National Credit Education Month - March 2020

National Credit Education month is 31 days when Americans are urged to take another look at their finances. This can be done by reviewing your credit report, paying off debt, or putting money in a savings account. The most important part of this month is taking a look at your credit and learning how your score is computed and how to improve it. 

We are taking this time to put together some of our most popular blogs about credit and a couple of programs we offer here at Diamond Valley to get you financially fit.

If you would like to review your credit report and find some products and services that could benefit your financial health, be sure to check out ValueCheck from Diamond Valley Federal Credit Union. Schedule your ValueCheck today and we'll look over your current credit report and find products/services we offer that could benefit you! (Get more information about ValueCheck below)

At Diamond Valley, "Our FOCUS is YOUR future" is more than a tagline, it's the way we do business. 

The Importance of Being Financially Fit

Are you ready to stretch those financial fitness muscles? We hope so, because it’s time to get financially fit!
Being financially fit means living a life of complete financial responsibility. The Center for Financial Services Innovation (CFSI), also known as the Financial Health Network, defines four basic components of financial health: Spend, Save, Borrow and Plan. These components reference everyday financial activities. As such, every choice you make in terms of these four activities either builds or detracts from your financial fitness. Like physical fitness, you can beef up those fitness muscles a little bit more each day.

Being financially fit is crucial for a well-balanced, stress-free life.

Can I Trust Credit Karma? 

Q: I’m trying to increase my credit score ahead of applying for a large loan, so I’m considering signing up for Credit Karma to track my score. How accurate are the credit scores it shares? Is there anything I need to be aware of before signing up for this service?

A: Credit Karma is a legitimate company; however, for a variety of reasons, its scores may vary greatly from the number your lender will share with you when it checks your credit. We have answers to all your questions about Credit Karma.

The Do's and Don'ts of Credit Repair 

If you’ve recently been rejected from a credit application of any kind, you may be looking at a poor credit score for any number of reasons. You might have been late with your credit card payments, have an outstanding judgment against you or have even been frauded or victimized by identity theft.
Whatever the cause of the fall in your score, you’re probably looking for ways to get it back on track. Tread carefully! There are lots of dishonest opportunists looking to make a quick buck off your pressing need. Don’t become the next victim of a credit repair scam. In fact, there’s nothing a credit repair company can do for you that you can’t do yourself.
This probably has you wondering how to untangle the legitimate steps you should be taking now from the pointless and costly actions. Look no further! Our handy guide of credit repair dos and don’ts will help get you on the road to improving your credit score.

Credit Builder Loan

Exclusively From Diamond Valley Federal Credit Union 

• No Credit?
  Limited Credit?
  Need help repairing your credit?
  We have a program just for you!

  Establishing or building credit can seem like an impossible and confusing task at times. Sometimes you just need a helping hand.

  We completely understand and that is why we have created a program to help you!

4 Steps to Credit Repair 

Consumers are sometimes faced with taking steps to repair tarnished credit. Here are four steps to help make that happen.

How to Dispute an Error On Your Credit Report 

If all goes well, your report will hold no surprises and your score will be in excellent shape, or steadily increasing. Sometimes, though, you may find an error in your report. It might be a sharp decline in your score when you know you haven’t changed your spending or bill-paying habits, a large transaction you’re sure you’ve never made or an unfamiliar line of credit. While it can be disconcerting to find a mistake in your credit report, the good news is you can contest errors like these and fix your score.

How Many Credit Cards Should I Own? 

The importance of maintaining a good credit score is old news. As you likely know, the higher your score, the more attractive you will be to potential lenders, making larger loans and the best interest rates more accessible. 

Hopefully, you’re working hard at keeping that score high by using your cards and paying your bills on time. You may be wondering, though, if more is better. Should you open a few more and get more available credit? Or, are too many cards a liability to your score?  

Ask About ValueCheck from Diamond Valley 

When was the last time a financial institution asked you “What are your financial goals?” When you get a ValueCheck at Diamond Valley, this is one of the first questions we ask. ValueCheck is a program where “Our Focus Is Your Future” is more than just a tag line for our Credit Union.

When you come in for a ValueCheck check appointment, you sit down for a One-On-One review of your current credit report. We will review your current accounts, item-by-item, and find ways that you can SAVE money to help you reach your financial goals.