• Lower rates of interest: Credit unions offer favorable interest rates as compared to banks that help in making savings in the long run. The unions are non-profit organizations and are exempt from paying taxes like traditional lenders. Therefore, credit unions offer lower interest rate on home loan mortgages.
• Flexibility: Unlike banks, the credit unions are more flexible in the policy and are cooperative with their members. As the credit union is members owned, all the members have the right to vote on important issues that affect the rates of interests. 
• Lower income requirements: The credit unions may also approve borrowers with lower income. Thus people who might not qualify for a loan in a bank stand a better chance of getting a loan through a union. 
• Other benefits: Some other benefits of taking home loans from credit union include personalized service in comparison to banks, higher payouts on certificates of deposits, faster closing options and even the possibility to miss a payment.
  

• Lower Fees And Better Rates: Credit unions operate with the sole objective of working for the welfare of their members. All profits that they earn are returned in the form of lower rates of interests, better services, and minimum fees.
• Volunteer Board of Directors: Unlike banks, the functioning of credit unions is administered by a volunteer board of directors. When a member opens an account, he/she is immediately given certain share in the credit union. Every member has an equal say in the governance matters, regardless of the size of their account.
• Board Elected By Members: Every year, the credit union conducts elections where the members are free to choose who would be serving on the board of directors. The elected members, then, formulate and implement the policies of the credit union.
• Flexible And Convenient Loans: Members of a credit union can avail convenient home and auto loans with easy repayment options. Also, filing for and getting approved for a loan is a very easy process. It does not involve much paperwork and the application is approved within a few days.
• Dividend On Savings: The profits earned by a credit union are usually returned by way of attractive dividends on the savings account of the members. The dividend rate may vary from year to year.
• Members Have Common Interests: Members of the credit union share a common bond of owning a share in the union. To be a credit union member, the individual must fulfill certain eligibility criteria, such as area of employment, place of residency or affiliations with other institutions. This implies that each of them holds something in common.
• Convenient Access To Your Money: Most credit unions offer online account access so that the members can easily view complete summary of their financial transactions. Thus, you either opt for 24X7 access or personalized services during the office hours. 

• Annual Percentage Rate (APR): It refers to the variable or fixed interest rate at which the financier is ready to lend the loan for a certain period of time. Borrowing a loan at a low APR does not always mean a cheap loan, particularly if it is a long term loan. Paying higher number of installments at a low APR ultimately leads to reimbursing more interest.
• Comparison Rate: This includes the upfront loan fees as well as the proposed interest rate. Comparison rate will help you in assessing the true cost of the home loan.
• Fixed Rate: This allows you to borrow the loan at a definite rate of interest with fixed monthly payments for a specified period of time.
• Loan To Value Ratio (LVR): It refers to the size of your home loan in proportion to the actual value of the property to be purchased. For instance, if you borrow $200,000 to finance a home worth $400,000, the loan will have an LVR of 50% ($200,000 is 80% of $400,000).
• Variable Rate: It keeps on varying according to the changes in official rates of interest.
• Down Payment: When you borrow a home loan, the lender will require you to contribute certain percentage of your own money to buy the house. This initial amount is known as down payment. 
• Refinance: This refers to procuring a new mortgage loan on an already owned home. This is usually done to switch current loans on the property. 
• Loan Term: It is the time period before the maturity of your home loan and is usually indicated in months, usually 24 to 84 months. It helps the borrower have an idea about when he is expected to pay off the loan.
  

Purchasing a home requires a big financial input and usually people apply for a home loan to assist with the investment. However there are many criteria and conditions that you must fulfill to qualify for a loan. Here are some parameters that describe your home loan endorsement and explain who can apply for a home loan in Killeen, TX.

• Salary: One of the most important criteria that you must fulfill in order to be eligible for a home loan is regular employment. The loan providers seek the assurance that you can repay the loan amount smoothly without any interruptions. They make sure that the borrower has enough resources and seek documents such as your salary certificates, etc. High salary increases your chances of being approved for the loan.
• Stable job: To qualify for a home loan, you must have a stable job. You must be employed for at least six months or a year before applying for loan to show stability and a regular income.
• Existing loans: Before approving your home loan, the lenders may require information about any existing loan. If you have paid off your existing loans, it increases your chances of getting an approval.
• Property check: To approve your home loan the financial institutions and banks often check the property that you intend to buy and see if it is built as per the technical and legal norms. They even verify if the property is sanctioned by the authorities. It is crucial that you check whether the property has approved sanctioned plans and complies with the technical and legal aspects.
• Having saving account: Most of the financial institutions including banks approve loans for applicants who have a saving account. They often require the latest statement of your bank account to see whether you are capable of repaying the loan. Having enough savings increases your chances of getting approval for the home loan.
• Credit score: The mortgage companies and financial institutions check your credit score before approving the loan. Your credit score decides your interest rate, the amount that you can borrow and the loan type that you are qualified to obtain.

You may be required to furnish your personal details by filling an application form while applying for home loan. We, at Greater Central Texas Federal Credit Union offer easy home loans at affordable interest rates. For more details, call us at (254) 690 – 2274.

