Especially for Educators

New Education Stimulus Grant!

TBA Credit Union has introduced the Education Stimulus Grant, a program designed to support innovative and creative programs in schools throughout the five-county area. Four grants of $5,000 each will be awarded to area educators in 2010. Projects will be selected for funding based on how they enhance classroom learning while fostering students' imaginations and creativity. School employees of any public, private, or charter school in Antrim, Benzie, Leelanau, and Grand Traverse counties can apply. To learn more, download an application packet or call Robin Ahart at 231-932-5035.

Educator Appreciation Night at Wuerfel Park

Join us on Friday, June 4 for Educator Appreciation Night with the Beach Bums! Celebrate the end of the year with Sunburn and Suntan, good friends, and a fireworks display! Chair back tickets are available to all school employees for $6 each. One lucky educator will even have a chance to throw out the first pitch of the night! To reserve your seats, call Robin Ahart at 231-932-5035 or email robina@tbacu.com.

Scholarship Opportunities!

The Grand Traverse Bay Area Michigan Education Association-Retired and TBA Credit Union announce the awarding of three (3) $500 scholarships. Any child or grandchild of an active MEA member or MEA-Retired member who attends a public high school in Grand Traverse, Antrim, or Leelanau County is eligible to apply. The deadline for receiving applications is Friday, April 16, 2010. Contact Kay Walker at kwalker@mea.org or 231-947-8372 for more information.

• Download an application (PDF format)
• Download an application (MS Word 2007 format)

Outstanding Educator Awards

Eleven recipients honored!

TBA Credit Union, the Traverse City Area Chamber of Commerce and the Traverse Bay Area Intermediate School District are proud to announce the 2008-2009 Outstanding Educators.

To nominate an outstanding educator for the 2009/2010 school year, click here!

Jackie Richter, Interpreter, TBA ISD; Susan O'Connor, Teacher, TBA ISD, Career-Tech Center; Cheryl Schmuckal, Teacher, Grand Traverse Area Catholic Schools; Deborah Pahssen, Teacher, Grand Traverse Area Catholic Schools; Cathy Kangas, Teacher, Benzie Middle Schools; Jami Gray, Teacher, Elk Rapids Public Schools; Michelle VanKleek, Teacher, Traverse City Area Public Schools; Kathy Angove, Teacher, Traverse City Area Public Schools; Matt Dumon, Teacher, Traverse City Area Public Schools; Marilyn Eldred, Secretary, Traverse City Area Public Schools; Dan Tiesworth, Administrative Intern/Athletic Director, Traverse City Area Public Schools.

Grand Traverse Area Retired School Personnel

Good news for GTARSP members! You can now view your bi-annual newsletter online! To view the most recent issue of the Bay Leaf, click here. Viewing your newsletter online is fast, easy, and saves GTARSP money in postage and printing costs! To learn more about how TBA Credit Union can save you money, call 231-946-7090 or visit our website for information on money-saving products like free checking and online banking.

Educator’s Choice Checking Package

A unique product designed especially for school employees!

Any school employee in the five-county area qualifies for the following exclusive Educator’s Choice benefits:

• FREE checking with no minimum balance
• FREE unlimited Spirit Checks
• FREE Visa Travel Card
• FREE online banking & bill pay
• Educator’s Advantage Overdraft Line of Credit
• FREE Educator’s Choice T-shirt
• FREE Educator’s Choice Perk Card with special offers exclusively for school employees from Moomers, Beach Bums, Pit Row, Mirage Tanning, Living Light Massage, and more!
• Discounts on many loan products
• Bonuses on certificate of deposits (excluding specials)
• Premium rates on Deferred Compensation accounts
• Summer Savings to ease the expense of summer spending
• Hall Pass good for one returned NSF fee per school year

For each school employee who becomes an Educator’s Choice member, TBA Credit Union will donate $25 to the Classroom Grant program benefiting educators in the five-county area!

To learn more about how you can become an exclusive Educator’s Choice member, call 231-946-7090 and ask to speak with a New Accounts Representative today!

Educator’s Choice T-shirt

Educator’s Choice Perk Card

Classroom Grants

Committed to our students and the educators dedicated to their enrichment, TBA Credit Union and MEEMIC Insurance/The Harvitt Agency once again sponsored a Classroom Grant for the 2009/2010 school year. Last year, recipients used the funds in a variety of ways including field trips and books for the classroom. The funds assisted over 1000 students in the 5-county area. Click here to view current and past years' recipients.

To learn more about the Classroom Grant, call Robin Ahart at 231-932-5035. To apply, download our PDF application.

Spirit Checks Raise Money for Your School!

Parents, faculty and administrators can now show their school pride by having school logos printed right on their TBA Credit Union checks!

How does this benefit schools? For each box of checks ordered with an imprint of your school’s logo, TBA Credit Union will donate $2 to your school!

And the best part? You don’t have to do anything! Unlike the work involved in fundraisers, this is an easy way to raise money for your school while giving your community an opportunity to show their support each time they write a check.

Participating Schools:

• Grand Traverse Academy
• Woodland School
• TBA ISD
• Buckley Bears
• Benzie Huskies
• Leland Comets
• Traverse City Titans
• Traverse City Trojans
• Kalkaska Blazers
• Suttons Bay Norsemen
• Forest Area Warriors
• Elk Rapids Elks
• Kingsley Stags
• Mancelona Ironmen
• Leelanau St. Mary's Eagles
• Glen Lake Lakers
• Northport Wildcats

Don’t see your school? Let us know! Getting started is easy! All we need is your school logo emailed to Robin Ahart and signed authorization by an administrator to use it. Click here to see what your Spirit Checks will look like. For more information about the program, please call Robin at 231-932-5035.

Deferred Compensation

A retirement savings plan offered exclusively to school employees, your credit union’s Deferred Compensation accounts are another excellent tool to start planning for your future today!

• Attractive rates
• No minimum balance to open
• Lower your taxable income by deferring a portion of your wages each pay period
• Pay no taxes on either your contributions or your earnings until you withdraw the funds
• No annual maintenance fees

For more information, contact Joann Anderson at 231-946-8794.