On May 17, the WebBanking™ account summary page will receive some new features giving our members even more convenient access to their finances. Here’s a look at what’s coming:

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1. Adjustable Views.  The width of the page content will now adjust to fit your screen size and resolution. Plus, you can opt to hide or show account groups in the Account widgets to more easily view, at-a-glance, the accounts that matter most to you.
2. Quick-Reference Tools. A calculator and calendar are now at your fingertips, right on the WebBanking home page, to help make it faster and easier to project and calculate future cash flow or loan payments.
3. Outside Accounts. Now you can keep track of your other balances — including your credit cards and accounts you hold with different financial institutions — all on the home page. The new Outside Accounts widget will sync with FinanceWorks™ so users can see at a glance the status of all the outside accounts that they have set up within FinanceWorks. The information provided includes: financial institution name, account name, balance and a timestamp indicating when the account was last updated.

The easiest way to make smart choices about spending or saving money is to have your financial information handy when and where you’re faced with important financial decisions. Mobile Banking services from Allegacy enable you to take control of your finances in the moment, anywhere in the world, as long you have a mobile device. Just visit http://m.allegacyfcu.org from your phone’s web browser.

You can check your account balances, view transactions and transfer funds between accounts while you’re standing in the check out line or deciding what to order. Now, instead of hoping there’s enough cash in your account to cover the total, you’ll know for sure. And you’ll be better able to make an informed decision.

The WebPay feature of Mobile Banking lets you receive and pay bills electronically. You can even schedule payments ahead of time. This gives you even more information to consider when faced with a tempting purchase, as well as the relief of knowing that you never have to worry about forgetting to pay a bill.

Allegacy has also released apps for the iPhone, iPad and Android devices that will give you even faster access to your financial information and offer added functionality, like text alerts that tell you when your balance is low or images of checks that have recently cleared your account. It’s the latest way we’re helping you stay up-to-date on your finances no matter where life takes you. Click here to learn more and download the app for your device.

One of the best ways to preserve and grow wealth is to effectively prepare for debt. In sports, experts sometimes say the best offense is a good defense. This can be true in the debt game as well. Planning ahead in case you have to endure higher amounts of debt is not just a smart move; it’s the best way to make sure added debt doesn’t push your goals further away.

Homeownership gives you the opportunity to tap into your equity. As a bonus, the interest on a home equity loan or a home equity line of credit is usually tax deductible*. Home equity interest rates are typically lower than those of other loans or credit cards. You can easily set up an equity line and have it there waiting — just in case you need it — taking out only what you need. Many people even set up an equity line when they purchase their home.

Unlike most banks, Allegacy offers qualified applicants up to 100% of their available equity, helping you take full advantage of money that’s already yours. These loans can be used to finance everything, from home improvement projects such as refinishing your driveway to stretching your wedding budget.

For more on how to use “smart debt” to get where you want to go, click here to request a copy of our Guide to Smart Debt, it’s free.

*For information regarding your specific tax situation, please consult a tax advisor.

At Allegacy, we made a promise to recognize the needs of our members and recommend innovative solutions that will help them make smart financial choices. As part of our ongoing efforts to fulfill this promise, we have created several online and real-world resources where you can find advice and information to help guide you in making smart financial choices.

One such resource is our online calculators. With a variety available, you can calculate everything from monthly payments to debt-to-income ratio. Once you have a straightforward picture of your financial position, you can figure out how much debt you’re actually able to afford. And once you know that, you can get a better idea of what to do next: whether you should consolidate your loans in order to lower your interest rate or monthly payments; or whether you’re already on the right track.

Take for example, an individual with a $22,000 Auto Loan and $3,000 in Credit Card debt. He or she could save $1,569.48 now that Allegacy is offering Debt Consolidation Loans for as low as 3.00% APR*. Want to calculate your own savings? Just visit our calculator page and enter your current debt at the top. Then, in the Consolidation Loan section, choose the “Personal Loan” type, enter 3.00% for the Interest Rate and 36 months for the Loan Term to get a quick idea of just how much you might be able to save by consolidating with Allegacy.

