What to do when you can’t find a job after college
The weeks since graduation are turning into months, and you haven’t landed your first "real" job after college. Now what? Here are some tips.
Think twice about that secret shopper offer
If you were given the opportunity to get paid to shop, would you take it? Legitimate secret shopping gigs exist, but there are plenty of other “opportunities” that are nothing more than a scam. And unfortunately, many consumers fall victim…
How to make your estate less overwhelming for your survivors
First Community Trust's Chip Murray explains the estate planning process during the free seminar hosted at Dupaco Community Credit Union on July 18 in Galena, Illinois. (A. Houy/Dupaco photo) Creating an estate plan is a lot like going to…
A simple timeline of the typical probate process
When you’re grieving the loss of a loved one, the most mundane responsibilities can become difficult. And if you’re tasked with helping handle the estate of your loved one, you can feel downright overwhelmed. “Many members are concerned whether they…
5 totally free things you can do to support your local economy
Looking for ways to make your community a healthier and happier place? Here are five free things you can do to support your local economy.
How to help your kids become money-savvy grownups
By Michelle Steffes Member service representative at Dupaco’s Carroll, Iowa, branch Dupaco’s Mackenzie Damm (left) watches as children play with their new tablets provided through the partnership of the Tri-County Child and Family Development Council Inc., Dupaco and the Dupaco…
What you should know about free credit freezes
You’ll soon have another way to protect your credit. A new federal law, which takes effect Sept. 21, will allow you to get free credit freezes for yourself and your children, and year-long fraud alerts, according to the Federal Trade…
UnityPoint data breach: What to do next
Recently one of Iowa's main hospital and clinic systems, UnityPoint Health, notified about 1.4 million patients that their information might have been breached by a phishing email attack. As data breaches become more common, regularly monitor your financial accounts and…
Is the IRS really calling you?
Have you received a phone call from a forceful, intimidating "IRS agent"? Scammers often use the authoritative name of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to collect financial details—and cash—from victims.
How my divorce (temporarily) destroyed my credit
By Tonya McGlaughlin Branch manager at Dupaco’s San Marnan Learning Lab, Waterloo, Iowa I always had a decent credit score—until my divorce. Several months after it was finalized, the phone calls started coming. I learned that payments hadn’t been made…
How to teach kids the value of a dollar
In an age of plastic cash, it’s difficult to show our kids the value of the dollar. At the supermarket, retail stores and even online, our children watch us pay for just about everything with a credit card or mobile…
Member receives unexpected $27K in benefits after accident
It was a month after the Fourth of July when Ralph Freese remembered he had a couple of leftover fireworks. He would end up lighting only one that August 2016 evening. The firework exploded instantly, taking with it Freese’s left…
