Washington Business Week is Preparing Students for the Real World

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.

$50 Discount from BECU
BECU members get $50 off the registration fee for WBW. Download a specially-marked application at WBW Application.

2010 Summer Program Dates
June 20-26
Western Washington University, Bellingham

July 11-17
Gonzaga University, Spokane

July 18-24
Central Washington University, Ellensburg

August 1-7
Pacific Lutheran University, Tacoma

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

Volunteer Opportunities for the 40th Annual Earth Day Celebration

The first national announcement about Earth Day was made at a conference held in Seattle in 1969, by Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson. For this reason, Seattle is unofficially called the birthplace of Earth Day. Since then Earth Day has grown to become a global movement.

On Thursday, April 22, more than one billion people in 190 countries are taking action, and there are plenty of local activities promoting awareness and appreciation for the Earth right here in Seattle.

Here are a few local events and volunteer opportunities taking place the week of Earth Day:

• Saturday, April 17, Duwamish Alive! Restore Our River. This event will take place at multiple sites in the Duwamish River watershed. You can help celebrate the restoration of Seattle's Duwamish River, and the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day by volunteering at one of 12 restoration sites. Work sites include a river cleanup by kayak and canoe, shoreline salmon restoration, and forest tree planting. No experience is necessary!
• Saturday, April 24, Student Conservation Association (SCA) Earth Day Project at Washington Park Arboretum in Seattle
• Saturday, April 17 Earth Day Half Marathon at Magnuson Park

Save Trees & Sign up for eStatements
Preserving natural resources is the key to sustaining a healthier environment for a long time to come. One of the easiest ways we can help is to reduce our paper consumption. You can do this by simply signing up to receive eStatements instead of paper statements from BECU. eStatements are exactly the same as your paper statements–the only difference is that it is delivered to your secure Online Banking instead of your mailbox. If every BECU member received eStatements, we could save 214 tons of wood every year. Do your part and sign up for eStatements today in Online Banking.

Remember to Make Your IRA Contribution

Don’t miss the IRA contribution deadline! Make sure you make your 2009 IRA contribution before Thursday, April 15. Fully funding your IRA could mean a tremendous boost toward saving for retirement.

Attend a Free Seminar
Want to learn more about IRAs and other financial options for retirement? We invite you to attend one of these free seminars:

The Roth IRA in 2010

Building a Strong Financial Future—Strategies for Age 45 to Retirement

Retirement Investment Strategies

Get Personal Investment Advice

BECU INVESTMENT SERVICES* has many professionals to help you with your investment & planning needs. Featured this month are Mike Pankaskie and Brenda Huber:

Mike Pankaskie, Financial Advisor, LPL Financial
Mike takes a comprehensive approach to financial planning. He understands all members are unique and tailors his recommendations to the specific products and services that best meet the member's needs. He specializes in helping his clients develop risk management strategies designed to seek a reliable income stream in retirement. His areas of expertise include Roth/Traditional IRAs, Boeing FSP/VIP, 40l (k) and 403(b) rollovers, annuities, life insurance, mutual funds, investment and retirement planning. Contact Mike at 206-812-5295 or email him at michael.pankaskie@becu.o rg.

Brenda Huber, Financial Advisor, LPL Financial
Brenda is committed and recognizes that she is a partner with her client and listens carefully to identify the right solutions for each member. Brenda is perceptive, thoughtful and is capable to help assist in developing and implementing an investment strategy to accumulate, protect, and transfer wealth. She takes a genuine interest in people and understands the value of educating and offering appropriate investments to help them work toward their goals and seek financial security during retirement. Brenda's areas of expertise include Roth/Traditional IRAs, Boeing VIP, 40l(k) and 403(b) rollovers, fixed income strategies, tax free income, annuities, life insurance, long term care insurance, mutual funds, and retirement planning. Contact Brenda at 206-812-5144 or email her at brenda.huber@becu.org.

To learn more about investing, estate and wealth preservation or VIP, 401(k), 403(b) IRA rollovers, contact Brenda & Mike today.

*Financial Advisors are with, and Securities, Advisory Services and Insurance Products are offered through LPL Financial and its affiliates, Member FINRA/SIPC. BECU is not a registered broker/dealer and has a brokerage affiliate arrangement with LPL Financial. Investments are: Not NCUA/NCUSIF Insured | May Lose Value | Not Credit Union Guaranteed | Not Obligations of BECU. Branch Office located at BECU, 12770 Gateway Dr., Tukwila, WA 98168.