Through these calculators – as well as our blog, workshops, student initiatives, and other educational tools – we hope to keep our promise by keeping you better informed and in control of your financial future.

Your business deserves the best chance for success in the New Year. One of the ways Allegacy makes that possible is by bringing you an array of Business Checking Accounts designed to provide more cost-efficient and convenient ways of managing your company’s money.

Allegacy understands that every business has its own unique requirements when it comes to depositing and accessing funds, volume of transactions, and affordability of banking services. From non-profits seeking a means to keep their funds easily accessible to large-scale retail operations with daily deposit and withdrawal demands, we have an account to meet your business banking needs.

Each of our Business Checking Accounts comes with free online services to help you track and manage your business remotely. WebBanking™ lets you view account and loan balances, transactions, and processed checks, as well as transfer funds between accounts from any computer in the world. Don’t let bills go unopened while you’re out closing deals. With WebPay™, you can receive and pay bills online or schedule payments in advance.

Whether you’re thinking of starting a company or looking for better ways to start growing your company’s funds, consider the advantages that an Allegacy Business Checking Account offers you now and for years to come.

This year, resolve to pay down your high interest debt.

Almost everyone has debt of some kind. The key is understanding how debt can benefit you and how to steer clear from potential trouble. Mortgages, loans, lines of credit and credit cards give you more potential buying power, tax advantages* (for most mortgages and home equity loans), convenience, payment flexibility and even rewards for everyday purchases. However, it can present challenges if loans and credit cards are over-used without regard to how or when they will be paid off. And it can happen very quickly. Before you know it, you could be sidetracked paying high-interest rates on long-term loans.

We believe the best approach to debt is a sensible one. If we have to have debt, “smart debt” is the best debt to have. That’s why the Guide to Smart Debt was written. To help you understand the proper role of debt in your journey and how to use “smart debt” to get where you want to go. Click here to request a copy, it’s free.

As a member, you also have access to Loan Specialists who can help you understand your options, find the best rates and calculate your monthly payments. Even if you’re just interested in learning more about a loan product, our specialists are here to help. It’s not about living without debt. It’s about being as smart as you can with the debt you have.

*Consult your tax advisor.

The income tax filing season has begun and important tax documents should be arriving in your mailbox. Even though your return is not due until April, you can make tax time easier on yourself with an early start. Here are 5 tips to ensure a smooth tax-filing process.

1. Gather your records Round up any documents you’ll need when filing your taxes: receipts, canceled checks and other documents that support income or deductions you’re claiming on your return.

2. Be on the lookout W-2s and 1099s will be coming soon; you’ll need these to file your tax return.

3. Save time with TurboTax® As a member, TurboTax is available inside your WebBanking™ account and, when you log-in to Allegacy’s secure WebBanking to use TurboTax, you’ll enjoy the convenience of having much of your personal and financial data pre-populated, making it easier – and more secure than ever – to file your taxes online.

4. Save money with TurboTax As a member, you save 15%* on TurboTax Online Federal and State products. And, TurboTax ensures you get all of the tax deductions you deserve with calculations that are 100% guaranteed, so you get the maximum tax refund.

5. Consider direct deposit If you elect to have your refund directly deposited into your Allegacy account, you’ll receive it faster – and more securely – than a paper check in the mail.

Not signed up for our free WebBanking online service?  You can access TurboTax products and information online.  This online resource has information for personal and small business taxes as well as tips/calculators and current tax news.

Where’s my refund?

Once you’ve filed your taxes, use these handy resources to help you track any returns you may be receiving.  You can check your federal return or NC State return.

*Discounts may vary for TurboTax Downloads.

Let Allegacy help you lighten your financial burden. There’s no time like the present to make a change for the better, so consider consolidating your high-interest debt into a low-interest loan from Allegacy. There are a couple of ways you can do this.

