News Releases : October - December, 2009
Capital Credit Union Announces Scholarship Program: Applications accepted now for seven $1,000 scholarships now through February 5.
Kimberly, WI — Capital Credit Union in Kimberly is now accepting applications for their 2009-2010 Scholarship Program which will award a total of $7,000 in scholarships ($1,000 each) to seven area high school seniors. Capital's Scholarship Program is open to graduating high school seniors who are enrolled to attend an accredited post-secondary institution and are Capital members living in Outagamie, Calumet, Winnebago, or Brown counties. Scholarship application packets are available online at capitalcu.com, at eligible high school guidance offices and at all 12 Capital Credit Union offices. Completed applications must be received at a Capital office by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, February 5, 2010.
An active supporter of education, Capital Credit Union partners with several area school districts to teach financial literacy, at the elementary level in Little Chute and Menasha, and at Kimberly High School as part of the National Endowment for Financial Education (NEFE).
Scholarship winners will be selected by a committee made up of Capital employees and a Capital board member using a system that rates community involvement, scholastic achievement, community and school activities, a written essay and other criteria.
Capital Teams Up With Local Charities to Clothe and Care For Others: Members and community residents are invited to take part in "Christmas With Capital" by donating mittens, hats, coats, or other items listed on "Giving Tree" tags, now through December 31.
Kimberly, WI — The public is invited to join Capital Credit Union now through December 31 in sharing and caring for people in our local communities during "Christmas With Capital" to benefit the Community Clothes Closet and three other local charities: Remembering Through Sharing, Transition Education Center (TEC House), and Haven of Hope Day Care Inc. Capital members and community residents can participate in three easy ways:
• "Giving trees" - Help clothe a child or other family member by taking a tag from the Capital Giving Tree and buying the item listed. Giving Trees are located at every Capital office and are decorated with tags listing clothing items for children and adults as well as household items like sheets and towels. To participate, just select a tag, purchase the item listed (may be new or "gently used"), then drop off the unwrapped item at any of Capital location by December 31, 2009. All collected items will be donated to the Community Clothes Closet in Appleton.
• Holiday money gift envelopes - Available at Capital offices for a donation of 25’ each or six for $1.00, now through December 26. The gift envelopes come in four festive designs and are a decorative way to "wrap" cash or checks for holiday gift-giving while giving to a good cause.
• Cash donations will also be accepted at all Capital offices and will be combined with donations from the holiday gift envelopes to benefit the following area charities:
• Remembering Through Sharing (Neenah)
• Transition Education Center (TEC House - Neenah)
• Haven of Hope Day Care Inc. (Little Chute)
Helping to meet the basic needs of members and others in the areas they serve is an important part of Capital Credit Union's mission. As President and CEO Alan Zierler explained, Christmas With Capital is a practical, yet vital community outreach.
"It's been a tough year for many in our area," said Zierler. "With a 10 percent unemployment rate nationally and more layoffs being announced in Northeastern Wisconsin, resources like the Community Clothes Closet serve as increasingly important lifelines for area residents. By donating a hat, mittens, a pair of jeans or a few towels, you can make the holidays brighter for a child or adult in need. It seems like such an easy thing, but the truth is that each donation makes a difference in people's lives."
To learn more about participating in "Christmas With Capital," call (920) 731-3195 or stop by any of Capital's 12 locations in Appleton, Kimberly, Little Chute, Kaukauna, Greenville, Oshkosh and Freedom.
Capital Credit Union Teams up with Local Business & NAMI to Support Veterans
Moped giveaway raises funds to assist area veterans with services through the National Alliance on Mental Health (NAMI)
Kimberly, WI — Capital Credit Union, Appleton Motor Cars/Appleton Motorcycles and Mopeds, and the National Alliance on Mental Health (NAMI) - Fox Valley, teamed up recently to raffle off a new 2009 Propel Malibu moped and raise more than $2,100 to help area veterans. Richard Bauer of Appleton was announced as the moped winner during a drawing held at the moped dealership on Friday, October 9.
According to Lending Supervisor Cathy Miller from Capital Credit Union, it all began with Glen Rhea and his wife, Wendy, owners of Appleton Motor Cars/Appleton Motorcycles and Mopeds. Building on a 10-year work relationship, the two organizations worked together closely during the entire process.
"Glen has partnered with Capital for the past three years in giving away a moped," Miller said. "This year, his suggestion was to raffle off a moped, with proceeds going to a worthy cause. After a meeting with Glen and a few Capital employees, we selected NAMI as the group that would benefit from the raffle, focusing particularly on veterans' needs."
Speaking on behalf of NAMI, Executive Director Karen Aspenson echoed that the fundraising efforts were much needed and appreciated.
"We are very grateful to Capital Credit Union, Appleton Motorcars, and the other supporters of this event," said Aspenson. "The money raised will support the veterans' programs offered by our affiliate, and for the first time, we will be able to provide training scholarships for our participants so that they can better serve those who need us. We are so fortunate to live in such a generous community!"
Raffle tickets were sold at each of Capital's 12 locations in a four-county area, at the NAMI House, by NAMI members, and at Appleton Motor Cars/Appleton Motorcycles and Mopeds. Tickets were also available at the NAMIWalk in October and through the UW-Oshkosh Student Social Work Association. Vicki Running, Capital's Vice President Operations and a NAMI Board member, was pleased with the results of the moped raffle and the dedication of everyone involved.
"This was a great collaborative effort," Running said. "The moped raffle created a win-win situation for each of the participating organizations, and it was an especially good fit for Capital. Part of our mission as a credit union is to reach out and give back to the communities we serve. Capital is honored and proud to support and serve our veterans and community members in this way."
