You’ll recognize the host’s friendly voice right away: It’s our own Jim Yates, First Education President!  Each episode, you’ll hear from Jim—and other members of the First Education team—on a variety of financial topics, ranging from making the most of your membership, to making the best financial decisions to reach your goals.  For our first episode, Jim welcomes our Vice President of Member Services, Kristi Barrowman, to share the benefits of being a First Education member, including:  What we consider to be our most important role as your credit union How we decide which new services to add for you…

Bring the joy of spring cleaning into your financial house, too! Evaluate your debt load: How much do you owe, and how much are you paying the lenders in interest? Comparison shop what you’re paying in interest with what’s available now, and consider refinancing. Knock out a small debt: Although starting with the highest interest rate makes the most sense mathematically, researchers found that people are more motivated to continue with a debt-reduction plan if they knock out a small debt in its entirety rather than merely a chunk of a bigger one! Update your budget Review your payroll withholding…

There’s nothing like the feeling of a clean, fresh slate to start the new year. Harness that energy into trying out the tips we’ve shared below, and you’re set to have your most fiscally responsible year yet! Tips for Growing Your Savings Regularly add to savings using payroll deduction and flex-spending plans Increase 401(k) contributions with each raise Maintain an emergency fund covering at least three months of expenses; there’s tips for that below! Tips for Managing Your Spending Avoid impulse buys and comparison shop Carry minimal cash Prefer home-cooked meals and plan menus in advance Resist lifestyle inflation Avoid…

A student puts fuel in his car before leaving home for college Skimmers are devices that are illegally installed on ATMs, gas pumps and any other point-of-sale terminals to capture debit and credit card information and record PINs.  The FBI estimates skimming costs financial institutions and consumers more than $1 billion a year, with some of those incidences happening right here in Cheyenne. According to law enforcement, debit card skimming grew at an unprecedented rate of 368% from 2021 to 2022, and the first half of 2023 trended even higher. So, how can you avoid having your card information stolen?…

If you’re making a (financial end-of-year) list, and checking it twice, you’re well on your way to making your next year nice. Here are 9 things to do for better finances this year. (Our tip: Commit to completing two steps each month, starting in January. By summer, you’ll be in great shape!) 1. Check your credit at annualcreditreport.com   Report any errors you find  Pay off any negative things you see, or ask for settlements Learn more about credit report best practices—and how our team can help you make the most of your credit report—here. 2. Review all of your accounts.  …

Attention parents! Have you ever thought about your child’s credit report? While we often monitor our own credit, our children’s credit is sometimes overlooked, making them vulnerable to identity theft. Many incidents of identity theft can go unnoticed for years, often only emerging when the affected child applies for college financial aid. To prevent this, it’s crucial to take proactive steps to protect their future financial integrity. One of the best steps you can take is to place a credit freeze on your minor child’s reports with all three major credit bureaus. Federal Trade Commission – Consumer Advice This process,…

Nearly 90% of Americans say they will do some of their holiday shopping online, which can make the holiday season especially lucrative for fraudsters.  To avoid getting scammed this season, we recommend following these online shopping tips: Don’t let the “it’s available, so I have to buy it now” mindset make you a victim. The best way to avoid this is to shop local (when you can), and when you do shop online, only go to retailers you know and trust.   Don’t click on links in emails or texts to go to a store’s website. This may take you to a fake…

Computers, tablets, smartphones, TVs, thermostats, cameras, doorbells, and lightbulbs: What do all these things have in common? They are all devices that connect to your home network and the internet. If you had to guess: How many connected devices do you have in your home right now? Click here to download a printable PDF where you can keep track of all your devices in one place! Let’s review some steps you can take to keep your home network safe from potential cyber threats. How to Secure Your Modem and Router Modems and routers act as the gateway between your devices…

Do you feel your eyes starting to glaze over when people use terms like “equity,” “variable rate,” or “EMV?” Well, we’re about to change that!  Learning the meaning of common terms used in finance (including “equity” and “EMV”) will not only make it more exciting to be part of financial conversations, but also start you on the road toward your better financial future… today! Financial Terms Everyone Should Know Investment: This is an asset which has the potential to grow in value, such as real estate, stocks, certificates, and bonds. (Cars, unless antique and collectible, are not investments because they…

Members: We have been notified that a dark web carding market has released a massive dump of 1,221,551 credit cards, allowing anyone to download them for free to conduct financial fraud. The threat actors announced the credit card dump on Sunday to promote their new domains. The freely circulating file contains a mix of “fresh” cards expiring between 2023 and 2026 from around the world, but most entries appear to be from the United States. Analysts claim the cards mainly come from web skimmers, which are malicious scripts injected into checkout pages of hacked e-commerce sites.  Currently, we are working with…