Dear Members of STCU,I hope that every member had a safe, healthy and happy holiday season! We have some very exciting news to share. The Board of Directors called a special meeting of the members on December 2, 2014 to vote

on a proposed amendment to our bylaws for a name change. In accordance with said bylaws a quorum was present and a vote to change the name of the credit union to Arrha Credit Union was passed.

Two years ago the Board started the process of both determining if a name change was a good decision and what the name should be. An outside marketing firm was engaged to find a name that reflects our current and future needs. It should be noted that it was a very emotional process to change the name of a financial institution that was started by and for teachers in Springfield back in 1929. Ultimately the business decision was made to move forward and present it.

The credit union needed to move forward on this as we have a community charter open to all who live or work in Hampden, Hampshire and Franklin counties. The name of STCU Credit Union was still being equated/associated to Springfield Teachers Credit Union. People still thought they had to be a teacher to enjoy the benefit of the credit union. Clearly this is a major stumbling block to grow and survive in this competitive market of financial institutions.

The word arrha is one of the oldest words in the English dictionary that means:Ar”rha\, n.; pl. Arrh[ae]. [L. Cf. Earnest.] (Law)Money or other valuable thing given to evidence a contract; a pledge or earnest.

We are currently developing our marketing program for the rollout of the name. The change will happen in April of 2015. This will be the last Chalkboard newsletter as we will be changing the name to reflect our new “identity”. We are very excited about this and other changes that will be happening in the coming year!

Best regards,

Michael S. OstrowskiMichael Ostrowskimostrowski@stcu.com

BOARDYour CommunityCredit Unionsm

Winter 2015

PRESIDENT’S CORNER Four Home Improvement Projects to Do This Winter!

1. Install a programmable thermostat. If you haven’t already taken steps to save energy, an easy project is installing a thermostat that allows you to automatically set the temperature for different times of the day.

2. Insulate your water heater. Another way to save energy is to lower the temperature of your water heater by insulating it with an insulation kit from your local hardware store.

3. Get organized! With more time spent indoors during the winter, it’s a great time to tackle your home’s organization. Installing a modular closet-organizing system is a great way to stave off cabin fever and be productive.

4. Hire a contractor. Business for contractors usually slows down in the winter, so now is a great time to finish the basement, transform the bathroom or remodel the kitchen.

Be sure to visit our website www.stcu.com or talk to a loan representative to get a quote for a great rate on a home equity loan. n

Annual Meeting Notice The Annual Meeting of Members is scheduled for

Tuesday, April 7 at 4:30pmJohn Boyle O’Reilly Club33 Progress Avenue, SpringfieldNew Business will include:• Election of 5 Directors• Approval of Directors’ expenses for the prior year• Approval of the Officers’ Reports

Proof of Identification required. Credit Union members must be in good standing to participate.

RSVP by March 31, 2015 to 413-205-2040 or jbeylard@stcu.comRefreshments will be served.

2015 Anthony J Serafino Scholarships 2015 Anthony J Serafino scholarships will be available this year. Visit www.stcu.com in January for more information.

Seeking Candidates for 2015 Board of Directors ElectionIn accordance with the Bylaws of STCU Credit Union, the Board of Directors will be accepting nominations from its general membership for open board positions in the upcoming term. STCU Credit Union’s Board of Directors is comprised of 11 member-volunteers responsible for developing and setting the credit union’s strategic direction. In 2015, five vacancies will be available for four, three year terms and one, two year term.

The Committee will further evaluate all candidates to identify the best qualified nominees for director.

The Nominating committee is looking for:

• Executive Level Business Experience

• Professional work experience in the areas of Financial Services, Governance, Information Technology, Financial Management, Community Leadership, and Marketing/Communications

• A passion for the credit union movement

To be eligible for a position on the board, a person must:

1. Be a primary member in good standing of STCU Credit Union

2. Be at least 18 years of age

3. Have never been convicted of a crime involving dishonesty or breach of trust

4. Not be serving as a paid member of the credit union staff

If you would like to be considered by the Nominating Committee, you are requested to submit a letter of intent, endorsed by an existing member, no later than March 6, 2015, to Nominating Committee Chairman, Norman Halls, Attn: Michael Ostrowski, STCU Credit Union, 145 Industry Avenue, Springfield, MA 01104. n

• Annual Meeting Notice

• 2015 Anthony J Serafino Scholarships

• Candidates for 2015 Board of Directors Election

Lobby RenovationBefore

After

NEW HIRES

Stop in and meet the newest members of the STCU team… Diana Ramsey joins the Member Service team from the Lending Department

Jesus Figueroa joins the Member Service team from the Teller line

Kimberly Porter has moved to the Westfield Office as the new Assistant Branch Manager

Welcome Andrew Kowalik to the Springfield Teller line

ON THE MOVE

Six Tips to Get the Best Deal On A New Car in 2015Are you in the market for a new car? When it comes to car shopping, timing is everything! Did you know you have a better chance of leaving the dealership with a great deal in the winter? Or that getting pre-approved can save steps at the dealership and keep you focused on your budget? Here are the six best tips to get you into a new ride this season:

Get pre-approved! Before you buy, visit STCU Credit Union to get pre-approved so you have the best chances of negotiation. Once you’re pre-approved, you can shop for the car as if you had a check in your pocket. This helps you keep focused on the actual selling price of the car, rather than keeping track of the interest rate, down payment, loan term and trade-in.

