Summer Newsletter 2025
 |
Discover your home’s hidden valueYou’ve worked hard to build up the equity in your home. Now you can tap into that hidden value and put it to work by opening a Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC). You can borrow against your home’s equity to cover the costs of home renovations, school tuition, a dream vacation, or just about any other substantial expense.
Find your home’s hidden value and put it to work for you. To apply, contact, or visit a branch location near you. Qualification is based on an assessment of individual creditworthiness and our underwriting standards. Program, rates, terms and conditions are subject to change without notice. Membership requirements apply. *Annual Percentage Rate | Introductory rate as low as 4.99% APR is fixed for the first six (6) months. Applicable rates apply after the introductory period. Rates listed are our best rates based on credit approval and our lending requirements. Actual interest offered may be higher depending on applicant’s credit rating and other underwriting factors. APR will vary depending on individual credit history. Annual Percentage Rate as low as Prime + 0%. Rates are variable and based on Prime as published in The Wall Street Journal, with a ceiling of 18.00%. The current variable APR as of December 19, 2024 is 7.50%.**If loan is closed within first 24 months, borrower will reimburse the credit union for closing costs. Minimum $10,000 initial advance. Property must be primary residence and located in the state of Georgia. Neither modular, nor mobile homes are eligible. Equal Opportunity Lender
|
||
Tap to pay and get on with your day!Leave your purse or wallet behind and make errands easier by paying with your smartphone. Our VISA® debit and credit cards support Google Pay™, Apple Pay®, and Samsung Pay® – just add your card to your device’s digital wallet, tap to pay, and get on with your day! When you link your card, you can:
Visit us online to learn more and get started digital wallet today! |
 |
 |
Not just a house, a homeWe understand the importance of home ownership. A residence is more than just a house, it’s a home you can retreat to, a place to raise a family, somewhere you can establish roots. So, Our Mortgage Team has crafted competitive mortgage solutions that can help you make the house you find, become the home you want.
Don’t just look for a house, look for the place you can call home…and look to Our Mortgage Team for your home loan. Visit ourmortgageteam.org, or call 800.503.6855 to speak with a Licensed Mortgage Advisor. *All credit union loan programs, rates, terms, and conditions are subject to credit approval and may change at any time without notice.
|
|||
Make this the best summer yet with VISA®!Whether you’re vacationing afar or stay-cationing near home, you can make this the best summer yet. Apply for a MidSouth Community VISA® credit card* today!
*Annual Percentage Rate | Visa® applications are subject to credit approval. Certain terms & conditions apply. Variable Rate. The ANNUAL PERCENTAGE RATE is subject to change on the first day of the billing cycle monthly to reflect any change in the Index and will be determined by the Prime Rate on the last business day of the quarter, preceding the billing cycle, of each year as published in The Wall Street Journal “Money Rates” table to which we add a margin. The ANNUAL PERCENTAGE RATE will never be greater than 18.00%. Any increase in the ANNUAL PERCENTAGE RATE will take the form of additional payments shown as Total Minimum Payments on the statement. If the Index is no longer available, the Credit Union will choose a new index that is based on comparable information. The Minimum Payment Due is 3.00% of your total New Balance, or $25, whichever is greater, play any amount past due and any amount by which you have exceeded your applicable credit limit. If your total New Balance is less than $25, then your Minimum Payment Due is the amount of the total New Balance. **The Visa® Platinum Rewards credit card has the ability to earn rewards. Equal Opportunity Lender. |
 |
 |
How to build your financial GPA: Money management tips for college studentsThink of your credit score as your financial GPA. This is the “grade” lenders use to evaluate how likely you will be to pay off a loan on time. The better your score, the more likely you’ll be to get loans for future big purchases such as a car or home. Use these money management tips to help build your credit score and prepare yourself for the future! 1. Champion your student loans – If you borrowed money to pay for college, make a note of when to pay back the loan and start repaying as soon as you can. 2. Closely monitor your financial accounts – Routinely review your account balance and transaction history to see what debits have cleared or not cleared, and only pay for what you need and can afford. 3. Make a budget – Create a cash flow worksheet to track when money is coming in and when it’s going out and to help you prepare for any bigger expenses you need to save for. 4. Talk to the credit union – Before you head to college, talk to us so we can present all of the digital and/or physical ways you can still access your accounts at school. 5. Guard your personal data – Regularly review your statements to ensure all transactions are accurate. Keep all of your personal data private (be careful of what you share on social media), shred paperwork that includes personal details, and never share your passwords or PINs with anyone. 6. Spend wisely and start saving – Practice minimizing your expenses (distinguishing between needs vs. wants) and make a habit of saving for the long term. 7. Credit card – If you use a credit card, make sure to pay off the balance each month to help build your credit score. |
