Spring Newsletter 2023

Dear Valued Members,

We are pleased to provide you with a solid update for VantageOne as we emerge from a crazy few years of pandemic. Your credit union has proved strong as our team navigates the constant changes in how our world operates.

Within this spring newsletter we will share information about the economy that is proving more resilient than many expected. We will also outline changes to our rules that will keep us current with evolving legislation, review the increased security for online banking happening this year, provide information on new director candidates, and highlight the significantly improved results for your credit union….

Read the Newsletter Here
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Join VantageOne! Your money is 100% protected.

Join more than one million British Columbians who choose a credit union.

Security, reliability, and trust is what we promise you at VantageOne, plus our local guarantee:

    • When things have to “go up the ladder for approval”, that means it starts and ends right here in Vernon, Armstrong, Peachland or Edgewood. Our ladder doesn’t stretch across Canada, awaiting a delayed response from someone in another time zone who has no understanding of what it’s like to live here. We decide, right here.

      When you visit us, you are dealing directly with staff who live, work and play in the local communities. When you call us, you are reaching our staff right here, not a call centre based in Ontario or another region.

      When you bank here, your funds stay here to support businesses in our area with loans, planning and advice. Check out our local business spotlights.

      Community programs are enriched through donations, volunteers, funding support and financial ability education. Your money helps make this possible!

      We offer omnichannel technology services for our members with a focus on making them accessible and easy to use. Our channels include; mobile app, online banking, Solutions Centre call centre, EasyConnect live video call and online chat & more!

And, when you choose VantageOne Credit Union, your deposits are fully protected by the Credit Union Deposit Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (CUDIC).

Learn more here

 

VantageOne Credit Union is a BC Financial Services Authority authorized credit union and is covered by the Credit Union Deposit Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (CUDIC)

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2023 RRSP Catch Up Loan Promo

Note: Promo ended on March 1, 2023.

 

Making an RRSP contribution helps you save on taxes – you may even get a tax refund. But what happens if you don’t have enough money to make a contribution? Should you borrow through an RRSP loan? Read below to learn more.

How can an RRSP Catch Up Loan help me?

Putting away money for your RRSP can be difficult, especially if you’re dealing with bills, credit card debt, and other life commitments that don’t allow you the time or money to focus on your retirement goals. If you fear you will not be able to contribute to your RRSP this coming year, then the RRSP Catch Up Loan is the option for you. It allows you to borrow money at low rates in order to keep contributing to your RRSP.* 

What are the benefits of a VantageOne RRSP Catch Up Loan?

Using an RRSP loan can be a powerful strategy to boost your RRSP contributions and build your retirement portfolio. The RRSP Catch Up Loan allows you to fill up this contribution room while reaping the rewards of the tax benefits. Plus, with VantageOne you get these extra benefits:

  • •local approvals
  • •competitive rates – check out our special offer below!
  • •weekly, bi-weekly or monthly repayment terms
  • •& more!

Current Rates*

  • • 1 year term loan insured – 6.00%*
  • • 1 year term loan uninsured – 6.05%*

Talk to one of our local experts to discuss all things retirement and how we can help you reach your goals!  Contact Us

 

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Featured Business: Kekuli Bay Cabinetry

Local business matters to VantageOne, and it always has. We have been committed to helping grow our members, local businesses and communities since 1944.

As part of our commitment to supporting local businesses, our commercial services team is highlighting some of our outstanding local business members. This month we are shining the spotlight on Kekuli Bay Cabinetry to share more about their business and how VantageOne Credit Union has helped them grow.

Tell us a bit about your business and history.

In 1998 we owned four furniture stores. We were not happy with the quality and service we were receiving so we decided we could do a better job if we manufactured our own. We leased a 10,000-square-foot building in Salmon Arm, bought all the machinery we thought we needed, and hired 6 employees. We called this company Huber’s Heritage Furniture.

Within two years we had 20 employees and we were bursting at the seams but had to tough it out because we signed a five-year lease. In 2003 we bought a 25,000-square-foot building on 2 1/2 acres in the Swan Lake Industrial Park. We then had 30 employees. In 2009 we saw there was an opportunity for another kitchen cabinet manufacturer here in the Valley so we gradually switched from furniture to cabinets. We called this new company Kekuli  Bay Cabinetry. Over the years we have added more space to our building. We are now maxed out at 50,000 ft.². Currently, we have 55 employees and provide cabinets to Vancouver, Interior BC, and as far East as Regina, SK.