Winter months offer the greatest potential for deals. After the holiday shopping rush has settled down, consumers are less likely to make larger purchases such as a car. Foot traffic through car dealerships usually remains slow from the New Year into February.

Don’t shop on the weekend. By avoiding the weekend crowd, you’ll be more apt to get the salesperson’s undivided attention. They may even feel more obligated to close the deal with you because of how few people shop for cars mid-week.

Make your offer late in the day. If you know what you want, and have done your research, it might save you time and money to visit the dealership closer to closing time. The salesperson might not want to spend hours negotiating a deal, pressing them to make a good deal.

Don’t think about the monthly payments. Of course, you have to consider the monthly payments and whether or not you can afford them! However, worry about the actual price of the car. A low monthly payment won’t do you any good stretched out over a long period of time and will eventually add up to more than the sticker price!

Avoid tax refund season. Consumers commonly use their tax refund checks to purchase big ticket items—like a new car! The bad news about this time of year is that dealers don’t feel the need to offer quite as many discounts to entice shoppers to buy.

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STCU CU Board of Directors

Todd CieplinskiChairman

Norman HallsVice-Chairperson

Lynn BoscherAssistant Treasurer

Bradford CampbellSecretary

Robin Bailey-SanchezDirector

Fred BlanchardDirector

Matthew DowdDirector

Roland JoyalDirector

Kenneth KetchumDirector

Peter H. LappinDirector

Sidney Snegg Director

Michael OstrowskiPresident and CEO

Board Chairman: chairman@stcu.comBoard of Directors: board@stcu.comCEO Michael Ostrowski: mostrowski@stcu.com

Main Branch:145 Industry Avenue, Springfield, MA 01104

453 East Main Street, Westfield, MA 01085

1-413-732-9812 TOLL-FREE 1-877-732-9812FAX: 1-413-737-7635LOAN DEPARTMENT FAX: 1-413-886-0156

www.stcu.com

Easy Bank: 1-413-827-8000Outside of Hampden County Toll-Free: 1-800-264-0600Lost/Stolen ATM/Debit Card: 1-413-732-9812Lost/Stolen Credit Card: 1-877-875-8078Lost/Stolen Debit Card after hours: 1-800-472-327224/7 Lending Call Center: 1-800-805-0399The Chalk Board is a quarterly newsletter publication for the

benefit of STCU members.

STCU Credit Union Financial ServicesInformation from STCU Credit Union and CFS* to help keep your financial life in balance.

Take Action!With the New Year right around the corner now is a good time to dig out all the things you have left undone and begin to tackle them right now. One unchecked item on your list might be to prepare financially for your future. If the fear of the unknown in this realm has left you overwhelmed, take it one step at a time. By breaking the planning process into smaller steps, you’ll find that it’s not so unmanageable. The changes you make today could result in a more enjoyable lifestyle in the future.

Talk to a Financial ProfessionalOne way to help decrease fear is to seek out the assistance of a financial professional at your credit union. With all the investment and savings options available today, staying on track to reach your financial goals might seem like a daunting task. As you prepare to review where you stand financially, it may be helpful to consult with an investment professional who can aid in making those informed decisions.

Time ManagementWe schedule time for oil changes and dentist appointments, so why not set aside time to review your portfolio? This is a great opportunity to measure the progress toward your financial goals, review insurance needs and verify beneficiary designations on retirement accounts.

Start Saving NowWhen it comes to growing assets, time is on your side. The sooner you begin working toward your goals, the better and more realistic chance you’ll have of reaching them.

How much to InvestYour investment strategy depends partly on how much money you want to put to work. It may not seem like a lot, but even small regular investments can add up. If you have a lump sum amount, it may be wise to not make a single investment at once but instead utilize dollar-cost averaging.**

This method involves buying the same dollar amount of an investment on a regular basis. This cuts your risk of buying just at the moment a stock peaks.

Diversification & Asset AllocationThe strategies of diversification and asset allocation aim to help increase return while decreasing risk. Many financial professionals recommend investing in a broad range of asset classes including stocks, bonds, real estate and cash. A regular review of your investment portfolio holdings is not only prudent, but can help keep you on track to attain important financial goals. n

* Non-deposit investment products and services are offered through CUSO Financial Services, L.P. (“CFS”), a registered broker-dealer

(Member FINRA/SIPC) and SEC Registered Investment Advisor. Products offered through CFS: are not NCUA/NCUSIF or otherwise

federally insured, are not guarantees or obligations of the credit union, and may involve investment risk including possible loss of

principal. Investment Representatives are registered through CFS. The Credit Union has contracted with CFS to make non-deposit

investment products and services available to credit union members. CFS and its Registered Representatives do not provide tax

advice. For such advice, please consult a qualified tax advisor.

** A systematic investment plan (dollar cost averaging) does not assure a profit and does not protect against loss in declining markets.

Such a plan involves continuous investment, so investor should consider financial ability to continue purchases through periods of

low price levels.

Our MissionAssist our members in reaching their financial goals by providing superior products and services in a personalized manner.

Holiday Closings

Thursday, January 1 New Year’s DayMonday, January 19 Martin Luther King DayMonday, February 16 President’s Day