Each month, Neighbors contributes an article to Parents Magazine on financial education topics.  Credit scores are the numerical gauge of a person’s financial trustworthiness; this number directly impacts a consumer’s access to credit or borrowed money and how much that borrowed money will cost.  Learn more about how your credit score is calculated and the influence it has on your bottom line.

Plastic cards are everywhere and they are used for everything!  From adults with credit cards to kids with gift cards, plastic has permeated our lives so knowing about the various cards can be a real benefit!

The old adage is that "hindsight is 20/20” holds true for most people when reviewing financial decisions made during our late teens and early twenties.   Think about what you would do differently; which decisions were smart and which ones were costly.  Read how one Certified Financial Planner reviews her youthful spending and reflects on what she would have done if she could speak to her twenty-year-old self.

Identity theft is rampant and over 9 million Americans have their identity stolen each year.  Knowing how to prevent your personal information from being stolen is the most important step in stopping the problem and keeping your good name in tact.

Credit cards, when used responsibly, are a great way for consumers to build credit.  It’s ideal for people who are just starting out with building a credit history as well as those who are recovering from a major life event like illness, bankruptcy, divorce or job loss. Secured Credit Cards are a great way to quickly open the doors to building credit.

BATON ROUGE, LA. – Neighbors Federal Credit Union is forging ahead with members’ needs in mind!  With new online tools and mobile applications, Neighbors FCU is proud to provide the latest technology our members need to securely manage their finances.

Neighbors has celebrated our members with a special week of "Thanks” during our annual "Member Appreciation Week” since 2008.  November 5^th--10^th highlighted our gratitude with treats and several prizes at all of our branches.  Get the details here:

EBR’s inaugural "Back 2 School Expo” was a huge success!  Attendees learned about school web sites, registration, attendance policies and transportation routes.  Also available was information on school lunch applications with nutrition information, as well as resources for the magnet and gifted and talented programs.  The event provided over 500 people information that will help them start the school year off with great success!

Neighbors Federal Credit Union gives students preparing for careers a head start with money management.  Since 2009, ITI and Neighbors have partnered to bring financial education to students enrolled at the college.  Students cover banking accounts and account features as well as money management, budgeting, credit and credit scores in their session.  All workshops are designed to improve the financial capabilities of students who will be entering the workforce when they complete their studies.

Cosigners are being asked to take a risk that the landlord or lending institution is not willing to take, so carefully consider the character and financial trustworthiness of the person you are guarantying.  Be sure that you can afford to pay this debt and that you want to accept this responsibility.