Scams seem to follow disasters. Don’t let your guard down and suffer another disaster such as identity theft or paying fees for services that are never provided. Remember, FEMA never charges for services nor does it endorse any commercial business, product or service. All federal employees have an official badge/ID. […]
Thinking about buying a house, car, or other big ticket item, and know you’ll be using credit? Before making a big purchase, your first step should be to take a look at all of your finances. Check out these five steps to prepare your finances that won’t cost you a […]
If you’re struggling to keep up with credit card bills, you’re not alone. According to a 2017 Bureau report, from 2015 to 2017 overall credit card debt increased by 13 percent, while people with very low credit scores saw their debt rise by 22 percent. Even if you’ve hit a rough spot, […]
During Financial Literacy Month in April, the CFPB joins the Chicago Federal Reserve Bank in celebrating Money Smart Week (March 30-April 6). This event is a great opportunity to teach consumers how to be smarter with their money. Various Money Smart Week activities—like free financial education classes and seminars—are offered […]
Today the Bureau is releasing “Want credit to work for you?” the newest addition to the Your Money, Your Goals suite of financial empowerment tools. The third in a series released by the Bureau, this booklet provides eight tools to help consumers through the various stages of building credit, maintaining good credit, […]
With the arrival of spring, the American Bankers Association is encouraging consumers to add a very important item to their spring cleaning to-do list: organizing their finances. To help, ABA has highlighted six tips for rearranging your financial house. “Spring is the season of renewal, which means it’s time to sweep […]
Managing your credit can sometimes seem like a lot of work, but it’s essential. Your credit history plays a big role in your financial life. Not only does it weigh heavily in determining the loan terms and interest rates you’re offered, but it can also impact other parts of your […]
An IRS imposter scam is when someone contacts you pretending to be from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). They falsely say that you owe taxes and must pay them immediately or face serious penalties. Maybe you receive a call from someone claiming to be an auditor and orders you to […]
Survivors of disasters like Hurricane Harvey can be targets. Scam artists will head to disaster areas to prey on people who have already endured terrible circumstances. Posing as building contractors and other fraudulent businesses, they will try to take your money. But there are ways to protect yourself: Never pay […]
As many Americans receive their refunds this year, the American Bankers Association has highlighted seven tips to help them use the money wisely. “Prioritizing your tax refund to create an emergency fund and pay off debts first will help position you for financial comfort the rest of the year,” said […]
