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Blogging with Kerri

Keeping you informed

Home > Connect With Us > Blogging with Kerri | Connected Credit Union

Blogging with Kerri

Thank you for checking out Kerri's blog.  We hope you'll find this information both informative and educational. Any reference made in this blog to a specific product, process, or service does not constitute or imply an endorsement by Connected Credit Union of the product, process, or service, or its producer or provider.

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2025 League President’s Award

2025 League President’s Award

5/23/2025

Congratulations to our CEO, Cathy Bond, for being this year’s recipient of the prestigious Maine Credit Union League President’s Award!

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Summer Staycation Getaway Sweepstakes
Student Loan Repayment

Student Loan Repayment

5/1/2025

Student loans can be one of the scariest parts of graduating from college. We down repayment and refinance options to help new college graduates be prepared!

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Tips for Recent College Grads

Tips for Recent College Grads

4/30/2025

Stepping into the next chapter? We’ve put together some financial tips to help recent grads start strong.

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Phone Call Fraud

Phone Call Fraud

4/15/2025

Receiving an unexpected call about fraud on your account from a number that appears to be originating from our credit union, or another financial institution, can be alarming.

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CC's Saving Tips

CC's Saving Tips

4/1/2025

CC the Owl has great tips to help our young members get started on their savings journey.

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Youth Savings Program

Youth Savings Program

4/1/2025

April is Youth Month! Learn more about CC the Owl's youth savings program with deposit matching

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Mobile Payment App Fraud

Mobile Payment App Fraud

3/21/2025

Fraud occurring through Cash App, Venmo, and other similar Mobile Payment Apps is becoming more prevalent. Make sure you do not send money to someone you do not know and trust via a Mobile Payment App.

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AARP BankSafe Trained

AARP BankSafe Trained

3/5/2025

Connected Credit Union is honored to receive the AARP BankSafe Trained Seal in recognition of our commitment to safeguarding older adults from financial exploitation.

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Brushing Scam

Brushing Scam

2/5/2025

Have you ever received a package you didn’t order? While it might seem like a harmless mistake, it could be a Brushing Scam.

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Financial New Year’s Resolutions
Freezing Your Credit

Freezing Your Credit

12/18/2024

If you have been notified that your information may have been stolen in a data breach, you might consider freezing your credit.

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Data Breach

Data Breach

12/2/2024

A data breach occurs when a business or organization is hacked and a scammer steals a customer's personal data, such as credit and debit card numbers.

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The Risks of Debt Relief Companies

The Risks of Debt Relief Companies

10/16/2024

Debt relief companies may seem like a solution to financial struggles, but they are often misleading. Working with debt relief companies can come with significant risks that could worsen your financial situation.

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FAFSA is Live

FAFSA is Live

10/1/2024

At Connected Credit Union, we're committed to helping our members achieve their educational goals. That’s why we're excited to inform you that the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the upcoming academic year is now available.

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Check Fraud

Check Fraud

9/30/2024

Recently, many consumers have become victims of scams involving fraudulent checks. Checks have become an attractive vehicle for fraud when used for payments to consumers.

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Update Software Promptly for Safety
Multifactor Authentication (MFA)

Multifactor Authentication (MFA)

9/9/2024

MFA provides extra security for our online accounts and apps. This security could be a code sent via text or email or generated by an app, or biometrics like fingerprints and facial recognition.

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College Financial Tips

College Financial Tips

8/26/2024

Are you starting college this year? We've compiled smart tips to help college students budget better, save more, and build strong financial habits.

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Telephone Scams

Telephone Scams

7/17/2024

Telephone scams include phone calls, robocalls, and text messages aimed at stealing your personal information or asking you to send large amounts of money.

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Identify and Avoid Elder Abuse Scams

Identify and Avoid Elder Abuse Scams

6/14/2024

With the prevalence of scams targeting seniors continuing to rise, it’s important for everyone to take proactive steps in protecting their older friends, family, and neighbors from falling victim.

