Greater Central Texas Federal Credit Union,
3305 E Elms Road
Killeen, TX 76542
Telephone: 254-690-2274
www.gctfcu.net

Improving Your Credit Score

30. March 2019 Administrator Blog (0)
Good credit score helps in qualifying for loans, better deals on car insurance, getting credit cards at favorable terms and more. Many factors like payment history of loans and credit cards, amount of revolving credit used, balances in one’s bank accounts, frequency of applying for credit, types of accounts, etc. affect the credit score.

Following are some tips for improving credit scores:

  • Use Online Tools To Keep A Tab On Your Credit Score: The first step towards improving your credit score is to check your status. You may use free online tools as they can help you in checking your current score and also provide insights about the factors affecting credit score. This information will help in formulating a plan for credit score improvement.
  • Create A Plan: After studying your credit report thoroughly, formulate an action plan to make possible improvements. You should aim to keep your credit card balance and revolving credit low.
  • Set Up Payment Reminders And Automatic Payments: Avoid late payments by setting up due date alerts. Also, you can set up automatic payments as per the schedule of your pay check.
  • Maintain A Low Credit Utilization Ratio: Credit utilization ratio is calculated by adding all credit card balances and dividing the amount by the total credit limit. A low credit utilization ratio is indicative of a good credit score and implies that you are managing your credit well.
  • Avoid Unnecessary Credit Accounts: It is advisable to avoid opening new credit accounts as unnecessary credit may lead to overspending & accumulated debt. This may negatively affect your credit score. You should open new credit accounts in unavoidable circumstances only. Applying for new credit may harm your credit score as it results into multiple inquiries on your credit report.
  • Keep Unused Credit Cards Open: Closing credit cards increase credit utilization ratio which has a negative impact on your credit score. 
  • Create An Emergency Fund: Build an emergency fund to ensure that you meet your debt obligations on time even during dry financial periods. You may utilize this fund, if needed instead of applying for a credit.
Improving credit score requires diligent planning and dedication over time but eventually brings about many financial benefits & provides more opportunities to achieve bigger financial goals.

Greater Central Texas Federal Credit Union is a not-for-profit financial cooperative that operates for the common benefit of its member and offers an array of services. For more information, visit 3305 E. Elms Rd., Killeen, TX -76542 or call at (254) 690-2274.

Tags :
Comments are closed
GCTFCU Blog | Finding A Credit Union
Greater Central Texas Federal Credit Union,
3305 E Elms Road
Killeen, TX 76542
Telephone: 254-690-2274
www.gctfcu.net

Finding A Credit Union

29. September 2018 Administrator Blog (0)
Credit union membership has myriad benefits such as great services, low fees, competitive rates and exclusive member discounts. When looking for credit unions, strive to look for the best and not just the most convenient one.

If you are keen on opening an account in a credit union but cannot decide on which one is the best for you, the following tips may be helpful in simplifying your search:

  • An Insured Credit Union: Pay attention to whether the credit union is insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or by the National Credit Union Administration. 
  • Eligibility: Narrow down your search by looking for credit unions for which you qualify. This will save you a lot of time and energy. Examples of factors that will determine whether you qualify for the membership in a credit union are the town you live in, the organization for which you work, etc.
  • Research: Consult people you know to search for credits unions in your area for which you are eligible. Listen carefully to what they have to say about its working, customer service and other services. Choose a credit union with maximum number of satisfied members. 
  • Assess Your Needs: Finding the right credit union is not just limited to eligibility but to your needs too. Consider whether the services and products being offered are what you are interested in. Compare the interest rates of the credit union/s with that of other financial institutions. Strike a conversation with the staff and assess whether their vibe and way of dealing with customers matches your expectations. 
  • Online Resources: Using online resources like credit union locators for finding credit unions based on location and distance to produce quick and reliable results right from the comfort of your home. All you have to do is click on “detect my location” and within a few seconds the results will be on your smartphone, tablet or desktop.
  • Consider The Services Provided: If you belong to a specific group or community e.g. an employee of a specific company, a member of military or a resident of a particular community, look for a credit union that provides specific services that are oriented towards your group
  • Variety Of Financial Services: An ideal credit union is one which provides a wide plethora of services under one roof. Example of such services are credit and debit cards, auto loans, home lending services, savings programs, financial counselling, etc.
For more information, visit Greater Central Texas Federal Credit Union at 3305 E Elms Road, Killeen, TX 76542. You can also call at (254) 690 – 2274.

Comments are closed
GCTFCU Blog | Do’s And Don’ts About Auto Financing
Greater Central Texas Federal Credit Union,
3305 E Elms Road
Killeen, TX 76542
Telephone: 254-690-2274
www.gctfcu.net

Do’s And Don’ts About Auto Financing

30. November 2011 Administrator (0)

Auto Financing relates to the financing of the auto vehicles, especially for those buyers who are not able to buy the vehicle of their choice due to the high prices of the vehicle. Auto financing provides them with the auto loans, thereby enabling them to own the cars of their choice instantly and pay for it later. These auto loans help in managing the monthly budget by taking off the burden of paying the huge amount of the vehicle instantly. This is done by levying a reasonable rate of interest which is paid as monthly installments for a pre-decided period of time to the auto loan provider.

Though, auto financing provides you with an easy option of getting the vehicle without worrying about its high prices, there are some do’s and don’ts about auto financing which you should always keep in mind. Some of these do’s and don’ts can be described as under:

Some Do’s about Auto Financing

  • Do introspect and try to analyze your personal financial strength and the credit history, before you could decide about taking an auto loan. It is essential to know what your pocket allows without difficulty at a later stage.
  • Do research well beforehand and decide about the vehicle you intend to buy and the respective prices that are available in the market. Also research about the rate of interests that are offered by the different financial institutions and banks for the auto loans.
  • Do negotiate and try to bargain with the interest rates with the auto loan service providers. Many banks offer low interest rates to grab the attention of the customers but levy hidden charges. Therefore, it becomes important to check and negotiate properly.
  • Do verify the documentations of the auto loans you are applying for and the respective legal formalities related to it. It is also necessary to verify the loan provider which may be a bank, financial institution or private company.

Some Don’ts about Auto Financing  

  • Don’t overdo your budget as it would prove to be a bad deal later on. It is necessary to keep aside some cash or funds for the times of emergency or financial ups and downs.
  • Don’t go for very high rates of interest as it would create problems in the long run.
  • Don’t make decisions in a hurry as it would hamper your loan process as well as your financial position, which may suffer losses.
  • Don’t settle over a deal without thinking over its pros and cons. The deal may look good for a while but it is should be workable in the long run as well.  

For more details on wide range of auto loans and auto financing in all credit situations, you can contact us at Greater Central Texas Federal Credit Union, 3305 E Elms Road, Killeen, TX 76542 or call us at 254-690-2274.

72 Month Auto Financing - Auto Loan in Killeen, Tx

Comments are closed