• Rate Of Interest: Credit unions offer secured loans at competitive interest rates. Secured loans typically have fixed interest rates so, a borrower’s monthly payments remain consistent in spite of changes in market trends.
• Bigger Loan Amount: The borrowers can apply loan for a larger amount provided collateral is satisfactory. This makes a secured loan apt for large investments such as purchasing a new or used car.
• Improves Credit: These loans help borrowers with low credit ratings to improve the same over time. As a borrower repays a secured loan according to the schedule set out by the loan officer, a positive track record is established and the credit score improves. A secured loan also improves credit score by lowering your credit utilization ratio.
• Flexible Terms: Those who borrow secured loans enjoy flexible terms of repayment as per the options offered by the credit union. The term of the loan can be set to match the financial circumstances of the borrower. These loan term may range from a few years to a longer stretch.

• Your Financial Situation: Before applying for a secured loan, the first thing to do is to assess your financial situation. Figure out how much loan you need, suitable loan term, feasible EMI, etc.
• Credit History: Once you have made up your mind to get the loan, check your credit history and see how it will affect your loan application. A good credit score increases your credibility.
• Loan-to-Value: Assess the loan-to-value in order to know your borrowing capacity and the interest rate that will suit your financial circumstances. A lower loan-to-value translates into a better interest rate.
• The Interest Rate: Inquire about the interest rates offered when looking for a secured loan. Ask the loan officers about suitable options and ways to secure a better rate.
• The Term Of The Loan: The period over which you have to repay the loan also impacts the cost of the loan. A shorter period of repayment may lead to higher interest rate and vice versa.
• Fees And Monthly Payment: When obtaining a secured loan, keep in mind that it involves various payments such as application fee, loan origination fee and cost of appraisal.
• The Application Process: Credit Unions offer borrowers the choice of applying online. During the process, applicant is required to provide details such as the name, address, date of birth, income and employment status, etc.

• Enhances Credit Rating: Secured loans are easy to acquire even if the borrower’s credit rating is low. However, a borrower can work towards building his credit score over time by making timely payments towards his secured loan.
• Lower Interest Rates: Another major reason for borrowing secured loans is their rate of interest. Since the loans are secured with a collateral, lenders feel more confident and may disperse loans at lower interest rates.  
• Flexible Terms: Borrowers who avail secured loans enjoy flexible repayment terms. A consumer can choose a repayment schedule that suits his financial circumstances. The repayment terms may be as long as 30 years. Lenders offer longer terms because real estate pledged as security, usually appreciates over time and this adds to the value of collateral while the loan is being repaid.
• Usage: Secured loans can be used for a variety of purposes provided the purpose is legally valid. A consumer can use the money for investing, home improvement, weddings, funeral expenses, moving expenses, etc.
• Larger Loans: With secured loans, borrowers enjoy the benefit of being able to borrow larger amount of money for a longer duration. This is because of collateral in the form of tangible assets guaranteed to the lender by the borrower. Lenders know that if for any reason the borrower defaults to pay back the loan amount, collateral can be sold to recover the unpaid amount of loan.
• Easy To Acquire: The main requirement for a secured loan is collateral. Thus, if you have collateral in the form of a valuable asset such as a piece of real estate, a car, precious jewelry, a house or deposited cash, you can easily acquire a secured loan.

• Less Income Requirements: You need not have a significantly high income to get approval for a secured car loan. The collateral that you put forward offers a security that in case you default on your repayment, the item can be confiscated by the credit union. Thus the chances of being approved are based upon the price of the collateral. 
  
• No rigorous background checks:  As you put up a collateral, a secured loan procedure does not involve major background checks. You are approved quickly based on the value of the collateral.
  
• Lower Interest Rates: You can get a secured car loan at much lower interest rates than that for an unsecured one. The lower interest rates also make it easier to make monthly payments, thus, improving your credit rating.
  
• Quick Approval: It is much easier to get a secured loan as compared to other traditional loans. As the risk is minimized with a secured car loan, there are no rigorous income checks required to approve the loan application. The staff is helpful and aims to clear your application as soon as possible.
  
• Flexible repayment: They give the member the flexibility to pay back over a long time or in big short payments. A longer repayment time makes it easier to pay the loan back.
  
• Focus On Customer Service: Credit unions are non-profit organizations that hold customer service as their top priority. Credit unions have well-established resource centers to provide complete assistance to the clients with regard to the loan process, calculating monthly payments, filling application form etc.
  

We, at Greater Central Texas Federal Credit Union, provide quick and convenient secured car loans in Killeen, TX. We are a member owned and operated financial institution working solely for the benefit of our clients. For more information about our loan products, feel free to call at (254) 690 – 2274 or visit our office at 3305 E. Elms Rd., Killeen, TX  76542

Applying for a secured auto loan can be a very confusing and deliberating task for many people. There are a number of terms and conditions that must be properly understood before you sign a contract.

