Three Steps To Managing A Credit Card

Posted on March 18, 2021 by vcnbfamily

A credit card can be a useful tool when managed mindfully. Setting and following ground rules is a powerful first step to success.

Whether you have your first credit card or have gotten yourself into trouble with several, it’s never too soon or too late to learn good credit card management habits. Here are some rules to live by.

Know Your Why

If you haven’t already done so, now is the time to set some ground rules for yourself. First, you need to decide why you have a credit card.

Some cards offer incentives for using them. For example, the Visa® Platinum Card at VCNB offers UChoose® Rewards Points for every purchase. These points can be redeemed for incentives like gift cards, cash back and travel. Many of our customers use this card for much of their spending and then pay off the balance when it’s due.

Some credit card holders keep their cards for emergencies. If the fridge dies or you have a medical issue, a card to help you past this bump in the road offers peace of mind. Others use their card only for building credit or for specific kinds of purchases like hotels when they travel or just at the gas pump.

This is a personal decision for you to make and there’s no wrong answer.

Keep Your Debt In Check

We caution customers against allowing debt to accumulate. In fact, we encourage customers to never charge more than they can afford to pay off in a month and to actually pay off that balance monthly. Even a small balance left unattended can accumulate large interest charges and snowball into a massive sum over time. In fact, making the minimum payment on even a few hundred dollars could be costly: added interest could amount to hundreds of dollars over a period of years before the debt is paid off.

Make A Plan For To Pay Off Debt

If you have credit card debt, we recommend making a plan to pay it off as quickly as possible.

For most people, the first step toward paying off debit is making a realistic budget. Click here to read about the basics of building a good budget. If your budget is tight and you think you don’t have extra money for paying off that debt, click here for some practical ways to cut expenses.

Finally, avoid accumulating more debt while trying to pay off the old. It may be a challenge but you’ll never see a zero balance if you keep charging what you can’t afford. For more on this topic, visit our partners at Nerd Wallet who have a repayment calculator and tips to help you.

Pointers For Earning With uChoose Rewards

Posted on June 19, 2018 by vcnbfamily

If you have Rewards Checking or a Visa® Platinum Card at VCNB, there are a few things we hope you’ll remember about your uChoose Rewards® points.

You have to register your cards to earn points with them. That’s right – you need to register your cards with an account on the uChoose website so you may earn and redeem points. It’s an easy process that takes just minutes.
Once you’re registered, it’s easy to log in to your uChoose account to check your points balance and redeem your points for great merchandise, gift cards, cash book, travel and more!
New cards have to be registered. That means if you were reissued a card that replaces one that was lost, stolen or in some way compromised, you’ll need to take a minute to register the new card. In this instance, when you attempt to log in to your uChoose account, a pop up box will instruct you to register the card with a new account. Never fear, all the points you have accumulated will be available in your new uChoose account!
Points are good for just three years. If you’ve been saving up your points for a big reward like plane tickets or if you simply forget to redeem them, you need to use them before they’re gone. To find out if you have points nearing expiration, simply log in to your uChoose account. There will be an expiration warning next to your points balance.
You can earn even more points if you use your debit card 21 times or more each month. Do this and you’ll earn an extra 200 rewards points!
There are even more point earning opportunities on the uChoose website! Log in to your account and look for online earning opportunities as well as in-store offers that you can activate for your card!

What are you waiting for? Click here to register your card or to log in to your existing account and start redeeming points!

Four Ways To Spring Clean Your Finances

Posted on April 16, 2018 by vcnbfamily

Spring is a great time to clean up your finances! Here are four easy ways to get started!

Review your credit report –It is important to make sure your credit report is accurate and free of mistakes. By law, you are entitled to order one free credit report each year from each of the three major credit bureaus. Access yours here.
Review your budget and plan to pay off credit card debt – Is your budget current? Do you even have a budget? Every person with an income and expenses needs a budget to help them know what is happening with their money. While reviewing your budget, also look at your debts. Do you still have leftover holiday debt hanging around? It’s time to knock that out.
Start an emergency fund – Most Americans have less than $1,000 saved. If faced with a crisis, how would you pay for it? Putting away just a few dollars every payday can be a big help in an emergency. Click here to open a Passbook Savings at VCNB with as little as $100.
Organize and shred old financial documents – Sort through your old files and only keep what you absolutely need. Remember, the IRS has up to six years to audit you so be sure to keep tax records and supporting documents for that long. Learn more here.

