The Top 5 Benefits Of Joining A Credit Union

The Credit Union National Association reports that over 96 million Americans belong to a credit union instead of, or in addition to, a traditional bank. 

With so many people jumping ship to credit unions, it makes sense to consider the benefits of becoming a member to one of the more than 6,000 credit unions in the United States. 

Keep these five benefits and advantages of credit unions in mind when making your decision whether to switch or not.

Better Service

Since credit unions are owned by their members, they focus on giving their members the services that they need at an affordable rate. 

As a member you’ll also have a say in how things are run. Banks are profit centers that focus on the bottom line and try to get as much money as they can from each customer. 

Belonging to a credit union gives you a better chance of receiving excellent service and speaking to a human as opposed to an automated system.

Lower Interest Rates

Credit unions typically have lower interest rates than banks. Since they are not-for-profit organizations, they can pass these savings onto their members. 

A lower interest rate amounts to thousands of dollars for a large loan for an automobile or home. Most credit unions also offer low-interest credit cards too.

No strings attached accounts

Most banks have a minimum balance or activity requirement for the account to remain open and in good standing. More than 75 percent of credit unions have no minimum balance requirement for members to avoid fees.

Fees are lower

Fees for the same services that a bank offers are cheaper at credit unions because their ultimate goal is to serve their members. 

You can check out different fees at sites like https://www.dfcu.com/ for more information on fees and customer service. Credit Unions like this have a bit more flexibility in how and what they charge their members. 

It’s more common for a credit union to reduce services than raise fees for its members. They do have to maintain some fees in order to remain federally regulated, but they’re still significantly lower than a traditional bank.

Shared branches and ATMS

Banks used to be able to boast that they were the only ones with a large network of ATMs for their members to use without incurring fees. 

That has changed with the co-operative network of credit unions allowing customers to use shared resources to avoid fees. Individuals can also go into other branches and conduct transactions in person regardless of where they are. 

Before joining a credit union, make sure that you know where the other branches and ATMs are located so that you are able to make the most of your membership.

It used to be difficult to join a credit union because they required you to work at a certain company or belong to a specific organization, but membership opportunities have spread vastly in the last few years. 

Many credit unions only have a residency in a certain town or county to join. Credit union membership continues to grow while distrust in banks spreads. It’s clear that a credit union is worth looking into for savings and other perks.

The Anatomy of Forex Trading Trends

Everything about trading on the forex market revolves around trends. Trend analysis is the number one tool that forex traders rely on to make smart investments, and every forex trading strategy out there is built upon inspecting, predicting, or finding trends.

But understanding exactly what a trend is, and how and why trnds form, is something that a lot of traders don’t have a firm grasp on. 

Trends have a specific anatomy, which can be thought of as either a set of inherent rules that they follow, or as a body that builds upon itself over the lifespan of the trend. 

Whatever visual works for you, there are steps that make up a trend, and understanding those steps can help traders get a better understanding of how to analyze trends.

Step One: Demand

The first part of a trend is imbalance. It occurs when a set of orders, that is greater than the orders currently driving trends, comes into the market. For example, let’s say that EUR/USD is currently in a downward trend. 

This means that right now, the market is defined by more sell orders than buy orders. If traders were to begin buying at higher rates than those selling, a new up trend is begun.

It doesn’t matter what time frame this occurs, or how often it occurs in a single day or week; every time a new trend happens, it is led by this initial phase of imbalance in demand.

Step Two: Cause and Effect

The moment that a new trend has begun, automated stop bids start kicking in. Traders start closing or opening trades based on the new information that is coming in. 

If the new trend was a down trend, the market will suddenly see liquidation, with losing trades closing. Any trader who had been trading based on previous trends will see a loss, and that gets the forex trading market moving again. 

As these traders react to the changes in the market, they propel the decline or rise in price even further by adding more buy or sell orders to the market.

This step is the hardest to predict, because it depends on how many traders had open trades that were relying on previous trends. It could take quite a while for the liquidation step to complete, or it could be done very quickly.

Step Three: Honing In

At this step, the forex trading market has now collectively noticed and catalogued the trend, and is honing in to begin trading on the new information. 

Buy or sell orders are placed based on the new trend, and that continues to drive the trend in its current direction. This step lasts as long as it takes for a new trend to begin. As soon as the demand is imbalanced again, a new trend will retire this one, and traders begin anew.

Using This Knowledge

As you can see, understanding the anatomy of forex trading trends isn’t as hard as it sounds, but it is vital information. 

While you can’t always predict how long a trend will last, you may be able to use your understanding of how trends work to anticipate a good entry or exit time. If step three has been reached, it may be time to stand back and start watching for the next trend, which could be just around the forex trading corner.

