As your credit union, we constantly seek ways to help you protect your identity and your money, especially when it comes to shopping online. You already know shopping online is convenient, but now it’s about to become a lot more secure. Beginning March 1, we’re adding a new layer of security to your online, Clearwater debit or credit card purchases. … Continue reading
Student loans can be a daunting experience for many, whether it’s borrowing money for college or paying it back after graduation. Unfortunately, many criminals and unscrupulous companies take advantage of this uncertainty. Last year, Americans lost over $5 billion to student loan fraud, according to Forbes. With hundreds of millions of robocalls, emails, and other solicitations every month, those numbers … Continue reading
The phone rings and you pick up. The person on the other end claims that you owe them or the company they work for money. Sure, they know your name and have your phone number, but you wonder if this is a scam. After all, with 77% of Americans owing some kind of debt, according to the Consumer Financial Protection … Continue reading
Scammers are actively targeting businesses. Here’s how to protect your business. What’s Happening? Scammers are actively targeting business owners who received Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans, regardless of whether the loan(s) have been paid back or forgiven already. How to Spot the Scam The scammer will typically reach out by phone or email and say that you missed a court … Continue reading
We’ve been made aware of a recent imposter scam where fraudsters spoof phone numbers from legitimate businesses like Clearwater, and call unsuspecting members requesting sensitive account information. IMPORTANT REMINDER Clearwater Credit Union, will NEVER call, email, or text you and ask you to: Provide personal information like Social Security numbers, account numbers, or passwords to validate your identity. Withdraw your money … Continue reading
It’s that time of year. Everywhere you go, charitable organizations will be seeking donations to help those in need. Those solicitations work. Last year, Americans gave just over $500 billion to charity, according to the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. And nearly 20% of those donations ($100 billion) were given in December, says USA Today. While a majority of charities … Continue reading
We love the joy and magic of holidays, but it can be a challenging time for families in need who have to prioritize essentials. That’s why we’ve partnered with local organizations in Butte, Great Falls, Missoula, and Stevensville to raise funds to support holiday-giving programs working to ensure children and families in need. Donations gathered support: Mining City Christmas in … Continue reading
Criminals love the holiday season. The distracting lights, shoppers, sales, and package deliveries are the perfect distraction for fraudsters to deck the halls with your hard-earned money. A whopping 75% of Americans experienced some form of con last year, according to the AARP. To help you from becoming a holiday-season statistic, let’s check our list of holiday scams you should … Continue reading
Together, we can fight food insecurity in our community during the 24th Annual Can the Cats Canned Food Drive. Can the Cats is a friendly, off-field, food drive competition between the University of Montana and Montana State University to see who can raise the most food and funds for their local food banks over the two weeks leading up to the … Continue reading
Criminals are always looking for ways to make a quick buck. In 2022, countless hard-working Americans were swindled out of nearly $4 billion by financial advisor scams. According to the Federal Trade Commission, FBI Criminal Investigative Division, and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), this crime can happen to anyone. We’ve explored four of these advisor-related scams and ways you … Continue reading