Insurance

Bank On MOre is a campaign developed by the Missouri Credit Union Association (MCUA) to raise awareness about credit unions in Missouri and our distinct differences from banks. You will see this campaign all around the area.

So you know the benefits of being a member of a credit union, but your friends and family don’t. Here’s a quick list of what credit unions offer that banks don’t, from the Bank On MOre campaign:

Higher education can be a real challenge with both an abrupt lifestyle change and some serious education. Unfortunately, that education could include a course in personal finance via The School of Hard Knocks. College is already expensive and doesn’t need additional financial pitfalls. According to College Board, an average college student at a public university will pay nearly $18,000 for tuition, fees, room and board for the 2012-2013 school year. That’s some real-world finance right there.

Many students aren’t ready for the financial grind of living on their own. There are mistakes that are easy to make. That’s where Vantage Credit Union’s College Resource Center can help. You’ll find all kinds of advice on all kinds of topics. One includes the seven worst money mistakes made by students. Let’s take a look.

East St. Louis. Florissant. Sunset Hills. Warrenton. Vantage has a presence throughout the St. Louis Metro area. We’ve been entrenched in the community for over 55 years now, and we consider ourselves lucky to be in a position to give back, whether through donations or services. Here are just a few things we’re proud of:

Just what does your credit report include? All the things that help round out your title as a loan-seeking consumer. Your credit accounts. Credit inquiries you make when applying for a loan. Public record and collection items. It’s a simple snapshot of your credit history that lenders check before they decide whether or not they want to lend you money.

While it seems your credit report holds back no secrets, there are some things you won’t find on it. It may feel like you’re totally exposed by your credit report, but there are some things that do not make an appearance, according to our friends at Bankrate.com.

There is another dimension beyond that known to many drivers. It’s a dimension as bright as a red light and as loud as a throbbing stereo. It’s the middle ground between home and your destination, between safe and sound, and it lies between the serenity of your vehicle’s interior and the chaos of the surrounding traffic. It is an area which we call…The Accident Zone.

Yeah, you were just minding your own business, sitting at a red light, humming along to the radio, and suddenly—BAM!—another vehicle tags you from behind. Now what? As you sit in your vehicle taking inventory of your condition, as well as that of your vehicle, what steps do you need to take?

It’s the number one consumer complaint received by the Federal Trade Commission.

Its numbers increased by 13% in 2011.

Its victims numbered over 11.6 million last year.

Yep, people are still out there trying to steal your identity. They think nothing of using your good name to create bad scenarios. But identity theft isn’t an equal-opportunity crime, some of us are at greater risk simply because of our behavior. How’s your risk factor?

So you were hurrying to work, late for a meeting, and you backed out of the driveway a little too quickly...YIPE! YIPE! YIPE! It’s all right, Gizmo is going to be fine...after a hefty vet bill. And you were just getting ahead financially. Sheesh. File it under “Life Happens.”

Kids. Car trouble. Spending spree. Unexpected illness. Yes, life happens, with or without our consent. It’s filled with twists and turns, many times with expenses for which we haven’t planned.

And when life happens, everyone has a story to tell.

Snap. Crackle.

It won’t be long before area fireplaces are adding another dimension of charm to our living rooms. Is there anything better than sitting inside in front of a fire as Mother Nature takes a turn for the worse outside? The hissing and popping. The radiating warmth. Ahhhhhhh...

A fat wallet is usually seen as a good thing. To many, it means you’re flush; you have plenty of cash. On the other, more literally hand, it simply means you’ve got too darn much stuff crammed in that cowhide safety deposit box. What good is that fishing license from 1986 anyway? Do you really need that movie rental card good only in Puerto Rico?

When was the last time you reviewed your insurance coverage? Yeah, yeah, it’s likely not anything near the top of your To-Do list, but what if we told you that you could be losing out on hundreds (possibly thousands) of dollars for neglecting it? It’s true, and we can prove it. Check out this true story as reported by the New York Times recently. We’ve edited the story a bit for brevity, but we did not alter the facts concerning money.