A couple more thoughts – take a look at your bank accounts, credit cards and even the way you pay your bills. Are you paying too much credit card interest? Are you pleased with your checking account? Talk to a VCNB account representative about how you can be rewarded for your credit card purchases with a Platinum Visa© Card and for your everyday banking habits with a Rewards Checking Account at VCNB. Also ask about how Online Bill Pay can save you time and money and even prevent late fees!

Finally, we just confirmed some shred days for two of our offices:

May 5, 2018 from 10 a.m. to Noon
Canal Banking Center

June 9, 2018 from 10 a.m. to Noon
Friendly Bremen Banking Center (W. Fair Avenue location)

This is a great, free way to safely dispose of important documents that you do not need to keep. We’ll post more information as it becomes available!

Learn more about our Rewards Checking Account, Platinum Visa, Online Bill Pay and other VCNB products here!

Peace, Love and Points Offer Ends Soon

Posted on August 23, 2016 by vcnbfamily

Peace, Love & Points - FBBC (Nauman Digital)

Peace, Love and Points has been our theme here at VCNB all summer long and we’ve had a fun time embracing our inner hippie. Sadly, all good things must come to an end and this campaign is no different. Have you taken advantage of this opportunity to earn up to 20,000 Bonus Points with a Rewards Checking and a Platinum Credit Card at VCNB?

It is good through August 31, both in office and on our website.

Customers who qualify for a Visa© Platinum Credit Card may receive a bonus of 10,000 UChoose Rewards® Points. With our Platinum Credit Card, customers can receive bonus points for using it to make regular purchases. Those points can be redeemed for gift cards, travel, experiences and merchandise.

Customers who open a new Rewards Checking account or switch an existing VCNB account to Rewards Checking will be eligible to receive a bonus of 5,000 points. Those who opt for self-service and open a Rewards Checking account online will be eligible to receive a bonus of 10,000 points.

To receive a Rewards Checking bonus, the customer must activate a debit card and register it through UChooseRewards.com within sixty days of account opening to receive the bonus. New accounts must be funded with a minimum $100 deposit within 30 days of account opening. Click here to read the full terms and conditions for this promotion.

Click here to open your Rewards Checking account online or stop by any of our seventeen offices to apply for a Platinum Card or to open a Rewards Checking with one of our friendly staff.

What are you waiting for? The summer of Peace, Love and Points will end soon but your point earning opportunities with Rewards Checking and a Platinum Visa will continue every time you use them!

Pack An Extra Form Of Payment

Posted on July 5, 2016 by vcnbfamily

If you’re planning a vacation this summer, you’re probably eager to pack your bags and hit the road. But before you go, there’s one more thing to pack – one or two extra forms of payment.

We know that you love your plastic and we swipe our debit and credit cards more today than ever before. After all, it’s quick and easy, it’s safer than carrying a lot of cash and, if you’re a VCNB customer using Rewards Checking or our Platinum Visa© Card, you earn UChoose® Rewards Points on purchases.

Print Unfortunately, plastic is not always foolproof. While most businesses accept credit and debit cards, some mom and pop establishments, festivals and farmer’s markets are not equipped to do so. Also, technology is imperfect and occasionally even major retailers experience a hiccup that prevents them from accepting cards.

Also, with the increased use in debit and credit card usage has come an increase in the amount of fraudulent activity related to cards. That’s why we have a great Fraud Department here at VCNB to monitor your activity round the clock. If we see something that is clearly fraudulent or that looks suspicious, we will place restrictions on your card and then give you a call to confirm that you are actually making those purchases. This is meant to protect you and your money but can sometimes cause an inconvenience for the customer.

We occasionally have customers who are on vacation, spending outside their regular pattern of activity, who will be flagged by the Fraud Department. If you can confirm that it’s really you spending your money, the restrictions will be released and you can go about your vacation. If it’s not you, we will shut down your card to prevent future fraudulent activity and take actions to get you a new card. If that’s the case, you will need another way to pay.

There are many options for a second or third form of payment. If you plan to pay primarily with debit, take along a credit card and some cash too. If your primary payment is going to be credit, a second credit or debit card and some cash might come in handy.

