A Variety of Personal Loans From First Choice Credit Union

Personal loans are loans between $500 and $10,000 that can be taken out for a variety of reasons and are not restricted to a particular purchase. Like other loans with First Choice Credit Union, the terms of your loan are based on the amount borrowed, and the rate you pay is based on your credit history. Our members know they can rely on us to offer the fairest and best rate possible, and it is a pleasure for us to help our members realize their dreams.

Personal loans are appealing not only because they can help you reach your goals, but because they are flexible, have lower rates than credit cards in most cases, and, if paid in full each month, they can actually improve your credit score.

Americans use personal loans for everything from debt consolidation to wedding receptions. Let’s look at some of the common (and not so common) ways to use a personal loan.

1. Debt Consolidation

Consolidate credit cards or other loans into one single personal loan, and get a fixed rate, fixed monthly payment, and often, cases lower interest rate.

2. Home Improvements and Remodeling

Americans spend billions of dollars on home remodeling projects each year, and these costs can be covered (and paid over time) with personal loans.

3. Weddings or Quinceñeras

Celebrate your big day just how you want! It may mean big price tags that add up, so many families use a personal loan to make their celebration perfect.

4. Medical Bills or Adoption

Paying for surgeries and treatments or worrying about preparing for an adoption can be alleviated with personal loans.

5. Funeral Expenses

These often unexpected costs can run over $10,000.

6. Trips of a Lifetime

Be careful of using a personal loan for travel expenses, but if there is a once-in-a-lifetime trip that you are carefully planning to finance, like a honeymoon or destination wedding, this could be a good option.


Interested in your own personal loan? Members can apply for a personal loan in person at any of our branch locations, or online.

How to Save Money on Your Daughter's Quinceañera

Your daughter's coming of age birthday party might seem like it is going to cost you a pretty penny as you begin to plan and prepare. Some people can go overboard and spend a small fortune on their daughter's quinceañera, but with these money-saving tips, you can afford to throw your girl the birthday party of her dreams!

Skip the Salon

Your daughter and her friends want to look perfect for the big day, but a lot of hair, makeup, and nail treatments can be done less expensively than at a salon. One idea is to go to a local cosmetology school to get discounted services. Otherwise, enlist a particularly talented friend or relative to help with hair or makeup for getting ready, saving you hundreds in salon costs.

DIY Decorations

Instead of flowers, choose balloons or photographs to decorate the party. The dollar store offers many creative and inexpensive decorations and you can search on Pinterest.com for easy DIY crafts to make with them. Enlist relatives to help create custom quinceañera decorations and even put together favors for your guests.

Frugal Food

Make handmade food choices instead of catering. Traditional dishes will go over better with your guests, anyway! You can also choose to have multiple smaller cakes or cupcakes instead of just one big one to save a little money. Another popular choice is to serve multiple appetizers instead of a sit-down dinner. Plated meals will oftentimes blow the budget so simpler food choices can reduce the cost of your daughter's quinceañera dramatically.


As your daughter celebrates her very special fifteenth birthday, it can be tempting to spend a lot to have her every wish granted. To save money on her quinceañera, heed these tips to save tons of money.

First Choice Credit Union is here to help you make smart financial decisions in all aspects of your life. We offer a special quinceañera loan just for your little girl. Stop in today and ask about how we can help make her birthday the best yet!

How to Spend Your Tax Return Wisely

When your tax return comes in, you are undoubtedly tempted to spend it on some big ticket item on your wish list. Perhaps you have been waiting to buy a new sofa or you would like to take a vacation. The average taxpayer receives a refund around $3,000 and that is a good chunk of change. The wisest ways to utilize that money are listed below.

Pay Off Debt

The number one thing you should do with your tax return is pay off high interest debt. Any loan or debt you owe incurring more than 5% interest should be paid down as quickly as you can. Credit card debt is especially detrimental, as it can make it very difficult to get ahead and bringing down your credit score. Not only will paying off that debt feel like a relief, but you will be grateful every month when your overdue bill does not come in the mail.

Make Home Improvements

The home improvements you should spend your tax return on are the ones which will give you the highest return on investment. These are not improvements like heated tile floors or new kitchen cabinets, they are the kind that will increase your home's efficiency and decrease your ownership costs for months – or even years – to come. Adding insulation to your home's attic if necessary, replacing old appliances with energy efficient ones, or installing new windows are some of the wisest home improvements. In the long run, the money you spent on these improvements will find its way back in your pocket.

Save it For a Rainy Day

The majority of Americans do not have enough money in savings to protect themselves against sudden setbacks. An emergency fund should always hold 3-6 months of your expenses in the event you lose your job, incur medical bills, have a large car repair, or have to pay for something unexpected. First Choice Credit Union has great savings account options and can meet with you to determine how large of an emergency fund you should have.


