The deadline is looming. Tax experts estimate between 25 and 33 percent of Americans wait until the last minute to file tax returns.  But, it isn’t time to panic just yet. There are ways to make this crunch time less painful.

Robert D. Ramirez, Vantage West’s CEO, is a proponent maintaining relationships with local, state, and federal legislators and regulators. He considers it vital to promote the credit union agenda. “A mutual understanding of our respective responsibilities makes it easier to advocate for the credit union movement,” says Ramirez. His advocacy efforts landed him a spot on the transition team for Rep. Martha McSally (R-Ariz.).

Vantage West recently increased the rate on their 15-month eCertificate.  This rate increase marks the highest APY level in the eCertificate’s history.  In conjunction, Vantage West is offering a limited-time 6-month Share Certificate (1.947% APY) and a $50 IRA Match to celebrate Military Saves.  While the 6-month certificate is limited to those with military affiliations, the rate surpasses all similar certificates being offered to Arizona residents.

If your financial institution is considering how to better serve Hispanics in your region, Vantage West offers a valuable piece of advice: Don’t think of language as a barrier. “We recognized translations can help build the connection, but not every message has to be in Spanish.”

Think about “debt and savings” conversations:  a lot of numbers come into play. Of course interest rates and minimum deposits are obvious ones, but what about other stats? Studies indicate that roughly one-third of military families have trouble paying bills, while about one-half of Americans report good savings health.

Vantage West has a commitment to southern Arizona’s military community.   We will hold three financial readiness workshops at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base. Workshops will focus on building a secure financial future and youth-oriented financial subjects.