Here at VCNB, we offer credit cards as well as a Reloadable Travel Card. You can use it to make purchases anywhere worldwide that Mastercard© is accepted. It costs $5.99 to purchase but we are waving this fee through the end of July. The Travel Card and other reloadable/gift cards are available in any VCNB branch. Click here to learn more.

And, of course, cash is still accepted almost everywhere.

By the way, if you’re planning to travel, take a minute and give us a call. If we know you’re out of state or out of the country, you’ll be less likely to experience a disruption in service. Also be sure to give us your mobile phone number. If our Fraud Department does need to reach you, you don’t want them calling your home when your card is being rejected in a restaurant far from home.

Summer of Peace, Love and Points

Posted on June 2, 2016 by vcnbfamily

Peace, Love & Points - FBBC (Nauman Digital)

Peace, Love and Points will be the theme at VCNB this summer! From now through August 31, you can earn up to 20,000 Bonus Points with a Rewards Checking and a Platinum Credit Card at VCNB. Many of our offices are having fun with this sixties theme, playing music and breaking out their tie dye!

Here’s what Peace, Love and Points means for you:

Customers who open a new Rewards Checking account or switch an existing VCNB account to Rewards Checking will be eligible to receive a bonus of 5,000 points. Customers who opt for self-service and open a Rewards Checking account online will be eligible to receive a bonus of 10,000 points.

Click here to open your Rewards Checking account online or stop by any of our seventeen offices to apply for a Platinum Card or to open a Rewards Checking with one of our friendly, experienced staff.

Retailer Specials Increase Points Earning Potential

Posted on October 20, 2015 by vcnbfamily

So you have a Rewards Checking and a VCNB Platinum Visa® Card and are eager to earn UChoose® Rewards Points. Did you know there are special point earning opportunities on the UChoose® website?

Many vendors have special offers that must be activated from your UChoose online account. These points are in addition to the points you will earn for simply swiping when you spend. Here are just a few:

Kohls – Earn two points per $1 at Kohl’s on purchases of $25 or more (maximum 10,000 points). Offer valid through 10/31/2015. Points cannot be earned when purchasing gift cards. Points are added to your account within 30 days of the date of purchase.

Papa John’s – Earn five points per $1 at Papa John’s on purchases of $25 or more (maximum 10,000 points). Offer valid through 10/31/2015. Points cannot be earned when purchasing gift cards. Points are added to your account within 60 days of the date of purchase.

Budget Rent A Car – Earn twenty points per $1 at Budget Rent A Car (maximum 10,000 points). Offer valid through 10/31/2015. Points cannot be earned when purchasing gift cards. Points are added to your account within 60 days of the date of purchase.

AMC Theatres – Earn ten points per $1 at AMC Theatres on purchases of $25 or more (maximum 10,000 points). Offer valid through 10/31/2015. Points cannot be earned when purchasing gift cards. Points are added to your account within 60 days of the date of purchase.

When you login to your UChoose account, click on “Earn Points” in the bar on the left. In the drop down menu that appears, click on “Activate” to see the list of current offers. Also, be sure to read the offer details so that you can take full advantage of the offer and don’t forget to click the “Activate” button while you’re at it.

There’s also a heap of offers that don’t require activation. You just automatically receive the points when you make a purchase. Here are a few of those too.

AutoZone.com                        8 Points
BedBath&Beyond.com           4 Points
Cabelas                                  3 Points
DirectTV                                 10500 Points per activation
DisneyStore.com                    5 Points
ElizabethArden.com               5 Points
HomeDepot.com                    3 Points
iTunes                                    6 Points
Kate Spade                            6 Points
LandsEnd.com                       4 Points
Magazines.com                      20 Points
New Balance                          6 Points
NewYork&Co.com                  5 Points
NikeStore.com                        7 Points
Philosophy.com                      5 Points
Walgreens.com                      7 Points

To find the complete list, click on “Earn Points” on the left side of the screen inside your Uchoose account and look for “All Offers” in the drop down menu.

Learn more about Rewards Checking by clicking here.

Earning Rewards With Rewards Checking

Posted on September 16, 2015 by vcnbfamily

Lots of our customers are signing up for Rewards Checking and are excited to find ways to earn points with UChoose Rewards®. Here are a few ways points can be earned.

Swipe your card(s)
Receive one point for every $3 spent with your debit card. Have a VCNB Platinum Visa® Favor Credit Card? Earn one point for every dollar spent when you swipe this card.