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Elder Financial Abuse Prevention

Elder Financial Abuse Prevention

6/7/2024

If you’re a friend or family member of a Maine senior, asking yourself these questions and recognizing the red flags may help you in preventing or responding to elder financial abuse

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Save at the Pump

Save at the Pump

6/3/2024

Learn easy, practical tips to save money at the pump—from smart driving habits to fuel rewards programs—to make every mile count.

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Home Warranty Letter Scam

Home Warranty Letter Scam

5/21/2024

Be aware that fraudulent letters are circulating in Maine regarding your home's warranty. The letter will claim that your home warranty with Connected Credit Union will expire soon if you do not take immediate action.

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Mobile Deposit Scams

Mobile Deposit Scams

5/10/2024

Scammers may ask you for your online banking information and promise to send you money by depositing it straight into your account for you. This is a scam!

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Recognizing Scam Red Flags

Recognizing Scam Red Flags

5/1/2024

Protect yourself from fraud by learning to recognize the common red flags of popular scams, such as fear tactics and unusual payment requests.

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Popular Scams to Avoid

Popular Scams to Avoid

3/18/2024

Protect yourself from fraud by learning how to avoid popular scams, such as imposter scams and prize scams.

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Family Imposter Scams

Family Imposter Scams

3/1/2024

If you get an unsuspected call from someone claiming to be a family member or friend asking you for money to help them out of an emergency, take pause before acting! This could be a scam.

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Do you reuse your passwords?

Do you reuse your passwords?

2/9/2024

A leading cause of unauthorized access to accounts is the reuse of login credentials. If you use the same password for every account you have, a single account breach can grant a fraudster access to all of them.

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E-Statements

E-Statements

2/1/2024

Tired of all the clutter? Make the switch to e-statements today! Get started by enrolling under the documents tab in online banking!

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Making Your Home Energy Efficient

Making Your Home Energy Efficient

1/25/2024

Making your home more energy efficient isn't just an investment in your home; it's an investment in your lifestyle. An energy-efficient home means putting money back in your pocket.

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Protect Yourself From Fraud

Protect Yourself From Fraud

9/8/2023

Learn how to protect yourself from fraud with simple steps like safeguarding personal information, recognizing suspicious activity, and staying informed about the latest scams.

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Protect Against Skimming

Protect Against Skimming

7/12/2023

Skimming is the practice of fraudsters placing a popular tool called a skimmer over a legitimate card reader to steal your credit and debit card information. Scammers often put skimmers on public and easily accessible card readers at places such as gas stations or ATMs.

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uChoose Rewards with PayPal

uChoose Rewards with PayPal

4/17/2023

uChoose Rewards is now better than ever with the ability to Pay with Rewards when you check out with PayPal. Just add your uChoose Rewards-enrolled debit card to your PayPal wallet!

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Affordable College

Affordable College

2/20/2023

College financial aid letters force many students into making hard decisions. If your dream college or university isn’t offering enough financial aid, should you take on more debt to pay for your education there, or fall back to a more affordable school?

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File Your Taxes Early

File Your Taxes Early

2/9/2023

If you traditionally wait until the last minute to file your taxes, make it a goal to do so earlier. We've got four reasons why you should file your taxes early this year!

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IRS Scams

IRS Scams

1/30/2023

Did you know that scammers may pretend to be the IRS claiming you owe taxes or asking you to verify your personal information? We break down how you can protect yourself this tax season.

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Tax Scams

Tax Scams

1/16/2023

Watch out for tax scams that impersonate the IRS, demand immediate payment, or ask for sensitive personal information. Know the signs to stay safe this tax season.

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Online Shopping Tips

Online Shopping Tips

11/25/2022

Using your credit card online can be scary, especially with so many different types of scams and phishing attempts online trying to steal your information. We’ve got some tips and tricks to help you use your credit card to shop safely, online. 

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Prize Scams

Prize Scams

11/8/2022

Prize scams are scams where fraudsters attempt to gain personal information or money by saying that you have won a fake prize or by tempting you to give up your personal information to enter a contest.