Get a Guaranteed Return on Your Savings with the Add-To CD Feature

You can count on BECU to make your financial well-being a priority through our commitment to promoting responsible saving. This is why we offer Certificates of Deposit (CDs) that are risk-free and have guaranteed returns. Our competitive interest rates allow you to save money and earn more money at the same time.

Add-To CD Feature
BECU’s Add-To CD feature is another great way to save. You can open an Add-To CD for as little as $100 by setting up a pre-authorized automatic recurring transfer to your BECU CD from a BECU Savings, Money Market or Checking Account. You set the amount and date of transfer; we do the rest. The minimum amount per automated, recurring transfer is $25 and the maximum is $500, not to exceed a total of $1,000 per month. And, transfer amounts added to your CD will earn your CD's current interest rate.

How can you use the Add-To CD feature?
You can use an Add-To CD as an automatic savings plan to help you in your preparation for getting an auto, home or for taking a vacation. Here’s an example of a real life couple that was helped by a BECU Add-To CD:

A couple is currently paying $800/month in rent. They would like to purchase a house, but are not quite ready to buy yet because they do not have funds saved for closing costs and two months of mortgage payments to make themselves stronger borrowers. The couple anticipates their monthly mortgage payments will be about $1,300. To find out whether or not they can manage a $1,300/month mortgage payment, they are advised to set up a 6-month Add-To CD and have $500/month automatically transferred from their checking account to the CD. By doing this, they will be able to validate they are able to manage a $1,300/month mortgage payment. And after six months, the will have saved $3,000 to help qualify for the home they want to purchase and will be one step closer to making their dream become a reality.

Questions?
We are here to help you create your savings plan—visit BECU CDs or call us at 800-233-2328.

Choose BECU Trust Company to Serve as Your Agent

Did you know that BECU Trust Company* can act as your agent? An agency relationship involves an agreement between an individual seeking professional service (the “principal”) and the professional service provider (i.e. BECU Trust Company). BECU Trust Company can act as agent for Trustee, Executor, and Investment Management.

Investment Management Agent
BECU Trust Company can serve as Investment Management Agent for your personal investments, IRA’s, trust or estate accounts. We manage individual equities, mutual funds, fixed income, insurance policies, real estate and other assets. We’ll manage your portfolio according to your stated investment objectives or those determined by the trust or estate. We actively manage and review the portfolios on a timely basis and communicate with you in person, by phone, e-mail or any other agreed upon manner.

As your Investment Management Agent, you grant us full authority to buy, sell, and hold assets without principal consultation. Retirement account withdrawals and other cash withdrawals will only be made with your prior authorization.

Agent for Trustee
BECU Trust Company can serve as Agent for Trustee. Individuals named as a Trustee often require or desire assistance in the management of the trust with regard to any one or more of the following obligations:

• Discretionary Distributions
• Asset Management
• Record Keeping
• Notice Provisions
• Tax Services
• Family Dynamics

BECU Trust Company provides statements to beneficiaries, maintains records utilizing principal and income accounting methods, can automatically send out mandatory distributions, and assists with trust analysis. We will facilitate family meetings and work to assist you in meeting your fiduciary obligations.

Agent for Executor
We at BECU Trust Company are proud to serve as Agent for Executor(trix) in many types of situations. There are any number of reasons why an individual named as Executor(trix) may desire or require assistance in handling the often complicated, time consuming, emotional and difficult task of estate administration.

Most people who are named as Executor(trix) are called upon to serve during one of the more stressful times in their lives. BECU Trust Company can assist in the asset gathering, administration, distribution, record keeping, investment management, re-titling and division of assets. We can assist in full or partial administration and will tailor our services to suit your needs.

Contact BECU Trust Company today at 206-812-5176 or BECUTrust@becu.org and we will help you determine whether our agent service is right for you.

*BECU Trust Company is a wholly owned subsidiary of BECU. $500K account minimum.

BECU Gift Cards—The Perfect Graduation and Mother’s Day Gift

BECU MasterCard® Gift Cards are a popular gift for both the giver and receiver. For the giver, the prepaid gift cards can save time that may otherwise go toward trying to track down that perfect gift. Because BECU Gift Cards can be used anywhere MasterCard is accepted, the recipient enjoys the benefit of be able to select their ideal present.

