The office supply store Staples recently provided details on their data breach which occurred earlier this year. The company first mentioned the incident back in October, but further investigation was needed. Point of sale systems in 115 stores nationwide were infected with malware. You can view affected stores here. Customers who shopped in these stores between August 10, 2014 and September 16, 2014, may have had their card information compromised. Two of the stores were affected between July 20, 2014 and September 16, 2014. Unfortunately, these date ranges were peak back-to-school shopping time. Staples reports about 1.16 million cards were…

Don’t know what to get someone on your list? Or are you looking for gifts that have long-term value? Traditional gifts tend to have limited shelf lives. Food is a one-time enjoyment experience. Games, movies and books can be enjoyed multiple times, but interest tends to wane over time. Even electronics are usually upgraded every year or two. Here are gifts that will stand the test of time: Multi-Tool The following are usually present in a good multi-tool: screwdrivers, needle-nose pliers, file, wire cutter, bottle opener, can opener and wire stripper. Sometimes you’ll even find more than these. This is…

With holiday shopping season in full swing, it’s all about finding the best deals. You can easily find the lowest price on just about anything if you put in a little effort. And this is a habit you should develop and use beyond the holiday season. Not sure if you’re doing it right? Here are tips that can suit any personality or shopping style. Use Your Smartphone A survey by Shopatron Retailer  found that 86% of shoppers will consult their smartphones while shopping. Some apps to try: Red Laser – probably the most popular price comparison app ShopSavvy eBates -…

With all the security breaches that happened this year,  protecting your personal information is paramount. Part of doing this is being cautious online. It’s hard to resist the ease of online shopping and the fantastic deals available, but the key is to be knowledgeable about what to look out for and how to protect yourself. Beware of Phishing Attacks and Scams Phishing occurs when criminals attempt to obtain sensitive information by pretending to be a trustworthy person or entity. This can take many forms, so be on the lookout for: Family members claiming to be stuck in foreign countries and requiring…

Not much of a surprise, but credit unions are doing an excellent job keeping members satisfied. Given our “members first” philosophy here at Aspire FCU, we’re thrilled to hear that. The American Consumer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) reported that credit unions scored an 85 in satisfaction, while banks were down at 76. Not only that, credit unions came in second across all industries for consumer satisfaction. We even beat hotels and restaurants to get that spot. The Credit Union National Association (CUNA) put together this infographic about the results: Why No One is Surprised Credit unions had a record-breaking year as…