The Current

Download the Spring 2024 Newsletter as a PDF Explorer Youth Savings It is never too early for your child to begin saving,whether they were just born or preparing for college.At Community West, children and teens (0-17 years)can open an Explorer Youth Savings Account to savetheir money and achieve their financial

Download the Winter 2024 Newsletter as a PDF VERN HYDE SCHOLARSHIP IMPORTANT UPDATES! At Community West Credit Union, we understand the value of higher education and how it helps prepare generations to serve their communities, plus the difficulties students face with the high cost of furthering education.Community West awards the

Download the Fall 2023 Newsletter as a PDFClick to jump to the 2024 Schedule of Service Charges Fraud is on the rise locally and worldwide! It can strike at any moment, to anyone, and the impact can be overwhelming. Join us in the fight against fraud by protecting yourself.Remember: Community

Download the Summer 2023 Newsletter as a PDF Congratulations, 2023 Vern Hyde Scholarship Winners! Breanna Hyde is the recipient of the $2,000 Grand Prize High School Senior scholarship. A graduate of Wayland Union High School, Breanna will attend Grace College (Indiana) in the fall to pursue degrees in Sports Medicine

For most, owning a home is the largest purchase we will make in our lifetime. Unlike personal loans or credit cards, a house title is public information, which can attract the attention of scammers looking to receive a big payout at your expense. At Community West Credit Union, we know

Download the Spring 2023 Newsletter as a PDF Message from our CEODear Members,Community West Credit Union experienced a meaningful change in leadership in 2022 with my appointment as President and CEO. What a journey my first six months have been. The past year has been one of learning and challenges

Download the Winter 2023 Newsletter as a PDFClick to jump to the 2023 Fee Schedule Vern Hyde ScholarshipScholarship expands to offer College, University, and Trade School OpportunitiesThis scholarship, given out by Community West Credit Union in partnership with the Steelcase Retirees Club, will be awarded to four individuals. Two for

Purchasing a new vehicle is a big decision. Being in a comfortable financial position that allows you to upgrade your vehicle is a great feeling. However, it is crucial to carefully consider all aspects of the purchasing process, including an appropriate amount of money to put down when taking out

Higher education offers young adults many advantages and avenues for reaching their personal and professional goals. For instance, a college degree may lead to increased job prospects, greater earning potential, and networking opportunities. However, it also costs a substantial amount of money.Parents who want to make sure their children are

Being in a position to buy your first car is a huge accomplishment. While the search for your new ride can be an exciting experience, it can also be a stressful endeavor if not done correctly. Planning ahead can help make the car buying process easier for first-time buyers. At

For many homeowners, monthly mortgage payments make up the bulk of their budget, and paying their mortgage off faster could mean more money in their pockets for other things. The good news is there are many things people can do to pay off their mortgages sooner. Community West Credit Union,

From setting screen-time limits to ensuring safe browsing habits, technology has changed many of the things parents need to teach their children at home. The way purchases are made has also changed, and kids inevitably will need to know how this process works. At Community West Credit Union in West

For some, acquiring land is the ideal situation. When you own a plot of land, you’re free to hunt, camp, or even build on it. But when it comes to purchasing that land, you may need to secure a land loan to finance the property. Before you apply for a

Right now, it’s challenging to find a new home. Houses are marked as “pending” the day they are listed, people are waving home inspections, paying over the appraised value, and you must be pre-approved for a loan before you can even look. Many homeowners are choosing to skip renovations since

You’ve crunched the numbers, did the research, and you’re ready. It’s time to buy a home. This is an exciting time, but it can become tricky for those who haven’t built up credit or have poor credit. Maybe you’ve avoided debt or maybe you hit a rough patch that impacted

If you wish to buy a new home but haven’t sold your current home, a zero-down mortgage might be the perfect solution for you. This financing option also allows you to pay for a home without waiting years to save cash for a down payment. At Community West Credit Union,

Exploring the outdoors, traveling comfortably, and making memories: these are a few of the things you can do with an RV. The opportunities and experiences are endless, but if you’re on the fence about getting one, RV loans are great for making this large investment more affordable. Here, Community West

Spring in West Michigan is the perfect time to spruce up your home after the dreary winter weather! Not only can winter dampen our moods, but it can also take a toll on our homes. We’ve shared tips to mark off your spring cleaning to-do list to help keep your

A strong password is a crucial step in keeping your private information, well private. Passwords that are too simple, too short, or use easy to find information, like your birthday, can be easily hacked. So what type of passwords should you use? DO 1. Have a password you can easily

Have you heard about Debit Card Round-Up? It’s the free tool that helps you save as you spend! The best part? It’s automatic, so there’s no guesswork or manual transfers required from you! Using your debit card, each purchase you make will be rounded up to the nearest dollar. Then,

Now is the perfect time to organize important documents and financial statements, but where do you start? It’s hard to know what’s okay to shred and what you may need to keep for the future. We’ve made it easy by compiling a list to take out the guesswork. Keep Forever

The thought of buying a home can be daunting but it doesn’t have to be. Determine if you’re ready to buy a home by asking yourself these questions – you may even realize you’re better equipped than you think. How much house can I afford? Your monthly mortgage payment is

Start our easy, online application to begin financing your dream home or refinance your current home. Use the mortgage application checklist below, so you can prepare everything your mortgage loan officer will need to finalize your application. Apply today! Please note: Not all items are due during the initial application.

