New Year, New Scams: How to Protect Yourself

A new year often brings a fresh financial mindset. People review budgets, set goals, apply for loans, and spend more time managing accounts online. Those shifts are normal. Unfortunately, they also create opportunities for scammers who are constantly watching how consumer behavior changes.  Fraud does not slow down after the holidays. It adapts. Scam tactics evolve alongside technology, digital banking habits, and everyday tools people trust. That’s why some of today’s scams feel more believable than ever before. Staying informed about how these schemes work helps you recognize the warning signs early and protect your accounts before a situation escalates.    Why Scams Are Becoming More…

January 9, 2026Security Center No Comments
New Year, New Scams: How to Protect Yourself

A new year often brings a fresh financial mindset. People review budgets, set goals, apply for loans, and spend more time managing accounts online. Those shifts are normal. Unfortunately, they also create opportunities for scammers who are constantly watching how consumer behavior changes.  Fraud does not slow down after the holidays. It adapts. Scam tactics evolve alongside technology, digital banking habits, and everyday tools people trust. That’s why some of today’s scams feel more believable than ever before. Staying informed about how these schemes work helps you recognize the warning signs early and protect your accounts before a situation escalates.    Why Scams Are Becoming More…

Close the Books: Your Year-End Financial Review

With the holiday season in full gear, you likely have wrapping presents on your to-do list. While it’s not quite as fun as gift-giving, now is also the perfect time to wrap up your finances for the year.   As the year comes to an end, you’ll want to ensure all your financial ducks are in a row. That way, you can get a jump start on your goals in the new year. A lot can happen fiscally speaking in a year, and we’ll help guide you through the steps of performing a year-end financial review.     Step #1: Evaluate Your Spending Habits  Log into online banking for your financial and credit card accounts. Either download your past statements or scroll through the months one by one. If your spending is regular, consider…

December 18, 2025Wallet Wins No Comments
Close the Books: Your Year-End Financial Review

With the holiday season in full gear, you likely have wrapping presents on your to-do list. While it’s not quite as fun as gift-giving, now is also the perfect time to wrap up your finances for the year.   As the year comes to an end, you’ll want to ensure all your financial ducks are in a row. That way, you can get a jump start on your goals in the new year. A lot can happen fiscally speaking in a year, and we’ll help guide you through the steps of performing a year-end financial review.     Step #1: Evaluate Your Spending Habits  Log into online banking for your financial and credit card accounts. Either download your past statements or scroll through the months one by one. If your spending is regular, consider…

One-Minute Read: Building a Budget That Works in the New Year

A fresh year is the perfect time to reset your finances. No matter your income or goals, the right budgeting method can help you stay organized, reduce stress, and make steady progress toward a stronger financial future. Here are four simple strategies to try:  Pay Yourself First Treat your savings like a bill. Set aside money for savings before paying anything else. Automating this step makes it easier to prioritize your future.  The 50/30/20 Rule Break your take-home pay into three buckets:  50% for needs (housing, groceries, insurance)  30% for wants (fun spending)  20% for savings and debt payoff  You…

December 10, 2025One Minute Reads, Wallet Wins No Comments
One-Minute Read: Building a Budget That Works in the New Year

A fresh year is the perfect time to reset your finances. No matter your income or goals, the right budgeting method can help you stay organized, reduce stress, and make steady progress toward a stronger financial future. Here are four simple strategies to try:  Pay Yourself First Treat your savings like a bill. Set aside money for savings before paying anything else. Automating this step makes it easier to prioritize your future.  The 50/30/20 Rule Break your take-home pay into three buckets:  50% for needs (housing, groceries, insurance)  30% for wants (fun spending)  20% for savings and debt payoff  You…

How Scammers Use Social Engineering to Steal Money  

And some ways you can spot them   As digital payment scams become more prevalent, they are also more sophisticated, making them harder to detect. Scammers employ what is known as “social engineering” to manipulate people into revealing sensitive information.   It’s all about the psychology of persuasion. These scammers take advantage of human nature, aiming to lower your defenses so you’ll act on impulse rather than reason.   Let’s look at some examples of how social engineering uses the powers of persuasion to steal personal information and money:   Pretexting   Building a solid pretext or a fabricated scenario is an important aspect of…

November 19, 2025Security Center No Comments
How Scammers Use Social Engineering to Steal Money  

And some ways you can spot them   As digital payment scams become more prevalent, they are also more sophisticated, making them harder to detect. Scammers employ what is known as “social engineering” to manipulate people into revealing sensitive information.   It’s all about the psychology of persuasion. These scammers take advantage of human nature, aiming to lower your defenses so you’ll act on impulse rather than reason.   Let’s look at some examples of how social engineering uses the powers of persuasion to steal personal information and money:   Pretexting   Building a solid pretext or a fabricated scenario is an important aspect of…

Cybersecurity for Kids: A Parent’s Guide

You may be doing everything right to protect yourself from online threats – creating strong passwords, avoiding suspicious links, and monitoring your accounts regularly. But what about your children?  From school tablets to gaming consoles and social media apps, kids are growing up in a fully connected world. While technology offers incredible learning opportunities, it also opens doors to risks they may not recognize. Many children and teens overshare personal details online without realizing how easily that information can be misused.  Keeping young minds safe online isn’t always simple, but taking the right steps can build strong digital guardrails that…

November 12, 2025Security Center No Comments
Cybersecurity for Kids: A Parent’s Guide

