Springs-based Ent Federal Credit Union to offer insurance, benefits

Prompted by an increasingly competitive financial services market, Ent Federal Credit Union has launched two new services - an insurance program and an employee benefit program.Ent Insurance Group will offer personal liability, property, life and related insurance products, as well as carry coverage for member businesses through a commercial insurance division. The employee benefit program will offer a range of employee benefits, including corporate packages and individual voluntary products.While both are new for Ent, the region's largest financial institution with 160,000 members and $1.9 billion in assets, the idea to add these types of services is becoming more common for credit unions.As banks and other financial institutions begin to offer a larger array of products, it's not surprising to see credit unions making efforts to stay competitive, said Chuck Mabry, president of the Colorado Credit Union League.James Moore, Ent's senior vice president for corporate development said the services are an extension of what the credit union already offers. The EIG will operate from offices at 7350 Campus Drive, in northern Colorado Springs, with service offered throughout the region. Acting as an insurance brokerage, Ent has access to multiple offers in each insurance category and can provide tailored coverage and competitive rates for individual members.The individual insurance products will include vehicle, homeowners, renters, pet and life insurance, as well as long- and short-term care disability insurance, and health insurance. The business insurance products will include general liability, worker's compensation, commercial property and vehicle insurance, and an executive benefits program and a 401K plan.Ent is working with Denver Management Advisors to offer the employee benefit packages.

What are people saying about mortgages today:

Rates on 30-year mortgages edged down last week to a seven-month low. Mortgage-giant Freddie Mac reported Thursday that 30-year, fixed-rate mortgages fell to 6.3 percent, down slightly from 6.31 percent two weeks ago. It put rates at the lowest level since they were at 6.24 percent the first week of March.

Bank of Hawaii, Central Pacific Bank, Territorial Savings Bank and Wells Fargo Home Mortgages all cut their 30-year mortgage rates to 5.75 percent this week.

Most people think of a mortgage as a means to an end. After all, you buy a house, not a home loan. But a mortgage is much more than the path to homeownership. It is a financial instrument that must be managed, just like any other financial investment.