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Collins Community Credit Union consistently provides members with new and improved financial products and services so members could stay ahead. Today, Collins Community Credit Union is offering an aggressive bonus rate of 3.00% APY on their high-yield checking account.

Checking Account Rate Terms and Conditions

In order to properly obtain the stated APY for the Advantage Checking account, there are a few restrictions. This high-yield checking rate is for personal accounts only. There is no minimum balance required. However, please keep in mind that the checking account is tiered.

Members must also do the following to earn the Bonus rate of 3.00% APY: Receive eStatements instead of paper statements, use the free credit union Online Banking option as well as the Bill Payer tool once a month, one direct deposit required per month into the Advantage Checking account and lastly, make at least 15 transactions on the Visa Debit Card resulting in fewer written checks. Rates are effective as of July 1, 2011 but are subject to change at any time.

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With all the ultra-low returns that we get these days, most people might think that the high-yield checking accounts are extinct but that is not true. There a number of high-yield checking accounts that is still very much around in 2011.

Account holders now have ample opportunities to earn from rewards checking or high-yield checking accounts. They can earn a higher rate of interest but on a capped amount of cash reserves, than what could be earned on any other typical account. This will have all the features of a normal checking account but account holders will have to meet some conditions regarding how their accounts are used.

In order to get a better picture of the high-yielding accounts at present, Bankrate surveyed around 155 banks, credit unions, thrifts etc., and studied their offerings on high-yield accounts in 2011. It found that nationally available high-yield checking accounts were shrinking and the yields on other deposit products were also going downward.

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As gasoline costs have risen over the past few years, many people are looking for easy ways to increase their car’s fuel economy and reduce their average gas consumption.  There are many different ways to increase the fuel economy of a car, but some may be difficult to accomplish to someone with no mechanical training or too expensive for older vehicle models.  Here are some of the fastest and cheapest ways to boost your car’s fuel economy.

Don’t Ride The Brake

Many people drive their cars with their foot on the brake pedal for the majority of their commute.  Driving with your foot on the brake not only increases gas consumption, it also causes the brakes of the car to wear out faster resulting in expensive repairs to keep the car drivable.  Training yourself to keep your foot off the brake pedal while driving can save you nearly $100 in gas costs annually.

Strive For Smooth Starts And Stops

Aggressive braking and sudden acceleration will reduce the fuel economy of your car by a significant amount while causing unnecessary wear and tear to the vehicle.  It is better to accelerate smoothly to gradually increase your speed and gently brake to stop the vehicle without jerking or bouncing the frame or moving parts of the car.  Improving your stopping and starting can save you the equivalent of 68 cents per gallon.

Change Your Air Filter

Experts estimate that nearly 25% of the cars on the road today are driving around with a dirty air filter.  A dirty air filter prevents the combustion chambers of the engines from getting enough clean air to operate effectively, causing the engine to lose power and overcompensate by using more gas to return to its normal operating capacity.  Changing the air filter of your vehicle on a regular basis can boost your fuel economy by 10%.

Get A Wheel Alignment

When driving, if you notice that your car is pulling to one side and you have to hold the steering wheel at an odd angle to keep the car on a straight path, the car needs a wheel alignment.  If the wheels are not properly aligned, the car has to work harder to drive properly increasing the work that the engine must do and increasing gas consumption.  A proper wheel alignment can increase the fuel economy of a vehicle by 10%.

Most people fail to consider what kind of financing they need when purchasing a new car. Often borrowers end up taking out loans from the car dealer by default and end up paying unnecessarily high interest rates on their loan. If you do your homework ahead of time and set your financing up early, you can save hundreds of dollars in interest over the course of your loan.

Most car dealerships will be more than happy to set you up with a loan on a new or used car. In fact, many of them will be very pushy about you financing through them. Many of them won’t give you certain incentives unless you borrow through their financing department. Dealerships are quick to provide loans because they stand to gain far more on financing your vehicle than actually selling it to you. Loans from auto dealerships can come at much higher interest rates and less favorable terms than if you had gone down to your bank ahead of time.

If you do know that you want to finance a car, do some research and come up with a few different models and a price range for what you would like to finance. Take a trip down to your bank or credit union and speak with a banker. Tell them what you’re hoping to do and they should be able to give you a quote. If you’re dealing with one of the nation’s mega banks, it’s probably also worth talking to a community bank to see if you can get a better deal locally. Make sure that you have your financing ready to go before ever walking into a dealership.

You can also get better interest rates by looking online. There are a number of banks, credit unions and finance companies that will offer you much better rates than a dealership would. Checkout resources like Car Finance 247 to learn what type of offers are available.

When financing a car, you’ll have a number of different options to choose from on the rates and terms. Ultimately your goal should be to pay off your car loan as quickly and easily as possible. Don’t sign up for more than a 36-month loan. Individuals that get 60 month loans often find themselves in situations where they need to get rid of their car, but can’t because they owe more than what the car is actually worth to the bank. Have a nice down-payment on your vehicle and get as short of a term as you can afford and you won’t have to worry about being upside down on your vehicle. You can use tools like a financial calculator to determine how much you should borrow and what it will cost you to do so.

Ultimately, the best way to buy a car is to pay with cash, but not everyone can do that. If you do have to finance a car, borrow as little as possible and pay it off quickly.

Wiregrass Credit Union strives to provide members with high-quality financial services and products at a low cost. Today, Wiregrass Credit Union is offering a 12-month CD rates deal for 1.15% APY.

12-Month CD Rate Terms and Conditions

In order to be eligible for this CD rate, there is a minimum $500 deposit required. All rates are subject to change at any time at Wiregrass Credit Union’s discretion. Early withdrawal may result in a penalty. Please call Wiregrass Credit Union directly for more up-to-date information.

About Wiregrass Credit Union

Wiregrass Credit Union is your one-stop destination for financial needs and services. They offer a large variety of loan products as well as competitive interest rates to go along with them, too. As a member, you are also able to access your financial accounts online through their CU At Home option. Wiregrass Credit Union is a not-for-profit cooperative with your best interests in mind. Please stop by and visit Wiregrass Credit Union in Alabama and Jackson County in Florida for more information.