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his, hers,

oursand

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Before you say I do it’s a

good idea to know your

future spouse’s financial side.

Mismanaged finances can be a

huge problem in a marriage or

quite a surprise should a spouse

die. Finding oneself suddenly

single can be overwhelming,

especially if one spouse

handled all of the household

finances. This brochure offers

tips on how to keep your

finances strong before, during

and after the marriage.

Keys to a financially successful relationship

1. Understand how both of you view money

Couples who successfully manage their money have some

of the happiest relationships. Keep in mind that if you’re not

careful with your finances, you’ll make your life and the lives

of your loved ones more complicated down the road.

Knowing exactly how both of you save, spend and view finan-

cial responsibility is key. If you lived together before marriage,

then you already have insight into this. Even so, take time to

find out what money really means to each of you.

n Set aside uninterrupted time to have a serious talk about

your separate money, “our” money and money matters of

the present and future.

n Make a list of topics to explore. Examine each other’s credit

report. AnnualCreditReport.com provides consumers with

a secure means to request and obtain a free credit report

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once every 12 months from each of the three nationwide

consumer credit reporting companies in accordance with

the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act (FACT Act).

Select the ordering method that best meets your needs:

n Online at AnnualCreditReport.com

n By phone – 1-(877)-322-8228 (TDD 1-877-730-4104)

n By mail – download the request form from

AnnualCreditReport.com, complete and mail it to:

Annual Credit Report Request Service, PO Box 105281,

Atlanta, GA 30348-5281

n Is one of you a saver and the other a spender? Does one or

both of you live paycheck to paycheck?

n Pay off as many bills as you can before saying I do. How

much unsecured debt does each of you have separately?

Decide what debts become joint debts and what debt

remains the sole responsibility of one party.

n Consider how you will handle checking and savings

accounts. Will you have a joint account for joint household

living expenses and maintain separate accounts for

individual expenses?

n Develop a household budget. Will you jointly share respon-

sibility for handling the money matters or will one person

take care of the bills each month? If one person is going

to do all the household accounting, then the other person

needs to be sure they understand what’s going on with the

money. Go over monthly expenses and bills together so

each of you know how much money is coming in and how

much money is going out and for what.

n Use online banking such as Members 1st Online. This way

both of you can oversee the household finances and know

where the money is going.

n Decide on a record keeping method. Where will you file

receipts, monthly statements and other important financial

papers?

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2. Have the kids talk.

You may just be starting out or you may be blending families.

In either case, discuss how you’re going to financially manage

kids and all of the expenses associated with raising them. If

you don’t have kids now but plan to it’s a good idea to talk

about both of you working or one of you staying home for a

while once the baby is born. Blended families have additional

concerns such as child and spousal support payments to

make or receive.

3. Investment planning.

Financial security is important, especially during major life

changes such as marriage/divorce, buying a home, paying

for college, changing jobs, and retirement. Consider meeting

with a financial planner.

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4. What about pre-marital agreements, power ofattorney and wills?

Many couples opt to have a pre-marital agreement that outlines

that particular assets remain the property of a certain individual

should the marriage dissolve. A good family lawyer can help

you with this. You’ll need to make decisions on inheritances and

guardianship especially if children are involved.

5. Where to live, vacation, how to save and spend.

Where to liven Plan to attend one of our FREE Home Buyers Seminars or

Construction Loan Seminars so that you can learn all about

the home buying or home construction process.

n Talk to us about our First Time Home Buyers program that

provides you with affordable financing with minimal out-

of-pocket expense. First time home buyers can benefit

from our relationship with the Pennsylvania Housing

Finance Agency (PHFA).

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n Meet with one of our Mortgage Specialists before you

begin looking for a new home. Get an idea as to how much

home you can realistically afford and the types of financing

that is available. Ask to be pre-qualified for a mortgage.

Ask about down payments required, application fees,

information needed to apply for a mortgage, inspection

fees, closing costs and other miscellaneous costs such as

home owners insurance.

n Pick up our Buying vs. Renting brochure for tips.

Vacation Clubs and Holiday ClubsA Members 1st Club Account is the perfect way to save for

holiday gifts, a vacation, or any other special savings goal. You

have the ability to set your money aside as you save while

still maintaining access to it in case you need it. Plus, our Club

Accounts are flexible, allowing you to be in control of your

deposit schedule and opening balance. Plan ahead and take

advantage of a Club Account today! Open your account at

any branch or online with Members 1st Online.

Savings OptionsYour personal savings plan demands personalized products

and services. At Members 1st, we provide a variety of savings

vehicles to meet your varied needs. Whether you prefer a

traditional savings account, a higher-yield money manage-

ment account, or a certificate of deposit, you’ll find a savings

account that’s just right for you at Members 1st.

Checking account and free Visa Debit Card with Swipe 5®

Checking with us will be a positive experience as our check-

ing is convenient and easy. No minimum balance is required.

Dividends are paid on balances of $2,500 or more. No

monthly service fees are assessed. And we don’t charge per

check fees. Overdraft protection is available for up to 6 over-

drafts monthly in conjunction with EZ Call and Members 1st

Online. You simply pay for your checks. Our checking offers a

free VISA Debit Card with our exclusive Swipe 5® Rebate. That

means you earn a 5- cent rebate each time you make a pur-

chase using this card as “credit”. This card looks like a credit

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card but works like a check as funds are deducted directly

from your Members 1st checking account. To earn the rebate,

simply always select “credit” at the checkout and sign the

sales slip. Swipe 5® Rebate is posted to your checking account

on the last day of the month. Some restrictions may apply.