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 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 six months of purchasing the card because beginning in the seventh month, a monthly maintenance fee of $2.95 will be assessed

Where to Purchase Your BECU Gift Card,br> Visit any BECU location or call us at 800-233-2328 and make your gift shopping a little easier.

April Neighborhood Events—See You There

Spring is here and there are a lot of activities taking place in neighborhoods and communities around the Puget Sound. BECU representatives will be present at many activities during the month of April. Take a look at our calendar, and stop by if you are in the neighborhood:

2009 Annual Report is Available

BECU's 2009 Annual Report is now available. The report contains our 2009 financial statement along with messages from our Board Chairman, Jim Wadhwani; Board Treasurer, Mike Sweeney; Credit Union President and CEO Gary Oakland. Click here to view the report: 2009 Annual Report

Dine Out on April 29 and Help Fight AIDS

BECU is proud to be the presenting sponsor of Dining Out For Life–Seattle. Celebrating its 17th year, Dining Out For Life is back on Thursday, April 29.

What is Dining Out For Life?
On Thursday, April 29, when you dine at a participating restaurant, grocery store, cafe, or bakery, a percentage of your purchase is donated to Lifelong AIDS Alliance, and their fight against illness, homelessness, and poverty in our community.

This is an international event that happens in cities around the world. More than 3,500 restaurants donate a portion of their proceeds from this one special day and night of dining to the licensed agency in their city. Nearly $4 million dollars a year is raised to support the missions of agencies throughout North America fighting against AIDS and its related issues.

Participating Restaurants
Check out the Participating Restaurants to see which of your favorites are supporting Dining Out For Life this year! Remember, you can support Dining Out For Life during breakfast, lunch or dinner!

Get More Information
For more information on how you can participate in, visit Dining Out For Life.

Bringing You More Online Enhancements

We are committed to bringing you the latest in financial services to help you better manage your accounts at BECU. Here are four new features you can take advantage of beginning this month:

1. Pay Other People: Now you can pay anyone by simply using their email address, mobile number, or checking/savings account number. BECU’s new Pay Other People (POPmoney) payment service is a free service that sends a payment from your account and deposits it to the recipients account. You can easily access this new service in the Payments section of Online Banking.
2. Check Transaction Search: The next time you need to search for a transaction in Online Banking, you can do so using the check number. This highly requested feature has been re-introduced to Online Banking. The feature allows you to search by check number or specific dollar amount of a transaction.
3. Ask BECU: Have a question while you are navigating through Online Banking? Now you can Ask BECU your product and service-related questions and get an answer right away. Ask BECU is a new decision-making tool to help you as you use Online Banking.
4. Calculator Icons & Calculator: We are adding links to relevant calculators in the Personal section of our website. For example, the next time you are checking out the auto rates on the Auto page, look for the link that says “Try our Auto loan calculators.”

Questions?
If you want more details about these new features, call us at 800-233-2328 or stop by any BECU location.

Celebrate Credit Union Youth Week and Financial Literacy Month

National Credit Union Youth Week is April 18-24, 2010. We set this time aside every year to motivate parents to share the financial facts of life with their children early so they can enjoy a lifetime of financial security.

Encouraging Saving at Every Age
Help your child develop a healthy savings habit early in life. Open a BECU Early Saver Savings Account. You can open an Early Saver account with as little as $5. It will help your child realize the importance of saving.

Another tip for instilling financial responsibility is to have your child keep a "money log" in which they record exactly how much they spend and save. The log can be used to track expenses and plan for big purchases, such as a bike or iPod. Learning to record exactly where their money is going will help your child become a financially responsible adult.

Visit BECU during Credit Union Youth Week
We are always happy to discuss the options and resources we offer that can help you get your child started on the right financial track.

Financial Literacy Month
April is also financial literacy month. Everyone is encouraged to take an active role in managing their finances—big or small. BECU offers free in-person seminars and webcasts on a variety of financial topics such as first-time home buying, better budgeting, and wealth management. Visit Learn & Plan for a complete list of our seminars and financial resources.

