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Rapids Blog

Keep More of Your Salary

Reviewing paycheck

Many of the ways in which you spend your money comes from nothing more than a habit. From spending $15 on lunch every day to dropping $150 on new shoes, your costly habits can be a slow but steady drain on your finances. If these habits are bad for your finances, think about developing good habits that will boost your finances. Here are seven simple, good money habits you can adopt to help you keep more of your paycheck.

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Lighthouse Merger

Vancouver WA bridge

We are excited to announce that the members of Lighthouse Community Credit Union voted by an overwhelming majority to merge with Rivermark Community Credit Union. The vote was the final step for merger approval, having already been approved by state and federal regulators and both credit union’s boards of directors. To accommodate system upgrades, all Rivermark branches will be closed on Saturday, July 31.

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Budgeting For The Holidays

holiday shopping

Even though it’s July, it’s never too early to start budgeting for the holidays. And that’s exactly what we are talking about for this month’s financial fitness challenge. In this article, we look at how to make a holiday budget and how to painlessly put money towards it.

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Post-Pandemic Budget

Budget planning on laptop

Now that the world is opening up again, your spending habits are probably changing. Gas expenses may have increased by getting out more. You may be feeling the need for a social spending spree of outings, dining, and events that you haven’t been able to indulge in. You may also be earning more again and feeling more secure financially. Rather than “winging it,” now is the time to rebuild your post-pandemic financial health with a new budget!

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Factors That Could Hurt Your Credit Score

Credit report on laptop

It's no secret that maintaining a good credit score is essential to strong financial health. It is a must if you ever wish to take out a substantial loan or need to apply for rental properties. Most people know the basics of what may hurt or help your credit score. However, you may not know about a few surprising things that can hurt your score. Here are six factors that may negatively impact your credit score.

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How to Avoid Spoofing Scams

Caller ID Spoofing

Credit union members in the Northwest are falling victim to a new twist on classic phone scams. Scammers are using easily obtained software to mimic the phone number of credit unions and other financial institutions. They then make phone calls to their victims, posing as credit union employees from the security department, and try to obtain information from the members to set up fake debit and credit cards, and to steal credentials to compromise online banking accounts.

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Protecting Sensitive Documents

Protecting sensitive documents

We take a look at how to collect and protect important personal documents. Keeping sensitive documents safe can give you peace of mind in case of unexpected events, and ensure you have documents ready when needed. Below we share what documents you should protect, and options for doing so. This also can be a great summer project if you are stuck inside avoiding the heat.

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Money Skills for Young Adults

Young adult outside

As new college graduates, young professionals, and others in their twenties launch their careers, they get bombarded with tempting ways to spend money. For many, handling a more considerable income and “adult” expenses like rent, utilities, and insurance, is a new experience. Now more than ever, money management will be a skill needed to meet future saving and investing goals. Here are tips for twenty-somethings to help control spending and manage their money.

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Creating a Will

Creating a will

This month, we look at creating a will. It’s not always an easy thing to think about, but preparing for your end of life will ultimately ensure your property is distributed as you wish, and to the benefit of those you care about most. In this article, we discuss why a will is important and how to create one. While creating a will may not help your personal financial fitness, it can help your beneficiaries.

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Understand Credit Scores

Credit Score graphic

Your credit score is a vital part of your financial history. Lenders and other organizations use it to understand how much of a risk you are regarding financial matters and repaying your debts. Understanding how your credit score is made up and the typical ranges and ratings can help you gain insight into your creditworthiness and allow you to make improvements.

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