Education

STAYING ON TOP OF YOUR CREDIT HAS NEVER BEEN EASIER

With one powerful tool, access your credit score, full credit report, credit monitoring, financial tips, and education.

You can do this ANYTIME and ANYWHERE and for FREE.

BENEFITS

• Daily Access to your Credit Score

• Real-Time Credit Monitoring Alerts

• Credit Score Simulator

• Personalized Credit Report

• Special Credit Offers

• And more!

Log into online banking on a laptop or computer today for this great tool! Coming soon to the SACU mobile app!

Whether you’re interested in developing a budget, improving your credit, or planning for your financial future, Sheboygan Area Credit Union is dedicated to helping you reach your financial goals. Through a partnership with BALANCE, SACU members have access to free and confidential financial counseling and education! 

BALANCE is a free financial service for SACU members! 

• View the BALANCE website for great tools, articles, and podcasts that can help you get out of debt and help with budget plans 

• Get FREE Rental Counseling by calling BALANCE’s specialized team of rental counselors at 1 (888) 456-2227 

  • Monday – Thursday: 9:30 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.

  • Friday: 9:30 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.

  • Saturday: 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. 

• Watch financial education videos

BALANCE began their commitment to promoting financial wellness, starting back in 1969, originally as the Consumer Credit Counseling Service of San Francisco (CCCSSF). For more than 45 years, BALANCE has provided money management education and assistance to local consumers. 

BALANCE continues toward their commitment to educate, inform, and empower their clients to take control of their financial lives!

ONLINE SECURITY TIPS

Understanding online privacy, how to protect your devices from hackers and threats, and how to avoid common online scams.

Phishing Scams

Phishing is an internet scam in which e-mail spam or pop-up messages are used to deceive you into divulging personal or financial information over the internet. Phishers will send you an email or a pop-up message that appears to be from a company that you deal with – your credit card company, credit union, or a government agency. The message usually requests that you update or validate account information, and it will direct you to a website that looks just like the legitimate organization's website, but it isn't. The purpose of the bogus website is to deceive you into entering your personal information so the scammers can steal your identity and commit crimes in your name.

Protect yourself against "Phishing Scams"

• If you get an email or pop-up message that asks for personal or financial information, do not reply. And don't click on the link in the message, either. Legitimate companies don't ask for this information via email. If you are concerned about your account, contact the organization mentioned in the email using a telephone number you know to be genuine, or open a new Internet browser session and type in the company's correct Web address yourself. In any case, don't cut and paste the link from the message into your Internet browser — phishers can make links look like they go to one place, but that actually sends you to different sites.

• Never give your personal information via e-mail. Sheboygan Area Credit Union will never request personal information via email.

• If you want to update your information, go directly to our website by opening a new browser window and typing www.shebareacu.com in the address bar.
  Never go to our website by clicking a link in an e-mail.

• When entering personal account information, verify that you are on a secure website. If the website is secure, you will find "https" in the address and a closed padlock in your browser's toolbar.

Use anti-virus and anti-spyware software, as well as a firewall, and update them all regularly. Some phishing emails contain software that can harm your computer or track your activities on the Internet without your knowledge. Anti-virus software and a firewall can protect you from inadvertently accepting such unwanted files.

Protect yourself. Don't become identity theft's next victim

There are simple precautions that will keep your identity safe. We've provided the following information as a courtesy to help protect you from identity fraud and other criminal activities. Review the information on these pages to learn how to protect your personal and financial information.

Tips for protecting yourself against debit/credit card fraud:

• Keep a list of all your cards, including the account number and phone number, to the issuing company.

• Review your card statement as soon as possible. Match charges with your receipts to ensure all charges are yours and are for the correct amount.

• Always sign a new card immediately.

• When making a purchase with a card, make sure you get the card back and the receipt. Check the receipt for accuracy.

• When using a card at a restaurant or store, make sure that all blank lines are marked through so that no one can change the final amount.

• Never sign blank card receipts.

• Only travel with the cards you plan on using.

• Never give the account number of the card over the phone unless you initiate the call.

• When making an order over the telephone, try to avoid using a cordless phone. Cordless phone messages can be easily intercepted by devices as unsophisticated as baby monitors and police scanners.

• Do not write the PIN for the account on the card.

Identify Theft Resources

• www.consumer.ftc.gov

• www.justice.gov