Money Rules Of Thumb From Our Staff

When our members are in need of financial products, they often speak with their loan officer or one of our Member Service Representatives, but when seeking financial advice, our staff likewise can provide words of wisdom. We recently asked some of our staff to offer us their financial planning suggestions that they use to guide their own finance – words that they would likewise share with a friend, neighbor or a member who asked for guidance in developing financial plans.

Budgeting often forms the basis of our staff’s two cents worth, from creating one, to sticking with it, which we know can be easier said than done.

As old-fashioned as it may seem in the modern age of online accounts, Lindsey in our Grenora branch suggests, “Always write down your transactions in a register and balance your account regularly.” Doing so helps you more easily recognize when you’ve exceeded your budget.

Dennis in Watford City agrees. “Balance your checkbook every month when you get the statement – makes you monitor your account for fraud or unusual charges.” Keeping tabs on your dollars and cents alerts you to transaction errors, duplicate charges, and charges and credits from online purchases and refunds.

In addition to what you allocate for spending, consider where you divide your incoming funds. Todd in our Washburn branch recommends, “The 50/30/20 rule. Fifty percent of after tax income for needs, thirty percent for wants, and twenty percent for savings (additional retirement, investments, cash). Best rule a wage earning person can live by for long run financial solvency.”

If watching your account penny-for-penny is not your style, Khadero (New Town) recommends an estimating approach. “Over budget expenses and under budget income.”

To find out what approach works best for your present and future financial goals, we encourage you to visit with one of our loan officers and discover how Dakota West can help you put together short- and long-term plans based on your personal needs and what we can build together to help you live, dream, and achieve.

The Diversity of Our Branches

Yes, all of the Dakota West branches offer personal service to our members (and future members) and yes, all of our communities are nestled in western North Dakota, but if you zoom in, you’ll notice what makes each of our branches unique and special in each of our communities.

Grenora, one of the oldest branches in the Dakota West organization is the only financial institution within 30 miles of the community. Originally built around the Great Northern Railroad (GreNoRa), This community is as valuable to the region as Dakota West is to its northwestern members.

With a membership radius of fifty miles, Bowman’s community reaches beyond the edges of North Dakota. Unlike any other branch, our Bowman location serves members in Baker, Montana and Buffalo, South Dakota, and into Hettinger, North Dakota making it our only three-state location.

Serving our members of the MHA Nation at our New Town branch, our Member Service Representatives are learning traditional Hidatsa greetings to welcome elders who visit our branch on the Fort Berthold Reservation. We thank our members for the sense of family this shared communication brings to us.

Watford City is Dakota West’s home base, but it’s also the center of a county that includes a national park, two major rivers, two time zones, and blends both the history of agriculture and the modern advancements of the energy industry.

Located just twenty miles from Theodore Roosevelt Regional Airport, our New England branch plays a vital role for the smaller communities of Hettinger County. The constancy of a credit union benefits the residents in the less-populated regions of North Dakota, and for half a century, this location has served as a valuable resource.

Each summer our Washburn branch provides account support to number of seasonal residents who come from the west coast of the United States and even from South Africa who return each year to lend a hand to our agricultural community. We welcome back our summer members who are helping to continue the traditions of farming and honey production in our McLean County community.

It’s the small ways our Mohall branch impacts our northeast region. When the north winds blow, it certainly is a benefit to be the only financial institution in town with drive-through service so our members can remain warm and toasty in their vehicles. In the summer, it’s also on the way to Lake Metigoshe for travelers needing to take advantage of our shared branch services.

In existence since 1940, our Turtle Lake branch is just down the street from Rusty the Turtle, the namesake placed to celebrate the 90^th anniversary of the town in eastern McLean County.

We invite you to explore any of our branches when you are travelling throughout the Dakota West region. You may meet new faces, but you’ll always receive the same quality service. See you here soon!

Scholarship Profiles - Taylalyn Kaczmar, Clayton Ledahl, & Gracey Russell

Let us introduce three more Dakota West Annual Scholarship recipients from three different Dakota West branches. Taylalyn Kaczmar of Watford City will be starting at North Dakota State University this month working towards her goal of becoming a physician’s assistant. Her thoughts on the importance of communication relate directly to her future plans.

“Once in the medical field, discussion with providers and patients will be critical for the best and efficient care to be provided. I recognize that having effective communication in the workplace can determine and impact how well my relationships with my superiors, coworkers, and patients will be. I have been practicing good communication skills, and I will continue to improve these skills. I strive to be the best I can for those around me, and I feel that communication will make that difference.”

Also pursuing a career in the medical profession, Gracey Russell of Washburn recognizes the impact of both current global circumstances and the importance of communication now more than ever.

“With the current situation throughout the world, scientists, doctors, and government officials need to communicate so that there is a cure coming, the proper precautions are taken, and that people need to stay away from others and certain things, such as indoor dining need to be closed.” Gracey resumes her studies this month at Bismarck State College where she will be studying Nursing.

Clayton Ledahl of Grenora will be studying Business Management in his home county at Williston State College and is already planning for life after college and how Communication will play a role in his success.

“After I graduate college I plan to open and run my own business. If I do open up my own business, I would have to do interviews with potential workers. In order to do this I’d be communicating with the people I’m interviewing. After I hire workers, I would have to talk with them every day, as well, beings they work for me.”

We wish Clayton, Gracey, and Tayla an exciting and productive school year as they reach towards their long-term goals. They certainly represent what we hope for and partner with our members to provide every day. Good luck to all our scholarship recipients!

Scholarship Profiles - Hannah Johnson & Morgan Reiser

Dakota West applauds two more of our scholarship recipients: Hannah Johnson of Grenora and Morgan Reiser of Turtle Lake, both of whom are heading into their second year of college. These women rely heavily on Communication and shared their experiences on their applications.

Morgan studies Nursing at Dakota College at Bottineau but found herself in an unusual situation midway through her second semester. “I had left campus for spring break without my books, only carrying my laptop to check up on my classes. Soon, it was communicated across the state that students could not return to campus. I started to panic, as I had no books and now, I had to continue my education through online learning. If not for communication with the school, I would have had to navigate classes without my book. Thankfully, I was able to rush back to campus and grab my books and more clothes.”

Hannah, a two-time Dakota West Scholarship recipient, is making a career out of Communication at the University of North Dakota. “Currently, communication in the world has adapted from face-to-face interactions to other forms, due to the coronavirus pandemic. Regardless of being in a time of adapting to different circumstances or not, we should try to communicate effectively so the illusion that communication took place, is not a problem.” Hannah is also seeking a double major in Marketing.

We proudly recognize these young women as they continue their education here in North Dakota and thank them for being outstanding members of Dakota West Credit Union.

Watch for more individual profiles of these outstanding young members throughout the summer.