Given here are some of the mistakes that people usually make while applying for a secured auto loan in Killeen, TX.

For more information on secured auto loans in Killeen, TX, contact Greater Central Texas Federal Credit Union. You can call us at (254) 690 - 2274 or visit our office at 3305 E Elms Road Killeen, TX 76542.

Secured loan is a type of loan where the borrower mortgages his asset as an assurance for the loan. Borrowers who consider a secured loan usually enjoy low interest rates and get fair tax deductions at the time of calculation of taxes.  Secure Loan is becoming very common due to its benefits for both the borrower and the loan provider. However many people are unaware of the necessary steps that should be taken before considering a secured loan.

Here are some tips to guide you regarding the necessary considerations for before obtaining a secured loan:

Create A Checklist:

There are many points that need to be considered before applying for a secured loan. These points may help you in taking a decision regarding the amount of loan to be taken or may change your decision for taking a loan altogether. The important points are:

• Check credit card balance transfers
• Check credit reference files
• Calculate the savings
• Make a budget
• Calculate the savings
• Calculate the amount to be borrowed

Analyzing the above mentioned steps can help you in deciding the need for a secured loan.

Search For A Reliable Secured Loan Provider:

There are many types of risks associated with applying for a secured loan, therefore it your responsibility to select the secured loan provider diligently. You should perform complete market research and collect information about the goodwill and trustworthiness of the loan provider. You may also compare the interest rates and amount of loan provided with similar loan providers.

Do the necessary enquiry:

After you choose the secured loan provider it is essential to enquire about the plan offered by them in detail. The enquiry includes time period of the loan, interest rate, options available for early payment of the loan and the exact amount of loan provided.

Read the agreement prior to signing:

Before signing the agreement it should be read properly to avoid any confusion after the procurement of the loan. Consider the terms and conditions in the agreement for prepayment penalties and clauses which may not be in your favor. The borrower should also set up a payment schedule after the procurement of the loan in order to avoid chaos related to the monthly loan payment and make the complete repayment stress-free.

We at Greater Central Texas Federal Credit Union provide secured loan to our clients at affordable interest rates. To know the secured loan options offered by us visit at 3305 E Elms Road Killeen, TX 76542 or call at ( 254 ) 690 - 2274.

Financial loans, whether secured from a personal or public source, are the first port of call in a situation where you need to borrow money to gain ownership of a house or vehicle. A loan is based on the fact that the bearer will repay the amount with the said interest over a fixed term. While bank loans are the most popular kind, local credit unions are fast gaining popularity as the preferred alternative to high-street financing companies. With a compelling list of advantages credit unions are more cost friendly and easier to apply to. Some of the benefits of dealing with credit unions are mentioned below.

• The number one pull of credit unions is the fact that they offer loans at a substantially cheaper rate as compared to traditional banks. The primary reason behind the existence of a credit union is to be able to help the community and all the credit union members. Thus the staff at credit unions helps their members in fulfilling their dreams by providing quick financial assistance at cheaper rates.
• Credit unions are non-profit organizations and the interest you pay is used to help other community and credit union members. This gives a feeling of helping others while your own needs are addressed simultaneously.
• Securing loans are not the only purpose that credit unions help with. You can use them just like a regular bank in order to deposit funds, withdraw them, to use locker services, financial advice and many more services. As a credit union is an easy and cheap source to secure loans they stand out distinctly as a more favorable financial institution.
• The staff at credit unions has a subtle yet different approach to dealing with their clients. They are helpful and focus on addressing all your queries at once, especially the ones related to taking certain necessary measures to qualify for a loan successfully, should you fail in the first attempt.  

There are several other advantages that come with taking your financial dealings to a credit union like access to a well spread network of ATM's and personalized customer support.

If you are thinking of buying a used car for the family but are not yet ready to make a large one-time investment, it makes sense to go for a used car auto loan. With a used car auto loan, the vehicle you purchase costs much less to begin with and your loan provides you with a way to scatter payments into comfortable and easy monthly installments thus enabling you to start using your car immediately without having to worry about one-time payments. There are a number of things to consider when you want to finance a used car. Knowing about these factors can help you make a wiser, smarter decision and make the process smooth and easy.

Initial Considerations

The first thing you need to determine before you can start the process of getting a used car auto loan is to set a concrete budget. Remember to include all possible components in your budget likes local sales tax, licensing fees and car titling fees. If you calculate these costs ahead of time it will really help to figure out the value of the used car that you finally choose.

