Category: Your Financial Life | Personal Banking
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10 Important facts about debt
Posted On: March 5, 2024 by Kasasa in: Your Financial Life | Personal Banking
1. Americans are anchored by credit-card debt. Credit card debt is held by homeowners and renters, college graduates or Americans who entered the work force with a high school diploma of GED, so it is understandable that credit card debt spans across all demographics of the country. Almost half of Americans carry credit card debt to the tune of $807 billion, with the average interest rate hovering near 16%. 2. Yes, there is such a thing as good debt. Of course, not all loan debt is...
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Is it safe to open a checking account online?
Posted On: February 21, 2024 by Kasasa in: Your Financial Life | Personal Banking
You can buy groceries online, shop for clothes online, and use the internet to answer just about any question you have. Yet for many people it's hard to imagine being able to do something as essential as opening a checking account online. The good news is... Opening an account online is easy Online banking in general just keeps getting easier. Most banks and credit unions allow people to do most of what they need to online, securely. If you're looking to open a checking account online,...
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Community banks and credit unions: How banking locally supports your city or town
Posted On: February 6, 2024 by Kasasa in: Manage your Business | Business Banking, Your Financial Life | Personal Banking
As you drive around town running errands — picking up a few must-haves for dinner at the grocery store, shuttling the kids to soccer practice, or dropping off a prescription at the pharmacy — you likely drive past a community bank or credit union in your neighborhood. In fact, you might pass several without even noticing. Small banks and credit unions have been in your neighborhood for as long as you've lived in your home (and in many cases decades and decades longer), and you...
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Guide to automating your money management
Posted On: January 23, 2024 by Kasasa in: Your Financial Life | Personal Banking
It’s often said, “you should make your money work for you, not the other way around.” But how do you do that, exactly? Perhaps you have stocks that automatically reinvest dividends or a 401(k) that grows through automatic deductions from your paycheck. Your salary is probably directly deposited into your checking account. Automation already plays an important role in how you manage your money. But are you maximizing its potential for helping you manage the complete...
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4 steps to begin crushing your financial goals
Posted On: January 9, 2024 by Kasasa in: Your Financial Life | Personal Banking
Financial goals have become more of a discussion lately. Millennials get a bad rap – they aren’t saving for retirement, they don’t want to buy a house, they can’t survive a $400 emergency. The majority of discussions show us that these issues – retirement, purchasing a home, saving for an emergency – are top of mind for many. When we look at what people are doing to combat the shackles of student loan debt or the lack of retirement savings, the conversation...
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7 Ways to practice financial self-care
Posted On: December 7, 2023 by Kasasa in: Your Financial Life | Personal Banking
When you think about self-care, you probably imagine yourself applying a face mask, getting a massage, or curling up in sweatpants with a good book. And while all these things are important to incorporate in our busy routines, self-care isn’t just about the glamorous moments you make for yourself in real-time — it can, and should, also be about setting yourself up for financial success for years to come, too. The great thing about self-care is that it looks different for everyone....
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Big box stores vs small retailers: When is shopping local better?
Posted On: November 21, 2023 by Kasasa in: Your Financial Life | Personal Banking
During the holiday buying season, it’s important to shop smart. Whether you’re buying in bulk for holiday gatherings, prepping extended staycations, crossing items off your gift list, or planning in advance for those essential Black Friday pickups, now is the time to think twice about where you’re buying what. When planning out the holidays, a wise shopper considers several factors: customer service, price, and environment are the most important for many. And for...
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Why bank local? 5 ways it's better for you (and your community)
Posted On: November 14, 2023 by Kasasa in: Your Financial Life | Personal Banking
There's no shortage of reasons to bank local. It may surprise you that — all things equal — one out of three U.S. adults would rather bank at a community bank than one of the major national banks. But in reality, most people don't. Why? The megabanks earn their "mega" stripes because they spend a lot of money to bring in a lot of customers. Maybe it's a simple question of information. While the advertising budgets may never be equal,...
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Yes, you can use your debit card online
Posted On: November 9, 2023 by Kasasa in: Your Financial Life | Personal Banking
We’d like to put debit card users in three categories: The second nature user – you use your debit card for all purchases and don’t even think about other means of currency. The cautious debit card holder – you want to be mindful of a potential unauthorized purchase and limit when and where you use your card (especially online). The “what debit card?” user – You rely on checks and cash to manage your flow and that debit card rarely sees the light...
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The great debate: debit or credit?
Posted On: November 6, 2023 by Kasasa in: Your Financial Life | Personal Banking
Which is better, debit or credit cards? The answer is — both! Debit and credit cards both have advantages, and which is best for you really depends on multiple factors, such as what you’re using the card for, what kind of rewards each offers, and how good you are at managing a budget. To help you decide which card is right for you at any given time, consider these advantages and disadvantages: Your trusty debit card The good: Because a debit card is tied to your checking (and...
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