3 reasons to file your taxes as soon as you can
Next year, your taxes are due on Thursday April 15. While that isn't normally an exciting day, there's one reason to look forward to it ... it's three and half months into a year that isn't [...]
Best of Personal Finance Archives
Our financial literacy efforts get an ‘F’
If America were to get a grade in personal finance, it would be an “F.” According to Forbes, “Two-thirds of American adults can’t pass a basic financial literacy test.” But more important than a [...]
Starting fresh with financial well-being for all
"Great occasions do not make heroes or cowards; they simply unveil them to our eyes. Silently and imperceptibly, as we wake or sleep, we grow strong or weak; and at last some crisis shows what [...]
Podcast: Anna Baskin & Wendy Beswick share their 2 cents on financial education
Financial Education. Most of us could all use a whole lot more of it. But, in today’s world of online information overload (and limited in-person contact), what’s the best way for financial institutions [...]
Winter home safety tips to keep your family safe this season
Pumpkin spice season may be in full swing, but winter is coming! As we head toward colder weather, what can you do to help ensure your home and family are safe and snug when Santa [...]
Three holiday shopping tips as you finish checking off your list
There are exactly THREE weeks until Christmas. WHAT?? Yes, you read that correctly. If you haven’t finished your shopping, it’s time to get your sleigh in gear. If you’ve still got some [...]
The evolving credit crisis – How credit unions can respond now
The COVID-19 pandemic hit the US economy hard in the spring of 2020, yet many credit unions have yet to see the full impacts on their loan portfolios. While government stimulus and proactive steps by [...]
Credit card balances hit a new low: What that means for the holiday shopping season
To make the upcoming holiday season merry and bright, will consumers start using their credit cards again? It may be too early to tell. As reported in our just-released Q3 2020 Industry Insights Report, since [...]
Start 2021 off right with this year-end financial to-do list
Whew—what a year it has been! There’s no doubt that 2020 has been long for everyone, and keeping up with the many adjustments we’ve all had to make has been a lot. [...]
Before you retire, what does your family think?
You’re starting to think it’s time to retire and launch your next adventure. To celebrate, you’re buying a sailboat — one the whole family can enjoy on weekends and vacations. They’ll love [...]
Mastercard report reveals a switch to conscious shopping this holiday season
As the coronavirus pandemic continues to reshape the shopping experience, 55 percent of Americans still plan to partake in holiday shopping this year, according to Mastercard’s 2020 Holiday Consumer Sentiment report. The report – issued [...]
Holiday fraud — Expect the unexpected in 2020
2020 is the year of the unexpected — and this holiday shopping season will be no different. The pandemic has changed our world in so many ways, especially when it comes to how we shop and [...]
3 ways your credit union can offer better financial education during COVID-19
The coronavirus crisis is stretching into its ninth month — and the pandemic is still weighing heavy on the minds (and pocketbooks) of many Americans. As difficult as they may be, times like these present an [...]
We asked 5 college students: Would you recommend your financial institution to a friend?
Carly, 22, Wells Fargo: I would! Their mobile app is awesome. Mac, 19, Coastal Credit Union: I wouldn’t. I feel like I don’t love my bank enough, or I haven’t had a [...]
How credit scoring works
Knowing the basics about credit scores and reporting will help you develop smart credit habits and make effective decisions for your financial future. Over time, these good credit habits and decisions should have a positive [...]