How Businesses Can Stay On Top of the Hiring Process

One of the largest investments a business makes is in its employees and payroll. From health benefits to worker's compensation, employees cost a lot to hire and keep on, but they bolster the company and fly it into higher realms of success. Staying on top of the hiring process is one of the best ways to vet prospective employees, and find top-notch candidates for your niche workplace. 

Paperwork Pile

Although it is a tedious job, screening for drugs and criminal activity is a must before offering the candidate a position. Liabilities abound if a known drug-user operates workplace machinery, and an employee ends up injured. Check that human resources is completing paperwork and research prior to any job offers.

Call Around

Everyone has some professional contacts, but they are often bound by legal protocol. True insight into an individual starts with their friends. Ask for a personal reference and follow up on it. A candidate with only moderate skills may shine brightly after talking to their best friend from elementary school. A workplace is not just a cluster of random people, but forms a unique culture that is either productive or lackluster.

Interview, and Then Interview

You may have several candidates, such as those applying through job listings for media sales, that were actually found through headhunters. Although they have the skills necessary for the position, they may not be completely on board with a new employer. Instead of one interview and an automatic hire, interview the candidate two more times, but under different circumstances. Invite them to a lunch hour to see employee chemistry in action, for example. Candidates looking for an outgoing type of position, like advertising sales jobs, must possess good social skills to create clients and support other loyal customers.

Be Clear

The first three months of employment tells a lot about a candidate. Once acclimated, you see the person's true character on a day-to-day basis. If the employee is unhappy, it shows through immediately after the initial honeymoon period. These three month probationary periods provide a cushion for the employer to remove the candidate, and search for a new person, without the threat of legal retribution.

Employees provide support customers need for continued sales and service. By treating employees respectfully during the hiring process, you reflect potential treatment as a long-term employee. The key to staying on top of the hiring process is clear communication between the candidate and employer, along with thorough research and interviewing.

Experience the Luck of the Irish in Boston: Here's How

According to a Washington Post article, the U.S. Census Bureau found there are seven times more people who list their ancestries as Irish-American than individuals in the entire country of Ireland. If you’ve decided to make Boston your home, it’s easier to experience the Irish culture there than in any other American city. That’s because Boston has the highest concentration of Irish residents there -- 20.4 percent to be exact. Keep reading to learn where to hang out if you want to get an authentically Irish experience without splurging on international airfare.

Visit the Irish Pastoral Center

Describing itself as a “parish without boundaries,” Boston’s Irish Pastoral Center focuses on being a resource for Irish people who’ve recently arrived in Boston. There, you can find counseling services, outreaches for families and senior citizens, plus citizenship assistance. Many of the people on staff there are originally from Ireland, so whether you have the heritage or just enjoy being around people who do, make sure to check out the organization and avail of the guidance there if you need it while getting settled.

Join the Boston Branch of the Irish Network

The Irish Network is made up of companies and individuals across America who have ties to Ireland and a desire to network with each other. The $50 annual membership fee for the Boston version of the group grants you access to social events, a database of Irish-related businesses and plenty of opportunities to share knowledge with your peers and learn from them at the same time.

Read the Boston Irish Reporter

This themed newspaper is available at newsstands around Massachusetts and the surrounding New England states, but you can also read PDF copies for free via the Internet. Consider perusing them before you move to the area and afterwards too. Then you’ll have the scoop on all the latest Irish happenings in Boston, including must-attend events and relevant news.

Dine at The Kinsale Irish Pub and Restaurant

Kinsale is a charming fishing village located in County Cork, Ireland. After you visit this Boston favorite, you’ll see it has all the allure the Irish town is known for. This Boston landmark is situated in the Government Center and the interior is filled with decorations and trinkets that were made in Ireland. You’re sure to get an authentic experience here, as the crowd is usually comprised of a lively bunch of both locals and tourists. There’s free live music in the bar each night, and patio seating available in nice weather.

Take a Step Dancing Class in Somerville

On the first and third Mondays of the month, consider taking the subway to Somerville. From the Boston South Station, board the Red Line train towards Alewife and get off at the Davis stop. Once in Somerville, find your way to The Burren, located on Elm Street in Davis Square, Irish step dancing classes are offered there by Ger Cooney at 8 p.m. Admission is $8, and beginners are welcome. Even if you have trouble keeping up with the energetic pace the dance style is known for, you’ll at least have an enjoyable soundtrack courtesy of the live band that plays at the front bar during each class.

