Financial Fundamentals Blog

While the internet has become a staple in most people’s daily functions, it has provided another outlet for fraudsters. Over the last several years, wire transfer fraud has been on the rise, with billions of dollars lost. The internet makes wire transfer fraud easier to commit and harder to track.

Learn what you can do to protect yourself from money transfer schemes in the digital age.
 

Financial literacy is a key part of life. And the sooner you learn how money works and how to make it work well for you, the more successful and confident you’ll be with your finances later.

If you’ve only done your banking at a traditional bank, the value of a credit union can be hard to understand. On top of that, the big advertising budgets afforded by banks mean that consumers start their financial journey having a stronger familiarity with big-name banks as opposed to local credit unions.

When debt grows beyond your ability to pay it off in a matter of months — or, in some cases, years — it’s time to consider other options for paying off that debt, managing the amount of interest you’re charged and building a plan to settle this debt and get your finances back on track.

On top of having a large space with a backyard for your family, undoubtedly one of the greatest benefits of owning your own home is using the equity you’ve built up to fund other goals. The equity of your home is the amount of your house’s market value minus the amount owed.

One of the benefits of owning your home is the ability to tap into the equity built up in it in order to achieve your goals. But when you’re looking at refinancing versus a home equity loan versus a HELOC, how do you know the differences between them — or which is best for your situation? Today, we’re digging into the pros and...

Let’s say you’re saving money toward a goal. Maybe that goal is retirement; perhaps it’s a new house; or maybe you’re planning on taking yourself on a well-deserved vacation.

We’ve all been there: retail therapy after a bad or long day, new clothing, books or home items that caught your eye in an influencer’s post—even tacking on a candy bar in the checkout line or a latte while grocery shopping. All of these unexpected purchases that were made with little to no consideration are known as impulse...

Mobile banking apps have become a necessary part of the overall banking experience, and many of us can’t imagine not having them as part of our financial tools. They’ve made paying bills, checking on accounts, transferring money, exploring other financial products and depositing paper checks much easier than before. And with...

What does financial freedom mean to you? Is it paying off credit card and loan debt? Saving for a house? Being well prepared for retirement? Improving your credit score?

Inflationary pressures on personal budgets have a huge impact on your day-to-day. Suddenly, the same gallon of milk you bought last month is twice as expensive. You’re keeping track of every mile you drive in your car.

Regardless of the type of checking account you choose, one thing should always be true: Your checking account should give you more power over your money. That said, you do have options.