The next step is to choose a used vehicle and determine its exact current value accurately. Make sure that you get a fair price and have the vehicle assessed by professionals, if there is need for that. To know more about the condition of the vehicle in question, you can ask for a history report from the previous owners which would tell you about usage records, servicing records and records of accidents if any. This helps you foresee potential problems in the future which can turn out to be costly.

Getting a Used Car Auto Loan

When all the initial steps have been taken care of, you can then move onto the actual process of getting a used car auto loan. Keep a close eye on your budget and figure out how much you want to spend monthly. Another thing to watch out for is the interest rate which you will be charged with a used car auto loan. Make sure that your monthly payment figure and the rate of interest is favorable to you and enables you to smoothly make monthly payments with convenience and by staying within your original budget. On figuring these things out, the only thing that remains to be done is to complete the actual paperwork and you will have the money to buy the used car of your choice.

For most people the first step when they decide to get a new car is to get a secured auto loan. Financing the purchase through a lending institution can help you tackle what can otherwise be a huge expense and hassle. To avoid paying a hefty periodic interest rate you should consider financing the vehicle from a credit union instead of a bank, as it is more cost effective and pro community. The benefits of a secured loan greatly outnumber those of an unsecured loan.

• The interest rates are much lesser in case of a secured loan as you put up an asset as collateral. It is an affordable scheme you should be confident to repay the loan. The nominal interest rates make the repayment convenient.
• It is easier to get a secured loan sanctioned as the lending institution does not hesitate to sign it with collateral in hand. On many occasions, getting the loan sanctioned is the biggest obstacle and you wind up having to wait for months to make sure that it is approved. Credit Unions are also very lenient in case of people who opt for a secured loan. You can borrow a favorable amount when you put up a property as collateral as there is no limit to the amount of money the credit unions are willing to lend.
• Apart from all this the repayment period is also flexible and you can pay the loan back over a longer duration of time. This means less pressure, less monthly installments and more peace of mind for you. Even the interest rates are not fixed for secured borrowers. As long as you have a decent flow of monthly income, some property to show and a decent credit history, you should take advantage of the above mentioned benefits offered by secured loans.
• A credit union is the most suitable place to get a loan from. Not only are the interest rates lower but the level of service is also top notch and backed by friendly staff members. Apart from borrowing money you can also get all other financial and banking needs catered to at credit unions.

We at the Greater Central Texas Federal Credit Union can help you with your secured loan and clear any doubts that you may have. You can call us at (254) 690 – 227.

Buying a car is a major long-term investment for families and involves a significant outlay of funds and careful consideration as to where those funds come from. For most families, taking out an auto loan is a viable and wise option as it gives them the adequate funds to make an outright purchase while scattering the actual payment over a period of time with monthly payments, thereby lessening the financial pressure on them by a considerable margin. Auto loans are easily available with the bare minimum of hassle if applied for by an experienced credit union. Auto loans can be of two broad kinds- secured auto loans and unsecured auto loans and the basic difference lies in the fact that with secure auto loans the vehicle that is being purchased is taken into consideration as  collateral for the loan amount and there is no collateral in case of an unsecured auto loan. While you decide which kind of loan you want to apply for, it is useful to know about the fundamental differences between these two kinds of auto loans and what each of them would imply for you.

Secured Auto Loans

In a secured auto loan, the car you purchase is worked into the loan agreement as collateral for the loan. Therefore, the party providing the loan retains all rights over the vehicle and you get the right to use the vehicle for your purposes. Once the loan is repaid fully, you receive the ownership rights to the car which is then transferred to your name.

Since the lender in listed as the lien holder in case of a secured auto loan, you need to maintain comprehensive coverage insurance on the vehicle until all loan dues are paid off. If you cannot make payments on time or fail to make them, the lien holder can ask the car to be returned. Inability to do so will cause the car to be legally repossessed to pay off for the remainder of the loan. The upsides are that interest rates are usually low and it is easy to get a loan approved for large amounts, thus enabling you to get the model of car you want.

Unsecured Auto Loans

These loans do not have any collateral mentioned, which means that once you purchase your car you can assume ownership of it immediately. Also, you are free to choose the kind of insurance coverage you want for your car. There is no possibility of an event where your car can be claimed or repossessed but the interest rates for unsecured auto loans can be relatively higher and approval processes might be a little more rigorous than those for secured auto loans.

We at Greater Central Texas Federal Credit Union can help you apply for a car loan in Killeen and deal with all the details. We can be contacted at (254) 690 – 227.

Many people today are turning to credit unions in Killeen TX when it comes to obtaining secured loans for housing, automobiles, and other needs. This shift towards credit unions from the conventional ways of banking can be best explained by the many benefits that they offer. Read on to know how joining a credit union can prove to be beneficial for you.