Whether you’re Irish by blood or Irish at heart, the list you’ve just read should give you a great start in surrounding yourself with Irish people while in Boston. Have fun!

Robin Knight blogs for Movoto where you'll find more about fun things you can do in Boston.

Some of the best Bicycle Insurance coverage Ideas

Do you want to spend much less for the bicycle insurance coverage? Possibly, you've simply purchased the Harley or even Ducati as well as require insurance coverage to safeguard your motorcycle. The actual beneath top ten bicycle insurance coverage ideas may stage a person within the correct path as well as ideally save you some cash.

Don't let yourself be punished with regard to devotion. Even though your own bicycle insurance carrier offers provided a low cost you might have to pay an excessive amount of. It is best to evaluate bicycle quotes whenever your plan is actually upward with regard to restoration. 

Sophisticated motorcycle using programs through Bike safe will save you in your insurance coverage as well as remain secure on the highway. Many people realize that including overall performance adjustments to some bicycle may improve the price of include. This is also true should you personal a good currently effective motorcycle like a Ducati. 

Nevertheless, actually aesthetic adjustments that significantly improve the bicycles worth can impact the buying price of your own include. Before you decide to help to make any kind of modifications get in touch with your own insurance carrier to see just how much additional you'll have to spend.

The greater costly as well as effective the actual bicycle the larger the price of insurance coverage. If you're a brand new driver or perhaps a coming back motorcycle fanatic you can purchase the motorcycle that is much less effective as well as old. The advantage of this really is your own include is going to be less expensive and you will provide yourself period to develop a few constant bicycle using encounter with no statements. 

As a result you can buy less expensive insurance coverage whenever you perform wish to update. Completely thorough include is generally more costly compared to 3rd party. Should you choose personal the motorcycle that is lower in worth, you might want to think about purchasing 3rd party insurance coverage? 

Nevertheless this can imply decreasing the quantity of include that can lead to severe consequences for those who have any sort of accident. Optionally available insurance coverage extra supplies for example lawful include good manners vehicles as well as break down include are helpful if you're able to pay for all of them. If you wish to immediately decrease the price of your own include you don't have to buy all of them
You should just make use of your own bicycle from time to time as well as your yearly usage is actually beneath 3, 000 kilometers you are able to acquire much less expensive insurance coverage compared to somebody that utilizes their own bicycle with regard to function reasons. Be sure you think about just how much you want upon using your own bicycle and become because precise as possible whenever receiving a bicycle insurance coverage quotation. 

Exactly where you retain your own bicycle through the night might have impact upon the buying price of your own include, for those who have the storage or perhaps a backyard be sure you inform your own insurance carrier. 

Acquiring bicycle quotes through professional companies like Protect Your Bubble often means a person spend much less. These days you are able to conserve period as well as cash through evaluating bicycle quotes on the internet. This can help you saving a lot of money by finding the best bike insurance policy at the cheapest possible rates.

Small Business Loans From Rapid Advance

Some of the best names we have as clients include names like McDonalds, Subway, Domino’s Pizza, La Bella Vita, Inc., Dunkin Donuts, Saxby’s Coffee, New Horizons Computing Learning Centre, Country Hearth Inn, Tan Republic and so on. Some of the recent names include Lawn & Garden, Gas Station, Sporting Goods, Automotive, and Clothing& Apparel….. Well, yes we have no. of clients who can actually be converted into a list. It’s simply because people show faith in us and we do everything we can to keep their trust. 

We at Rapid Advance believe that normally a business needs money in two situations – one when it is beginning and secondly when it is going through a bad phase. We offer advances in both conditions.

Starter Advance or Small Business Loan Program

Starter Advance is something which we offer while you are at the phase of just beginning your business; that is when you are starting it. Small Business Loan Program is for those kinds of start-ups who have been in any kind of business for at least one year. We offer large amount of sums to those who have been running successfully for the past one year. (Yes we do, read any of the Rapid Advance Reviews…)

Computation of the loan amount is done on the basis of gross sales. We believe it is a showcase of how much cash you will require and also this is the meter as to how much you will repay within the stipulated time.

The manner in which you can apply for this kind of loan is simple

1. Fill in the application form
2. Enter your details like company name and details of your work
3. Get a free Quote from us.
4. Discuss details with our Financial Advisor and get the best plan for your business
5. Do the formalities and get approval with 48 hours of submitting all the documents. 
6. Once the loan amount is approved, chalk out a plan as to how you will repay the loan amount in a fixed manner.
7. Get free advice about how best you can run your business. 

