Financial Literacy
How are credit unions different?
Your credit union is a different kind of financial institution. Here are four key factors that set us apart from other financial institutions: You are an owner. Members who belong to the credit union are its owners, not merely customers. That’s because credit unions are set up as not-for-profit cooperatives. You pay lower loan rates…
Read MoreManaging your credit reputation
What is your credit reputation? Your credit report and credit score together make up your credit reputation. As soon as you get a credit card, a phone, or even sign up for utilities, you start building what we call a “credit history,” which includes all your status across accounts, total debts, and your payment history.…
Read MoreThe 3 things you need to know before you buy a new car
There are many things to consider before purchasing any car, but buying a new car might spark particular questions. There are pros and cons to buying a new car, just as there are pros and cons to buying used cars. First off, when purchasing any vehicle, ask yourself “Why am I buying this car?” Is…
Read MoreSimple estate planning for everyone
If you think that estate planning is for the rich, you are wrong. While people with many assets definitely need estate planning, so do people of moderate or few assets. Your estate is simply your net worth, or what you own minus what you owe. Estate planning is just a plan for what happens to…
Read MoreUnderstanding your debt-to-income ratio
Have you ever applied for a loan and been told that your debt-to-income ratio was too high? You may have wondered what that meant. Your debt-to-income ratio is the portion of your income that goes to debt payment, and it is a key component of creditworthiness. Lenders consider debt-to-income ratio along with credit score when…
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