Living Greater

As we get closer to the new year, I believe we’re all trying to imagine what the future holds. None of us has a crystal ball to see how our community and economy will continue to adapt and adjust to current and future challenges. However, we can trust in the foundation that we’ve built together through the turbulent months of 2020. This is the second interview in a two-part series with Greater Nevada Credit Union’s President and CEO, Wally Murray. 
 

(November 23, 2020) – Greater Nevada Credit Union (GNCU) has contributed $25,000 as the first corporate sponsor and financial institution to the Audacity Fund Reno, which provides funding, education and support to local business owners from underserved populations.   
 

More and more people are looking to indulge in the holiday season a little bit earlier this year. Many hope to spark some much-needed joy by putting up festive decorations, baking up some favorite goodies, or creating the perfect gift list.
 
However, without careful planning, many Americans could find themselves in a world of debt come January 1. For example, in 2019, Americans took on an average of $1,325 of holiday debt, according to a survey conducted by MagnifyMoney. But come January 2020, 78% of people weren’t able to pay off their holiday debt.

It seems like decades ago since the COVID-19 pandemic first began impacting our communities in Nevada and California. In the months since March 2020, all of us have experienced a lifetime’s worth of change. This is the first interview in a two-part series with Greater Nevada Credit Union’s President and CEO, Wally Murray. 

Financial fears—those thoughts that keep you up at night with worry and concern. They’re like the grown-up version of the monster under the bed or the ghost in the closet. These shadowy specters haunt more than half of U.S. adults and can cause anxiety and mood changes. But unlike childhood nightmares, the financial frights persist during daytime hours and can affect an individual’s ability to concentrate and achieve their professional goals.

However, there are ways to conjure an antidote or counter-curse to banish these money monsters from your life. Here are six common financial fears among U.S. adults and ways to overpower them.

Sometimes, you want to be able to access a banking resource on your terms. Maybe you just remembered to pay your credit card bill at 2 a.m. Or, you want to be able to check your account balance or deposit a check from the comfort of your couch. With digital banking resources, you can manage your money where and when you need to, which gives you time back to focus on what is most important to you.

Ice cream, puppies, team sports and credit unions—all four of these have an official day to applaud the goodness they bring to the world. In honor of International Credit Union Day, here are a few reasons why credit unions deserve some accolades on this day, and really every day of the year.

If you ask most people how much money they have, they’ll likely tell you the current balance of their checking account. It’s fundamental to each person’s finances. Along with a savings account, a checking account is one of the cornerstones of how you manage your money. That’s why choosing the right type of checking product can greatly improve your financial health and satisfaction.

It’s crucial to protect your identity right now, as many criminals and scam artists see COVID-19 as an opportunity to prey on Americans—especially seniors. According to data from the Federal Trade Commission, Americans have lost $145 million to fraud related to COVID-19. Since the beginning of 2020, consumers have filed more than 205,000 reports of fraud linked to the coronavirus, according to the FTC.

In less than 10 months, almost 1,000 Greater Nevada members have taken the leap and invested in themselves by creating good savings habits. This is especially encouraging given the statistics regarding the number of Americans who haven't been able to save money for an emergency. About 78% of American workers live paycheck-to-paycheck, more than half of U.S. households don't have an emergency savings fund, and 40% would struggle to cope with a $400 unexpected expense.