Password concerns are growing as hackers develop more advanced ways of accessing people’s various accounts. Passwords that are not secure put you at risk of becoming a victim of identity theft and you can also lose access to your accounts. Creating not only lengthy, but also secure passwords can help reduce the chance of your accounts being hacked. In an attempt to create more secure passwords, many people are making passwords longer, but these passwords are often too simple. Also, basic passwords such as “123456” and “password” are high on the list of the worst passwords presented by SplashData. SplashData…

Original article posted on NerdWallet. Americans spend a bundle on their vehicles each year. To cut costs, some people drive less when gas prices are high and buy used when it’s time for a new ride, but there are more ways to save — even when your vehicle is parked. The average annual cost of vehicle ownership is nearly $8,700, according to AAA, including the cost of gas, insurance, financing, depreciation, licensing, taxes and maintenance. With an estimated 88% of American households owning at least one automobile, according to data from the Pew Research Center, vehicles are the second-largest expense for…

54% of Americans say credit unions are the best place for middle class people to deposit their money. They know that credit unions like ours keep our economy strong and provide a smart financial choice for consumers. As we enter the 2016 Election, we want to make sure every Republican and Democratic candidate for President knows that too. Unlike big banks who answer to Wall Street and return profits to their investors, credit unions are not-for-profit financial cooperatives owned and operated by our members. What makes us different? We return savings to the middle class families we serve through higher interest…

If improving your finances is one of your New Year’s resolutions, we’re here to help. There are plenty of things you can do to be more financially fit. Create a Budget If you read up on personal finance advice frequently, this shouldn’t be new. Having a budget, and ultimately understanding how much money you have coming in and going out, is the easiest way to get a handle on your finances. So how do you get started? Look at your transactions for the past couple months and determine what is your normal income and expenses. Use that information to estimate…

Last month, the Federal Reserve raised the prime interest rate.  This is the first time it has done so in nearly a decade, which means many of you have not experienced a rate hike in your adult lives. Even if you have, given the time between, you may want a reminder about what such an increase means. What To Expect First, if your payment amount goes up on any of your loans because of this interest rate hike, it is not because we chose to raise your bill.  Adjustable rate loans are usually tied to the prime rate, so when…