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Credit cards are the most versatile product in your wallet and can be the ticket to a strong credit score and healthy financial habits. By mastering the most popular financial tool, you can demonstrate to lenders that you are a responsible borrower, ushering in new opportunities. Shopping for a new card? Continue reading to see if the Platinum Preferred Mastercard® is a good fit for your banking habits.

The brisk changing of the seasons and the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday gives us a chance to look back at the year and reflect on the things we’re most grateful for. Here at American Heritage Credit Union, 2022 has brought us many new experiences, relationships, and opportunities to advance our mission in the communities we serve. Here are some memorable highlights.

With December right around the corner and holiday festivities quickly approaching, it’s also the time of year when the needs of your community are the most apparent. Though food, clothes, and essential goods are needed all year round, the winter season brings the greatest needs for these items. Whether you want to make a donation, take action, or find new organizations to help into the new year, there are many opportunities to spread joy within your own community.

The holidays are right around the corner, and you likely already started your holiday shopping. As much as you’d like to give your loved ones everything on their wish list, the cost of gifts, decorations, travel, and other holiday festivities can really add up. However, with a little bit of planning and responsible spending, you can celebrate the holiday season and keep your budget intact.

While the holiday season may be a time of tradition for many, changing economic factors will force many to adapt their habits to fit a tighter budget this year. According to Deloitte’s 2022 Holiday Retail Survey, shoppers plan to buy 9 gifts in 2022 versus 16 in 2021, citing rising prices. Despite this, consumers plan to maintain spending levels, spending an average of $1,455, similar to last year’s $1,463 average. Knowing that shoppers don’t expect their dollar to go as far, what options exist for budget-conscious consumers who still want to create happy holidays?

International Credit Union Day ®, also known as ICU Day®, is celebrated on the third Thursday of October. This year marks the 74th anniversary of the day, with the theme “Empower Your Financial Future with a Credit Union™.” This special day is brought to you by World Council of Credit Unions (WOCCU) and Credit Union National Association (CUNA). The third Thursday of October is also known as National Get Smart About Credit Day. Knowing how credit works and how your score is calculated is a great way to live this year’s theme and empower your financial future.

Ghosts, goblins, witches, and vampires – everyone knows All Hallows’ Eve is full of creepy creatures. But the scariest of them all may be scammers who try to trick you into revealing your sensitive personal information. Millions of Americans have their identities stolen or compromised each year, and dealing with the aftermath of identity theft and fraud is no treat.

You might be familiar with some of the things that make credit unions unique. They’re democratically controlled, not-for-profit financial cooperatives that are owned by their members. Instead of being driven by profits, credit unions are built on the philosophy of “people helping people” and focused on supporting their members’ financial well-being.

Purchasing a vehicle is a significant life milestone and financial achievement. Whether you’ve owned multiple vehicles during your life or are shopping for your very first set of wheels, American Heritage can help you from beginning to end of your purchasing journey.

There are only twenty-four hours in a day, and how you spend each one can impact your entire life. If you frequently find yourself trying to magically turn back the clock, you may be in “time debt.”

You already have lots of reasons to love your home. Here’s one more: Your home is also one of your most powerful financial tools — because of your home equity. Your equity is the portion of your home that you own (as opposed to your mortgage lender). If you’ve been making mortgage payments for some time, you’ve probably built significant equity. And thanks to home equity financing options, you can take advantage of your investment without selling your place.

Money can’t buy happiness – is that even true? When it comes to wealth and well-being, great minds think differently. Arthur Schopenhauer once declared, “Money alone is absolutely good,” while Seneca the Younger cautioned, “Money has never yet made anyone rich.” Perhaps a balanced perspective is needed – and as the legendary financial commentator Louis Rukeyser once quipped, “The best way to keep money in perspective is to have some.”

On August 24, 2022, President Biden announced a three-part plan help federal student loan borrowers transition back to regular payment as pandemic-related support ended. The plan details $10,000 in canceled debt for those earning less than $125,000 per year and $20,000 for Pell Grant recipients, as well as future changes for loan repayment.

American Heritage offers convenient online banking tools. Our web browser-based Online Teller and smartphone app, Mobile Teller, are here to make your life more streamlined and accessible. If you have yet to try our digital experience, keep reading to find out why you should!

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was passed by Congress in March 2020 in order to help struggling Americans during the pandemic. Included in the plan were assistance programs for workers, families, businesses, state and local governments, and more. While many are familiar with the $2 trillion stimulus package distributed earlier this year, the CARES Act has another benefit: the federal student loan payment pause.

Now that we’ve created the Financial Wellness Dictionary for young adults to educate themselves on the most relevant terms to begin their financial wellness journey, the next step is to establish yourself at a financial institution. In today’s blog, we look at a handful of starter accounts, products, and services young adults should have or start familiarizing themselves with to continue towards financial independence.

National Back-to-School Prep Day occurs annually on August 15, as the summer winds down and fall is just around the corner. While the hallmark of the back-to-school season is shopping for notebooks, backpacks, and supplies, there are plenty of lifestyle changes you shouldn’t forget. Whether your children are back in the classroom or on a hybrid model, here are seven smart tips for a smooth back to school transition this year.

If you did a double-take the last time you checked out at the store or paid at the pump, you’re not alone. Right now, inflation is in overdrive, and people are feeling the pinch in their wallets. Inflation may be out of your control, but you can act to take the sting out of rising prices.

The Federal Reserve raised interest rates again, but what does that mean for the average American and their finances? By knowing what United States Federal Reserve is and what power it has over our country’s economy, you can make more informed financial decisions that directly affect your future.

Debit cards have evolved quite a bit over the years. Here at American Heritage, our Independence Debit Card just keeps getting better – with new features and perks to help you save time and get more for your money. Let’s take a closer look.