Overdraft protection is now available for VISA Debit Card and

ATM point of sale (POS) transactions.

Financially surviving divorce or death of your significant other

Just like with marriage, divorce or death brings on new experi-

ences and responsibilities. You may need to file for child sup-

port, spousal support/alimony or Social Security. You may need

to deal with insurance claims and estate settlements. You also

find yourself 100 percent responsible for the household bills.

Divorce check list:n Educate yourself. Go through all of your financial records

and figure out where the money is. Pull credit reports to see

if there are any credit cards or loans you don’t know about.

n Collect information. Before you visit an attorney, make

copies of all financial records including all account

statements from all financial institutions in which

you do business, investment statements, tax returns,

mortgage statements, insurance policies, safe deposit box

information, wills, trusts and bills.

n If you have children, file for child support and/or spousal

support/alimony.

n Establish credit in your own name. Open a checking

account and a savings account in your own name. Get one

credit card in your own name and manage it very carefully.

n Separate credit accounts. Debt incurred in a joint account

will follow both spouses after the divorce.

n Maintain insurance coverage. You’ll still be covered under

your spouse’s health insurance until you’re divorced and at

that time, health insurance must be specified.

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n If you’re in a financial bind, we have several loan options to

consider such as a Signature Loan to help you manage your

current accounts or establish credit in your name.

n If you don’t have automatic payments set up, consider

doing so. This way you know your bills will be paid on time

and you won’t forget about anything.

n Update your beneficiary designations on IRAs, retirement

plans, employee benefits, annuity contracts and life

insurance policies and estate plan. Re-title assets if needed.

n Identify retirement money available to you.

n Protect your identity. Be sure to change your online

passwords and watch for signs that new accounts have

been opened in your name.

Death of a spouse:n First, take time to grieve and adjust. Contact your attorney

to verify that all steps you take are consistent with your

spouse’s will.

n Organize your finances and evaluate your current financial

situation. Go through all financial papers and make a list

of your assets and liabilities. If you live in a community

property state, credit accounts opened during marriage are

automatically joint. You’ll be responsible for any debt that

your deceased spouse incurred.

n Get at least 10 copies of the death certificate. You’ll need

copies for insurance claims, 401(k) payouts, Social Security,

your financial institution(s), probate and to change the title

on property.

n Contact your spouse’s employer and all previous employers

to figure out what benefits you may be entitled to.

n Cancel any unnecessary accounts, subscriptions and

services. These include health clubs, private club

memberships, etc.

n Contact life and health insurance providers. Insurance

companies will distribute money to the beneficiary listed

on the policy. Don’t cancel any health insurance until all

outstanding medical bills have been paid.

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n Meet with a financial professional to review your

investments and insurance coverage.

n Set up an Estate Account. This account is used to manage

funds for the deceased. It is managed by the Executor,

Executrix or Administrator of the decedent’s estate. It may

be used to accept deposits earned by the estate or to

pay estate expenses such as those for funeral expenses,

medical bills, debts or taxes.

n Protect your identity.

n If you need money for funeral or medical expenses,

consider a Signature Loan or a Home Equity Loan to get

you through a financially challenging time.

n Once your situation settles and all final expenses are paid,

consider various savings options. Short and long term

certificates will help you have money saved at a higher

interest rate. You can select terms that meet your savings

needs so your money is available if you need it 3, 6, or more

months down the road.

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Member Loyalty Rewards

This unique rewards program is based on your account

relationship with us. You benefit in terms of even fewer fees,

more free services, reduced consumer loan rates, and bonus

certificate rates.

How do I participate in Member Loyalty Rewards?

Your reward level is based upon the total of your combined

savings, loan, and Members 1st Investment Services balances

(excluding first mortgages). Balances are calculated at the end

of the month. Reward levels are re-evaluated and change

based on your qualifying products and balances at the end

of each month. Each reward level has its own minimum total

balance requirement.

What are the Member Loyalty Rewards levels?

We offer four reward levels - Silver, Gold, Platinum, and

Titanium. For details on each specific reward level, ask

for our Member Loyalty Rewards brochure or go to

www.members1st.org, click on the “membership” tab,

followed by “member loyalty rewards.”

You need to use at least three products to benefit. To move

up to the next level, increase your account balances by

transferring accounts you may have elsewhere or using more

of what we offer. Levels are re-evaluated and will change

based on your qualifying products and balances at the end of

each month.

Same address? Everyone benefits

You may form a group comprised of your family members

who live at your address so that all account owners at the

same address can enjoy the same reward benefits. Each

account owner must agree to be in the group. Forming

a group does not affect account access or ownership.

Everyone’s balances are added together to make the rewards

more beneficial to all. Simply ask an associate for details.

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Free Seminars

Members 1st offers a variety of free seminars throughout

the year on topics such as Identity Theft, Home Buyers and

Home Construction Loans, and Student Loans. Go to

www.members1st.org, click “News and Events,” followed by

“Calendar of Events” for details.

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For questions about Individual Retirement Accounts, call (800) 283-2328, ext. 209

For general loan inquiries or to apply, call (800) 283-2328, ext. 6040

For Member Loyalty Rewards questions, call (800) 237-7288

MBRS:300-712/12

5000 Louise Drive • P.O. Box 40 • Mechanicsburg, PA 17055 www.members1st.org

Equal Opportunity Lender