Centris Blog
What Is a Credit Score & Why Is It Important?
We always hear that having a good credit score is important, but do we understand how it’s used or the best ways to build credit? Credit is a powerful tool that, when handled correctly, may save us money and allow us to obtain loans, apartments and more. By further...
Financial Literacy for Kids: How to Teach Kids About Money
Finances play a big role in our everyday lives. Habits like paying for groceries, adding a new subscription, going out for dinner, or even buying a morning coffee can impact our finances. Since money plays a major role in our lives, it’s a smart idea to start...
How to Protect Minors from Being Scammed Online
Today’s youth have grown up surrounded by computers, smartphones, the internet and social media. It’s no surprise they are internet and tech savvy and have a lot of confidence navigating online. Along with their tech knowledge, young kids and teens may also be more...
Understanding Home Equity Lines of Credit
There’s a lot of talk about using your home’s equity to your advantage. But what does that mean? Your home is one of your biggest investments and its equity can be a valuable asset! Understanding what your home equity is and how a Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC)...
What Are Tax Scams & How to Identify Them
Tax season is a prime time for fraudsters. Taxes are often mystifying, leaving people with questions about their tax returns. And because the IRS does not carry a perfect reputation with Americans, many are left on edge about receiving IRS communications. These...
Building an Emergency Fund: A Complete Guide with Common Questions
Having an emergency fund is like having great shock absorbers on a car—if you hit a bump, you can feel safe knowing you won’t be jostled around. An emergency fund functions the same way. When you hit a bump in life—whether unexpected medical bills or losing a...
Cybersecurity Tips: Protect Yourself Against Student Loan Forgiveness Scams
Some people seeking student debt forgiveness may not understand the process or know which sources to trust to see if they qualify. Unfortunately, loan scammers take advantage of those individuals. In doing so, they create fake student loan forgiveness applications to...
Fraud Prevention: Tips & Red Flags You Should Know
Fraud has become increasingly more common in today’s digital age. Fraudsters have more ways to target individuals than ever before, such as email, text and social media. As a financial institution, our responsibility is to educate our members about fraud and how to...
How to Prepare for Paying Back Student Loans
In March 2020, federal student loan payments were put on pause due to COVID-19. After more than two years, the extensions will be ending on December 31, 2022, so student loan repayment will restart in January 2023. To help guide you through paying back student loans...