2025 Scholarship RecipientsMidSouth Community Federal Credit Union is proud to announce the recipients of the 2025 Tom Bentley Memorial Scholarship program. Cameron Nethaway, of Perry, has been awarded the 2025 High School Scholarship. A graduate of Perry High School, Mr. Nethaway will attend Middle Georgia State University this fall with a focus in Aviation Science and Management, with a concentration in flight. The high school scholarship is a $4,000 award that is paid to the recipient’s college in installments of $1,000 per year. Carson Shirey, of Ft. Valley, has been awarded the 2025 Continuing Education Scholarship. A graduate of Perry High School, Mr. Shirey will attend the University of Georgia this fall and major in Engineering. The continuing education scholarship is a $2,000 award that is paid to the recipient’s college in installments of no more than $500 per semester. This year’s Scholarship Committee was comprised of Beth Byers, Senior Development Officer at Gordon State College; and Tonya McClure, Assistant Vice President for Advancement at CGTC; and Cindy Cerka, retired Major Accounts Sales Manager at 13WMAZ. |
 |
 |
5 summer financial scams to watch out forAs temperatures rise, so do scam attempts. Scammers love to take advantage of summer distractions like vacation planning, seasonal jobs, and travel deals. Here are some of the most common summer financial scams and how to stay protected: 1. Vacation rental scams – Scammers post fake listings with stunning photos at too-good-to-be-true prices, asking for deposits via cash apps or wire transfers. Make sure to only book through trusted platforms and avoid paying outside the site. 2. Travel deal phishing – You might get emails or texts offering “free” cruises or exclusive getaway deals—just pay a small fee. Ignore unsolicited offers, especially if they ask for personal info or payment upfront. 3. Fake event tickets – Concerts, festivals, and sports games are big targets for counterfeit tickets sold on unofficial sites or social media. Make sure to always buy from verified sellers or the venue itself. 4. Seasonal job scams – High school and college students looking for summer work are often targeted with fake job offers that ask for bank info or upfront payments for training. Research the company and never pay to apply or work. 5. Home improvement scams – With more people upgrading their homes, scammers pose as contractors, take deposits, and disappear. Get multiple quotes, verify licenses, and never pay the full amount up front. Scammers count on people being too busy or distracted to notice red flags. A little caution can save you a lot of money and stress this summer. |
IDCheckShared Branch is now easier and more secure! With account takeover fraud on the rise, we’ve added new ID-proofing security when accessing your account in person at our locations. This new fraud prevention measure allows us to make certain it’s YOU trying to access your account, not an impostor. If you bank at one of our Shared Branch locations, a teller can now identify and authenticate members with out-of-state IDs in the branch through a QR code and one-time passcode. How it Works: 1. Scan the QR code located in the branch or visit verify.coop.org. 2. Select your credit union’s name from a drop-down list. 3. Enter your member number and the last four digits of your Social Security number. 4. Upload a photo of your ID. 5. Take a selfie. 6. Show your one-time passcode to the teller (passcode is valid for 20 minutes). If you have any questions, please email moreinfo@midsouthfcu.org. |
 |
 |
Backpack Buddies MinistrySeveral of our team members volunteered at the Backpack Buddies Ministry to pack snack bags for local area students. Their mission is to provide children who are at risk for poor nutritional intake when not receiving school meals (weekends and holidays) with supplemental, child-friendly food. Visit them online to learn how you can make an impact during the school year.
|
|||||||||||||||
Ferst Readers Foundation DonationWe’re proud to announce our sponsorship of Ferst Readers of Baldwin County, an initiative committed to promoting early literacy and family engagement. Through this partnership, the Ferst Readers program will provide free books and literacy resources to children from birth to age five. Along with other donors, 288 students enrolled at the Baldwin County Early Learning Center will receive one age-appropriate book and a parent engagement worksheet each month—totaling 12 books per child annually. This effort is designed to build strong reading habits, foster a love of learning, and support families in preparing their children for academic success. |
 |
 |
United Way DonationMidSouth Community FCU has committed a donation of $35,417.25 as part of its 2024-2025 workplace campaign benefiting United Way of Central Georgia. This contribution was made possible through the generosity of our team members, branch fundraisers, and sponsorships. United Way of Central Georgia’s mission is to increase the organized capacity of people in Central Georgia communities to care for one another, and by working collaboratively, to disrupt the cycle of poverty in our community. To learn more about how you can make a difference, visit unitedwaycg.org. |
Johnny Appleseed WinnerCongratulations to 3-year-old Finnley Flewellyn for being chosen as the quarterly Johnny Appleseed Birthday winner! Finnley was awarded a $50 deposit into her Johnny Appleseed account. |
 |
 |
Holiday ClosingsIndependence Day: Friday, July 4, 2025 Independence Day Observed: Saturday, July 5, 2025 Labor Day: Monday, September 1, 2025 |