Education Articles

7 Visa Card Features That Might Surprise You

‘More than just a piece of plastic’ Credit cards offer a convenient way to make purchases. That much is known. What’s less understood are the benefits credit cards can offer. For those willing to put on their research hats, there are many perks attached to credit cards—many of which you may already have at your disposal without knowing it. To ge...

One-Stop Financial Shopping

If you’re like most shoppers, you’d rather make as few trips as possible when checking off the shopping list. Retailers have met this demand by providing a more diverse selection of products than ever before—we’ve long become accustomed to setting dog food, running shoes, and organic produce in the same shopping cart (both the physical and onlin...

Understanding VA Loans

The US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) offers many financial benefits to military veterans. One of the more significant benefits is a VA mortgage loan. How does a VA loan work? And how is it different from a conventional mortgage? At its base level, a VA loan allows veterans and their families to purchase a home at a lower interest rate...

Debt Snowball vs. Debt Avalanche

Ever noticed how much easier it is to fall out of shape than to get into shape? The same can be said (albeit the exact opposite) about getting into (too easy) and out of (pretty hard) debt. There are many ways to dig out of debt—some extreme and unlikely, like winning the lottery or inheriting a pile of money. Chances are pretty low that either ...

Student Loan Relief: Keep Paying or Hit Pause?

Update: Courts have issued orders blocking the student debt relief program. As a result, applications are not currently being accepted (already submitted applications will be held). As a stopgap, t he Biden administration has extended the student-loan forbearance period once again, this time to "no later than June 30, 2023." If the Supreme Court...

SELCO Select Checking: Your Personal Financial Hub

A checking account is no longer just a place to house and access your money. In the past, checking accounts were mostly used as a pass-through system, pooling your money and then dispersing it via checks or cash withdrawals. But like so many other banking products and services, checking accounts have evolved to fit modern times and needs. You ca...

Knowing Your Home Improvement Options

As spring turns to summer, Oregon's natural beauty is in full view. Is it time to spruce up your home to match that splendor? Depending on the scope of the project, home improvements can be both time-consuming and costly. And many use their home’s equity to acquire the funds needed to complete the project. Home equity lines of credit (HELOCs),...

P2P Payment Systems: What You Need To Know

Peer-to-peer (P2P) payment systems have dramatically changed the way we handle our money. It’s so easy to send money with just a few taps on your phone. First popularized by PayPal, the world of P2P payment systems has exploded. A NerdWallet survey found that roughly 80% of Americans use mobile payment apps to either quickly pay friends and fami...

The Cost of Going Solar

Are your winter and summer energy bills going through the roof? Maybe it’s time to upgrade to solar panels. Solar panels have become increasingly popular since a tax credit was instituted in 2019. Solar energy can conceivably save homeowners  between $10,000 and $30,000  over the life of the system. But are solar panels worth it? That all depend...

Tips For Successful ACH Transfers

Keep these things in mind to ensure transactions between your financial institutions are seamless. What do shopping online, sending money to friends through an app, and having your tax refund deposited directly into your bank account have in common? They’re all possible thanks to the Automated Clearing House (ACH)—a computer network that moves...