Lending

Prepare Your Finances for the Holidays

The holidays might not be top of mind…yet, but this month marks the ‘100 days until Christmas milestone. We want to help you get a jump start on the holidays and provide ways you can prepare your finances now, in order to make your money go further when it comes time to shop.

To start,...

The economy has been a rollercoaster recently, to say the least, with supply chain issues, to staffing shortages for many businesses, not to mention record inflation. All of this is a perfect storm that has led to rumors of a recession on the horizon.

Although we don’t know if a recession...

The holiday season may still be a few weeks away – but your holiday shopping should start now. With another year full of potential shipping delays, product & staffing shortages, and other unfavorable issues, starting your holidays shopping early this year may be a good idea.

We hope that you’ve been able to save throughout the year for the holiday shopping season with a Christmas Club savings account!  However, if you’re not financially prepared...

Credit score isn’t one of those topics you bring up during dinner, but maybe it should be. Many people don’t realize how important credit actually is and the impact your credit score makes in the grand scheme of your finances. Think of your credit score like a report card, your financial report card - one that will follow you through your entire life. You are the one in control of your credit, so make sure you are doing the best things possible to improve your score...

As exhilarating as the idea is that you should ‘treat yourself’ on vacation, sometimes, it is probably not the right choice to make. If you don’t want to come home with sickening credit card bills, or a cash deficiency we encourage you to consider budgeting for your vacation.

Saving for a vacation doesn’t happen overnight. The best place to start is with a little account that we call a Vacation Club. This is a sub-account attached to your membership...

A credit score is a number that is used by financial institutions and/or credit card companies to determine the level of risk for a person when issuing a loan or credit card. A person’s credit score may influence the limit of credit available to them, as well as the term, length, and interest rate of a loan.

One of the first items that you (or a potential creditor) will see when looking at a credit report is your credit score: a number between 350 to 850. Generally,...

Outside of auto loans and mortgage loans, personal loans are likely the next type of loan you would use as a consumer. A personal loan is a type of unsecured loan, which means there is no collateral held in the event that you cannot pay back the loan. Generally, a personal loan is a form of credit that can help you make a large purchase or consolidate high-interest debt, but they can serve a number of other purposes as well.

Here are some common reasons...

Buying a home is a memorable and huge experience that many people dream about. But, buying a home isn’t something you should do ‘on the fly’, rather something you should do mindfully with good research, consideration, and financial stability.

It’s important that you, and your co-borrower if you have one, do ample know what it is you’re looking for in a home exactly. Talk about it, and make sure you’re on the same page. Once you’ve...

Purchasing a home can be one of the most exciting, while being equally one of the most stressful times of your life. The housing market has been on fire in recent years, so when you see a house that you’d like to explore buying, you’ve got to be prepared. To help provide some clarity, we want to provide some insight on some of the most common mortgage myths that consumers may question.

Myth #1 | You need 20% for a down payment....

Buying a car, whether it’s new or used, is almost always an exciting purchase. Whether it’s a car with better features, something that is more ‘your style’, or something else, it’s just fun to drive around in something new. But, with a new car, usually comes a new loan. To make sure you are having the ultimate fun with your new vehicle, make sure you have the best financing.

Here’s what to watch out for when car shopping at dealerships...