This kind of program best fits for start-ups who generate sales through VISA or Merchant Card Processing. Rapid Advance provides you with a lump –sum loan amount with which you can run your business smoothly. For this you have to agree upon a set amount of future credit card transactions. 

This program has a lot of benefits like funding when you require it. 80% of the people doing business, who apply for this kind, get approval within 10 days of application. Repayment is easy as when credit card payments are low; our repayment amount automatically goes down. 

On the other hand, as and when your business transactions grow, your repayment amount too grows. This program does not require any kind of collateral, personal guarantee or security needs. 

Last but the least – the amount funded can be used for any kind of business and in any phase of the business – as long as it is legal. We do not interfere.(Ask any of Rapid Advance Reviews…)

That comes to the end of the story. However, practical part comes when you actually contact us and we began working. So, call us today….

4 Advantages of Outsourcing Your Payroll Services

Outsourcing your payroll duties in the UK has become an easy task that can be handled by qualified professionals who use the latest technology. Thankfully, there are plenty of accountants out there who can help you get the service you need from the comfort of your own home or office. This is a great way to save money and use your own free time to grow your business or launch new products and services for your client base. With that in mind, let’s take a look at just a few of the advantages of working with a quality payroll service provider.

The payroll service professionals at Berkeley Hamilton can handle all of your payroll needs quickly and efficiently

• You’ll save money. Because you will be able to allow the professionals to use the current software and technology that they have available in their office, you won’t have to spend money to make this available to your office staff. You can also free up employees who customarily perform this task on site for other duties to make your company even more efficient.
• You’ll receive quality services and work with courteous professionals. The professionals will provide services for you that are error-free and that you can depend on for reliability. If you have a team working on your behalf, you can trust their work with confidence and enjoy peace of mind on payday.
• You can take advantage of their experience and skills. If you outsource your payroll duties, you will be taking full advantage of the experience that they have garnered over the years and the skills with which they perform accounting procedures. They will be up to date with all of the laws, rules, and regulations pertaining to tax issues so that your company will be in compliance at all times.
• Your deadlines will be met efficiently. When professionals who are committed to performing a first-class job for you are hired, you will receive payrolls that are acceptable to your employees and that promote job satisfaction amongst your staff. They will be flexible and change according to your individual needs and free you up to concentrate on tasks that require immediate attention. You will see overall productivity rise when pay cheques arrive on time and without errors. 

You can find exceptional payroll services around the UK that can fully manage all of your payroll needs from start to finish. The firm Berkeley Hamilton is an excellent example of the professionalism that you will receive from experienced specialists who are committed to excellence, working diligently on your behalf, and providing you with work of which you can be proud. You can finally be stress-free when reports are due and pay cheques are to be distributed. Instead, you can work to grow your company and reach the goals and objectives that you have set in place. Be sure to select your payroll service team with care so that you can enjoy all of the benefits that they have in store for you.

Is Life Insurance Cost An Important Consideration For You?

It goes without saying that life insurance is an absolute essential but when it comes to choosing a life insurance company and the plethora of life insurance plans available, your mind may go for a toss. There are several things that you need to consider especially if you believe that the cost of life insurance plays a massive role in your decision making process. Sometimes, you may have to rely on the expert advice of certain financial representatives and brokers. However, you cannot always trust their opinions as more often, these opinions are rigged and not trustworthy. Therefore, you need to be alert and on your toes when making such decisions. Even if you can afford the cost of life insurance and the amount of your premium is not an issue, you must look into the given points to make sure that you make a smart decision that will benefit you and come to your aid in difficult times.

1.) Understanding the coverage that you will be requiring:

When looking for a life insurance, the coverage plays an important role as it is this amount that will ensure the safety of your family and any other impending payments after your death. Therefore, you need to contemplate the amount that will be required based on your current financial situation and the amount that you are willing to pay. This is one aspect that you cannot ignore and you need to be very sure that the life insurance that you pay for will be enough for the coverage.

2.) Weigh the pros and cons of each type of insurance policy:

Just because a representative recommended a policy to you does not mean that you need to jump the gun and go for it. You need to take your time and select a policy that will be beneficial for you, not the representative. Therefore, you must carefully go through every available policy that may appeal to you and weigh their pros and cons to ensure that the decision you make does not cost you an arm and a leg and at the same time offers benefits that will help you and your family. Term insurance and cash value life insurance may seem impressive but both have their own sets of issues and disadvantages, which you must look into closely.