Direct Deposit
You’re receiving a paycheck anyway. Now you can earn ten points for one direct deposit per monthly cycle.

Swipe your debit card more
Swipe your debit card 21 or more times during a monthly cycle and receive 200 bonus points! Earning points was never so easy.

Online Bill Pay
Pay bills with VCNB Online Bill Pay to earn even more! Receive twenty points per transaction and receive up to 100 points per monthly cycle simply for paying your bills. Just remember, if you sign up for Bill Pay, you must make at least one payment during the calendar month or you will be assessed a $3 fee.

Popmoney ® Personal Payment Service
Send money to someone with Popmoney® and earn 50 points per transaction. You can earn up to 200 points just using this service you may already be using. At .50 per transaction to use Popmoney®, it’s cheaper than mailing a check!

New Savings Account
Receive a 1,000 point one-time bonus at the time of account opening when you open a new savings account.

One more thing. We will reward your loyalty to VCNB with 500 Anniversary rewards points. This will happen every year for the life of the account! Also be sure to check in with us periodically – we may offer future promotions for loan accounts.

Don’t have Rewards Checking? Learn more about this account here. Have an account but still need to sign up for UChoose Rewards? Click here to get started.

Earn Gift Cards With Rewards Checking

Posted on September 10, 2015 by vcnbfamily

Last year VCNB partnered with UChoose Rewards® to offer a new and improved program for earning rewards points using the VCNB Visa® Platinum credit card. This month we introduced a new product called Rewards Checking that allows our customers to earn rewards points on debit card transactions and other banking behaviors. Customers can link their Rewards Checking and Visa Platinum cards on one UChoose Rewards® account to accumulate points more quickly.

We have been elated with customer response to Rewards Checking and the new opportunities to earn points. We’ve told you about how to earn points but we haven’t talked about all the ways you can redeem those points.

Cash back, gift cards, event tickets and travel expenses are among the things customers can receive when they redeem points. Today we’re talking about some of the gift cards that are available at this time.

Gift cards are available for a large variety of restaurants, retail stores, gas stations, entertainment, electronics and travel. Here are just a few:

Phew! What a list! If you’re a Rewards Checking or VCNB Visa® Platinum customer, be sure to log in to the UChoose Rewards website and take a look at the rewards you can earn. The number of points necessary to redeem for a gift card varies depending on the value and type of card. For example, a $25 Applebee’s or Kohls gift card will each cost 2884 rewards points while a $50 Walmart card will cost 5974 points.

Visit us online or in your local office to open an account or to learn full account details. Already have a Rewards Checking account but need help registering for UChoose Rewards? Call our customer service department at 1.800.542.5004 or contact your local office.

Earn Great Rewards With a VCNB Platinum Card

Posted on February 17, 2015 by vcnbfamily

If you have a VCNB Visa Platinum Card you are earning rewards points every time you swipe that card. But did you know about the great things you can acquire with those points?

Gift Cards – Redeem points for gift cards to the stores and restaurants you love. Popular gift cards include Applebees, Kohls, Shell, Starbucks, Bath and Body Works, Subway, Lowes, Amazon.com and Auto Zone.

Merchandise – There literally is some kind of merchandise for every taste through UChoose. Items for baby, your car, your kitchen and your office are available. Then there’s all the electronics, books, music, musical instruments, software and gaming systems. And don’t forget to check out the sporting goods, luggage, apparel, jewelry, watches, tools, beauty items and more!

Travel – UChoose can make travel better! Hotels, flights, cars, cruises and package deals can be booked from the UChoose site.

Event Tickets – Enjoy tickets for the theater, sporting events, concerts and even NASCAR races thanks to points you earn from everyday purchases.

Activities – If you like getting out and about, there are tons of options for activities. Universal Studios tour tickets, spa getaways, New York City sightseeing tours and wine tastings in California Wine Country are popular rewards. Tickets to the Carolina Opry, Vegas shows and white water rafting adventures are available as well. In fact, the adventures to be had seem almost limitless!

Want to shop the UChoose rewards program? Visit the UChoose website to register your card and start redeeming points.

Don’t have a Visa Platinum Card? Learn more by clicking here. Just click on credit cards to see the details.

If you’re ready to apply, contact your local office today.

VCNB Family

Our Family Serving Your Family Since 1867

Tag Archives: Visa ® Platinum Credit Card