It can be hard to refrain from purchasing a wish list item with your tax refund! However, if you choose to spend your tax return wisely through one of these three avenues, you future self will thank you.

4 Reasons To Open a Youth Checking Account for Your Child

As more and more young people drown themselves in debt and develop an unhealthy relationship with money, it is evident to First Choice Credit Union that something has to be done. We believe good money management skills start young and that is why we created a brand new account option for our members ages 10 to 18.

Our new Youth Checking account offers features like 4 free ATM withdrawals at Publix, a free debit card, reward program, and even free mobile banking and deposits.  There is no minimum balance required and no monthly fees. Need more reasons to open a checking account with your child? Read on.

Practice Makes Perfect

Your child needs practice spending money and learning what happens when they overspend before they enter the real world. Our Youth Checking account gives them a debit card so they can experience how easy it is to swipe plastic, but learn to avoid spending more than their account holds. Your child can learn financial responsibility now while they have a little so they are better equipped when they someday have a lot.

Financial Education

The youth checking account opens the doors to your child's financial education. Before he or she leaves the house, you want them to be able to handle their own money and spend wisely. Having a checking account will teach them to keep a positive checking balance, encourage earning money to put into the account, and empower your child to learn more about finances.

Debit Card

The major perk of opening a Youth Checking account is that your child will receive a debit card for free. They have probably watched you use cards closely. Now it is their turn to have that responsibility. Explaining to your child that using a debit card is just like using cash is a good way to ensure your child understands the card does not have an endless spending limit.

Direct & Mobile Deposit

After a Youth Checking account has been open for 90 days, First Choice offers free mobile deposit to its young members. This gives your child another way to enjoy their phone and makes it easy for them to deposit monetary gifts from Christmas and birthdays. As your teen gets older and starts earning at a job, their employer may be able to directly deposit paychecks into their personal checking account.

Kids ages 10 to 18 would benefit from a Youth Checking Account from First Choice Credit Union. In order to apply, a parent or guardian must be a joint owner on the account and qualify themselves for a regular FCCU checking account. That's it! Come in today and open a Youth Checking account and help your child learn about financial literacy.

How Far Will a Free Checking Account Take You?

Budgeting for the important things in life is essential to enjoying the small things that keep you sane. It’s never fun to worry about spending – especially when those worries prevent you from ever having any fun. Create a budget for yourself to make sure your expenses get paid and remember to set aside a small fund for fun!

Free checking accounts are rare. The money you save from taking advantage of a free checking account can add up to a “fun fund” for yourself. We’ve gathered a list of the top things you can do with the money you’ll save from opening a free checking account with First Choice Federal Credit Union:

1. Save for a New Car

There’s more than just one benefit of getting a car. Not only will you look great driving around a fresh car, but getting a used or new vehicle loan will help build your credit score. You’ll be able to create a payment plan with the money you save with us to find a car you’ll love!

2. Pay Back Debts

If you have a credit balance that is getting too high, pay a larger amount towards your bill this month. It will also help raise your credit and get you one step closer to paying off that debt.

3. Stock Up on Groceries

Going out to dinner can add up quickly. An easy thing you can do with the extra money you’ll have is head to the grocery store. Stock up on meals and you’ll be forced to eat at home and save even more money! Meal planning can be fun to do with friends, too!

4. Invest

The main benefit of investing is the idea of time. The sooner you start investing, the bigger your potential return will be. Young investors have an advantage because compound interest builds greater with time. Remember that with investment comes risk, so always do your research to fully understand your investment before you commit.

5. Enjoy a Night on the Town

No matter how hectic or stressful your day may get, it’s always important to remember to treat yourself. Let’s face it; you work hard! Get some friends together for a night at the movies or dinner and drinks. It isn’t financially smart to make a habit of going out, but treating yourself is a great way to celebrate financial goals. Just don’t go too overboard!


Although it’s important to put money away for the necessities in life, it’s equally important to indulge yourself every once in a while. Everyone deserves to be spoiled here and there! Having a free checking account will put you on the right track to make sure you’re saving for the things you need, but still have enough to spoil yourself!


Contact First Choice Credit Union to get started.

Tax Return or Taxes Due – How to Be Smart at Tax Time

Whether this time of year means a tax bill or a nice tax return in your pocket, it’s a time to be thoughtful about these sums of money. Many people spend their tax return too quickly or fret over where to find the money to pay their taxes. We have tips for both situations.

If You’re Receiving a Return...