3.) Understand the payment pattern of the premiums:

When choosing a life insurance company, look closely and try to understand how the premium amount has been divided and what the pattern of payment is. Premiums charged by insurance companies differ widely. However, this does not mean that you must select a company and insurance policy that asks for very low premium rates since there may be a hidden catch. However, this does not mean that you must select a policy with an exorbitant premium. To put it simply, the amount should be such that can be afforded by you and will not burn a hole in your pocket.

4.) Renewal policies have certain terms and conditions; understand them:

There is a possibility that at some stage, you may have to renew your policies. This holds especially true in events where your health condition goes about a change. Term insurance policies allow the insurance holders to renew their terms. However, this can come at a high cost in the form of premiums. Therefore, blindly going for a renewal without knowing their policies can land you in financial trouble. Know the rate of the premiums in the event of policy renewal. Besides, you must also know if the company allows renewal no matter what your age or is it restricted to a certain age group.

When Is It Too Late To Start Your Pension

If you’re knocking fifty, chances are you’re becoming a little concerned about how you will pay for yourself upon retirement. The problem began in the 1980s really, when rich folks were having such a fantastic time under the Thatcher government that they forgot to start saving for their old age. Because of that, there are now millions of soon-to-be pensioners with no financial backing at all - so don’t worry too much, you’re certainly not alone. 

With that in mind, surely you must realise that even now you still have enough time to start paying into a pension scheme for when you retire. Okay, you won’t be a well-off OAP, but you’ll definitely be in a better position - that much is guaranteed. 

So, if you’re considering starting a late pension, then have a quick read through the rest of this short article and I’ll do my utmost to help you out. 

Find Out What You’re Worth

Before opting to pay into a pension scheme at this late hour, it’s important that you spend some time working out how much money you’re currently worth. You might find that you’re living in a fully paid for property that’s worth over £200,000, and if this applies to you, it might be more sensible to sell the house, downsize, and live off the profits. 

However, if you have no assets and determine your worth to be less than this amount, it probably is worth looking at your options for pension schemes.

Utilise Tax Relief Programs

Okay, so, you might not realise this but the UK government allows for tax relief on pension payments, meaning that if you pay into a scheme during your working life, you are taxed less on your wage. In effect, for every £1 you pay into a pension scheme, it only costs you around 70 pence.

Make Maximum Payments

As you’ll be joining your pension scheme far later than most, it’s vitally important that you opt for the largest payments possible. This will obviously depend on how much you can afford, but if you want to see substantial returns when you finally retire, it’s worth paying as much as you can now. 

Also, don’t forget that if your pension pot is large enough, you could still buy an annuity when you reach retirement age that would provide you with a stable income until the day you die. However, this annuity won’t be large enough to cover day-to-day living expenses if you don’t start saving fast.

Always Seek Impartial Advice

When looking for a suitable pension scheme you won’t really have a lot of time for calling round hundreds of different providers, so make sure you seek out advice from an impartial body who have your best interests in mind. Don’t simply trust the word of the pension provider, as they will nearly always claim they offer the best deal - and they can’t all be right, can they?

My grandmother was in the same boat as you last year, and she chose to get in touch with the annuity specialist, as they offered fantastic advice as well as pointing her in the right direction to find a good provider. 

I hope that helped somewhat and you now feel more confident about making the leap and sorting your pension out before it’s too late. So the answer the question proposed in the title of this article “No, it’s never too late”.

5 High-Paying Jobs After Retirement

retirement (Photo credit: 401(K) 2013)

When going through the burdensome days of employment during the peak of your working career, sometimes, there is a possibility that you may relish the idea of retirement. To put it simply, retiring may bring an unfathomable joy considering the fact that you will not have to stick to any kind of deadlines or wake up in the early mornings to rush to your workplace. 

Besides, the idea of retirement conjures up images of an idyllic life playing golf and spending all your savings on premium vacations and just lazing through the entire day. While this may sound like music to your ears now, you are sure to feel the emptiness that will be created due to the absence of a work pattern. 

The idea of not being able to do anything and just sit idle, counting hours away may not exactly seem ideal and therefore, you can consider doing some good high-paying jobs to kill time and most importantly to enjoy yourself. You could opt for jobs with a criminal justice degree or something more relaxed, the choice is yours. Given below are some high-paying jobs that you can consider taking up after retirement.

1.) You can consider being a consultant:

This holds true especially if you have done jobs with a criminal justice degree or other such highly specialised and intensive studies in your formative years. it gives you an upper hand over the other consulting firms for the simple fact that you have spent a large chunk of your life working in that particular field and therefore, you can most certainly provide superior quality services that will benefit not only your clients but yourself as well.