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.

Various financial institutions offer car loans with different repayment options. However as a borrower, it is important that you understand your requirements and affordability to avoid any difficulties while repaying the loan amount. 
Here are some important tips that you must keep in mind while choosing a car loan:

• Determine your affordability: Undoubtedly, this is the most important per-requisite of applying for a car loan. It is very important to establish your budget for the loan amount to ensure you can pay it off easily. Therefore, determine all our monthly expenses and determine the amount that you would be able to spare monthly. Some people may have the misconception that making large repayments is a good way to pay the loan off early. However, this extra expenditure every month cost can also cause you to financially struggle for your basic needs.
• Know your budget: After you have set aside the amount that you can afford, you must work upon how you will manage your expenses. If you do not have a steady income, you should opt for a loan that offers flexible repayment options. Make sure that you chalk out a budget that seems practical and realistic.
• Determine your chances of approval: Most financial institutions have a specified set of criterion to decide on if an applicant’s loan should be approved or not. You should consider your credit history, annual income and other relevant factors to determine the approximate loan amount that you can be lent.
• Secured or unsecured loan: A secured loan would need you to put up collateral against the money borrowed. In case you fail to pay the loan back, the collateral will be possessed by the lender. Unsecured loans, on the other hand, will possibly have higher interest rates due to no such security. You should be aware of the stakes and take a well informed decision.
• Interest rates: You must also decide between fixed and variable interest rates. Fixed rates would help you have a clear idea of your monthly repayments, and therefore, manage your budget accordingly. Variable rates however are subject to change according to the present market conditions but can offer benefits too.

We at Greater Central Texas Federal Credit Union offer convenient and instant car loans at affordable rates of interest. For more details, feel free to call us at (254) 690 - 2274 or visit our office at 3305 E Elms Road Killeen, TX 76542.

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.

If you are planning to finance your new automobile or car, going in for a credit union is a good option. Obtaining a secured auto loan through a credit union in Central Texas is a far simpler and faster process. It has its own set of advantages that guarantee you peace of mind. Read on to know how credit unions are serving the needs of cheap auto loan of people residing in various communities of Texas.

• The biggest benefit of getting a secured auto loan through a credit union is the competitive interest rates on offer. These are much lower as compared to conventional sources of raising funds, such as banks. Therefore, with an auto loan from a credit union, you can be assured of lower paybacks in the form of interest.
• Loan approval is a major factor when it comes to applying for an auto loan. Many financial institutions take a lot of time for the loan approval process. The formalities to be completed along with the documents to be furnished are very time-consuming. But when you go in for an auto loan from a credit union, you can be assured of loan approval to be as quickly as possible. The process is comparatively faster and saves up a lot of your precious time before you lay your hands on your dream automobile.
• Credit unions are also advantageous when it comes to the convenience factor for consumers. A credit union can offer you an auto loan that suits your specific needs and requirements. With credit unions, customers can apply for loans online while sitting in the comfortable environment of their home. Should you have any queries, you can always call up the customer helpdesk to get them resolved at a time suitable to you.

For a secured auto loan in Central Texas, there is collateral to be offered as a security against the loan. The collateral is kept in a safe place and is returned back to the customer.

Whether it is the quest for buying a new automobile or a second-hand one, customers always want a safe way of making their payments. Consistency is an important factor as nobody wants to have loan repayment structures that keep on changing with time. With a credit union, all these factors are taken care of.

The real estate industry in Killeen, Texas is buzzing today with many people looking to buy the house of their dreams here. Whether it is an apartment, villa, or any other property, buying a house is considered as a good investment. Financing a house can be tricky at times; of course you have savings from your hard-earned money, but there is always an option of getting a secured loan Read on to know how a credit union can help you with getting the requisite financial resources for buying your new house.

• The home loans offered by credit unions come at typically lower interest rates. In addition, there are a variety of options to choose from when it comes to an interest rate that best suits your pocket. Lower interest rates mean guaranteed peace of mind as you enter into your new house and live freely with family and friends.
• Credit unions offer fast approval of home loans as compared to the conventional sources of financing the purchase of house. Getting a loan sanctioned can be a tedious and time consuming process and today nobody has time to waste. With credit unions in Killeen TX you can benefit from applying online for loans and getting them sanctioned at the earliest possible time. It can be done from the comfort of office or home.
• Another factor is availability. With a credit union, the clients do not have to worry about timings; they can apply for loans and get them sanctioned as and when it is convenient for them and not worry about opening and closing times.
• To apply for a home loan in Killeen TX, many credit unions offer helpline numbers that are functional round the clock. As a customer, you may have valid concerns and queries related to your loan; a credit union will appropriately address those at a time convenient to you.
• The loan solutions offered by credit unions are highly unbiased. Every dealing is done keeping in mind the requirements and budget of individual customers. These days, credit unions also offer the option of secured loans wherein you can pledge assets as collaterals to obtain the loan. This is a good way of financing the purchase of your house.

So if you are looking to get a home loan at competitive rates for purchasing a house, a credit union is your best option.

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.