1)     Pay Your Tax-related Expenses

Even filing your taxes costs money. Use your tax return to pay your accountant or replace the cost of your tax software. If you’re getting a federal return but owe in state taxes, or vice versa, turn around and pay one with the other.

2)     Add it to Savings

It is recommended to have 2-3 months’ worth of income stashed away in a Savings account. This is highly recommended so that emergency situations—like car repairs, medical bills, or family members in need—can be addressed without affecting your week-to-week cash flow. So if your savings isn’t quite healthy enough, or you need to open a Savings account, use your return to do so. First Choice Credit Union has savings account options to fit your specific needs, so contact us to get started.

3)     Pay off Credit Card Balances

Which of your outstanding balances have the highest interest rate? Interest paid is money out the door which doesn’t pay down the principle balance you owe. Get serious about paying down the debt with the highest rate, and buy yourself some breathing room by putting your tax return toward outstanding balances.

4)     Put it in Retirement or Education Savings Accounts

These are the Savings accounts we often overlook because they’re useful so far in the future. We are creatures of the present, and saving for a moment 10, 15, or 20 years down the road is not exciting, even if it is a huge ticket item. Between college tuition and retirement, the average couple will need well over $1 million. Sound daunting? Speak with one of our representatives about our Education or Retirement Savings options to make a plan for your future.

If You Owe Taxes...

If you’re one of the 20% of taxpayers who won’t get a refund, but an “amount due,” don’t panic. Depending on the amount you owe and your available monies, you’ll find a way. But by all means, do not put it off or ignore it for a few months. IRS charges failure-to-file and failure-to-pay penalties if you are beyond the deadline, and these accrue month over month. So how do you approach this new bill in a smart way?

1)     Save From Now until April 15th

If you’ve discovered your tax bill in February, you still have two months to save up that amount before the April due date. Whether you stay in, eat in, skip Valentine’s gifts, or put off paying for something else, see if you can use this time to prepare for your tax payment.

2)     Pull from Emergency Funds

Remember #2 above? This is one of those situations that could pull from a robust savings fund without affecting your day-to-day. Here’s to savings!

3)     Enter into an Installment Agreement with the IRS

If you owe less than $50,000 and haven’t set up an installment agreement in 5 years, you could fill out a monthly payment request online. You can request a specific monthly payment, which is preferable to putting your tax payment on a credit card with a high interest rate.

4)     Ask for Extended Time

If extraordinary circumstances keep you from being able to pay your taxes on time, you may be able to prove you need an extension. Using the same payment agreement application, you may be able to buy yourself some time.

First Choice Credit Union can help you with any financial services, whether you’re celebrating a refund or glaring at a tax bill. Good Luck this tax season!

2017 Financial Resolutions For Your Age Group

On New Year’s Eve, the world whispers resolutions to each other. Too many of these good intended resolutions are never achieved because they are not specific, attainable, or timely. First Choice Credit Union is here to help with clear, achievable financial resolutions for the New Year geared towards your age group.

18-25 Years Old

At this point, your financial situation is probably pretty bleak. Whether you went to college or not, you are likely starting at zero (or below that). In 2017, your financial resolution should be to open a checking and savings account with a trustworthy bank. First Choice Credit Union is a great option because we offer more competitive interest rates than the big banks do. Also, start building your credit by opening a credit card, paying on your student loans, or applying for an auto loan. At First Choice Credit Union, we offer 36-72 month car loans with up to 100% financing!

26-35 Years Old

Now is the time to save rigorously, even as you are starting to put down roots. Save money for an emergency fund, for a down payment on a house, or even for retirement. Your financial resolution this year should be to save as much of your income as you can. Dollars saved at this point in your life will stretch a long way. So save 3-6 months of your expenses for a rainy day, accumulate enough to put 20% down on a conventional mortgage loan, and take advantage of your employer's 401k retirement plan.

35-50 Years Old

Your New Year’s resolution for 2017 can be a little more fun. You have put in the time saving money, worked hard to earn your home, car, and other possessions. Your financial resolution is to make one of your dreams a reality. Perhaps you have wanted to travel across Europe, or buy a small vacation home, or purchase a seaworthy boat. Make one of your financial wishes come true this year!

50-75 Years Old

As you begin to enter the senior years of life, financial stresses can become all too real. In 2017, be sure you have your retirement situation planned out, your savings growing at a steady rate, and your living will written and filed. If you have questions, turn to your bank or financial adviser for assistance, we are here to help you!

No matter what your age, we hope First Choice Credit Union has helped you find a resolution for 2017 that will make your life better. Achieve success by making your resolve towards something specific, attainable, and timely. All of us at First Choice Credit Union are wishing you the happiest New Year!