Our Member: Walter Hayes
Company: Keller Williams Realty
Member Since: June 2009
About Walter:
Walter Hayes has been in Real Estate since 1999 and works with Keller
Williams Realty in Joplin, MO where he teams together with his wife,
Ginger.
Walter covers Jasper & Newton Counties in MO and Cherokee County in
KS and is incredibly involved. He has served as president of the Carl
Junction Area Chamber of Commerce for 2 years, is a charter member of
the Carl Junction Lions Club, and has served on the Planning and Zoning
Commission in Carl Junction, as well as an Alderman in Ward 2 for the
City of Carl Junction. In addition to these positions Walter is a
member of the National Association of REALTORS®, Missouri Association
of REALTORS® and the Ozark Gateway Association of REALTORS® where he
has had additional leadership roles. You can learn more about Walter by
reading
his
blog.
Walter
was selected as the winner of the $100 myBills sweepstakes. When we
called to tell him he had won, he took several moments out of his busy
day to speak with us about his experience with the credit union, and
what it’s like being in real estate in 2009:
REALTORS FCU: How did you learn about the REALTORS® Federal Credit Union?
Hayes: Though the National Association of REALTORS®.
REALTORS FCU: Why did you join the REALTORS® Federal Credit Union?
Hayes: Having been part of a
Credit Union for over 30 years I immediately saw the benefit to having
a credit union that understands and caters to the needs of REALTORS®
and I joined up as soon as I was able to. I also moved all my checking
accounts over and closed the local accounts that I had. Credit unions
have a better understanding of the needs of their members, especially
REALTORS® in this case, than a normal institution.
REALTORS FCU: What products/services do you like best?
Hayes: I currently use the savings, money market savings, and checking.
REALTORS FCU: How can real estate professionals benefit from REALTORS® Federal Credit Union membership?
Hayes: Better rates than other
outlets on savings, and on loans. Not to mention the conveniences with
the checking account, and lack of monthly fees, etc. on the accounts.
REALTORS FCU: What do you find most rewarding about being in real estate?
Hayes: Money is decent, you have flexible hours, and it’s most rewarding if you’re a person who enjoys being able to help people.
REALTORS FCU: Currently what are your greatest business challenges?
Hayes: Something that is a
challenge for a lot of REALTORS® is managing cash flow, which is where
some of the products at the credit union are helpful (lines of credit,
etc). Beyond that, trying to weigh through the myriad of options we
have to choose from: What technology is best to use, what advertising
is most effective, etc.
REALTORS FCU: How has REALTORS® Federal Credit Union helped you?
Hayes: One of the things that
attracted me originally was that I could do all my business from my
desk, including deposits, and had no need to go to a brick and mortar.
The only reason I ever went to my local bank was to make a deposit or
run through the ATM anyway. So it really doesn't matter if the bank is
physically located in Joplin MO where I am or in Maine somewhere.
REALTORS FCU: Have you recommended REALTORS® Federal Credit Union to a friend?
Hayes: Yes. Credit Unions can
be a great deal for its members as the members generally have an easier
time of getting loans when needed than they would somewhere else and I
can almost always get a better rate from the credit union than through
conventional financing venues.
