Financial knowledge is key to affording daily life and laying a foundation for the future. However, people often feel they’re on their own when it comes to money management. Children aren’t necessarily required to learn it, and friends and family don’t often discuss it.  The result? “You don’t really get financial literacy training wheels,” said Jake Nelson, a Certified Credit Union Financial Counselor (CCUFC) at Elevations.   At Elevations, we believe financial literacy can be a foundation for achieving goals of eliminating debt, owning a home, affording college tuition and bui ..read more

This February, we want to honor the incredible contributions, achievements and resilience of Black individuals in our community.  We decided to take this space to share inspiring stories from individuals across our Front Range communities. Join us as we celebrate Black excellence, shed light on local stories and work towards a more inclusive future.  Minister Glenda Strong Robinson  Founder and chair of Dr. MLK, Jr. 2024 Planning Committee  Meet Minister Glenda Strong Robinson, a prominent Boulder minister, and historian for Second Baptist Church and the NAACP Boulder Coun ..read more

The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) is raising the baseline conforming loan limit (CLL) for 2024, and we’re here to help you understand what this means.    According to the FHFA*, laws restrict Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to   “purchasing single-family mortgages with origination balances that are below a certain amount.”  Read on to learn the reason behind this limit change, what these limits are in the Colorado counties we serve, and what the increase means for homebuyers.   Why has the limit been raised?  The loan limit increase comes as housing p ..read more

Your Colorado home is valuable. So, why not dip into the equity that you have accrued as a homeowner to help reach your financial goals?   Two options to access your home’s equity are a home equity loan and a cash-out refinance. Both options put dollars in your pocket but in very different ways. Let’s examine the differences and discover what is the best option for you!  Apply for a Home Equity Loan What is “home equity” and when should you consider using it?  Home equity is the value of your home, above whatever you still owe on your mortgage. These funds can be calculated ..read more

IRA and Retirement Plan Limits for 2023  How much are you saving for retirement? It’s essential to know how much you can contribute to your IRA, Roth IRA and employer retirement plans. Limits can change year to year. Read on to see what’s changed in 2023.  The maximum amount you can contribute to a traditional IRA or a Roth IRA in 2023 is $6,500 (or 100% of your earned income, if less), up $500 from 2022. The maximum catch-up contribution for those age 50 or older remains at $1,000. You can contribute to both a traditional IRA and a Roth IRA in 2023, but your total contributions can ..read more

Cindy Agnes has always had a passion for baking. In 2008 when her husband Gerry, the then newly appointed President and Chief Executive Officer for Elevations Credit Union, held a BBQ for the credit union’s staff, she thought some homemade cookies would be a nice addition to the celebration. When the holidays came around, Cindy added the Elevations Board of Directors to the fun, making her delectables to help wish the board a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Since 2013, Cindy has baked at least a dozen cookies per employee each holiday season, and she and Gerry deliver them to all Elevation ..read more

As we look back on a memorable 2022 and make plans for the year ahead, we at Elevations Credit Union are thankful to our valued members, neighbors and community for helping us accomplish so much. This year, our friends helped support: Buffalo Bike Classic, the largest scholarship fundraiser in the state Now 20 years strong, the Elevations Credit Union Buffalo Bike Classic remains the largest scholarship fundraising event in the state of Colorado. Participants were able to choose from any of nine different bike course options of varying difficulty and length. The ride supports high-merit, high ..read more

“I took a walk in the woods and came out taller than the trees.” ~ Henry David Thoreau Jill Dreves grew up in the mountains of Colorado. As a child, she attended a tiny, nature-immersed public school of just 32 children in grades K-8. During those formative years, a deep connection with Mother Earth was forged, and a seed was planted. “After teaching public school for nine years, in 1995 I went back to my roots of connecting children (and now community) to their backyard nature and took $500 out of my savings account to start Wild Bear Nature Center,” Dreves, the Executive Director of the orga ..read more

If homeownership, investing in real estate or refinancing an existing property is on your to-do list, Elevations Credit Union would love to help you take the next steps. Andrew Loyed of the Elevations Credit Union Mortgage Team is ready to answer questions, offer solutions and provide guidance along the way. Learn more about Loyed’s approach to residential mortgage loan origination.  “You may not need as much money as you think.”   Those words come from Andrew Loyed’s experience assisting Elevations members with their dreams of being homeowners and property investors. The key is ..read more

Do you daydream about home ownership? Or do you want to add another investment property to your portfolio? Sara (Lohndorf) Ibarra of the Elevations Credit Union Mortgage Team is ready to help you find the perfect loan to make your vision a reality. Learn more about Ibarra’s approach to residential mortgage loan origination: Ibarra is intrigued by people. To learn more, she majored in anthropology at the University of Colorado Boulder. Her deep dive into human behavior, societies and cultures creates a solid foundation for her work with Elevations members who need guidance, coaching and financi ..read more