The new year is bringing you a new and improved app from NorthRidge! 

So, what can you look forward to in the new app, you ask?

What can the app do?

• Review your account and see balances and history
• See your e-statements
• View cleared checks
• Make mobile deposits
• Access and use bill pay
• Control your debit card, through the freeze controls.
• Apply for a loan

What’s New?

• You can now sign up for online access directly from the app.
• No need to access a PC.
• Instant balance-See your balances without logging in
• Updating your information-Email, phone, and address
• Setting up mobile alerts and registering a new mobile number
• Find an ATM or branch close to you.
• Stop a payment

If you don’t currently have our app downloaded, then go to https://nrccu.org/online-banking/ and download it today! 

[su_quote cite=”Jim Rohn”]Learn to be thankful for what you already have, while you pursue what you want. [/su_quote]

As 2020 winds down, we are left with time to reflect on this turbulent year. We should use this time to take stock of what we have, where we are, and establish new goals. Now is the time to assess what has happened and how we came to this situation. What have we gained? What were we able to rely on this year? It’s tempting to try and control every aspect of our lives, but we know that simply isn’t possible. This year it is critical for us to be grateful for what we have for us to move forward with purpose and positivity.

Here at NorthRidge it’s important for us to be your partner in helping you access your own money, now and in the future. With our Free Kasasa Cash Program you can save money on ATM visits each month. While this amount may seem small, it is an important part of our financial journey together. This small feature makes saving a tad easier.
If you haven’t started thinking about how much money you saved this year when using the ATM, perhaps think about what the future holds for you. Are there any big trips or purchases coming up in 2021? Will you need a new car once the winter is over? Do any of our services, such as loans, IRAs, or CDs cross paths with your future goals? Come talk with us and let us help you reach your goals.

Take some time this month to look over your finances. Push yourself to assess your financial habits throughout the year as we gear up for the holidays and the upcoming new year. There are plenty of things we can do here at the NorthRidge offices to ensure success for all of us for years to come. If you promise to take some time to reflect upon your finances and find something to be grateful for, we promise that we will continue to work hard to support you and your financial needs.

[su_quote cite=”Michelle Obama”]We learned about gratitude and humility – that so many people had a hand in our success, from the teachers who inspired us to the janitors who kept our school clean…and we were taught to value everyone’s contribution and treat everyone with respect.[/su_quote]

Your life is fueled by data. Data is estimated that in 2020, the average person will generate 1.5 megabytes of data each second. With each search, click and swipe we sprinkle and leave a little bit of data behind us either personally or professionally online.This data can be used to tell our story, share what we bought, what we wrote and what we’ve filmed and photographed. And just as we work to generate our own data, we also receive data in countless ways. This is the never ending ballet of the information age.

You have agency over your own security and how your data is used and accessed. Within the past five years 45 percent of Americans have reported data compromises; it is important to be informed and aware of your security options and what it all means. There are some universal standards and practices for internet and data security but that only goes so far. Below are a few things to think about and implement.

With security breaches happening more and more each day, do you happen to know all the various websites and apps that you might have an account with? It is important to do an assessment of where your information may be. Ask yourself the following questions: Does that data need to be there (like a recurring subscription, photos in the cloud, etc)? What purpose does it serve? Do you feel OK with your data being stored there? Think about how secure the password currently is. Should you change it? These are all important factors to think about as you try to cast an outside view of your security practices.

Take your list of websites and think about the options they offer for security. Big websites like Facebook, Twitter, Google, etc. offer a wide array of account recovery and authentication features. Services such as Two Factor Authentication, where when you log in, a number of techniques could be used to prove it is really you that is logging in. You can be sent a code, a notification to an app where you approve the log in, a phone call, etc. You usually have a short amount of time to enter the correct code before it expires, or you’ll have to do it again. This gives you just an extra layer of control over others trying to access your account. It may be a bit of a pain, but the extra step is worth the security.

As you map out your data and continue to use the internet, there are some tools that can help you keep information secure. There are several great extensions for Google Chrome here. These can help you have a smoother browsing experience. For example, Last Pass keeps all of your passwords secure and will insert them into the proper fields of websites you visit. This also makes using a different password for each website very convenient, further enhancing your security. Keeping your applications up to date also helps protect against possible threats.

Through reflecting on and enhancing your data security, you are able to become a more informed user and protect your information. Hopefully this post helps you as you think about where your data is stored and how secure it is.

