6 Essential Credit FAQs Answered

Building and maintaining an excellent credit score should be a top financial priority for every adult. Your credit score plays a significant role in how much interest you pay on loans, whether you’ll be approved for financing, and it can even impact whether you can rent an apartment or land specific jobs.  However, the world of credit reports and scores can be a bit confusing – and overwhelming. Not to worry. We’re here to help answer some of the more common questions about credit to ensure you’re on the right path to locking in an exceptional score.  #1: What Is…

May 22, 2024Borrowing Basics No Comments

Building and maintaining an excellent credit score should be a top financial priority for every adult. Your credit score plays a significant role in how much interest you pay on loans, whether you’ll be approved for financing, and it can even impact whether you can rent an apartment or land specific jobs.  However, the world of credit reports and scores can be a bit confusing – and overwhelming. Not to worry. We’re here to help answer some of the more common questions about credit to ensure you’re on the right path to locking in an exceptional score.  #1: What Is…

Empowering Your Teen with the Right Checking Account

Teenagers are at a critical stage of their lives where they are beginning to navigate the complexities of personal finance. Equipping them with the necessary knowledge and tools empowers them to make responsible decisions and build healthy financial habits.   One pivotal step in this journey is selecting the appropriate checking account for your teen. Teaching teens money management skills goes beyond the latest bells and whistles in the financial world. It starts with real-world, hands-on guidance from you with an account that won’t punish them for minor mistakes.   Key Features to Consider in a Teen Checking Account  When deciding which…

May 21, 2024Future Planning, Wallet Wins No Comments

Teenagers are at a critical stage of their lives where they are beginning to navigate the complexities of personal finance. Equipping them with the necessary knowledge and tools empowers them to make responsible decisions and build healthy financial habits.   One pivotal step in this journey is selecting the appropriate checking account for your teen. Teaching teens money management skills goes beyond the latest bells and whistles in the financial world. It starts with real-world, hands-on guidance from you with an account that won’t punish them for minor mistakes.   Key Features to Consider in a Teen Checking Account  When deciding which…

Is an Auto Loan Preapproval Necessary?

There is no doubt it can be exciting when it is time to purchase a new car. Your car reflects you and your personality, so exploring different models and features is fun. With all the excitement in the air, it’s easy to be drawn to the dealership to see the vehicles up close and schedule a test drive. However, that’s one of the first and biggest mistakes when it comes to car-buying.   Dealerships will use every sales trick and tactic they know to close the deal right then – whether you are ready to buy or not. This scenario can…

May 21, 2024Borrowing Basics No Comments

There is no doubt it can be exciting when it is time to purchase a new car. Your car reflects you and your personality, so exploring different models and features is fun. With all the excitement in the air, it’s easy to be drawn to the dealership to see the vehicles up close and schedule a test drive. However, that’s one of the first and biggest mistakes when it comes to car-buying.   Dealerships will use every sales trick and tactic they know to close the deal right then – whether you are ready to buy or not. This scenario can…

Making the Most of Financial Windfalls

What would you do with an extra $1,000? What about $10,000? Or $100,000?   You’ve probably spent time daydreaming about what you would do if you suddenly received an unexpected financial windfall. Maybe it’s a significant work bonus, an inheritance, a lawsuit payout, or even a surprisingly large tax refund.   As you begin to envision what you could do with the extra money, it’s easy to get caught up in the excitement. Your heightened emotions can quickly get the best of you, leading to frivolous spending. However, managing financial windfalls like these wisely requires far more than impulsive decision-making. While it…

April 15, 2024Future Planning, Wallet Wins No Comments

What would you do with an extra $1,000? What about $10,000? Or $100,000?   You’ve probably spent time daydreaming about what you would do if you suddenly received an unexpected financial windfall. Maybe it’s a significant work bonus, an inheritance, a lawsuit payout, or even a surprisingly large tax refund.   As you begin to envision what you could do with the extra money, it’s easy to get caught up in the excitement. Your heightened emotions can quickly get the best of you, leading to frivolous spending. However, managing financial windfalls like these wisely requires far more than impulsive decision-making. While it…

Your Balance Transfer Checklist: Before & After

Credit card debt has a way of sneaking up on you. Before you know it, the balances can become a financial burden and a challenge to pay off. This is especially true if you’re managing multiple cards with different balances, payment amounts, and due dates.  Finding the right tools to alleviate debt is an essential step on your path to financial freedom. One solution that can help you in your journey is called a balance transfer. Balance transfers enable you to streamline your financial obligations into one solution – providing immediate financial savings and stress relief.   If you’re committed to…

March 28, 2024Borrowing Basics, Wallet Wins No Comments

Credit card debt has a way of sneaking up on you. Before you know it, the balances can become a financial burden and a challenge to pay off. This is especially true if you’re managing multiple cards with different balances, payment amounts, and due dates.  Finding the right tools to alleviate debt is an essential step on your path to financial freedom. One solution that can help you in your journey is called a balance transfer. Balance transfers enable you to streamline your financial obligations into one solution – providing immediate financial savings and stress relief.   If you’re committed to…

