Contact Ent Credit Union (2023)

Expanded Lesson 15 min read

Investing 101: Investing for Beginners

In this beginner's guide, you'll learn what platforms are available for you to invest on, the pros and cons of each one and the types of accounts you may want to get started with.

Expanded Lesson 15 min read

Paying Student Loans: How to Pay Back Your Student Loans

Paying off student loans is a top financial priority for many people, but it can be confusing and hard to navigate. Many people don’t understand how student loan debt works or what their options are to reduce their payments. Read this article to learn more about student loans and what options you have to pay them back.

Calculator

Debt Consolidation Calculator

Debt consolidation loans allow consumers to transfer the account balances from multiple credit cards or installment loans into a single loan and to make a single monthly payment. For debt consolidation loans to be beneficial, the repayment period for paying off the consolidation loan should be shorter than what it would be for your existing debts without the loan. Secondly, the interest that you pay over the repayment period should be less than what you would pay with your existing repayment terms. In some cases, a debt consolidation loan may look attractive because it has a significantly lower monthly payment than what you are paying today, but it is likely the case that the lower payment is due to extending the repayment of the loan over a much longer repayment period.

Calculator

Mortgage Payment Calculator

The primary factors to consider when determining how much you can afford to spend on a home include your income, your monthly debt obligations (car payments, student loans, credit cards, etc), how much money you have for a down payment as well as your specific financial goals. There are also a variety of loan programs available offering a range of options for different situations. Ultimately, the best way to understand what is right for you is to talk to a licensed loan officer who can help you explore and understand what is right for you.

Expanded Lesson 10 min read

The Ultimate Guide to Buying a New Car: Things to Know When Buying a Car

Ahh the rumble of the engine starting up, the sun glinting off the new paint and that sweet new car smell. There are few things that are more satisfying than the feeling of driving your brand-new car off the lot for the first time. But before you walk away with keys in hand, there are a few steps you must go through first. There can be a lot of anxiety around the car buying process, especially if you aren’t familiar with it and don’t know what to ask. This guide will give you a comprehensive primer of things to know and look out for to ensure that your experience at the dealership is a smooth ride.

Expanded Lesson 5 min read

How to Save Money

Do you work hard every week, only to see your paychecks slip away like sand between your fingers? Saving money can be difficult. The good news is that it’s never too late to start saving and you can take baby steps while you learn how to put money away. As your nest egg grows, you’ll be motivated to find more ways to boost it up and can add even more money saving tricks to your repertoire.

Quick Lesson 2 min read

Multifactor Authentication (MFA): Enhanced Security with MFA Technology

We're routinely enhancing our online security measures to help keep your account safe.

Expanded Lesson 6 min read

Don't Be Fooled: Know What Information Ent Will Never Ask You For

Here at Ent Credit Union, we go to great lengths to protect our members. A new scam has started affecting some of our members, and we want to help you stay safe. Learn how to protect your financial and personal information online, so you don’t have to worry about a stranger taking your money. Instead of robbing banks with black hoods over their faces, today’s thieves spend their time scamming everyday consumers and businesses out of their hard-earned money. Suspicious calls, texts, and emails can catch some people off guard, giving fraudsters a chance to drain their bank account.

Expanded Lesson 5 min read

Money Planning When Income is Tight

The steps below are designed to help you create a financial plan and give you access to helpful resources.

Calculator

Home Rent vs. Buy Calculator

Depending on how fast prices and rents rise and how long you stay in your home, you may be better off renting rather than buying. Factors that are part of the equation are the difference in monthly rent versus mortgage payment, home value appreciation, annual rent increases, the interest rate you will pay on your loan, your marginal tax rate and the yield you might receive on savings. When looking at these factors, consider the present value of each option. The one with the lower present value will be the better financial choice.

Calculator

HELOC Payment Calculator: HELOC - Home Equity Line of Credit Calculator

Repayment of a home equity line of credit requires that the borrower makes a monthly payment to the lender. For some home equity lines of credit, borrowers can make interest-only payments for a defined period, after which a repayment period begins. Interest-only payments are based on the outstanding loan balance and interest rate. During the repayment period, the payment includes both repayment of the loan principal, plus monthly interest on the outstanding balance. Loan payments for the repayment period are amortized so that the monthly payment remains the same throughout the repayment period, but during that time, the percentage of the amount that goes towards principal will increase as the outstanding mortgage balance decreases.

Expanded Lesson 5 min read

What is Unemployment Fraud? Unemployment Insurance Fraud on the Rise

Since the pandemic, unemployment insurance fraud has been increasing. If you have been the victim of fraud, read this article for steps to take.