: This credit is up to a maximum of $2,000 but it is not limited to just the first four years—you can be a student forever! It can also be used for a wider variety of classes to pursue a degree or to improve job skills.

Since you can’t claim both credits for the same student in the same year, pick the one that is most beneficial. Income limits do apply, so check your eligibility before you decide. Being a student is tough enough, but with tax credit help it could be a little easier.

Source: Financial Finesse Money Matters, February 2011

This article is provided for informational purposes only and should not be considered tax or legal advice. Please consult with a legal and or tax advisor regarding your personal circumstances.

Protect Yourself from Identity Theft

If you are like millions of other Americans, you are concerned about identity theft. Deluxe Provent^SM Identity Theft Protection Program will provide you with expert personal assistance should identity theft occur, along with proactive online services to help monitor your identity.

Prevent, Detect and Restore
The program offers a combination of these services to help protect you:

• Identity restoration
• EZ Wallet
• Internet monitoring
• Credit monitoring
• Public records monitoring
• Name and address monitoring
• EZShield vault safety deposit

Buy 2012 Entertainment Books

Help Support the BECU Foundation

Enjoy fantastic discounts on restaurants, movies, sporting events and more when you purchase a 2012 Entertainment Book through BECU. The purchase price is just $25.

You will have a choice of communities so you can purchase and Entertainment Book that’s relevant to where you live – Greater Seattle/Eastside, North Puget Sound and South Puget Sound. In these books, you’ll find discounts of up to 50% off, plus many two-for-one offers. Buy your book at our Tukwila or Everett locations or at entertainment.com. Proceeds go to the BECU Foundation.

Get Discounted Silvertips Hockey Tickets

Enjoy discounts to the fastest game on ice—hockey!

Everett Silvertips—BECU Super Saver Saturday:

March 3, 2012

Silvertips Ticket Information
The Silvertips play at the Comcast Arena in Everett, WA and game time is 7:35 pm for all of the above games. On BECU Super Saver Saturday Games you can purchase tickets in section 215 of the yellow price level for only $6—regular price is $12. There is a limit of four tickets per person and there is a limited supply of tickets available so order your tickets early. Tickets only available in person at the Silvertips Front Office.

Have fun at the game!

BECU Board Announces Next CEO

At about this time last year, we announced that Gary Oakland, President and CEO of BECU, would be retiring in mid 2012 after being part of BECU for over 30 years and serving as CEO for the past 25 years. Since Gary's announcement, the BECU Board of Directors has been conducting an extensive search to select the next CEO that would lead the credit union into the next phase of member service and growth.

Today, the BECU Board is pleased to announce the selection of Benson Porter as the next president and CEO. Porter will begin in his new role on April 9, 2012. He returns to Washington after five years serving as president and CEO of First Tech Federal Credit Union, based in Palo Alto, California. With $5 billion in assets, First Tech is the nation's 15th largest credit union.

Benson brings extensive experience in financial services working for the Washington State Senate Banking Committee and the state's Division of Banking. He spent another 14 years in increasingly more responsible senior management roles at KeyBank and Washington Mutual in Seattle before joining the credit union movement as CEO of Addison Avenue FCU which later merged with First Tech FCU. A native of Washington state, he is a graduate of Whitman College and later received his J.D. from Seattle University.

Gary Oakland will remain at BECU through mid-2012 to ensure a smooth transition. On behalf of the BECU Board of Directors, I want to emphasize that under Benson's leadership, BECU members will continue to receive the value and service they have come to expect.

Sincerely,

Desiree Serr
BECU Board Chairperson

Now Accepting Applications for 2012 BECU College Scholarships

If you are a graduating high school or undergraduate college student, you can apply for a BECU Foundation Scholarship. Since 1995, the BECU Foundation has awarded over 620 scholarships totaling over $1,300,000. In 2011, the BECU Foundation awarded scholarships to 40 BECU student members in the amount of $2,500 each.

Scholarship Selection
Selection is based on the student’s commitment to service through volunteer efforts and school activities, as well as academic performance. Scholarship selection is made without regard to the applicant’s race, color, national origin, religious belief, sex, marital status, age or physical disability. Applicants must be BECU members.

Applications are Due by March 31, 2012
You can apply online at BECU College Scholarships. Applications must be completed by midnight, March 31, 2012, to be eligible for consideration. All scholarship recipients will be invited to attend a special award luncheon in June.

You Are Invited to Attend BECU’s 76th Annual Meeting

BECU 76th Annual Meeting will be held on Wednesday, March 28 at the BECU Tukwila Financial Center. The meeting will be held in the second floor auditorium and begins promptly at 5:00pm. All BECU members are invited to attend and vote on open positions for the BECU Board of Directors and Supervisory Committee. A presentation on year-end reports will also be given by officers of BECU.