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Four Things You Should Know About Prepaid Debit Cards

According to a recent study by the Federal Reserve, the use of prepaid debit cards is the fastest growing noncash payment method in America. 

There are many different reasons for this phenomenon, including the desire of consumers to better manage their finances, their preference for carrying a card instead of cash for transactions, and the increase in costs to maintain a traditional checking account.

As simple as they may sound, prepaid debit cards are not created equally. There are hundreds of different cards to choose from, all possessing unique features, benefits, and costs. 

Before choosing a prepaid debit card, you should first understand four important points that could affect your decision.

Open and Fund Your Account

You must fill out a standard application to open an account. This includes providing personal information such as your social security number, date of birth, home address, and phone number. 

Unlike with a credit card, applicants generally aren’t required to have pristine credit. Some companies will approve an applicant as long as it can verify their identity. 

Part of the reason for identifying individuals is to allow them to link the card with their other banking accounts. 

Once linked, cardholders can transfer funds through their computer or smartphone easily and instantaneously. However, if you are one of the estimated 10 million households without a bank account, depositing funds will require a different solution.

If you are employed, many prepaid cards will allow you to have your paycheck directly applied to your account. Another solution is to physically deposit cash at a participating location. For example, Walmart offers a card that you can fund inside any of its locations. 

Understand the Costs

It is important to thoroughly examine the costs associated with each individual card. Unlike with credit cards, prepaid debit card issuers are not required to provide to users a simple fee chart. 

Instead, applicants must comb through the fine print to extract the true cost of opening an account.

The worst cards charge fees for things such as activation, usage, monthly statements, and overdraft. Avoid these cards like the plague. 

 It is best to stick with names that you know and trust. Once you have found a few, focus on how each card charges for the features that you value most.

Are Your Funds Protected

Prepaid debit cards do not share the same safeguards as traditional debit or credit cards. Card companies can voluntarily choose to protect consumers, but are not obligated. If your card is lost or stolen, there are no guarantees that you’ll be reimbursed. 

The current regulation is written in a manner that does not require prepaid card companies to offer victims of fraud the option to dispute a charge.

As mentioned before, it is best to stick with the names that you know and trust because many of them are opting to provide their cardholders with the same rights and protections as debit and credit card users.

If You Call, Will Anyone Pick Up

The quality of customer service provided by prepaid card companies can vary drastically. Some organizations will only allow you to leave a voicemail or send an email regarding questions or concerns; others may charge you a fee to speak with a live person. 

Companies like Tracy Rawle’s Check City, will often take the extra measure to keep you informed of your transaction usage through email or phone.


A prepaid debit card is an excellent alternative to owning a debit card or credit card. It comes without the cost of maintaining a bank account, can be obtained without excellent credit, and won’t put you in debt. 

The most important points to understand are the differences between the cards, and the specific costs associated with the features that you use most. 

5 Must-Know Steps to Financing a New Home

Applying for a loan is just one step of many involved in financing a new home. There are several other steps you should take before you sign your loan documents and decide on a lender. Let's look at five of those steps. 

Make a Budget

You don't want to leave it up to a bank officer to decide how much house you can afford. Instead of letting them tell you how much you're approved for and then finding a house that's within that range, you need to create a budget that shows you exactly what you spend each month on bills, groceries, fun, entertainment and miscellaneous expenses. 

Then, start adding in house payments, savings for repairs and maintenance, home and flood insurance, property taxes and revised utilities. 

Then start tweaking your other spending categories until you find a manageable amount for your house payment based on your income. This will give you a guideline for the total amount you can finance. 

Compare Rates

Homeowners need to focus on getting a monthly payment they can afford, but they also want to get a good interest rate in order to keep the overall cost of the house low. Compare rates with local banks, national lenders and credit unions until you find the best deal. 

Check Your Credit

Your credit report and FICO score is going to dictate how low an interest rate you qualify for. 

Before you get financing, check your report for any black marks against you and any incorrect information. Then, work to get your information corrected and your score improved. 

Get a Home Inspection

When you're financing a home, you're making a huge commitment that you're not going to be able to back out of without some devastating consequences. 

Getting a home inspection will not only prevent you from buying a home in bad condition, it can also give you leverage to negotiate the cost down. 

Finance as Little as Possible

When you finance your new home, you will have the option to make a low down payment and wrap your closing costs into the loan. This will essentially increase your loan amount, interest charges and the overall cost of the home.

Financing your home is one of the biggest financial steps you'll take in your entire life. Take on the process carefully and thoughtfully, consult with a professional from an agency like Florida Lifestyle Realty, and remember -- it's up to you to protect your own best interests, not the lender's.

