If credit card payments are eating up your disposable income each month, or if you need cash to remodel your kitchen–or to buy a new car–a home equity loan or home equity line of credit (HELOC) might be your best bet. There’s also a tax advantage. Unlike almost any other consumer loan type, the… Read More
Credit unions are unique in the world of financial institutions. Nowhere is the credit union difference more vivid than in the diverse ways they reach out to millions of low- and moderate-income Americans who seek basic financial services to realize their dreams. The examples of outreach are heart-warming, and the results are life changing.… Read More
Paying off a house is a retirement goal for many people, but don’t count on equity to compensate for insufficient savings. If you have a low-interest home loan, shortchanging your retirement contributions to pay it off early usually isn’t a good idea. Here are some of the limitations of relying too much on home… Read More
Credit union members benefit from higher levels of service and participation in the governance of their financial cooperatives. But members also benefit financially to the tune of about $10.2 billion a year—that’s $96 a year per member or $183 a year per member household, according to data from the Credit Union National Association’s economics and… Read More
The Ascentra Scholarship Program is helping ten more future leaders get closer in pursuit of their academic goals to help pay for their college costs. A total of $10,000 in scholarships is given each year to ten winners, each receiving $1,000. Five scholarships are awarded to five traditional high school students planning to enter college. … Read More
All parents want their kids to grow up healthy. But most of the time that discussion focuses on getting them to eat more vegetables and spend less time in front of screens. Too few think about their kids’ well-being in terms of their financial health. In fact, one in four parents don’t even feel qualified… Read More
The high cost of college tuition causes some students to graduate deeply in debt. Today there are 44.2 million American graduating with student debt, with an average debt of $25,550 for public school graduates and $32,300 for private school graduates. The total amount of student debt is currently at $1.31 trillion. This reliance on student… Read More
You may hear the terms preapproval and prequalification as you prepare to buy a house. These procedures are not the same, although many people confuse them. Prequalification simply involves a rough calculation of the mortgage payment you can afford. Your Ascentra Credit Union mortgage officer can help you with this. Why is it helpful?… Read More
You don’t have to pay an arm and a leg to go back to school. If you know where to look, financial assistance is available for any level of involvement, whether it’s online or in the classroom, for credit or just for the enjoyment. Here’s how you can afford it. 1. Fill… Read More
If a person was to tell you that there were financial institutions out there that provided great customer service, higher rates of returns, lower fees and lower interest charges on loans would that be something that might perk your interest? These are all characteristics of a credit union. So why doesn’t everyone bank at a… Read More