What do you love most about being in Vernon?

What we love the most about Vernon is that it is a small town and even though it is growing it still has that small-town feel. People are friendly and supportive and I believe they try to support and deal with locals. It’s so beautiful here. Why wouldn’t you love it?!?

If you could give one piece of advice to new business owners or those thinking of starting a business what would it be?

If I could give one piece of advice to a new business owner or anyone thinking of starting a new business it’s this….
“Build a relationship with a local credit union (like VantageOne!) and find a good accountant and lawyer.
One other thing I’d like to add… Do not be afraid of the RC factor [resistance to change].”

How has VantageOne helped you start, succeed or grow your business?

In 2005 when we decided to buy our building we approached all the big banks for a mortgage. They all turned us down. We approached VantageOne Credit Union and because they were local and knew about us and our company they were more than happy to help us out. Over the years they have been a crucial part of our business and over time we have moved all our business and personal accounts over to them. VantageOne stepped up when we most needed them and has helped us grow our business over the years and to that we say “Thank You!!!”

Owners: Ed Huber Jr., Bonnie Huber, Ed Huber Sr.

Learn More About Kekuli Bay Cabinetry

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Winter Newsletter

Winter Newsletter – December 22, 2022

Dear Valued Members,

As 2022 ends, given all that’s going on in our world, it’s an important time of year to be thankful for where we live and the great people in our neighbourhoods and communities. The volunteers and organizations that support our communities are essential and we encourage all members to show thanks and provide support if you can do so. For VantageOne, we face a much different economy than we did a year ago and anticipate this will continue to change. We are working hard to update service delivery, will be implementing stronger online security systems in early 2023 and are proud to have been nominated for two business awards.

From an economic perspective there has been a drastic change over the past year. Interest rates hiked upward, moving from very low rates to a prime rate now approaching 6%. As I have mentioned in previous communications, the change has been driven by demand growth during the pandemic, supply chain cost increases and the significant increase in the money supply created by government programs. All of this has contributed to the highest inflation we have seen in 40 years, with the response by the Bank of Canada to be firm in their path to bring inflation down to more manageable levels. We anticipate they will stick to this path, and we will see a slowdown in our economy in 2023. How severe the slowdown will be depends on how high rates must go to bring inflation down; however, we believe we are getting close to this level as rate increases do take time to run through the economy. In our communities we benefit from economic diversity and desirability for people to live here. This will assist us in getting through an economic slowdown in a stronger fashion than many other areas.

I am pleased to share that we now have a great Branch Manager team in place leading our branches. After leadership changes mid-year, we have a strong team looking at service delivery flows and staffing needs. Working with our great staff, our goal is to provide the best service possible when you need to visit a branch. We are seeing success; however, we do get caught occasionally on a day that is busier than we expect. Please bear with us as we learn and adapt.

In early 2023, we are working to improve the security authentication for online and mobile banking. As we look to expand technology services and the world of cybersecurity continues to evolve, we need to ensure we continue to have systems in place to protect members. This will involve implementing what is called two-factor authentication (2FA). What 2FA will mean to you is you will need two ways to authenticate yourself to get into our banking systems. This isn’t hard and is used by many companies now. We will communicate clearly when this is coming, what you need to do and will have our staff prepared to answer your questions to get you through this.

We were pleased to be nominated for Employer of Year and Large Business of Year in the Greater Vernon Chamber of Commerce Business Awards. We achieved honourable mention on both these awards and would like to thank our leadership team and staff who do all the hard work to make nominations for these awards possible.

Finally, from all of us at VantageOne, we thank you for your support and commitment to VantageOne! We greatly value your choice to bank with us and are working hard to provide you with the service you deserve.
Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas and Happy New to everyone from all of us at VantageOne Credit Union.

Sincerely,
Glenn Benischek
Chief Executive Officer

Call for Director Nominations
Nominations are invited to fill two (2) vacancies on VantageOne Credit Union’s board of directors. Two (2) directors will serve 3-year terms, ending in 2026. Directors perform an important role in the credit union, especially in the shaping of policies and long-term objectives.

To be eligible, candidates must be nominated by three (3) members or by the Nominating Committee. They also must be members, other than junior members, in good standing, at least twelve (12) months prior to the date of the Annual General Meeting, which is to be held on May 10, 2023.

