Saving money can be difficult at times, especially after the challenges that so many have faced during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite challenges, it can be done with proper planning, due diligence, and commitment. No matter how big or small the goal is, there are 3 basic steps that you can take to help achieve your saving goal. 1. Analyze Your Finances Part of planning is making the plan realistic. When it comes to financial goals, you need to be mindful of your regular income and expenses. You can put together a budgeting spreadsheet to itemize your sources of income and expenses which includ ..read more

You asked and we listened! Bridge Credit Union is excited to announce that our member service and lending departments will be available for your questions via text. We know you’re busy! We understand that not everyone can be on the phone when they think of a question to ask. Whether you’re at work or running errands, sometimes texting is more convenient than talking on the phone. Your time is valuable to us which is why we now offer our text lines. We offer 2 text line phone numbers depending on your needs. To reach member services, send texts to: (800) 434-7300 Use these keywords to get an in ..read more

Apple Pay and Google Pay are convenient services that allow you to pay for purchases only using your smartphone. Bridge is supported on both services and they are easy to set up. Gone are the days where you need to worry about having your cash or card on you. The convenience is great and it is also common knowledge that cash and coins can carry germs. Your cards are no exception. This is something to consider given the current situation of the global pandemic caused by COVID-19. According to a new study from the National Institute of Health, COVID-19 can last anywhere from hours to days on har ..read more

A credit score is a three-digit number designed to represent your creditworthiness, or how likely you are to repay a lender on time. Potential lenders and creditors look at your credit score as one factor when deciding whether to offer you new credit. Lenders may also use your credit score to set the interest rates and other terms for any credit they offer. Credit scores typically range from 300 to 850. Within that range, scores can usually be placed into one of five categories: poor, fair, good, very good, and excellent. Credit score ranges – what are they? There’s more than one ..read more

As real estate continues to boom and housing costs continue to soar across the country, it is important to recognize your goals and avoid these common mistakes to have the most success in your future homeownership.   Shopping before you drop.   While it is exciting to look at houses in your area and figure out your dream home, many people are often disappointed in the long run when they overestimate how much they can afford. They realize their ultimate dream home is too expensive for their budget. To avoid this, figure out finances with a professi ..read more

Setting goals for your money is the first step in designing a sound financial plan. Whether you hope to save and invest enough to retire early or simply need to build up an emergency fund, the right financial strategy can strengthen your efforts in reaching those goals. If you need some direction on which tactics work best, here are 10 ways to improve your odds of achieving financial success. However, if you’re thinking about a new financial roadmap for yourself you may want to enlist the help of a professional financial advisor to help craft the right one. 1. Start With a Written Plan Ha ..read more

Like going to the gym or eating a healthy diet, saving money is one of those concepts that’s simple to grasp but weirdly challenging to put into practice. We know that it’s something we should be doing. But paycheck after paycheck, it’s the same routine: after the bills have been paid and the regular expenses have been looked after, there just isn’t quite enough left over for our savings goals. We blame our lack of financial willpower and promise ourselves we’ll do better next paycheck, but more often than not, the cycle repeats itself. Paying yourself first is an effective savings strategy be ..read more

For decades past, being responsible with “Bill-Pay management” involved checking your mailbox for bills and paying them with paper checks in envelopes. Times have changed and online bill pay is offered by financial institutions including Bridge Credit Union! With online Bill Pay, you can view, schedule, and pay your bills right from your computer or phone.   One of the biggest advantages of Bill Pay is that Bill Pay is secure. Nowadays, the mail system may not be the safest option to send a check. Using online banking reduces the risk of identity theft. Bridge Credit Union uses the best s ..read more

  It’s no secret that millennials have had a tough time getting started with careers, families and saving for retirement. Everything from the Great Recession, to the rising cost of higher education, to the increasing scarcity of better-paying jobs has taken its toll on people born in the last two decades of the 20th century. And while retirement may be three to four decades away for even the oldest of this bunch, there are some very real problems that they will face if they don’t take action soon. Let’s look at three: Long-term impact of student loan debt. Getting into the college of the ..read more

Electronic devices known as skimmers — which steal personal information from gas pumps — were found more Ohio Counties.  This brings the number to seven counties affected by this emerging form of identity theft. Two state agencies are working together and with local authorities to catch those responsible. Read the Full Article on Dayton Daily News. How to Protect Yourself To guard against being victimized, consumers are advised to use credit, rather than debit, cards. This prevents the thieves from also making off with PIN numbers providing access to bank accounts. While the dev ..read more