Are you ready for the new school year? Whether you are gearing up for new school supplies, planning to move to campus for freshman year, or entering grad school, you are most likely confronting the issue of how to pay for school. There are a variety of options when it comes to financing education. 

March is Credit Education Month! The best way to celebrate is to take charge of your credit habits. Learn more about how you can improve your credit standing below.

 In the throes of a pandemic, keeping your credit score at a good level might not be top of mind if your job is in jeopardy and you are wondering how to keep the roof over your head and feed your family.

It is important nevertheless to do everything to keep your score intact. Your credit report is important. Blemishes stay on your file for seven years and can affect your ability to get a job, rent an apartment, or secure certain types of insurance. Here are some practical ways to achieve that goal.

In the age of data breaches, phishing scams and fraudsters using technology to steal identities, we have to be so careful with our personal information.  Criminals take the information they steal and sell it on the Dark Web.  Not just once, but, many times over.  What is the Dark Web?  It’s a whole different side of the internet that is anonymously used by criminals to buy and sell stolen identities for illegal profits. Once your identity has been stolen, it can take up to 6 months or longer to fix and cost thousands.

by Lloyd Gill President/CEO We Florida Financial

If you’re a member of We Florida Financial, you probably realize that credit unions are different from banks. We don’t have stockholders, we have members. We don’t try to sell you things you don’t need just to make money. We talk with you about what you need and want, and let you know how our products can improve your financial life.

I took a trip to the department store with my family one Saturday afternoon. I had just turned 16 and I noticed a huge banner that said, “JOB FAIR” on a well-known store’s entrance. I broke away from my family to go check it out. A woman ushered me into a small office, handed me a clipboard and told me once completed, to hand it to the HR representative behind a glass counter. I had no idea what I was doing but I figured I should go ahead and do as I was told.

It’s tax time! Have you ever considered that you could be at risk for tax identity theft? Tax identity theft occurs when a thief files a fraudulent tax return using your Social Security number and collects your refund. It also occurs when someone uses your Social Security number to earn wages and sticks you with the tax bill. Often, people do not realize they are the victim of tax identity theft until after the crime, when they try to file their taxes.

They are both small plastic cards that you can use to buy stuff and you probably have one of each in your wallet or purse. But did you know they each have distinct differences? Debit cards and credit cards can both be great tools to use when purchasing goods and services. Is one better to use than the other? First, let’s find out how each works.