Protecting Your Finances: 6 Ways Bad Decisions Can Drain Your Wallet

When you work hard to boost your savings account, the last thing you want is to have to spend it unnecessarily. The following are six common reasons why people are forced to dip into their funds due to poor planning and bad decisions.

Maintaining a balance on your credit card

We're often advised as young adults to use a credit card periodically to build up a credit history. While this is good advice, some people pass along the myth that it's necessary to maintain a balance on the credit card to achieve this. 

If you believe this untrue myth, there's a chance that you've been paying way too much due to interest on your balance. Paying off your full balance every month will keep help you avoid paying out completely unneeded fees to the bank.

Buying cheaply

When it comes to cars, appliances, clothing, shoes, and so much more, buying the pricier option can result in more savings down the line. Cheap shoes must be replaced every year, but an expensive pair might last ten. 

Energy efficient dishwashers and furnaces have a higher price tag but earn back their price in how much they lower your utility bills.

Driving while intoxicated

Drunk driving is unfortunately very common around holidays and on weekends. Not only is it dangerous for yourself, your passengers and others on the road, but if you get caught and charged with a DUI you could lose a lot of money to fines. 

If you find yourself with DUI charges, it’s important to talk to Toledo, OH criminal defense lawyers. Legal experts can help ensure the best possible outcome, which can save a lot of money in the end.

Withdrawing from your savings account

Savings accounts are a great cushion for unforeseen disasters. Once the balance gets to a certain amount, it's tempting to use that money for a trip or a large purchase. Resist the urge to withdraw your funds and keep contributing. The future you will thank you.

Not tracking your spending

It's easy to spend a little here and a little there. When it all adds up, splurge purchases might make up a surprisingly large portion of your income. Without income tracking, there's really no way to tell, so start saving those receipts and analyzing where your dollars go.

Only paying the minimum on debt

Meeting the minimum payment on a loan month after month is admirable, but if you're able to increase the amount you put aside even by 10%, this will reduce the amount of interest you end up paying on the debt, and you'll pay it off faster, too.

If you have the funds, it's worth it to increase your debt payments as much as possible so you can become debt-free sooner with the more flexible cash flow that that entails.

Don't neglect your wallet. Help it grow with good financial habits, and enjoy the benefits that having more money can bring.

How Can you Improve Your Brand On Instagram?

Instagram is a platform for the visual niche where you can grow your brand easily. It is the place for displaying your photography skills as well as promotes your product well. 

Here are some methods, through which you can improve your brand on Instagram.

Identify Ideal Follower: You must identify the right followers on Instagram. After identifying your target market, you need to determine which people are actually getting attracted to your brand. 

Just few hours of research will help you to identify the right followers. You must look at some of the metrics like:

• What are the kinds of photos which are preferred by the followers?
• What types of persons you wish to attract?
• Which are the popular hash tags within your niche?
• What are the successful accounts which are already followed by some users within the same niche?

Ways To Interact Through Instagram: There are various social media signals through which you can interact.

# Follow

For obtaining individual attention, following is the easiest way on Instagram. Within the notification feed, the following option is shown as the separate item, where it cannot be clubbed with other items.

# Comment

Commenting is the strategy with high effectiveness, if you do it carefully. It can appear to be spammy and can surely put your account at risk if you automate the process. 

You should not find the comment section as the place of your advertisement. If you have any doubts regarding the usage , you can visit instamacro.com.

# Tag

User names can be displayed if his photo is being tapped on. Just like the follow , the users get the notification in a particular item within the specific activity feed. But these activities are only used for the users whom you personally know. But when you are tagging people, you do not know it can appear to be very spammy.

# Hash tags

For improving the quantity of following , you can also use as the effective method. The hash tags must be relevant with your brand and must sound interesting. 

For example, if you are involved into the event management business, you can use hash tag like #awesomemusicevent . It is one of the ways by which you can get connected with your audience.

# Direct message

A photo message can be sent to each user so that communication can become specific to the user. The followers, who have commented a lot about your business or brand, can be considered as the interested users. 

These interested users can be communicated specifically through direct messages. The comments must include calls to action so that the users can immediately take the action.

# User engagement

The users must be encouraged for adding hash tags. You can request the users to add hash tags to your photos. They can also tag some users whom they know well. This helps in adding references in your list. Try encouraging the users to like and comment in your photos. 

If you have included any link in your profile, encourage the users to click on them. You can also share various types of media and lifestyle photos. For increasing the engagement, you can use photos with quotes.

Try to identify your target market and interact with them properly. Your brand will only be visible if more and more users start to like, follow and tag them. Hash tags can also be helpful if you can use them in a relevant manner. 

Use the above mentioned methods to improve the communication with your followers. And don’t forget to share other simple methods which you are using for improving your online brand.