The holidays have a way of sneaking up on a lot of us. In all the back-to-school flurry, it’s easy to forget that they’re right around the corner. Between the shopping, the decorating and more last-minute shopping, getting caught unprepared can lead

If you’re thinking about buying a home, you’ve probably already made a list of must-haves. Maybe you’ve even zeroed in on your preferred neighborhood. But have you thought about who your lender should be? These days, it’s smart to start working with

A traditional individual retirement account (IRA) and a Roth IRA are two defined-contribution plans with significant — but quite different — tax advantages that can help you save for retirement. Depending on factors like where you are in your career

By Bill Inge, OCCU Board Member I have been an active credit union member since I was 16 years old and applied for my first auto loan. Over the years, I have had several credit union accounts and was always very satisfied with the service I received

First aid kit? Check. Smartphone charger? Check. Quart-size bag of liquids? Check. If you’re like us, you put a lot of thought into preparing for your trip. Loading your phone with a few key apps can ensure you have all the tools you need to get the

OCCU is partnering with St. Vincent de Paul , the Salem Keizer Education Foundation and Wilsonville Community Sharing for Backpacks for Back to School, an event that helps provide over 3,000 backpacks filled with school supplies to local kids in need

Summer heat waves often kindle dreams of owning a boat. When temperatures creep toward triple digits, nothing sounds more refreshing than cruising on the water and feeling the wind on your face. Is it time to make that dream a reality? As fun as

We all have ways of protecting ourselves when we travel. Buying travel-sized hand sanitizer. Studying the hotel evacuation map. Calling your financial institution to make sure your debit card will work. Still, things happen. Travel insurance can

Traveling is all about experiences, seeing new places, trying new foods, meeting new people. But there are some experiences you can do without — like getting your identity stolen. Unfortunately, it’s a very real possibility for unwary travelers. With

Scholarships. Work study. Federal loans. Scrounging under the couch cushions for change. Paying for college often means scraping together funds from multiple sources. Although 85 percent of undergrads receive financial aid, it only goes so far. When