Aim Higher Blog
Giving Back to the Community
We just came out of the holiday season, the season of giving. Here’s what your credit union has been doing when it comes to community giving this year and how you have helped.
Avoid Gift Card Scams
Gift cards are typically used for gifts, not for payments. As soon as someone tells you to pay them with a gift card, that’s a scam. Paying with gift cards is like paying with cash. Once it's gone, it's gone for good.
Beware of Holiday Scams
It’s that time of year when online shopping is ramping up for the holidays. And every year, thousands of people become victims of holiday scams when they shop. Scammers can rob you of hard-earned money, personal information, and, at the very least, a festive mood. It’s best to be aware of the possible scams and how to avoid them.
President's Message
At a recent meeting I attended, a specialist pointed out that we have just experienced the worst bond market in 40 years. It is not due to credit issues, but strictly due to rising interest rates. A big part of this is due to the inflation we are experiencing, and the rate increases that the Federal Reserve has implemented to try and get it under control.
Keep Your Bank Accounts Cybersafe
Cyber criminals are working overtime to create new attacks and find the vulnerable to prey upon. To ward off the chances of getting attacked and losing personally identifiable information and your money, you must practice safeguards and be vigilant in watching your accounts.
Home Equity Loan or Line of Credit?
During a time of rising home loan interest rates, it makes since to use the equity in your home to update your living space, rather than sell and move to a new home. Home equity is the difference between what you owe on your home and its current market value. It is one of the biggest perks of home ownership. You can use your equity to secure low-cost funds to help you with home improvements, debt-consolidation, travel expenses, or any number of high-cost life events. First, it’s important to know the difference between a home equity loan and a home equity line-of-credit (HELOC).
Credit Unions in Kansas by the Numbers
Credit unions have been part of the Kansas economy since 1929 when – on the verge of the Great Depression – traditional financial institutions were unable or unwilling to lend to low and middle-income families and farmers. In response, Kansans began forming credit unions, pooling their finances to create saving and lending opportunities for all their members.
Back-to-School Shopping
It's still summer, but the return to school seems to start earlier every year. Many stores are already placing school supplies on sale. Before you go out shopping, though, here are a few tips to consider to help you avoid what could be a big price tag for sending your child back to school.
Home Remodeling Questions To Ask
You’ve researched the improvements you want to make to your home, and you are now ready to change dreams into reality. Where do you start? Home remodeling can be a satisfying experience if you ask the right questions before getting started. When selecting a contractor to do the work, it's important to understand all the details and set expectations for yourself and the crew working on your home.
President's Message - July 2022
You never know when or where opportunity knocks. We were approached to merge with a small credit union in Independence KS, Universal Credit Union. Due to its size, they were struggling to keep up with all the regulatory requirements placed on financial institutions today. It was determined that a merger between Skyward and Universal would be beneficial to all our members.