If you were to experience an emergency, tragedy, illness, or even untimely death, would your loved ones have access to critical contact information and documents they would need to respond appropriately and carry on your affairs?

Do you remember being a teen, when your folks insisted on knowing where you were going, who you’d be with, and when you’d be back? It was annoying then, but as an adult you probably understand they just wanted you to be safe.

Well, we don’t care so much about the company you keep, but giving us the “where and when” of your travel plans can help prevent problems when you use your card, especially if you are going overseas.

When Lola Johnson came to her first day of work at Hanscom FCU, she couldn’t know that she would someday be responsible for a team of 11 employees. And that team would touch the lives of 75% of the credit union’s new membership.

Lola was named a Credit Union Rising Star by the Cooperative Credit Union Association. The award recognizes the brightest and most vibrant young credit union employees in the region, based on a written nomination highlighting leadership, creativity, and service to community.

We love it every time a new member joins Hanscom FCU. What’s even more powerful is when an entire company joins our Select Employee Group (SEG) program.

First, all employees get the benefit of credit union membership. At Hanscom FCU, that includes access to financial education tools, online banking, and over 100,000 surcharge-free ATMs, among other things.

Second, the company has an additional tool for recruitment, retention, and productivity. Financial stress can affect workers’ attendance and their focus on the job, so providing access to free financial counseling is a benefit for both you and your employees.

If you or a family member will be attending college soon, you’ve probably noticed that the sticker price for a college education has risen considerably in recent years. According to Sallie Mae’s study How America Pays for College 2016, families spent on average $23,688 for college in the 2015-16 academic year, and two in five of them borrowed at least some money to help pay the tab.

Mother’s Day is a time to show how much you appreciate your mom and all that she means to you. However, you don’t need to buy extravagant gifts in order to make mom feel special. In fact, your mother likely will be happy with any kind of appreciation and remembrance – the more personal the better. If you are on a tight budget, you’ve got to get creative for Mother’s Day. Below are some affordable Mother’s Day gift ideas that any mom will appreciate.

I have to ask—do you know what an internet browser is? I mean, you are using one right now, I know, but can you tell me which browser you are using and whether it’s up to date?

Don’t be embarrassed if you have no idea. Instead, take a moment to learn. Why? Keeping your internet browser up-to-date is important for security and to ensure that web pages load properly.

“Why would you borrow money for something you could buy outright?” 

I heard this question a lot when I was a young ensign in the Navy. I had set up a credit building loan with the credit union. The very nice loan officer had taken the time to explain that if I built my credit now – when I didn’t need it, I would be able to get financing and the best possible loan rate when I was ready to buy a house or make any type of major purchase. 

The advice I got that day has paid off in spades. Thirty years later, after having bought two houses, refinanced multiple times, and made too many major purchases to count, the money I’ve saved in interest dwarfs the small amount of interest I paid to establish my credit. Nowadays, you can build your credit without spending a dime in interest by setting up a secured credit card.  But secured credit cards are not all the same.

 “Many third party institutions offer secured cards with fees or other pitfalls,” says Scott Post, SVP of Strategy and Delivery at Hanscom FCU.  “A good financial institution will make it as easy as possible to get you on the road to good financial health.”

If you’ve gotten a lot of tickets for moving violations or filed a lot of accident claims in the past, you’re probably paying dearly for car insurance. While there’s not much you can do about your past, there’s a whole lot you can do now to make sure you’re getting the best deal possible on your car insurance.

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