PROTECTING YOUR IDENTITY
As we continue to rely on credit in our everyday lives, protecting your personal information has never been more important. Due to the threat Identity Theft poses to your day to day life, it is important that you the consumer remain vigilant. Credit Union of Ohio is here to help with a few tips and resources. Click here for a printable PDF.
Monitor Your Accounts
Monitor your financial accounts on a regular basis. Credit Union of Ohio offers Online Banking as well as a Mobile App to help you keep tabs on your account balances and recent transactions. You can also call us and receive the information over the phone through Phone Banking.
Review Your Credit Report
Visit annualcreditreport.com to learn about your consumer rights. Federal law requires each of the three credit bureaus - Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion - to give you a free credit report every 12 months. While reviewing your report, keep an eye out for any unfamiliar accounts and check your payment history and balances. If anything looks out of place, you can dispute errors immediately.
Plastic Card Alerts
Credit Union of Ohio offers VISA Purchase Alerts, as well as text and email alerts, on your accounts. Registering for these services will alert you of any suspicious purchases that may have occurred using your credit or debit card. Be sure to check with your card service provider and ask if they have similar safety features.
Email and Phone Scams
If there seems to be something wrong with an email or phone call you’ve received, or you’re receiving an offer that’s “too good to be true,” chances are it’s a scam. Remember that most places will never ask for your personal information over the phone or through email.
Prescreened Offers
Opt out of prescreened offers to eliminate receiving them in the mail by visiting optoutprescreen.com. Some of those mailings can be used by criminals to sign up for credit using your name.
Shred, Shred, Shred!
Shred any documents and mail you have that are no longer needed and may contain personal information such as bills, receipts, tax information, credit card offers, insurance information, and financial statements. Documents you still want to keep should be kept in a secure location.
7 TIPS FOR SMART HOLIDAY SPENDING
Simple tips to follow to maintain spending during the holiday season.
8 TIPS TO PREVENT ID THEFT
Now, more than ever, it is very important to protect your identity. Follow these 8 tips to help prevent ID Theft.
6 TIPS FOR AN ALMOST PERFECT CREDIT SCORE
Credit doesn't have to be complicated. Here are 6 tips to follow for an almost perfect credit score.
5 SECRETS FOR FIRST-TIME HOMEBUYERS
There is a lot to think about when it comes to buying a home. Here are 5 secrets that first-time homebuyers need to know.
8 terrific tips for college-bound teens
Planning for college isn't easy, so we've come up with 8 tips to help parents and teens stay within their budget.
BACK TO SCHOOL SENSE!
The best strategy for back-to-school shopping is to start with a plan. Make a list of supplies you will need before you start shopping. Here are tips that will help cut down on expenses.
STAYCATION TIME!
How to plan a close-to-home vacation on a budget.
Better Budget Tips
It’s hard to cut back on your wasteful expenses when you don’t even know what they are. How can you figure out new ways to save? Start by setting and monitoring a budget that works with your lifestyle. Check out these budgeting tips and start saving now!
Six Tips to Improve Your Finances
Improve your finances with six simple steps. Everything from understanding your credit score to creating monthly budgets are easy ways to get your finances in check.
Student Loan Survival Guide
After graduation, you don’t want to be drowning in student loan debt on top of all the new expenses of starting out. It is important to find a loan that is best suited for your needs, so start your research now! We put together a student loan survival guide to help you get started.
Top Ten Budget Busters
Setting a budget is important, but making sure you’ve included all of your expenses is crucial. Want to be sure you don’t go over budget? Include costs that cover all aspects of like, not sure monthly bills and weekly grocery trips. Check out these elements that are usually forgotten when setting a budget to ensure you don’t make the same mistake.
SPF 100 for Your Summer Vacation
As summer approaches it’s time to start planning that summer vacation. Whether you are driving or flying there are always ways to save. Check out these tips to make your summer travel a breeze.
Financial Check Up
Your financial health cannot be measured by a single factor, instead it’s determined by a number of elements. How financially healthy are you? Look at these questions to get a feel of your current financial health. If your answers are unclear, it might be time to develop a new financial plan.
The Snowball Effect: Melting Away Your Debt
Wouldn’t it be nice if you could easily get rid of debt? Well, it might be easier than you think! Check out the Snowball Effect approach and learn how to melt away your debt.