When you were a child, did you ask your parents for ten dollars because you wanted to buy something that you couldn’t afford? Did they reply, “Okay, but you’re going to have to pay me back, plus interest.” If they did, they were teaching you a valuable lesson about borrowing. There are many types of loans. There are loans used to purchase a home (mortgage), loans used to purchase a car (auto loan), and even loans used to finance your way through college (student loans).  Unlike these, personal loans aren’t used for specific purposes. If you’re unfamiliar with what a personal loan can be used for, or if you’d like a refresher course, read on to find out more!
 

Reno News & Review (RN&R) has just commenced its “Best of Northern Nevada” campaign to celebrate the businesses, events and places that make us proud to call northern Nevada home. At Greater Nevada Credit Union we love to support the communities we serve and in honor of the “Best of Northern Nevada 2017” awards we wanted to share a few of the events and places that make this region great.
 

Every year, February brings about the start of tax season. For some, the process may be quick and painless while others may spend months gathering the needed documents. Some may completely forget the fast approaching due date of April 18^th (traditionally April 15^th but for 2017 it is the 18^th).

During tax season, procrastination can be one of your worst enemies. Waiting to file your taxes could cost you more money and have other implications down the road. Here are four reasons why you should think about filing early.

Today, there are so many choices for consumers when it comes to banking. If you’re unhappy with your current financial institution, why not think about switching? One of the biggest reasons most people stay with their financial institution is because switching seems like a difficult process, it really isn’t.  In fact, here’s a simple checklist of steps to follow. You may find yourself saying, “Wow. That was easier than I thought.”
 

Whether you just started up a small business or took over an existing one, marketing it can be intimidating if it’s not your forte. Print ads, TV commercials and radio spots are traditional methods of advertising, though they are not the easiest to put together, nor are they the most budget friendly.

Take a look at the list below for affordable ideas on how to market your small business.

May 4-8 is National Small Business Week, which is definitely worth celebrating because the small business sector makes up more than 65% of our nation’s employment base.  So to fuel your entrepreneurial spirit, take out your current business plan and ask yourself some key questions to make sure you’re still on track. Has your business model remained the same as when you first started? Have changes in the economy caused a change in your business? Have you changed your branding strategy, marketing strategy, vision, projections, etc..?  

For years, the Reno-Sparks area hasn’t been known for much more than its gambling and tourism, but recently there has been growth in our state’s technology industry. Nearly all of us in northern Nevada know Tesla is moving in, but we can’t forget about Apple, which made its deal first in 2012 and now Switch, which was recently announced to be bringing the world’s largest data center to town.

Each of these businesses moving here are great victories, though the real question is how will they impact our lives as residents?

We’ve all been there. Things are tight already, you have no idea how you’re going to pay this month’s bills, and while you’re driving to work (mentally calculating the risks of living off of ramen noodles) the transmission falls out of the car, causing you to swerve into a construction zone where nails pop three of your tires. Okay, maybe we haven’t been there exactly, but most of us know the feeling of panic when unexpected bills start piling up. The temptation to run to the nearest payday lender (just to get us through until next payday of course) can be overpowering. But before you head down that road, let’s take a look at payday loans, and find out if there are better options.

What’s the difference between getting a business loan with a credit union versus a community bank? The Business Services team at Greater Nevada Credit Union (GNCU) gets that question often, and this is how I explain it.