Brighton East Branch Grand Opening!

Join us as we celebrate the Grand Opening of Bellco’s Brighton East Branch! This new branch, our second in Brighton, is located near the intersection of N. 50th Avenue and E. Bridge Street. The new standalone branch will feature two drive-up teller lanes, a drive-up ATM lane, ample parking, and more. 

BRIGHTON EAST GRAND OPENING CELEBRATION
November 18–23

During the celebration: 

• Each day, the first 50 people to visit the branch will receive a complimentary 21-oz Hydro Flask®

• Enjoy cake pops, macarons, and other tasty treats from Mulberries Cake Shop, while supplies last

• Enter for a chance to win one of six $100 Visa® gift cards or one $500 Visa gift card*

Limited Time Offers: 

Get $300 Cash Back on an Auto Refinance and up to 90 days to make your first payment with rates as low as 5.74% APR¹

Get a $200 Bonus when opening your first Checking Account with a qualifying direct deposit of $500 or more.²

Offering a Fixed Rate as low as 6.99% APR on a Home Equity ChoiceLine advance of $10,000 or more³

To learn more about these specific Brighton East offers, click the Learn More button below.

Hydro Flask is a registered trademark of Helen of Troy Limited, and Visa is a registered trademark of Visa International Service Association.

*NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. For Official Rules, visit Bellco’s Brighton East Branch located at 22 S. 50th Avenue, Brighton, CO 80601 during the sweepstakes period. Sweepstakes Period: November 18, 2024, at 9:01am MT, to November 23, 2024, at 12:59pm MT.

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Is Your Car Ready for a Long Cold Winter?

With snow and colder weather just around the corner, your car should already be prepared for winter driving. However, if you haven’t gotten around to doing so, here are a few essential tips to get your car (and car loan) ready for a long cold winter.

Check Oil and Antifreeze
Oil thickens as it gets colder, which makes it more difficult for it to keep the engine lubricated. Choosing an oil with the right viscosity for colder temperatures will assure the oil lubricates and protects the engine as it should. Checking antifreeze levels is critical this time of year to prevent serious engine trouble in cold weather. Check your car’s owner’s manual for the appropriate oil to use for colder climates, how much antifreeze is needed, and where to add more if needed.

Windshield and Wipers
New wiper blades are recommended to handle the various elements and to properly clear the windshield. Additionally, fill the wiper fluid reservoir with winter-grade fluid. This type of fluid is formulated to prevent freezing, and some types can help loosen ice and snow on the windshield. While you’re at it, look for cracks and divots in the windshield. Left unchecked, they can spread as water melts and freezes on the windshield.

Test the Battery
Who wants to jump start a car in cold weather? Cold temperatures can decrease a car’s battery capacity significantly. This is an ideal time of year to make sure the battery’s terminals and connections are free of corrosion. If your battery is more than three years old, have a certified repair shop test its ability to hold a charge. While these precautions help prevent the need for a jump-start, it is still wise to keep portable jump starters in the car—just in case.

Check Tire Pressure
Tire pressure decreases as temperature drops—as much as one pound per square inch for every 10-degree drop in air temperature. Tires must be properly inflated for the best possible traction, which is reduced in wet, snowy, and icy conditions. Check your owner’s manual for the correct tire pressure for colder temperatures.

Review Your Auto Loan

AUTO LOAN RATES AS LOW AS 5.74% APR

We have just lowered our auto loan rates, which makes now a great time to refinance the auto loan you have with another lender, or even purchase a new or used car for the long cold winter. With up to 100% auto loan financing available, no application or processing fees, and a quick and easy application process, a Bellco auto loan may be right for you.

To learn more and get started, visit Bellco.org/Auto, any Bellco branch, or call 1-800-BELLCO-1.

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Recent Scams That Target Bellco Members

Oftentimes the fraudulent scams you hear about can feel distant because they’re “nationwide” but the reality is that these things are local. In fact, we’ve become aware of recent scams targeting Bellco members, so we want to help you stay vigilant. Here is some helpful information on two specific scams to watch out for and what to do if you become a target.

