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
Apply by March 31, 2024. We’re thrilled to announce that we’re accepting applications for the 2024 Clearwater Credit Union Scholarship Program. We’ll award eight $2,500 scholarships to graduating high school seniors . . . a total of $20,000. One $2,500 scholarship is awarded in memory of William R. “Lefty” Campbell to a high school senior pursuing a teaching certificate. Lefty … 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
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
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
Tell Us About Your BFF (Best Financial Friend) Clearwater is committed to delivering the necessary tools to protect your financial future. That’s why we’d like to introduce you to a new service called Trusted Contact. A Trusted Contact gives you an added layer of protection by providing us with someone we can contact if we cannot reach you and are concerned … Continue reading
Big energy bills can catch anyone off guard. It’s no wonder families throughout Montana are interested in energy efficiency upgrades and ways to save money on their bills. However, criminals are always lurking in the shadows. With colder months on the horizon, let’s look at some of the most common energy efficiency scams and how to avoid them. Energy Saving … Continue reading
There are plenty of good reasons to improve your home’s energy efficiency, including a boost to your monthly budget. With a few tips and some advice from the Department of Energy, these six upgrades could save you money and add comfort to your home as winter inches closer. Give your old water heater a break: According to the Department of … Continue reading
According to the Federal Trade Commission, imposter scams are the most reported type of scam in the United States. An imposter scam is when someone contacts you by phone, email, or text and impersonates someone of authority to convince you to send them money or gift cards or to share personal information so they can commit identity theft. IMPORTANT REMINDER … Continue reading
Welcome to National Homeownership Month! While finding and financing the perfect home becomes a reality for millions of Americans every year, too many become victims of mortgage fraud, including refinance rip-offs. We have some tips to help you avoid these home loan scams and how to protect your family from financial loss. Spotting Common Mortgage Scams According to the Federal … Continue reading