Prepare Now, Save Later

In August, one of the last things we want to do is think about the winter months ahead. However, taking advantage of warm weather now, can save you money and time when the inevitable winter arrives. There are many different tricks and tips for saving on your heating bill, and your friends at NorthRidge want to help prepare you!

• Install Weatherstripping – You can find affordable options of weatherstripping at hardware stores. You place the weatherstripping inside the door frame, and it can help stop cold drafts from entering your home. One easy trick to testing for drafts is lighting a candle near your door frame, if the flame blows towards you then there is a draft coming from the door.
• Update to a Programable Thermostat – According to EnergyStar.gov, you can save up to $180 a year on fuel costs. If your home is empty for consistent time periods during the week, you can automatically have the temperature lowered during the workday and brought back up to temp even before you come home from work. If you don’t want to deal with the hassle of a new thermostat, even setting the time down as you leave, and increasing it when you arrive home can save you money. Especially if gone for several hours or days.
• Replace Your Furnace Filter – Having a dirty furnace filter will reduce your furnace’s efficiency and raise your month heating bills. Depending on the quality of your filter, you should change it monthly or every 3 months during the winter. Pleated filters will trap more dirt particles. This also makes your air in your home cleaner and healthier.
• Plug Household Leaks – We often forget to check for leaks and gaps in our home’s exterior until it is too late, and the temperatures don’t allow helpful repairs. Take advantage of warm weather to inspect your home’s exterior. Check for gaps and cracks in siding, windows and foundation. Then seal those issues with foam gap-sealer or caulk as need be. Even small gaps and cracks can greatly reduce your homes efficiency.
• Insulate Hot Water Pipes – We often don’t think about the little things like our hot water pipes but insulating them can help improve your water heater’s efficiency. As the warm water travels through your exposed pipes, the water starts to cool down. Which means you will need more water to heat up the pipes alone. Measure your pipes’ diameters and lengths and bring those to the store to get the right size insulation.

There are many different tips and tricks we can use to prepare for winter, but the best tip is staring early! Often, we wait until the cooler weather arrives, and must power through any last-minute preparations. Use the warmth of August to “enjoy” preparing for winter. If you realize your home could truly benefit from bigger projects, such as more insulation and new windows, don’t forget your friends at NorthRidge Community Credit Union can help you with those bills! There are many different options from a Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC), 2nd Mortgage, or even a personal loan to help cover your costs. For more tips and tricks, and even a home assessment check out: https://www.energystar.gov/campaign/assessYourHome

Annual Reports 2019

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Management and Chair Report

Dear Members,
2019 was an incredible year for NorthRidge Community Credit Union! The credit union remains healthy, vibrant, and growing. This continual positive momentum is a testament to the amazing members and hard work the NorthRidge team has put forward. We know that our success comes from you, our members, and you have shown us that our focus on the credit union motto of “people helping people” is an important one. The team at NorthRidge works to help every member find the right mix products and services that best fit them by listening to and trying to understand everyone’s unique story.

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How has my credit union given back?

In 2019, NorthRidge pushed to give back more than ever before to our communities! Throughout the course of the year, the NorthRidge team donated to the Children’s Miracle Network, the Aurora Food Shelf, the Northeast division of Toys for Tots and hosted blood drives at the Virginia office and at the Hoyt Lakes Arena with the Hoyt Lakes Chamber of Commerce. NorthRidge has also been very active with the Hoyt Lakes Water Carnival and has orchestrated the kids races and sand pile for three amazing years.

• CU Forward Day – This is a day dedicated to volunteering and giving back to our communities which credit unions are known for. 2019 was the first year NorthRidge participated and our teams volunteered with the Virginia Fire Department (Biwabik Branch), at Mesabi East School and with the can collections for the Hoyt Lakes Chamber of Commerce (Hoyt Lakes Branch), the Mesabi Humane Society (Virginia Branch), the Range Regional Animal Shelter (Hibbing Branch), and delivered flowers and presents to the Boundary Waters Care Center (Ely Branch).
• Miracle Treat Day – During Miracle Treat Day, in conjunction with the Diary Queen’s in Ely, Hibbing and Mt. Iron, NorthRidge handed out free blizzards to the community. On this day Dairy Queen donates to the Gillette Children’s Hospital for every blizzard sold.
• Habitat Build – The NorthRidge team helped Habitat for Humanity build one of our amazing members her new home in Biwabik. We were honored by the experience to help make someone’s dream of homeownership come true.

Other large community donations were given to Caring for the Kids Community Nonprofit, which is building an all-inclusive splash pad this summer in Aurora. Hoyt Lakes Library also had a need for new chairs, and our membership was able to help take care of that need.

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