Seniors—Keep Your Home and Borrow Money with No Monthly Payments

BECU has partnered with Golden Gateway Financial to offer the option of reverse mortgages to senior homeowners. A reverse mortgage is simply a loan in reverse–where you are paid, not the lender. Senior homeowners can access a portion of their home’s value, creating supplemental retirement income without monthly loan payments. The funds from a reverse mortgage may be used to pay off your current mortgage, pay medical expenses, and make home improvements or anything else you may need.

Golden Gateway works with four of the largest reverse mortgage lenders in the industry to offer you options and easy ways to compare, choose and get the right reverse mortgage for your specific needs. Golden Gateway has earned a 97.23 customer satisfaction rating by the American Ratings Corporation and has been awarded its Diamond Certification Award. Here’s what the first BECU member to complete a reverse mortgage with Golden Gateway told the American Ratings Corporation about the experience:

“My first meeting with Henry for Golden Gateway was very informative. He told me what I needed to know. He really took his time. He told me all the things to be aware of. He was very kind. The woman who did the paperwork was good too. She emailed and kept me in the loop.”
-Mary H., BECU member

Golden Gateway Financial is a trusted source for information about reverse mortgages and is recommended by Kiplinger and the Wall Street Journal. Golden Gateway is certified by the Better Business Bureau and Senior Checked, and is committed to providing the tools and resources you need to make the best decision for you.

If you’d like to learn more, contact a Golden Gateway consultant at 888-8CU-REVERSE (888-828-7383) or visit Golden Gateway

Golden Gateway Financial provides a unique set of online tools and clear and unbiased communication to help seniors find the answers and resources relating to reverse mortgages.

Golden Gateway Financial is an independent Reverse Mortgage Services provider and is not affiliated with BECU.

Get a Simple and Straightforward Credit Card

When it comes to credit cards, we try to keep it simple. We don’t offer multiple credit cards—we offer one personal credit card and one business credit card with low competitive rates.

As a not-for-profit credit union, BECU has always adhered to fair and responsible credit card practices. You’ll never see us promoting teaser rates and we don’t have hidden fees. BECU offers both a personal and business credit card— there is no annual fee and you enjoy the extra benefit of working with a local financial institution that you know and trust, one with your best interests in mind.

BECU Credit Card Features & Benefits
Personal credit card rates as low as 6.90% APR*
Business credit card rate of 10.99% APR*

• Same low APR for cash advances and purchases
• No annual fee
• Generous grace period on purchases
• Cash advances at ATMs around the world
• Low international transaction fees
• $500,000 Worldwide Automatic Travel Accident Insurance
• Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver
• Extended Warranty on purchases
• Travel and Emergency Assistance Services
• Optional rewards program**

Earn points every time you buy
Add the BECU Rewards option to your BECU personal or business credit card and begin earning points toward merchandise, dining, entertainment, airline tickets, gift certificates, and more. There is a $25 Annual Participation Fee for the BECU Rewards Program. To learn more, visit the BECU Rewards Program

Apply Today
Visit BECU Credit Card for more information or to apply online. You can also apply in person at any BECU location or call us at 800-233-2328.

*6.90% APR in effect as of March 1, 2010 and may vary. Rates offered based on credit worthiness. Programs, rates, terms and conditions are subject to change without notice.

Exclusive BECU Auto Event—Rates as Low as 2.99% APR*

When: April 23-25

Where: Over 70 participating dealers throughout the Puget Sound Region

The auto industry is recharging and savvy consumers are taking advantage of this unique economic climate. Auto dealers are offering rebates and discounts–combine that with historically low auto loan rates and you can save plenty of money.

Stop by a Participating Dealer
If you’re looking for a new or used vehicle, visit a participating dealer during the 3-day Auto Event, get on-the-spot BECU financing at the dealership and drive away in your new auto.

Enjoy a Loan Rate as Low as 2.99% APR
If you purchase an auto from a participating dealer during the event, we will lower your loan rate by .50%, which mean a rate as low as 2.99% APR.

Win a MasterCard® Gift Card
Along with saving money on your next auto, you also have the chance to win one of ten $250 MasterCard® gift cards—enter at any participating dealer during the weekend of the Auto Event. You can also print a coupon and take it with you to the Auto Event.

*2.99% APR based on BECU membership, 80% loan to value (LTV) excellent creditworthiness, 84-months or less loan term and includes .50% auto event and .50% automatic payment rate reductions. Rates offered will be based on BECU membership, applicant’s creditworthiness, LTV, payment method and repayment period. Financing subject to BECU approval.