• Firstly, credit unions are out there in the market not to make profit, but serve their customers. They offer reliable services to customers at affordable fees. Banks on the other hand are known for charging considerably high charges for providing services to customers. Hence, many people today prefer to become a member of a credit union.
• Another advantage of joining a credit union is that it will provide you higher rates of return on your savings account. In addition. If you go in for a secured loan in Killeen through a credit union, you are liable to pay lower rates of interest as compared to a bank. Both these factors make it a win-win situation for the customer to readily become a member of a credit union. Credit unions pass on their savings into their entire product line, leading to lower interest rates.
• While banks furnish a minimum balance requirement when it comes to ensuring the continuity of an account, it is not the case with a credit union. There are no big numbers on the amount of money to be kept for running the account. You can easily operate accounts with negligible balance.
• ATM accessibility is another major benefit of joining a credit union. Credit unions in and around Central Texas have their own shared ATMs and branches, which means that you can get cash any time and any where you need. This can be an impediment when it comes to banks which have an ATM facility only next to the place where their branch is located.
• Credit unions also offer many free services in addition to the conventional loan offerings that they provide. For instance, many credit unions conduct free seminars based on various financial topics for their members. This is just one instance. There are many other free services offered by credit unions for which a bank will charge money. Hence, people see it to be more profitable to become a member of a credit union.

So join a credit union today, and enjoy the above mentioned benefits and advantages as you go about managing and dealing with money.

Whether you are planning to buy a used car or a new one, you would need finances to go ahead with the purchase. In such a situation opting for an auto loan from financial institutions is one of the best choices. In Texas, we at Greater Central Texas Federal Credit Union help you in securing a low interest auto loan. Some of the reasons that make us the best source for auto loans are stated below:

• Lower Rates of Interest: The biggest benefit of taking auto loan from our credit union is that we offer the lowest interest rates as compared to other banks and financial institutions in the area. These banks and financial agencies offer lucrative discounts and bonuses to their customers to sell their products and schemes; however, we have non-sales approach and work only for our members. Thus, all profits from members are returned back to them in the form of lower interest rates on saving accounts and loans.  Our auto loan options are more flexible.
• Quick loan approvals: It is often seen that banks turn down the loan offers looking at your credit history; whereas, you are at advantage while taking loan from our credit union as we can make adjustments that commercial banks often do not make. The complexity of underwriting process and loan applications processes are similar. Greater Central Federal Credit Union offers adjusting terms to the members and makes it easier for them to avail loan facility.
• Work best in your interest: We are a non-profit organization that offers financial options to all our members. This makes us offer highly focused and satisfying customer services. We provide personalized services and this gives you an opportunity to discuss your concerns openly. According to your needs, we offer you flexible repayment options and our professionals review your financial situations. You will not feel the stress and pressure of applying for loan that you normally feel with banks and other commercial financial agencies.
• Unbiased help: Our credit union has resources to offer unbiased answers to all your queries. Whether you want to know about the loan process, or want to know how to calculate the real value of your car, we can help. We do every effort to help you take a better decision.

For more information, visit us at Greater Central Texas Federal Credit Union. We are located at 3305 E Elms Road, Killeen, TX 76542. You can also call us at (254) 690 – 2274.

A car is a necessity in today’s times, whether it is for commuting to the workplace, or going around with family and friends on a weekend. As far as the buying options are concerned, you can get a wide choice in form of new and used cars. Both of them come with their share of advantages and disadvantages.

The kind of car you ultimately buy will depend upon the budget you have. Read on to know about the pros and cons of a used and a new car, and then decide which one is a better fit to your needs.

• Buying a new car definitely has many benefits. Since a new car has not been on the road previously, it will be in a perfect condition, with no scratches on the surface or any other damages. The charm of a new car is definitely something to vouch for.
• With more stress being laid on safety these days, a new car will be equipped with the best of safety systems to ensure that the passengers are safe in situations such as an accident. In addition, new cars come equipped with the latest of gadgets. With a new car, you can also be sure about a highly fuel efficient engine as compared to the one in an old car.
• Financing is also easier when it comes to buying a new car. Lending institutions such as credit unions are more open to giving loans for new vehicles as these have more worth in the market. The higher value of a new car as compared to an old one can be attributed to the fact that it has not been hit by depreciation so far, which is not the case with an old car.
• Coming to used cars, they also offer many advantages. They are relatively low-priced, have low insurance rates, and less prone to be hit by significant depreciation after they have been used for about 2 to 5 years. A used car is also less susceptible to cosmetic damages. Not only this, one can buy a bigger car for the same price if he or she chooses to buy an old one; a new one will definitely mean more expenses.

Greater Central Texas Federal Credit Union offers auto loan at a cheap rates for new as well as used car. The decision to go in for a new or a used car lies totally with the buyer; assess your requirements and decide accordingly.