Common Tax Scams & How to Avoid Them

Common Tax Scams & How to Avoid Them  Tax season is here, and it tends to put most people on edge. Many are anxious to file their returns because they rely on the money from their tax refund. Others find it stressful to locate all their tax documents and file on time. Add in people’s fear of the IRS and making mistakes on their returns, and it creates the perfect environment for scammers.  Fraudsters feed off uncertainty, and tax time provides multiple opportunities to deceive taxpayers. Fortunately, protecting yourself can be easy with the right knowledge.   While the tactics used…

January 30, 2024Security Center No Comments

Common Tax Scams & How to Avoid Them  Tax season is here, and it tends to put most people on edge. Many are anxious to file their returns because they rely on the money from their tax refund. Others find it stressful to locate all their tax documents and file on time. Add in people’s fear of the IRS and making mistakes on their returns, and it creates the perfect environment for scammers.  Fraudsters feed off uncertainty, and tax time provides multiple opportunities to deceive taxpayers. Fortunately, protecting yourself can be easy with the right knowledge.   While the tactics used…

The Power of a PEFCU Visa® Credit Card

In today’s fast-paced world, you need a reliable credit card packed with exclusive benefits to help you stay on top of your game. At PEFCU, we understand your need for financial flexibility and security, too. That’s why we make our Visa® credit card stand out with its exceptional rewards.  Competitive Rates at 9.90% APR: One of the key advantages of choosing the PEFCU Visa® credit card is the low Annual Percentage Rate (APR) of 9.90%. With rates lower than the national average and no fee for balance transfers, it’s one of the best financial decisions you’ll ever make. No Balance…

January 10, 2024Wallet Wins 1 Comment

In today’s fast-paced world, you need a reliable credit card packed with exclusive benefits to help you stay on top of your game. At PEFCU, we understand your need for financial flexibility and security, too. That’s why we make our Visa® credit card stand out with its exceptional rewards.  Competitive Rates at 9.90% APR: One of the key advantages of choosing the PEFCU Visa® credit card is the low Annual Percentage Rate (APR) of 9.90%. With rates lower than the national average and no fee for balance transfers, it’s one of the best financial decisions you’ll ever make. No Balance…

Fighting Parkinson’s Disease One Punch at a Time

Hey, PEFCU fam!   Alyssa here to share a new PEFCU partnership! One of PEFCU’s main community pillars is Health, so when the opportunity to partner with PunchWorX was presented, I knew we had to support their efforts. PunchWorX is a local to Lakeland non-contact boxing and fitness program that is dedicated to helping those battling Parkinson’s Disease slow down the symptoms. PunchWorX is an affiliate of Rock Steady Boxing, a first-of-its-kind nonprofit gym founded in 2006 to offer an effective form of physical exercise to people who are living with Parkinson’s. This non-contact boxing-inspired fitness routine dramatically improves the ability…

December 29, 2023Community Engagement, Uncategorized 2 Comments

Hey, PEFCU fam!   Alyssa here to share a new PEFCU partnership! One of PEFCU’s main community pillars is Health, so when the opportunity to partner with PunchWorX was presented, I knew we had to support their efforts. PunchWorX is a local to Lakeland non-contact boxing and fitness program that is dedicated to helping those battling Parkinson’s Disease slow down the symptoms. PunchWorX is an affiliate of Rock Steady Boxing, a first-of-its-kind nonprofit gym founded in 2006 to offer an effective form of physical exercise to people who are living with Parkinson’s. This non-contact boxing-inspired fitness routine dramatically improves the ability…

5 Reasons to Use a Holiday Loan During High Inflation

Between the twinkling lights, cheerful music, delicious food, and endless laughs with family and friends, the holiday season is the merriest time of the year. But those ear-to-ear smiles don’t always come cheap. From travel and entertaining to gifts and decorations, the holidays can get pricey. Add in rising inflation and higher prices, and many are beginning to stress about the upcoming celebrations.   Before you pull out your credit card and start swiping, there’s another option to help pad your holiday budget. Often overlooked, a holiday loan is one of the best ways to cover higher costs. It comes packed…

November 8, 2023Borrowing Basics No Comments

Between the twinkling lights, cheerful music, delicious food, and endless laughs with family and friends, the holiday season is the merriest time of the year. But those ear-to-ear smiles don’t always come cheap. From travel and entertaining to gifts and decorations, the holidays can get pricey. Add in rising inflation and higher prices, and many are beginning to stress about the upcoming celebrations.   Before you pull out your credit card and start swiping, there’s another option to help pad your holiday budget. Often overlooked, a holiday loan is one of the best ways to cover higher costs. It comes packed…