Capital Credit Union announces free seminars to help individuals and businesses
"Financial Strategies During a Job Transition" and "Retirement Plans for Small Businesses" designed to help educate individuals and business owners about ways to manage in today's economy.
Kimberly, WI — Capital Credit Union will host two free seminars on Wednesday, November 18, with guest speaker Kurt Kern, Region Vice President Retirement Wealth Strategies at Ameriprise Financial. The two distinctly different seminars will address topics of particular concern to individuals and small businesses during today's tough economic times. Both seminars will be held at Capital's 855 Eisenhower Dr. office in Kimberly, and reservations are requested by calling 731-3195, toll-free at 1-866-731-3195:
Financial Strategies During a Job Transistion β Wednesday, November 18 at 12:00 p.m.
Complimentary lunch will be served at 12:00 p.m.
Come and learn about factors that can help you maintain control of your financial situation through a job transition by exploring concerns such as:
• How long will your cash reserve last?
• How will you provide health coverage for your family?
• Is your family protected if something happens to you?
• Is it time to do something with your retirement plan?
• What will happen to your ability to meet long-term financial goals, like saving for education and retirement?
• Will you need to rethink your plans for the future?
Retirement Plans for Small Businesses β Wednesday, November 18 at 6:00 p.m.
Complimentary light supper served at 5:30 p.m.
Small business owners are especially encouraged to attend and explore these issues and more:
• The benefits of sponsoring a retirement plan for you, your business and your employees
• The types of retirement plans available for businesses β one size does not fit all
• Advantages of asset consolidation
• Flexible contributions that may allow you to save on taxes
• The many features and benefits of SEP, SIMPLE, 401(k), and Individual (k) plans
Paul J. Renard joins Ameriprise team at Capital Credit Union
Addition of Ameriprise Advisor benefits members and community with expertise and experience
Kimberly, WI — Capital Credit Union recently enhanced their investment services with Ameriprise Financial, welcoming Paul J. Renard, Ameriprise Financial Advisor, to the Capital office at 855 Eisenhower Dr. in Kimberly.
Renard has15 years of experience in financial advising, with a special emphasis on personal service. The founder of Capital Asset Management Group in De Pere, he was previously a financial advisor with A.G. Edwards & Sons, Dain Bosworth, Inc., and Piper Jaffray, Inc. Active in the Green Bay community, Renard serves on the Boards of Freedom House, Friends of East Shore Industries, and First Tee of Green Bay.
Renard joins Ameriprise Advisors Jamie T. Van Hammond and Timothy J. Van Zeeland at Capital. His extensive expertise increases the range of Ameriprise services and options available to Capital members and others in the community, including weekly Saturday morning appointments.
To learn more about Capital's expanded Ameriprise Financial partnership, or to set up a no-obligation complimentary appointment* with one of the Ameriprise Financial advisors at Capital Credit Union, call 731-3195, toll-free at 866-731-3195 today.
*Financial advisory services and investments available through Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc., member NASD and SIPC. Riversource insurance and annuities issued by Riversource Life Insurance Company, an Ameriprise Financial company. Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. is registered as an investment advisor with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Capital Credit Union goes back to school to positively impact the economy-one person at a time
135 Capital employees participate in state-wide education project designed to encourage investing
Kimberly, WI — School is in session for 135 Capital Credit Union employees as they collectively enter their fifth week of a 10-week investment education project - part of a statewide study on investing that many experts believe provides a model through which companies nationwide could encourage more Americans to invest.
From front-line member service associates to senior managers, Capital employees are learning in-depth about investing principles as part of the Educated Investor® University (EIU), an online investment education program developed by the Madison-based Precision Information. As part of each session, pre-and post-tests measure participants' improvement in investment knowledge, and changes in behavior will be tracked quarterly over the next year to determine how they have modified their investment behaviors.
The online program is part of an 18-month study dubbed "RP3" (REAL Progress & Pathways to Prosperity) that aims to identify the right mix of online education, coaching and follow-up information to encourage proactive investment behavior. The project's participants will join up to 4,000 credit union employees in Wisconsin, including those from 75 other credit unions, who will engage in as much as 30,000 hours of online investment education. It is the largest study of its kind in the state by Wisconsin financial institutions.
"Part of our mission as a credit union is to educate our members about wise money management," said Capital's Vice-President Human Resources Kathy Fandrey. "Itβs the 'teach a man to fish' principle. Along with improving their own investment savvy, our employees will in turn be equipped to pass that information on and better serve our credit union's more than 33,000 members. We are thrilled for this unique opportunity to cultivate and improve financial literacy in our communities."
The study is being conducted in partnership with the Puelicher Center for Banking Education at the Wisconsin School of Business, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Precision Information, the Wisconsin Credit Union League, Governor Doyle's Council on Financial Literacy and the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions. It is being funded by a grant from the Investor Protection Trust (IPT), a nonprofit organization devoted to investor education. Since 1993 the IPT has worked with the states to provide the independent, objective investor education needed by all Americans to make informed investment decisions. Visit investorprotection.org. For a link to the complete list of participants by city, visit theleague.coop/rp3.
Headquartered in Kimberly, Wisconsin, Capital Credit Union (capitalcu.com) has assets of more than $355 million and serves more than 33,000 members with 12 offices located throughout the greater Fox Valley area, Greenville, Oshkosh and Freedom. Capital was voted a 2009 Finalist for Best of the Valley Best Credit Union by The Post-Crescent readers.