Easy is my favorite meal, so we’re sharing 5 meals that use 5 ingredients or less! Most of these meals you can prep, throw together and forget about until it’s time to eat. Note: Any necessary spices are not included in the 5 ingredients for each meal.  Tuna (or Chicken)

For those rainy days, keep your kids busy with these fun, indoor activities! Build a fort Dye or paint Easter eggs Create an obstacle course Paint a portrait Teach your kids a new card game that your parents taught you Make slime Play ‘hide and seek’ Play a board game

Small expenses can quickly eat away at a budget and make it harder to save or do the things that matter to you! By cutting these 5 items from your budget, you may be able to save more, invest, or finally plan the vacation you’ve been dreaming of. Coffee The

Managing money can be a tricky task on your own, let alone in a relationship. The aspect of money can be difficult to navigate if you’ve only had to consider your own income and spending. According to a study done by SunTrust Bank, finances are considered the leading cause of

Eating healthy can be a difficult task for many when working with a small grocery budget. We all know we should incorporate healthy foods into our diet but boxed products are not only more convenient – they’re often cheaper than fresh foods, too! Eat fresh AND stay on budget by

The teenage years are full of new experiences, which may include a first job. Whether it’s scooping ice cream at a local shop or babysitting for the neighbor down the street, it’s a time when your teen is earning money on their own. While it’s important to be a kid,

Since 2013, there have been over 14 billion data breaches where data has been lost or stolen. It’s normal to think it won’t happen to you, but the reality is that we put our information at risk if we aren’t diligent about seeking tools for protection. Below are tools you can

Below are free and inexpensive things to do in West Michigan this weekend that won’t cost you your entire budget. Enjoy summer fun without feeling the strain on your wallet! Free – Tuesdays and Thursdays at The GRAM Not a weekend activity but every Tuesday and Thursday The GRAM offers

Your credit score is determined by many factors and it’s your financial habits that will affect the strength of your score. Your credit score can range between 300 – 850 with a higher number increasing your chances for loan approval and better interest rates. Need to raise your credit score?



Start your budget off strong this month while still enjoying your weekend! After experiencing the 2019 Polar Vortex this week, we’re all itching to get out of the house. Below are free or inexpensive activities you can do this weekend that won’t cost you your entire budget. Free – Visit Your Local

Spring Break is probably the last thing on your mind. But the vacation you’ve been craving since the first snowfall will be here before you know it, which means now is the best time to put a plan into place! It’s never too early to start saving and with spring

Imagine this: it’s the end of the month and you have $300 in your account and rent is due in three days. That scenario would be fine if your rent was only $200, but it’s 2024, and that’s not very realistic. You work hard but it always seems like you’re

Spending time together is important for any relationship but sometimes the cost of going out can add up. While some date nights are worth celebrating (anniversaries, accomplishments, etc.), not every evening together has to break the bank. We’ve put together four frugal date nights to keep your budget and relationship

It’s easy to fall into societal traps. In our twenties, we’re told we either need to be living large, exploring and spending our money on experiences or should be slaves to our savings accounts, never splurging. Take it from me, it all comes down to living within your means. When

The federal government is by far the single largest source of financial aid to college students, but there are also state government loans, college-sponsored loans, commercial lending institutions and credit unions which also offer private student loans. Qualifying for funding involves filling out multiple forms, including the Free Application for Federal Student Aid

Before applying for a private student loan, make sure that you have thoroughly exhausted all sources of free and low-cost financial aid (such as scholarships, grants, and federal direct student loans). While the process may seem daunting, planning carefully and researching all of your options can save you thousands! Completing

If you’re thinking about purchasing a home, there are a few things you should consider. Most people start day-dreaming about their dream house before they’ve begun planning financially. When you’re ready to start planning to buy a home, you really need to consider a few things and we will discuss

Congratulations! You’ve decided to further your education by attending a college or university! Between applying for schools, picking a major, and choosing where to go, you are probably overwhelmed by the amount of decisions you have to make.  Luckily, we have a few different suggestions to help reduce your stress

Let’s be real — saving money sometimes seems like an impossibly intimidating task, especially when living life is so expensive. Well, today we are going to go over just a few different methods that can help you kick start your saving habits and help you cut down on your spending.