Rising Interest Rates and What it Means to You

 

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

Beware of Scammers and Their Tactics

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

Saving for the Unexpected

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. 

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Should You Borrow Against Your Home’s Equity?

Amassing equity by paying down the mortgage on your property is a good thing. Equity refers to the amount of your home that you own, without a lien. If your home is valued at $200,000 and you owe $100,000 on your mortgage, that means you have $100,000 in equity. One of the benefits of equity is that you can borrow against it. The question is, should you?

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Scammers May Use Your Child’s Identity

By running a credit report on your child at an early age, you are basically taking the steps to electronically bind four pieces of information together that makes your child uniquely them so that it makes it much more difficult for fraudsters to hijack any of their personally identifying information. 

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Did You Know You Could Refinance a Car Loan and Save Money?

Do you feel that the interest rate on your auto loan is too high? Refinancing a car loan could save you a significant amount of money.  Auto loan refinancing is the process of a financial institution paying off your current loan and issuing you a new one with a different interest rate. 

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Credit Cards: Pay More than Minimum for Faster Payoff

Minimum payments on credit cards are between 1% to 4% of the balance due. If you can afford higher payments each month, you’ll benefit over the long haul. If you can’t afford to pay this percentage of your balance, chances are you’re in over your head.

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Store Credit Cards: Seldom the Better Deal

With offers of an additional 15% off your purchase or free merchandise, it is tempting to apply for credit cards from your favorite retail stores. Think twice, however, before signing up. If you do not pay the bill in full at the end of each month, you could end up paying much more than you originally would have saved.

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Don’t Open Your Door to Grandparent Scams!

When it comes to scammers, nothing is sacred — including the bond between grandparent and grandchild. Lately, grandparent scammers have gotten bolder: they might even come to your door to collect money, supposedly for your grandchild in distress. Learn More

The Importance of Having a Checking Account

About 14 million adults in the U.S. do not have an account with a credit union or bank. Whether this is by choice or because they don’t think they qualify to open an account, they end up missing out on many financial services that make life easier. Learn More

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