March 8, 2023 is Internation Women’s Day. Today, we’re honoring Dora Maxwell, an early pioneer in the credit union movement. She secured charters for hundreds of credit unions throughout the United States, including, Standard Oil Company of NJ, People’s Natural Gas Company, The Hope Natural Gas Co., and the Sanders Markets. Learn More.
Louise McCarren Herring was 23 years old and fresh out of the University of Cincinnati with a business degree. She landed her first job in the corporate office of Kroger Company, a large Cincinnati-based grocery store chain. With Kroger’s encouragement, she set up 13 small credit unions for fellow Kroger employees. Learn More.
Mobile banking apps have revolutionized the way consumers interact with their financial institutions. According to a NerdWallet survey, 72% of banking customers use a mobile banking app. While mobile apps are convenient and increasingly popular, are they secure? Learn More.
Check fraud is on the rise. In addition to advanced printing and scanning technologies which make it easier for thieves to convincingly alter your check, they are now selling these checks on the dark web. Learn More.
If you’re looking to get a credit card or to take out a mortgage to purchase your first home, credit is an essential tool for helping people to meet their goals. When applying for a line of credit, the higher your credit score, the more likely you will be to qualify, the more options you will have available, and the better interest rate you will receive. Here are the 5 factors that influence your score and how to give your score a boost. Learn More
The latest scam is a phone call from someone posing to be the Fraud Department of a financial institution, such as PFCU. The fraudster will question the person on recent transactions and then ask for the last 8 digits of the person’s debit/credit card. This is a scam! Please note, PFCU/VISA or any other financial institution will never ask a member for their card number. Learn More
Think about what you want in the next 5 to 10 years and figure out what you need to get there. Decide where you want to be financially next year and the year after. Knowing what you want to do with your money will guide you as you figure out how to budget, and it will greatly increase the likelihood that you’ll stick to it. Learn More
To combat inflation, the Federal Reserve raised its benchmark interest rate on May 4th by half a percentage point, its most aggressive step to fight a 40-year high in inflation. This is the second increase this year and there are five others planned for 2022. When the Federal Reserve raises interest rates, banks, credit unions, and lenders respond. Here’s where you may notice higher rates. Learn More
Cybercriminals try to trick you into giving them personal information through an email, a phone call/voicemail, or a text message. Here is how you can spot a scammer. Learn More
Just when it seems like everything is under control, “life happens.” It’s those unexpected, unpredictable emergencies that come up that can put a strain on your finances if you’re not prepared. You may need a sudden house repair, have a loss of employment, need a major car repair, or need to buy a new furnace. The list goes on and on. Although you can’t avoid it, having an emergency fund can help you be prepared and take out some of the financial sting.
