Education Articles

The Benefits of Banking Digitally with SELCO

Banking digitally is like having a secure and convenient virtual bank in the palm of your hand. Starting with the introduction of smartphones and mobile apps, there has been a paradigm shift in the way consumers go about their everyday banking. By combining mobile and online banking services, digital banking has become the preferred way to bank....

Make Your Life Easier with Peer-to-Peer (P2P) Payments

Sending money to friends and family is becoming a common necessity, whether you’re splitting the cost of a meal, paying someone back for a shared birthday present, or even paying the babysitter. One of the fastest and easiest ways to do that is to send money digitally using P2P payments. P2P payments enable you to send money to another person...

Singling Out ‘Uniqueness’ Scams

The art of the scam has been around for centuries, and the “uniqueness” scam is no exception. It goes by many names, but the goal is always the same: to prey on a victim’s desire to feel special or exclusive. Scammers do this by exploiting emotional vulnerabilities and tendencies to chase exclusive or limited-time offers. Classic examples includ...

Make Every Dollar Really Count with Cultivate High-Yield Savings

Saving money is always a good idea, whether it’s stashing cash in your sock drawer or parking funds in long-term investments. But with so many options to choose from, sometimes it’s difficult to decide which savings vehicle will deliver the optimal payoff for your needs. Money market and investor accounts may offer higher returns but often come...

Despite the Noise, Stay the Course on Your Financial Plan

In a 24-hour news cycle with no shortage of ups and downs, it’s natural for your reactions to affect your everyday life, including how you manage your finances. The stock market isn’t immune either. On February 19, the S&P 500, a leading market indicator, soared to an all-time high, only to slip into full “sell! sell! sell!” mode, culminating in...

When to Use (And Not Use) a Credit Card

To use or not to use a credit card. That is the question. Some experts recommend making nearly all of your purchases on a credit card. Others say to use a credit card only for needs and not wants . Every scenario has a common thread, though: “However you choose to use a credit card, it’s important to understand the true cost of your purchase and...

Help Fight Phishing Scams by Inspecting Links in Emails and Texts

You’ve probably noticed that scam emails and texts are getting harder to tell apart from legitimate messages. If it’s enough to make you question everything that hits your phone or inbox, you’re not alone. So, what can we do? First off, trust your gut. If you aren’t expecting a message, don’t be so quick to click a link (whose sole purpose may b...

Prepare Your Home and Vehicle for a La Niña Winter

La Niña is predicted to make another appearance this winter. What does that mean for the Pacific Northwest? For one, colder and wetter conditions through February. It also adds a little urgency to preparing your home and vehicle—and the need to take extra precautions on the road. In the event of storm damage or an accident, it’s good to know wha...

Romance Scams: Breaking Hearts & Bank Accounts

By now, most of us have heard about “ romance scams ” that target individuals looking for companionship or to give a family member a hand (these are also known as “distant relative scams”). Such scams are well known because they’ve been around a long time—and because they’re effective. Romance scams and other versions of the “advance-fee scam” c...

8 Back-to-School Shopping Hacks

Hard to believe, but summer is nearly in the rearview and back-to-school season has arrived. It’s an exciting time for students, who are itching to put their best foot forward, often with the latest styles and newest tech. To help avoid overspending, check out these eight frugal hacks for keeping your budget intact (and your student eager for th...