Education Articles

Certificate Rewards: Earn More When You Save with SELCO

Are you a seasoned saver with a variety of deposit accounts at multiple financial institutions? Do your household’s financial accounts—from IRAs to money markets, college savings to certificates—require a spreadsheet to manage? Why not consolidate your savings at SELCO, simplify your banking, and enjoy an automatic boost of up to 0.50% on our...

The Ins and Outs of 401K Withdrawals and Loans

With inflation hitting a 40-year high earlier this year, the cost of making ends meet rose considerably. In response, recent legislation made it easier to tap into a 401K retirement plan for immediate needs, creating additional penalty-free early-access points to retirement savings. As a result, a record number of Americans have  turned to their...

What to Buy and What to Skip in September

September is a banner month for deals. Labor Day sales kick off the month, and retailers do their best to lure shoppers with bargain prices on items like mattresses and jeans after the back-to-school frenzy has died down. Here’s what to buy and what to skip in September.  What to Buy Plants. Garden centers start making room for autumn and holida...

What to Buy and What to Skip in August

Summer is winding down (but not necessarily cooling down), and the start of the school year draws near. And that means back-to-school deals are in full force while summer-clearance items are equally abundant. Here’s what to buy and what to skip in August. What to Buy   Back-to-school supplies. Beyond your garden-variety pencils, pens, and paper...

Boost Your Savings with Two New High-Yield Savings Accounts

Way-above-market rates for Cultivate and Vault are helping savers of all ages get on the right track Looking to build an emergency fund or give your child a financial head start? SELCO recently introduced two new tools for jumpstarting savings. Our new Cultivate and revamped Vault youth savings accounts deliver exceptional annual percentage yiel...

3 Ways to Build a Rainy-Day Fund

You’ve likely heard the saying, “Save for a rainy day.” But what do they really mean by “rainy day”? Not to be confused with an emergency fund , a rainy-day fund is designed to cover smaller, unexpected expenses (think: car repairs, replacing an appliance, vet bills, etc.) without affecting your monthly budget.  The actual saving part can be a...

What to Buy and What to Skip in July

Summer is in full swing, as are the bargains in July. This month has a lot to offer, from all things red, white, and blue to clothing for the rest of summer and back-to-school items. Here’s what to buy and what to skip in July.  What to Buy Patriotic items. Not only do major retailers hold sales on July 4, but you can also find bargains galore o...

What to Buy and What to Skip in June

This may come as a surprise, but June is a great time to pick up a few essentials for the warmer months. Swimwear, Father’s Day outings, and fresh produce are among the seasonal items you can snap up at a nice price this month. Here’s what to buy and what to skip in June. What to Buy Swimwear. Get ready to hit the beach or pool in style. Believe...

‘Smishing’: What Is It, Why Is It So Common, and What Can You Do About It?

Does it seem like you aren’t getting as many robocalls these days? OK, maybe they haven’t slowed down that much; let’s just say they’ve leveled off . But you’re likely getting bombarded with more spam texts than ever before. A lot more. After an exponential increase in 2022, spam texts continue to go out to Americans in droves—and are becoming...

5 Reasons It’s a Better Time Than You Think to Buy a Home

Home prices and interest rates are bound to go down if I wait, right? It’s the question most first-time buyers are asking right now—and understandably so. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the answer is anything but straightforward. The question can be partially answered by the fact that Oregon's housing production shortage is among the worst in the...