2.) Opt for running a retail business:

There is nothing like being your own boss and taking control of the situation by running your own retail business. If you are good at DIY products and are confident of the quality, you must most certainly consider making and selling them. This does not call for you to get into the technicalities of buying your own shop and investing a large sum of money in the same. You can open your shop virtually without really paying a penny and you can sell your products on such platforms.

3.) Opt for freelancing:

If you are good at photography or writing you could consider looking for clients who may be interested in your work and start offering your services. Besides, if digital media is your strong point, web designing for instance, you could most certainly post ads on the plethora of job seeking websites to reach out to your prospective clients. It is an excellent way to do what you enjoy and earn a good chunk of money from the same.

4.) Be on the lookout for part time jobs that do not require much effort on your part:

Rigorous work may wear you down and therefore, it is important that you constantly look out for jobs that follow a stress free pattern and does not call for you to exert too much mental stress. You could consider working at a call centre or start a tutoring business. Although not high paying, it can be fulfilling.

5.) Temporary jobs are excellent for a fresh change:

Temporary jobs are the perfect way to enjoy your work in a more flexible manner as you get to do varied jobs on a temporary basis and therefore, you can find time for both earning money and enjoying doing activities that you love. Your job position can change quite frequently giving you the opportunity to learn something new every single day.

Unexpected Costs: Five Things That Could Surprise You After Retirement

For well over 30 years analysts and demographers have spoke of the years when the Baby Boomer generation would hit retirement age. That has now come to pass, with more than 5,500 individuals in the United States hitting 65 every day. Those seeking senior living Mesa AZ, offers are arriving in that city by the thousands each year. For those who have planned well, the golden years lay before them. For over half of those new seniors, however, they are financially unprepared for the prospects of retirement. 

In addition, even those who tried to plan financially are finding that there are a number of potential surprises in retirement that upset those plans. Their experiences serve as a cautionary tale of financial issues that can disrupt your retirement plans. Below are five of those potential additional costs of which you should be aware. 

Unanticipated health care costs.

Many retirees have not borne the brunt of their personal health care expenses until they are on their own. Additionally, people that have been healthy all their lives are surprised by sudden diseases and ailments that come with the aging process. With the new Affordable Care Act, there is a great deal of uncertainty and confusion about how best to manage medical costs. One unpleasant irony for many is the more they have prepared and have adequate financial resources, the more they are often charged for their care. This includes surcharges for Medicare patients with higher incomes (currently $85,000 single and $170,000) filing jointly.

Taxes on income.

The fact that social security benefits are subject to taxes above a certain income threshold both surprise and aggravate many. Instead of being seen as the fruit of after-tax dollars, the government stands ready to again rake another share of the income you receive. 

Loss of income

Couples who plan to retire together make plans that deal with average life expectancies. When one spouse passes earlier than planned, the survival benefits lost can upset those budgets. Experiencing injury within the workplace could also effect this loss of income and could create a decrease in investments funds. 

Taxes on withdrawals.

There are very explicit rules concerning the taxation of withdrawals from different retirement savings plans. Aside from the risk of extra taxes and penalties, many find the taxes to be a larger burden than built into their budget. Creating alternative sources of funds will be able to maintain the investment path while decreasing the taxation seen on the withdrawals. 

Greater than anticipated spending.

Financial planners work with individuals to set up spending for 20 to 30 years in the future. Even with allowances for inflation, many retirees find that it simply costs more to live and enjoy their freedom than they ever anticipated. Rather than living a sedentary lifestyle sitting at home, individuals find they enjoy traveling and visiting with grandchildren. Everything from dinner out to giving more gifts than planned can cause shortfalls in the budgets that were established when much younger.

Paying for Peace of Mind: How to Cut Costs on Your Term Life Insurance Rates

Term life insurance is already pretty affordable, so why don't you have more coverage? If you're like most people, you just don't have the money. Sure, it's cheap, but even cheap insurance adds up after a while. A policy here, a policy there. Pretty soon, your insurance poor. Still, there's that nagging voice in the back of your head egging you to buy more cover. Here's how to do it without breaking the bank.

Lock In Low Rates When You're Young

It's no secret that life insurance is cheaper when you're young. Life cover rates are determined by your age, health, and lifestyle. When you're young, you're usually in pretty good shape. You're also at a low risk of all-cause mortality. Because of that, premiums will be low. For cash value policies, the cash value account will grow very rapidly. Those premium payments won't increase on permanent policies, either, so you'll never have to fight rising insurance costs. 

