The More You Know, The Better You'll Manage Your Money Build Your Personal Bank of Knowledge

Make your banking experience better and sharpen your money management skills. Our blogs cover a range of topics every consumer needs to know. It's especially important to stay on top of tips for fighting fraud and avoiding scams.

Each blog is brief and easy to read. A few minutes now could save you dollars and headaches down the road.

The Great Debate: Renting vs. Owning a Home
In your personal financial life, few decisions are as significant and debated as the choice between renting and owning a home. Both options have their pros and cons, and understanding the financial implications of each is crucial for making an informed decision.
Renting vs. Owning a Home
June is National Audiobook Month. Our Recs Are Worth Checking Out Year Around.

As the sun shines brighter and our days grow longer, there's no better time to lose yourself in captivating narratives while you soak up the summer vibes. Maybe that’s why June is National Audiobook Month.

June is National Audiobook Month
Protect the Seniors in Your Circle Against Financial Fraud

2024 marked the start of the Silver Tsunami, the period when the largest number of Baby Boomers turn 65. Many of those boomers are looking after parents and grandparents. Scammers have taken note and are increasingly targeted seniors.

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How Our Customers Use Home Equity Lines of Credit (HELOC)

If you own your home and plan to take out a substantial loan, a home equity line of credit can be a great option. These loans are flexible and have lower interest rates than alternatives like credit cards and personal loans.

HELOC
Mom's Money Wisdom: Time-Tested Tips That Still Hold True Today

Think back to your childhood – remember all those wise thoughts your mom shared? Even if we rolled our eyes at the time, it's incredible how much of it still rings true, especially when it comes to managing our money.

Mom's Money Wisdom
Saving for Life’s Milestones: Why it’s a Marathon, not a Sprint.

In the journey of life, there are significant milestones we aspire to achieve – buying a house, retiring comfortably, or funding our children's education. Yet, the path to these milestones isn't a sprint; it's more like running a marathon.

Saving is a Marathon
Fit and Frugal: How to Get Fit Without Going Broke

In a world where pricey gym memberships, expensive workout gear and trendy diet plans dominate the fitness scene, getting fit can often feel like a luxury reserved for those with deep pockets. The truth is achieving your fitness goals doesn't have to break the bank.

Fit and Frugal
Mastering Debt Reduction: 6 Key Strategies to Financial Freedom

Debt can often feel like an insurmountable mountain looming over your financial horizon. Armed with the right strategies and mindset, you can confront debt head-on and reclaim control of your financial future.

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Maximizing Your Tax Return: Smart Ways to Get More Out of This Windfall

For many people, tax season means a refund from the federal government. Before you prepare to splurge, consider some savvy strategies for getting the most from your windfall.

Maximizing Your Tax Return
Love Online Can Be Costly If You Lose Your Head

Finding love online can come with a price. Romance scams are on the rise as cryptocurrency becomes a prevalent way to invest. Nearly 70,000 people reported a romance scam, and reported losses hit an astonishing $1.3 billion.

Romance Scams
Protect Yourself Against Quishing

From paying for parking to scanning the menu at a restaurant, QR codes have become an integral part of our daily lives. Unfortunately, scammers are now exploiting the convenience of QR codes to perpetrate scams.

Protect Yourself Against Quishing
Money Management Tips to Share with Your College Student

Do you have a child in college? Parents of college students have high hopes that their child’s education will set them up for a satisfying career and financial security. It’s also a time for your child to learn how to manage a bank account, budget and develop solid money management skills.

Money Management Tips to Share with Your College Student
Cosigning a Mortgage: What to Expect

Housing inventory is painfully low in our region and home prices continue to climb in many neighborhoods. It’s a challenging market for first-time buyers and would-be buyers with financial constraints. Cosigning a mortgage is one option loved ones with the means and credit are increasingly considering.

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Is It Safe to Use Your Debit Card Online?

While using a debit card online can be convenient, it also comes with certain risks that may have you rethinking your online payment options. The reason? Debit cards are linked directly to your bank account, which means that if someone gains access to your card information, they can potentially drain its entire balance. 

Is It Safe to Use Your Debit Card Online?
Protecting Yourself Against Financial Fraud on Vacation: 8 Essential Tips

Vacations are a time to relax, explore new places and create beautiful memories. However, amidst the excitement, it's crucial not to overlook the potential risks of financial fraud.

Protecting Yourself Against Financial Fraud on Vacation
Preparing To Send Your Son or Daughter Off to College?

Whether your soon-to-be college freshman will be starting college thousands of miles away, a couple of hours away or living at home, this is a time for learning of life management skills as well as traditional academic topics.

