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Loans have been around for millennia, with records dating back to early Mesopotamian farmers borrowing seeds and livestock and using their yields for repayment. Today, loans remain one of the most classic banking products available due to their simplicity, versatility, and usefulness. A personal loan is a sum of money borrowed from a credit union, bank, or other lender, paid back over a set amount of time in fixed monthly installments, with interest.

February 14 is Valentine’s Day – the perfect opportunity to celebrate romance and spend quality time with your special someone. But the traditional trappings of the holiday – red roses, fancy restaurants, giant heart-shaped boxes of chocolate – can really add up. In fact, the average American spent over $160 on Valentine’s Day last year. If you’re looking for some fresh ideas that are easier on your wallet, read on!

If you have limited savings or less-than-perfect credit, the dream of owning your own home may feel out of reach. You’re not alone, but don’t think you’re out of luck either. FHA loans are designed to help people with these challenges achieve the goal of homeownership by providing a mortgage that may work with their financial situation.

Debt consolidation is a process in which multiple debts are combined into a single payment. Benefits of debt consolidation can range from reducing the number of individual payments to paying less over time with a lower interest rate. There are several ways a borrower can consolidate their debt, and some solutions are more suited to certain debts than others.

Using less energy, decorating on a budget, taking care of small problems before they become big ones, and doing basic home renovations and repairs yourself can help you keep your home costs down. Sound good? Then this guide is for you.

From monthly checking account fees to surprise ATM surcharges, Americans are paying way too much for their banking. If you’ve ever gotten an unexpected bank charge – or a few of them – you know how it feels. If your New Year’s resolution is to save money, knowing about these eight common banking fees and how to avoid them is a great first step.

Maybe you overdid it with the holiday spending. Between buying presents and traveling to see loved ones, it’s easy to lose track of exactly how much you’re spending. But when you get your January statements and see all your purchases in black and white… ouch. Seeing a lower balance than you’d like in your checking account and a higher credit card bill than you expected can be just the wake-up call you need to take control of your spending.

In this series, we take a look at the inner workings of the Credit Union and meet some of the champions who help our members in every facet of their financial lives. This month, we met up with expert Kevin Tressel, who leads a group of 30-plus employees with disciplines ranging from Programming, Networking, Security and IS Operations.

Whether you’re a new homeowner or you settled into your place a while ago, these easy DIY home projects can help you save money over the long run. Get started while you’re cooped up inside during the cold winter months, and help lower your energy bills and improve your quality of life throughout the year.

Holiday spirit can encourage increased tipping and additional cash gifts for workers in the service industry and other customer-facing roles. It’s a thoughtful gesture and is a great way to pay a special thanks to our everyday heroes.

In this series, we take a look at the inner workings of the Credit Union and meet some of the champions who help our members in every facet of their financial lives. This month, we met up with expert Fawn Martin, whose team organizes, tracks, and structures American Heritage's projects, both big and small.

Whatever you associate the holiday with, there are others in the community who may not get to experience the same joy around the holidays. But you can help change that by finding ways to give back to your community. Here are a few simple ways to give back on Thanksgiving and spread some holiday cheer.

This week, the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (AFCE) holds its annual International Fraud Awareness Week from November 14–20, 2021. The ACFE is the world’s largest anti-fraud organization and works with its partners to provide training and prevention education.

For many veterans and military members, that may include buying their first or next home, or refinancing the one they’ve got. And the VA loan program — a valuable part of your VA benefits — could be a great way to get there.

Beat the lines, the “sold out” signs, and get every item on your list by getting ahead of this year’s crowd. November marks the start of holiday shopping for many – and you should aim to be among them this year.

In this series, we take a look at the inner workings of the Credit Union and meet some of the champions who help our members in every facet of their financial lives. This month, we met up with expert Kristine Belser, who brings her diverse human resource management experience and ideas to the associates at American Heritage.

International Credit Union (ICU) Day® has been celebrated on the third Thursday of October since 1948. For its 73rd anniversary, this year’s theme is “Building financial health for a brighter tomorrow.” ICU Day® is brought to you by World Council of Credit Unions (WOCCU) and Credit Union National Association (CUNA), two organizations that have helped support the credit union mission for decades.

When should you start thinking about your estate plan? According to many experts, the answer is as soon as you’re an adult. However, only 1 out of 3 adults has taken care of estate planning essentials like creating a will. If you’re not one of them, it’s time to start thinking about your estate plan.

Your smartphone is a fantastic tool. Where else can you stay in touch with friends, make a work call, manage your checking account, and book a vacation – all while on the go? These portable devices make everyday tasks quick and easy, but they certainly carry with them some risk. After all, they’re often used to enter or view personal and financial information, making them prime targets for identity theft and phone scamming.

In this series, we take a look at the inner workings of the Credit Union and meet some of the champions who help our members in every facet of their financial lives. This month, we met up with expert Mike Dinneen, who oversees American Heritage’s Marketing Department and leads member communication in digital and print media.