Don't Buy More Than You Need

You should never buy more than you absolutely need. Buy a lot - yes. Buy more than you need - no. Add up all of your financial obligations and even obligations you expect to incur over time, like college tuition, and even your child's first car. 
Factor in your income - does your spouse need money to live on after you're dead? That has to be calculated into the total death benefit amount. 

Select Coverage Terms Wisely

Here's where most people screw up. When you buy life insurance, don't just look at the lowest possible premium. Sure, you want to pay a low premium, but you might end up paying more if you choose the wrong policy type. How?

Let's say you have a 30 year mortgage. You need life insurance for those 30 years. The problem is that a 25 year term policy costs slightly less, and you figure you'll take the risk on the 5 remaining years of the loan because it'll be almost paid off by then.

You die just after the policy expires. The insurance policy doesn't pay out, and your spouse is left with a mortgage balance to pay off on her own. You paid premiums for 25 years and now your spouse still has to pay off the mortgage. 

Take Advantage of Banding 

Another mistake people make is not taking advantage of banded rates. What is banding? It's a sort of unadvertised sale offered by the insurance company. It's a discount for buying death benefit in bulk. When you purchase more than a certain dollar amount, you receive discounted premiums. 

Banding is often used to incentivise people to buy more insurance, but it can actually save you money. For example, let's say you get a quote for $100,000 because this is what you need. However, if you buy $150,000, the premium will be cheaper than if you bought $100,000. What should you do? You should buy more coverage and save money. 

Shop Around For Rates

Companies like Wealth Smart can help you shop around for the best rates possible. Really, this is the oldest "trick" in the book. But, it's not really a trick at all. 

The simple act of shopping for insurance allows you to force insurance companies to compete for your business. At the end of the day, you win - you get low premiums you can afford for the life of the policy. 

Andrew Harvey is an insurance advisor of many years. Now semi-retired, he still likes to help others by sharing his insights on the Web.

3 Reasons a Credit Union May Be a Smart Financial Decision for Your Family

Credit Unions Vs Banks

Although they may seem similar in many respects, banks and credit unions are definitely different. Although credit unions have most or all of the convenience of banks, they also have advantages that banks to not have. For instance, credit unions are often more flexible about approving loans than banks are. Credit unions also frequently have a “down home” feel – tellers and bank officers may greet you by name whenever you visit.

While banks are commercial institutions, credit unions are nonprofit organizations. Most credit unions belong to the National Credit Union Association, or NCUA. While you must be a member of a credit union to open an account, credit union eligibility is often easier to achieve than you think. Churches, companies and even cities have organized credit unions for their members, employees or residents. As a result, the odds are good that you are eligible to join at least one credit union in your area. Depending on your circumstances, opening a credit union checking account may make sense. 

A Stakeholder, Not a Customer

As a member of a credit union, you are a stakeholder in the organization, and not just a customer. Your account represents an ownership interest in the organization. Because credit unions are nonprofit organizations, they often have programs in place to assist their members financially.

For example, many credit unions offer short-term loans to represent alternatives to costly payday loans. Payday loans are often due within one or two weeks and feature interest rates exceeding 300 percent. By contrast, short-term loans offered through credit unions have longer repayment periods, and carry much lower interest rates.

Credit Card and Other Banking Conveniences

Deposits made to a credit union are insured by the NCUA, just like deposits made to banks are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, or FDIC. This means that your money is safe. In addition, many credit unions offer Certificates of Deposit and other investment instruments that carry competitive earning rates.

As a member of a credit union, you can open checking and savings accounts, much as you can with regular banks. If you are a business owner, you can often open business checking and savings accounts through your credit union. You an also obtain personal and business credit cards from a credit union. Credit unions also often offer lower interest rates on credit cards and loans for individuals and businesses than banks

Extensive Free ATM Networks

If you hate ATM fees, joining a credit union is definitely a smart move. Many credit unions belong to nationwide networks that offer free access to ATMs for their members. You can deposit, withdraw and transfer money for no fee at any one of the ATMs that operate within the bank’s network. In addition, if you frequently travel abroad, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that the debit or credit card issued by your credit union carries no foreign transaction fees. This feature alone can translate into significant savings if you use your card to pay for your hotel or for a car rental.

Charles Talley is a credit union branch manager. He loves to write about the benefits of this type of financial account on personal finance blogs.