Lending

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...

Debt affects nearly every consumer, no matter what financial situation you find yourself in. According to the Federal Reserve1, American's hold nearly $4.2 Trillion (yes, with a T) in consumer debt, or, roughly $38,000 per person. This number excludes mortgage debt but includes everything else: student loans, credit cards, vehicle loans, personal loans, and other debts.

If digging out of debt is on your financial to-do list,...

Holiday shopping in 2020 may present some unique challenges. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, it disrupted pretty much every major industry. In the world of retail, disruptions came in the form of closures of brick-and-mortar stores, supply shortages, and shipping delays. With this blow, shopping in 2020 has looked quite different and people are experiencing a new way of shopping. The holiday shopping season is just ahead, and we’re already thinking about how the pandemic...

The COVID-19 crisis has affected every single one of us, though it’s level of impact varies. Some of us were financially prepared for a situation like what we just went through, others were not. For all of us, now is a great time to assess where we were, where we are, and where we want to be in our financial lives as we recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Financial prosperity in a post-crisis world may seem unlikely or even unattainable. If you’re finding that it's time...