Preparing To Send Your Son or Daughter Off to College?
Personal Loans: Pros, Cons & How to Apply

Heritage Personal loans can be a great way to get the funds you need for a big purchase or unexpected expense. However, before you borrow money, weigh the pros and cons.

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Why Young People Should Consider Banking Like Their Grandparents

It’s graduation season, a milestone for young adults whether they are completing high school, trade school or a college degree. It’s also a good time to evaluate where to bank as you begin a new chapter in life.

Why Young People Should Consider Banking Like Their Grandparents
Before Adopting a Furry Friend, Make Sure You’ve Set a Budget

Owning a dog can bring a lot of joy and love into your life, but it is important to be prepared for the financial responsibility that comes with owning a pet. Budget before adopting your new best friend so you can provide your dog with the care and attention deserved.

Before Adopting a Furry Friend, Make Sure You’ve Set a Budget
What is Smishing?

Have you been “smished”? You might be familiar with the term “phishing”. That is when scammers try to get your personal information by sending fraudulent links to you by email. Smishing is a term referring to phishing attempts that happen on your phone via text messages.

Smishing
The Many Ways to Pay

Whether you’re buying groceries or gas, shopping online or at a local business, paying the babysitter or the utility bills, there are many options for paying your bills.

The Many Ways to Pay
Beware of Gift Card Scams

Has someone asked you to purchase gift cards as payment for goods and services? Has someone you met through a dating app or other online romance site requested you send gift cards to cover an emergency? 

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Can I Open an IRA If I Have a 401k?

At Heritage Bank, we provide business owners, individuals, and families with the competitive financial products they need to pursue their ambitions and save for the future. When people choose to bank with us, one question they often ask is if they can contribute to both an IRA and 401k plan. 

Can I Open an IRA If I Have a 401k?
7 Tips for Avoiding Cyber Fraud

Brace yourself for a painful statistic: Nearly half of Americans have had their sensitive personal information breached just in the past five years. The digital world can be a dangerous place. Here’s how to navigate cyberspace more safely and securely.

7 Tips for Avoiding Cyber Fraud
Medicare and Health Insurance Scams

Dealing with medical insurance or Medicare can be complex and confusing. Scammers use that fact to take advantage of people, especially seniors. But with a little bit of knowledge, you can protect yourself and your loved ones.

Medicare and Health Insurance Scams
Is a Hacker on Your Wi-Fi?

Your home’s wireless internet network — and any devices that use it — may be vulnerable to hackers. Learn how to protect yourself from home network invasion.

Is a Hacker on Your Wi-Fi?
Social Media Fraud: 7 Ways to Protect Yourself

Social media is a hotbed for scammers and criminals. But with a little extra knowledge and effort, you can keep yourself and your family safe.

Social Media Fraud: 7 Ways to Protect Yourself
Is Your Online Life Putting You at Risk of Fraud?

Social media can help us stay in touch with loved ones, make new friends, have fun and even shop. But it’s also a tool for scammers. Learn about social media safety.

Is Your Online Life Putting You at Risk of Fraud?
10 Tips to Keep Credit Cards Under Control

Credit cards can be valuable financial tools. They can also be a gateway to debt. Learn how to manage your credit cards like a pro.

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8 Ways to Protect Your Online Privacy

These simple steps can keep you and your family safe from hackers and scammers trying to break down your digital door.

8 Ways to Protect Your Online Privacy
Timely Tips for Recognizing Tax Scams

Here are 4 common scams to watch out for this tax season, plus scam prevention tips for protecting yourself and your loved ones.

Timely Tips for Recognizing Tax Scams
Understanding Your Credit Score
You’ve heard the term. Maybe you’ve seen your three-digit number. You know it’s important, but what exactly is a credit score? Understanding where that number comes from is your first step to improving or maintaining your credit.
Understanding Your Credit Score
Is It Your Bank? Or Is It a Scam?

5 tips for recognizing scams and phishing attempts and protecting yourself from would-be thieves.

Is It Your Bank? Or Is It a Scam?
Yes, You Can Start Saving Money!

Learn how to get started building your budget and personal money management skills.

Yes, You Can Start Saving Money!
Short-Term Loans, Long-Term Problems

Learn about how short-term loans work, the dangers of payday lending and vehicle loans, and safer loan alternatives.

Short-Term Loans, Long-Term Problems
The Charity Scam

We all want to make the world a better place, and donating to a trusted charity is one way we can do so. However, scammers are looking to divert those charitable donations to line their own pockets.

The Charity Scam