Taking control of your financial health starts with education.
The IRS has announced that the federal income tax filing season for tax year 2020 returns begins on Friday, February 12, 2021. Although tax seasons frequently begin in late January, the additional time will allow the IRS to update its programming and test its system to take into account any changes made by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (CAA 2021), signed into law on December 27, 2020. Last-minute changes to tax law have already been included in IRS tax forms and instructions.
The U.S. Department of Education has designated February as Financial Aid Awareness Month, and this year there’s a lot to talk about. On December 21, 2020, Congress passed the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, another relief package in response to the pandemic. Included in the bill were several provisions related to education, including many changes to financial aid. Here are some key highlights.
In today’s world it is more important than ever to focus on the things that we can control to better safeguard our financial future. It’s easy to get complacent, lulled into a false sense of security, when there are many other more urgent things to think about.
Sweetheart scams, also known as romance scams, are becoming increasingly common as people seek out connections online. The FTC reports that Americans lost over $209 million to sweetheart scams in 2019 — which is 40% more than reported the previous year.
This is a good time to check in with your loan servicer to ensure you’re on a payment plan that fits your situation. Our partners at GreenPath recommend you do this soon; when loan payments resume, the government will be activating 30 million borrowers at one time, and you may find it difficult to reach your loan servicer.
On Sunday, December 27, 2020, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (CAA 2021) was signed into law. A $900 billion emergency relief package is included as part of this omnibus spending bill. It is intended to assist individuals and businesses during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and accompanying economic crisis. Major relief provisions are summarized here, as well as some additional tax provisions.
If your New Year’s resolution is to renew your focus on financial wellness, this 7-step financial action plan will give you the tools you need to succeed. The best part? It’s easy!
On December 29, the Internal Revenue Service and the Treasury Department announced that they are beginning to distribute the second round of Economic Impact Payments, also known as a “stimulus check,” as part of the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021 to millions of Americans who received the first round of payments earlier this year.
The holidays are upon us, and so is the increase in risk for identity theft. Fictional characters are a big part of the season, but sadly they’ve also become a big part of identity thieves’ tool kits as well. According to a Federal Trade Commission Report, over the last five years, Synthetic Identity Fraud has become the fastest-growing type of financial crime in the United States and accounts for 20% of the credit-related losses.
The rise of online shopping during the pandemic has led to a proportional increase in online fraud and scams. As the Holiday season approaches, we want to make sure you are armed with the knowledge and the skills to protect yourself. With a little awareness, you can avoid online shopping fraud as the busiest time of the year for retail shopping is shifting into high gear.
Friday, July 30 was the first I Love My Credit Union Day, where we asked you, our loyal members to tell us what makes SESLOC so special. We are humbled! Thank you for the kind and heartwarming messages left on Facebook, Instagram and on the wall in each branch.
Preparing for back-to-school season? Experts are predicting back-to-school spending to increase this year. Did you know you can redeem your SESLOC HomeFREE Checking™ debit card and Visa Signature® Rewards card points for gift cards and merchandise to get ready for the new school year? Check out the top 10 SESLOC Rewards for back to school season.
Members are already earning SESLOC Reward points on eligible debit and credit card purchases, redeemable for gift cards, travel experiences, merchandise and more. However, Level Up, our new Member Benefits Program, celebrates all that our members do with SESLOC.
Whether you prefer Santa Maria style tri tip, classic burgers and dogs, or veggie kabobs, you can redeem your SESLOC HomeFREE Checking™ debit card and Visa Signature® Rewards card points for gift cards and merchandise to plan your next backyard get-together. Check out the top 10 SESLOC Rewards for summer BBQs.
Shopping for Father’s Day gifts? SESLOC Rewards now offers more gift cards to popular retailers! You can redeem your SESLOC HomeFREE Checking™ debit card and Visa Signature® Rewards card points for a gift card to give, or to use towards that perfect gift! Check out the top 10 SESLOC Rewards for Father’s Day.