SCAM 1: Victims are contacted by someone posing as a Bellco employee and claiming to have discovered fraudulent charges on the member’s debit/credit card. The fraudster asks the member questions designed to get them to divulge information, such as their account and/or card numbers. Once that information is shared, the scammers will use those accounts to make fraudulent charges.

HOW TO AVOID: Remember, Bellco will never call you and ask for your personal or account information. If you are ever unsure, immediately call Bellco directly at 1-800-BELLCO-1 or visit a branch to verify the conversation was legitimate.

SCAM 2: Victims are contacted by a con artist claiming to be working with Bellco fraud or tech support, who informs the member that there is an issue and their money is unsafe in the bank. The caller then directs the member to withdraw cash from their Bellco account, lie to Bellco staff about the reason for the large withdrawal, and then deposit the money into a Bitcoin ATM. Once the member has completed the withdrawal and deposit, the money goes straight into the swindler’s account, which is nearly impossible to recoup. Individual losses have been in the tens of thousands of dollars, wiping some members of nearly all their savings.

HOW TO AVOID:  Bellco will never call and ask you to withdraw money from the credit union and we’ll never advise you to keep the reason for a large withdrawal a secret from our branch staff.  In fact, we take your financial wellbeing seriously and often ask questions to ensure your security. 

TIPS TO IDENTIFY A SCAM

• Scammers often use urgency as a tool to push you to make quick decisions and may also make demands or threats that feel real and serious.
• Being asked to withdraw cash and put it somewhere else (like a Bitcoin ATM) or purchase gift cards is a red flag.
• Fraudsters will often ask you to use a special link or QR code to complete a transaction.

Always remember that scams and fraud are real, and they can happen to you. To report a scam to the FTC, please visit ReportFraud.ftc.gov. If you believe you are a victim of fraud in relation to your Bellco accounts, please contact Bellco’s Fraud Department at 303-689-7548. 

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Right Now May Be Homebuyers’ Sweet Spot

By Bellco Home Loans

As the housing market experiences its typical fall slowdown, the stars are actually aligning for those in pursuit of homeownership.

It’s no secret that much of the story over the last 24 months has involved a lack of inventory, sky high appreciation, and home prices and interest rates at levels not experienced in close to a decade.

With the end of the year upon us, a period of sellers having the upper hand has quickly evaporated. In just a few short months, the variables have shifted thanks in part to inventory doubling from its low points in April, May, and June. As of September, Colorado had close to 10,000 units for sale according to DMAR. On the National front, we have seen a 36% YOY growth, which currently resides at levels last seen in 2020.

Increased inventory has been a blessing. Not only has this resulted in more homes to choose from, but this has increased the average days on market, which increased to 53 days, according to NAR. This softer buyer pool and elongated sales cycle has encouraged sellers to offer reductions and/or concessions, which has occurred in close to 40% of recent sales.

As if more homes with price reductions wasn’t promising enough, the long-awaited decline in mortgage rates has arrived with a bang. Rates as of 9/11 hit lows last seen in early 2023 and have fallen rapidly from their peak of 7.5% in mid-2024 down to 6.11% according to data tracked from Mortgage News Daily.  This fact alone has created a monthly payment savings in excess of $300 in the average home sale.

The belief among many industry insiders is that the next 4–6 months may just be the sweet spot of opportunity for those seeking homeownership. Inventory peaking, concessions increasing, and payment relief via improving interest rates is creating a buyer’s opportunity that many will likely miss as they continue to wait for the masses as the spring 2025 buying frenzy begins.

If the dream of homeownership is in your plans, the team at Bellco Home Loans would be honored to answer any of your questions and lay out a financing plan to tailored to your individual needs. To learn more or to get started, visit the Bellco Home Loans website.

Bellco Home Loans is a joint venture between Bellco Credit Union and Guild Mortgage Company, LLC, an independent mortgage lender that has helped families attain home ownership since 1960. Bellco Home Loans, LLC is an affiliate of Guild Mortgage Company LLC. Guild Mortgage Company LLC; Equal Housing Opportunity; Company NMLS ID 2085298