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New Scam Targeting Members

New Scam Targeting Members

9/9/2022

Connected Credit Union has seen an increase in scams targeting our members over the past month. The newest scam is a phone scam where members are told that Connected Credit Union is being investigated by a federal agency.

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Brute Force Attacks

Brute Force Attacks

8/23/2022

A brute force attack occurs when fraudsters use trial and error to gain your card information after infiltrating a merchant's payment system.

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Benefits of Shared Branching

Benefits of Shared Branching

7/14/2022

With Shared Branching you are able to access your Connected Credit Union account at any participating credit union like it is one of our branches.

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Phishing Scams

Phishing Scams

5/24/2022

Phishing scams are emails sent by scammers that attempt to steal your personal information or download malware onto your computer or device.

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Linking to Payment Platforms

Linking to Payment Platforms

5/12/2022

Looking for a quick and easy way to add your Connected Credit Union account to payment apps such as PayPal and Venmo? See how in a few easy steps!

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Beneficiary vs. Joint Owner

Beneficiary vs. Joint Owner

5/10/2022

Do you know the difference between having a joint owner and a beneficiary on all of your accounts? We break it down for you in simple terms here.

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Avoid Becoming a Victim of Identity Theft
Online and Mobile Banking

Online and Mobile Banking

3/1/2022

Our Digital Banking Platform is a safe, online banking service with multiple levels of security. Real-time information offers you the convenience of performing many personal banking functions whether you’re at home or on the road.

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Soft Pull vs. Hard Pull

Soft Pull vs. Hard Pull

1/18/2022

Do you know the difference between soft pulls of your credit score and hard pulls? We break down both types of credit inquiries.

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Running Debit as Credit

Running Debit as Credit

11/9/2021

Learn the difference between running your debit card as credit, how it affects transaction processing, and what it means for your security and spending.

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Earn Debit Card Rewards!

Earn Debit Card Rewards!

10/26/2021

With uChoose Rewards, you can earn points each time you use your Connected Debit Card and sign for your purchases instead of using your PIN!

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Become a Member

Become a Member

9/28/2021

Connected Credit Union’s field of membership is for anyone who lives, works, worships, or attends school in Kennebec, Somerset, Lincoln, and Waldo Counties as well as all those who are eligible to become members of the Maine Education Association.

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Credit and Debit Card Scams

Credit and Debit Card Scams

9/14/2021

Stay protected by recognizing common card scams and knowing how to respond if your card information is compromised.

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Strong Passwords

Strong Passwords

8/31/2021

When choosing a new password, avoid simple passwords that can be easily hacked. For example, your password shouldn't include birthdays, family members' names, phone numbers, etc.

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Social Media Scams

Social Media Scams

8/10/2021

Social media scams often appear as impersonation accounts or suspicious links. Learn how to spot the signs and keep your accounts and money safe.

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Buy vs. Lease

Buy vs. Lease

7/8/2021

Not sure whether to buy or lease your next vehicle? We break down the important things you should consider with each option.

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Financing a Vehicle

Financing a Vehicle

7/6/2021

Get smart about financing your vehicle with tips on budgeting, comparing loan options, understanding interest rates, and securing the best deal for your needs.

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Personal Finance Apps

Personal Finance Apps

5/26/2021

If you use a personal finance app, such as RobinHood, CashApp, Venmo, Paypal, and more, there are some important steps you can take to protect your personal data.

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Online Banking Scams

Online Banking Scams

5/10/2021

Learn how to recognize the warning signs of online banking scams and keep your accounts secure.

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YOUR FICO SCORE AND YOU

YOUR FICO SCORE AND YOU

10/1/2020

A FICO® score is a type of credit score created by the Fair Isaac Corporation. Lenders use borrowers’ FICO scores along with other details on borrowers’ credit reports to assess credit risk and determine whether to extend credit.

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Budgeting made easy!

Budgeting made easy!

8/5/2020

Creating your budget can be hard, and following it can seem even harder. With so many different types of budgets you can use, choosing one that will work for you may seem impossible. We’ve got three popular and helpful budgets that suit different types of financial goals and personalities.

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