In light of recent headlines, I get a lot of questions about sub-prime mortgages. Let me start by stating that your board of directors and management do not believe in risking the member's money on sub-prime loans. That said, there are still some members who may have fallen into the trap of an ARM (Adjustable Rate Mortgage) when the economy was good and are now having trouble making payments. Maybe they're trying to sell their home with no luck.

My advice is this: Try to refinance with us. If your credit is clean, there's a good chance we can help you reduce your payments and get you out of trouble. If that's not an option, then we may be able to introduce you to a reputable lender that helps families with tarnished credit. But whatever you choose, be sure to call or stop by the branch soon. We'll be ready with other home loan alternatives and counseling options that may help you get ahead financially.

One of our more frequently asked questions is: who at Kaiser Permanente can I talk to about the credit union? It just so happens we have a small army of enthusiastic KaiPerm representatives who also work at Kaiser Permanente. If you work for Kaiser, one of your peers has the paperwork and answers you need. To find the KaiPerm rep near you, visit the Credit Union Reps/Kaiser Reps page on our site.