The first is a Debt Consolidation Loan from Allegacy. This option allows you to combine your debt of up to $25,000 from multiple high-interest loans and lines of credit into a single monthly payment. At rates as low as 3.00% APR, it’s likely much lower than the interest rate you’re currently paying and could be as low as half of what your credit cards are charging you.

Consolidating high-interest debt into a single monthly payment can save you thousands of dollars in interest over the life of the loan. Plus, it can speed up the process of paying off your debt.

Another option that homeowners might consider for consolidating high-interest debt is a FlexLoan from Allegacy. This is a home equity line of credit that comes with the option of locking in a fixed interest rate on one or more portions of the loan.

The FlexLoan combines the benefits of a revolving line of credit, meaning you can borrow and pay it back again and again, with the convenience of having funds available right when you need them. And unlike most banks, Allegacy offers qualified applicants up to 100% of their available equity, helping you take full advantage of money that’s already yours.

If high-interest debt is weighing you down, resolve to do something about it this year. With a low-interest debt consolidation or flexible home equity loan from Allegacy, you can put your debt behind you and start planning for a brighter financial future.

With a math-intensive course load that would make most students beg for mercy, in addition to a part-time job as an Events Management Assistant at the Student Union, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill freshman Carly Wolberg is taking the necessary steps to achieving her dream of making it big in the business world.

Though she won’t apply to the Business School until her sophomore year, Carly is already considering a second major in International Studies. This incredibly driven Tarheel teen participated in a Chinese studies program prior to college and recently spent the holidays on a school-sponsored trip to Israel. In addition, she hopes to be accepted for a volunteer trip to Nicaragua and an Asian studies program this summer. Plus, there’s talk of a semester in Spain that would complement her Spanish minor.

“I know that an understanding of international issues is key for business majors as our world continues to become more global from a commercial and political perspective,” Wolberg says, adding, “These opportunities for studying abroad have provided me with an interesting window into the realities of our increasingly interconnected world.”

While critical to her success in international business, study abroad trips don’t come cheaply. Wolberg credits the Mel Hughes Scholarship, which is awarded to four Allegacy members annually, for helping validate her accomplishments as well as providing critically needed financial resources in pursuit of her goals for the future.

“I think it’s wonderful that Allegacy supports me, and others like me, who have achieved so much in high school and have promising careers ahead of them in college and beyond,” Wolberg says. “It should make Winston-Salem residents proud to live in a town where a credit union is investing its money in young people to make a difference in their lives and in the community overall.”

If you need help making your college dream a reality, members can apply to the Mel Hughes Scholarship Program by February 10, 2012. The program awards four $1,300 scholarships to high school seniors accepted on a full-time basis or current full-time college students now enrolled with at least 12 semester hours at an accredited post-secondary institution. Plus, four $250 scholarships for community/technical school students are awarded annually.

Allegacy gives you a wealth of tools to help you stay informed and in control of your finances, at home and on the go.

The most versatile program at your disposal is FinanceWorks™. This free online service, powered by Quicken®, allows you to view and manage all of your financial accounts — including checking, savings, credit cards, loans, retirement accounts and more, across more than 16,000 financial institutions — in one secure and convenient place.

FinanceWorks automatically categorizes transactions from all of your accounts into an easy-to-read chart so you can literally see where your money is going. Another handy feature called Tax Watch automatically tracks tax-deductable expenses, such as childcare and charitable contributions, making it easier to round up all your deductions.

By providing a powerful, user-friendly platform for analyzing your spending behavior, identifying ways to save, and reducing your debt, FinanceWorks gives you the ability to take control of your financial future.

Other tools from Allegacy, like WebDeposits™ and Mobile Banking, make it easier to keep up with your finances no matter how hectic life gets. With WebDeposits, you can even deposit checks or money orders anytime simply by entering the information online and dropping the deposits in the mail. And check out our apps – available for the iPhone, iPad and Android devices – for a secure and convenient way to track spending and manage your accounts remotely.