Written nominations for the volunteer positions must be received no later than 3:00 pm, Friday, January 27, 2023. Nominations can be picked up at any VOCU branch or printed off from our website.

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The Enterprize Challenge Presented by VantageOne

VantageOne is pleased to partner once again with Community Futures North Okanagan as the presenting sponsor for the 2023 Enterprize Challenge.

If you’re an emerging entrepreneur or the owner of a new business, Enterprize Challenge is your chance to learn from some of the best as you hone your pitch, polish your business plan and prepare for an exciting launch. Learn more

Learn more about our very own Amy Gillies, who has been a proud volunteer and mentor with The Enterprize Challenge since the beginning!

EnterpriZe Challenge from Community Futures North Okanagan on Vimeo.

 

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Call for Director Nominations

Nominations are invited to fill two (2) vacancies on VantageOne Credit Union’s board of directors. Two (2) directors will serve 3-year terms, ending in 2026. Directors perform an important role in the credit union, especially in the shaping of policies and long-term objectives. To be eligible, candidates must be nominated by three (3) members or by the Nominating Committee. They also must be members, other than junior members, in good standing, at least twelve (12) months prior to the date of the Annual General Meeting, which is to be held on May 10, 2023.

Written nominations for the volunteer positions must be received no later than 3:00 pm, Friday, January 27, 2023.

Nominations Have Closed.

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Simple Cybersecurity Tips to Protect Your Account

At VantageOne, we ar committed to keeping our members safe online by making security our top priority. We also want to encourage you to be vigilant in protecting your personal information.

Hackers and scammers steal billions of dollars every year from people who fall into their traps or don’t have proper security measures in place.

Here are some things you can do today to strengthen your cybersecurity:

Choose a strong password:
– Never use personal information such as your name, birthday, username, or email address. This type of information is often publicly available, which makes it easier for someone to guess your password.
– Use a longer password. Your password should be at least 8 characters long, although for extra security it should be even longer.
– Don’t use the same password for multiple accounts at different places including but not limited to: online banking, telecom website, utility bill login, email account login, streaming TV account etc. If someone discovers your password for one account, all your other accounts will be vulnerable.
– Try to include numbers, symbols, and both uppercase and lowercase letters.

IMPORTANT TIP – Make sure you are not saving your password in your web browser. Anyone that has access to your PC would have access to your online banking

Sign-up for Auto-Deposit for e-Transfers
– Make receiving money even simpler by registering an email address that associates with your account at VantageOne.
– When an Interac e-Transfer is sent to the email address, the funds are automatically deposited. There is no need to login to online banking and answer a security question to claim the funds!
– If you are sending money, and the recipient has signed up for Autodeposit, then their funds will be automatically deposited as well.
Learn more here 

Sign-up for Mobile Alerts to protect your account.
– Alerts are an easy way to keep track of your money and protect your accounts. Use them to receive automatic notifications by text or email when certain events happen or when changes are made to your online banking account.
Learn more here

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Business Open House October 19th

If you own and operate a small business – we want to thank you!
You create jobs, diversify our local economy, and make the Okanagan a better place to live. VantageOne is proud to offer all the financial services you need.

Business owners are invited to drop in for coffee & treats and meet our team of local experts on October 19th from 8am to 4pm, at the North Vernon Commercial Centre, 5300 26th St.

Thank you to all small businesses from VantageOne Credit Union.
We look forward to seeing you at the open house!

Yours truly,

The Commercial Services Team
Amy, Bonnie, Dianne, Erik, Heidi, Kathy, Nadine, Tereasa
North Vernon Commercial Centre

Learn more about our team & services

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Vote for VantageOne!

From Sept. 20 to Oct. 11, members of the public can vote for their favourite among the businesses and non-profits nominated in all 15 categories.

The People’s Choice Award is sponsored by Total Restoration Services and for 2022, two People’s Choice awards will be presented – one for a business and one for a non-profit.

You can vote for free as many times as you want for as many businesses or non-profits that you want. If you would like to save some time, you can purchase votes to help raise funds.

The People’s Choice Award is raising funds for the Canadian Mental Health Association – Vernon and District.

Winners will be announced Nov. 3.

You can participate in the People’s Choice Award by clicking HERE.

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