You may be doing everything right to protect yourself from online threats – creating strong passwords, avoiding suspicious links, and monitoring your accounts regularly. But what about your children?  From school tablets to gaming consoles and social media apps, kids are growing up in a fully connected world. While technology offers incredible learning opportunities, it also opens doors to risks they may not recognize. Many children and teens overshare personal details online without realizing how easily that information can be misused.  Keeping young minds safe online isn’t always simple, but taking the right steps can build strong digital guardrails that…

Why Credit Unions Put Members First

Many people assume all financial institutions are the same. After all, both banks and credit unions offer checking accounts, loans, and online services, like digital banking. But credit unions are built on a very different model – one that puts people over profits. That difference is what sets them apart and makes them such a valuable partner in managing your money.    What Credit Unions Are Known for  When many people think of financial institutions, they often envision large buildings, corporate logos, and lengthy lists of fees. Credit unions are built on a different model, which makes all the difference.…

November 5, 2025PEFCU Perks No Comments
Why Credit Unions Put Members First

Many people assume all financial institutions are the same. After all, both banks and credit unions offer checking accounts, loans, and online services, like digital banking. But credit unions are built on a very different model – one that puts people over profits. That difference is what sets them apart and makes them such a valuable partner in managing your money.    What Credit Unions Are Known for  When many people think of financial institutions, they often envision large buildings, corporate logos, and lengthy lists of fees. Credit unions are built on a different model, which makes all the difference.…

What Is the Prime Rate & How Does It Affect Me? 

Have you ever noticed your credit card rate inching upward? Or certain loan payments increasing from a rise in interest rates? Chances are that those shifts are the result of changes to the prime rate.  The “prime rate” may sound like financial jargon, but it plays a significant role for borrowers and savers alike. This figure sets the bar when lenders price loans, and it changes more often than you might think.   In this article, we’ll shed light on what the prime rate is, how it’s determined, and the impact it can have on your everyday finances.     What Is…

September 24, 2025Borrowing Basics No Comments
What Is the Prime Rate & How Does It Affect Me? 

Have you ever noticed your credit card rate inching upward? Or certain loan payments increasing from a rise in interest rates? Chances are that those shifts are the result of changes to the prime rate.  The “prime rate” may sound like financial jargon, but it plays a significant role for borrowers and savers alike. This figure sets the bar when lenders price loans, and it changes more often than you might think.   In this article, we’ll shed light on what the prime rate is, how it’s determined, and the impact it can have on your everyday finances.     What Is…

One-Minute Reads: What Does Collateral Mean? 

When you hear the term collateral in the world of lending, it’s simply something valuable you pledge to a lender to secure a loan. Think of it as the lender’s safety net—if you can’t repay the loan, they can use the collateral to recover the money they lent you.  Collateral can be many things, depending on the type of loan:  Auto loan: the car you’re buying is the collateral.  Mortgage: the home itself serves as the collateral.  Secured personal loan: items like a savings account, share certificate, or other valuable assets can be used.  Using collateral can work in your…

September 19, 2025Borrowing Basics, One Minute Reads No Comments
One-Minute Reads: What Does Collateral Mean? 

When you hear the term collateral in the world of lending, it’s simply something valuable you pledge to a lender to secure a loan. Think of it as the lender’s safety net—if you can’t repay the loan, they can use the collateral to recover the money they lent you.  Collateral can be many things, depending on the type of loan:  Auto loan: the car you’re buying is the collateral.  Mortgage: the home itself serves as the collateral.  Secured personal loan: items like a savings account, share certificate, or other valuable assets can be used.  Using collateral can work in your…

Avoid the Holiday Scramble by Planning Now

For most of us, the holiday season plays out the same way every year. By the time November rolls around, the calendar is packed, prices are high, and that overwhelming feeling starts creeping in. Gifts are bought in a rush, travel gets booked at sky-high rates, and we promise ourselves we’ll plan earlier next year.  Then, January arrives. Right when we’re setting New Year’s resolutions to better our finances – save more, eliminate costly debt, improve our credit scores – the holiday credit card bills arrive in the mail.   The whole scenario can feel defeating. However, it doesn’t have to…

September 18, 2025Wallet Wins No Comments
Avoid the Holiday Scramble by Planning Now

For most of us, the holiday season plays out the same way every year. By the time November rolls around, the calendar is packed, prices are high, and that overwhelming feeling starts creeping in. Gifts are bought in a rush, travel gets booked at sky-high rates, and we promise ourselves we’ll plan earlier next year.  Then, January arrives. Right when we’re setting New Year’s resolutions to better our finances – save more, eliminate costly debt, improve our credit scores – the holiday credit card bills arrive in the mail.   The whole scenario can feel defeating. However, it doesn’t have to…

Tips to Stay Safe in a Digital World

Keeping your financial accounts safe in today’s digital world is a growing challenge. Hackers are constantly coming up with new ways to gain access to your accounts through your computer and even your mobile devices. It’s important to remain proactive when it comes to protecting your finances. Here are some ways you can make sure you’re protected.  Add Antivirus Software  While you probably have antivirus software on your computer, did you know it can also add this layer of protection to your mobile devices? And since you likely use your mobile devices as often, if not more, than your computer,…

August 22, 2025Security Center No Comments
Tips to Stay Safe in a Digital World

Keeping your financial accounts safe in today’s digital world is a growing challenge. Hackers are constantly coming up with new ways to gain access to your accounts through your computer and even your mobile devices. It’s important to remain proactive when it comes to protecting your finances. Here are some ways you can make sure you’re protected.  Add Antivirus Software  While you probably have antivirus software on your computer, did you know it can also add this layer of protection to your mobile devices? And since you likely use your mobile devices as often, if not more, than your computer,…