Jan 22, 2021 | Blog, Safety Tips
By Veronica Baxter According to credit agency Equifax, identity theft is the most common form of financial fraud. A victim’s personal information is stolen in order to access existing credit and bank accounts and to open new credit accounts. This article will explain...
Jan 21, 2021 | Blog, Financial Fitness
By Charlestien Harris It’s that time again, tax preparation season. The IRS’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program offers free basic tax return preparation to qualified individuals. The VITA program has operated for over 50 years, offering free tax help...
Jan 15, 2021 | Blog, Financial Fitness
By Charlestien Harris Few people realize that nursing home residents are eligible to receive the Economic Impact Payment or the stimulus payment commonly known as EIP. During the first round of EIP checks, payments were issued to the taxpayers who filed a 2019...
Jan 4, 2021 | Blog, Financial Fitness
By Charlestien Harris As a HUD certified housing counselor, I try to stay informed on current issues that could directly affect numerous consumers facing mounting debt and other issues related to housing and finances. Last month, the Federal Housing Finance Agency...
Dec 30, 2020 | Blog, Public Policy
By Janie Ginocchio We’ve recently talked about taking advantage of a new savings opportunity in Arkansas by using split direct deposit for state tax refunds, and in previous blog posts we’ve talked about making a New Year’s resolution to save as well as best practices...
Dec 22, 2020 | Blog, Financial Fitness
By Charlestien Harris Gift cards are a popular and convenient way to give someone a gift. They’re also a popular way for scammers to steal money from you, because gift cards are like cash. If you buy a gift card and someone it wasn’t intended for uses it, you probably...
Dec 22, 2020 | Blog, Public Policy
On Dec. 21, Congress passed a pandemic relief and economic stimulus bill that includes $12 billion for Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) and Minority Deposit Institutions (MDIs) to help ensure funding reaches very small businesses and communities...
Dec 18, 2020 | Blog, Public Policy
By Janie Ginocchio In April 2019, we announced that Gov. Asa Hutchinson signed Act 774 of 2019, which required two direct deposit lines on the state income tax form so you could split your state refund into two bank accounts. This year, we facilitated the passage...
Dec 17, 2020 | Blog, Financial Fitness
By Charlestien Harris I have been getting numerous inquiries about next steps when it comes to the pandemic and mortgage solutions available to homeowners as they navigate this difficult time. Therefore, I have provided the five steps that should be taken below. This...
Dec 7, 2020 | Blog, Financial Fitness
By Charlestien Harris During this time of year, everyone is gearing up for a busy online shopping season, especially scammers. Risks of getting scammed are higher during the holidays, but you can keep your money safe by following these simple online shopping tips....
