OnPath Credit Union

Bank accounts can potentially be flagged for a variety of potential reasons. Some account behaviors are associated with criminal activity or activity that violates the terms of the account. In other instances, a bank or credit union may receive instruction from law enforcement, regulators or another government agency that a banking customer is in violation of local or federal statutes or that the account is associated with illegal activity and needs to be placed on a watchlist or frozen.

Whether credit unions charge a monthly fee for your checking account typically depends on your balance and the balance requirements stipulated for free checking in your contract. They waive or charge fees based on some important operational considerations as well as a desire to remain competitive with other banking and financial institutions.

Yes – any purchase you can make with a debit card can be made with a second chance checking account. Although you don’t receive physical checks with a second chance checking account, you are issued a debit card and, if needed, can request a cashier’s check from an OnPath Federal Credit Union branch location if a payment or purchase must be made with a check.

Although the ease with which you can open a second chance checking account does vary based on the institution and the process by which they approve these accounts, credit unions are typically more flexible.

ChexSystems is a consumer reporting agency that tracks the behavior of banking customers. They do this in partnership with banks and credit unions, who report certain types of account activity to ChexSystems and similar reporting agencies.

No –simply closing a bank account doesn’t negatively impact your rating with any of the bank history reporting agencies, including ChexSystems, Early Warning Services (EWS), TeleCheck or the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC).

Having a poor checking account history, which can follow customers from bank to bank, means the customer violated the terms of their account, failed to pay owed fees or debts or used their account in a way banks view as irresponsible.

Yes – and not just banks. Anyone who can order a credit report on you can see how much debt you owe and to whom. However, not just anyone can order a credit report on you. According to the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), only certain people, businesses, government agencies or organizations can order credit reports on individuals, and only under a strict set of circumstances.

There are many reasons why a checking or savings account may be closed. Certain frowned-upon behaviors can result in a bank or credit union choosing to close a customer’s account. These types of actions can follow customers to different banks via a bank history report, similar to the way a credit rating is attached to every borrower.

Second chance banking accounts have a different target audience, certain account restrictions and added fees. As the name suggests, these accounts are intended for people with a bad checking account history who are ineligible to open a traditional checking account.

There are many things to consider when choosing bank accounts for storing your money. Some of the most common concerns are liquidity and accessibility, meaning how easy it is to withdraw or spend the funds. Other factors have to do with yields and how much the account will help your money grow.

Share certificates are exceptional investment tools in a variety of ways. They earn a consistently high yield compared to many other credit union or bank accounts, and they allow savers to lock in high yields for years during times when interest rates may be decreasing.

A “fixed-term” account is one where the money you deposit is locked in the account for a specific amount of time. The period of time is typically stipulated at the start, so investors know exactly how long their money will be inaccessible.

Credit unions and banks make money from interest payments on loans they provide to members or clients. One of the sources for those funds they lend out is member or client deposits. For-profit banks generate profit from the money their clients have in savings and checking accounts, while not-for-profit credit unions reinvest the funds they generate from interest payments into overhead expenses and making their products cheaper for all members (and paying higher yields on savings).

Yes, but it often depends on who you are negotiating with and the effort you’re willing to invest. In most loan negotiations, your leverage will be dependent on other loan offers you receive. For example, if one lender offers you 12 percent, you can potentially go to another lender and see if they’re willing to give you 11 percent. If they are, you could go to the original lender and see if they can beat the 11 percent offer you received elsewhere.

Interest rates play a crucial role in nearly every financial product, influencing everything from your monthly mortgage payments to the yield on your savings account. Judging from what you hear on the news, you might assume interest rates are determined solely by the government, or more specifically, the U.S. Federal Reserve. Reality is a bit more complicated, and there are actually a variety of factors that influence interest rates and the actions of the Fed.

When it comes to high-yield savings accounts, customers are often drawn to the promise of higher interest rates. However, they might also encounter various fees and penalties that can diminish the account's overall benefit.

Modern connectivity and technology has been a mixed bag of previously unimaginable conveniences and unpredictable risks.

Mobile banking, online shopping and credit cards are easily accessible and, in many cases, virtually free tools for consumers in the U.S. Unfortunately, there are people who have found vulnerabilities within the modern digital structure to exploit.  

Building a strong credit score over time may seem straightforward. Pay your loans and credit cards in full and on time each month. Don’t keep too many lines of credit open simultaneously. Only use about a quarter of your available credit at any one time.

Whether for good or ill, every consumer has a credit score. It’s an inescapable figure that follows you wherever you go, and there’s no switch you can flip to turn it off, on or reset it. You'll often find your credit score quietly influencing opportunities, dictating terms and either opening or limiting access to various financial products.

In today’s fluctuating economic landscape, making smart money moves is more crucial than ever. One such smart move is to place your money where it can work the hardest for you. You don’t necessarily have to invest your limited funds into high-risk investments like stocks or cryptocurrency to earn a high yield on your dollars. OnPath Federal Credit Union members can earn an astonishing 7% APY* on average daily balances up to $10,000 (and 0.50% on balances above $10,000) in our OnPath Reward High-Yield Checking Accounts.

A credit report extends beyond mere digits to offer a panoramic view of your financial history. If you’re worried about your credit score, want to make sure the credit bureaus aren’t basing your score on errors or faulty data or you’re just curious to see what’s on your credit report, you should make use of one or more of your free annual credit reports.

Receiving your credit report is most useful when you understand how to decode its content. The good news is most of the report is straightforward.

For many New Orleans banking customers, the answer is likely yes. At OnPath Federal Credit Union, we’ve recently launched an unprecedented 7% APY* high-yield checking account that gives banking customers the chance to earn exceptional interest on the funds they use for everyday expenses.

Are you tired of ever-increasing rental rates in New Orleans? Do you want a home you can change and modify as you see fit? When given the choice, many renters would love to buy a home. Unfortunately, the hurdle of securing a mortgage often seems overwhelming. At OnPath Federal Credit Union, we take pride in helping first-time homebuyers find and get approved for home loans.

Whether it’s completely redoing your kitchen, installing a pool or adding a bedroom, large-scale renovation projects are inevitably pricey.

The good news is getting financing for a home renovation project is straightforward if you work with the right lender. Loans are not singular in form. There are a truly diverse array of potential borrowing options to choose from, each with their own benefits and drawbacks.

Wealth Builder accounts – also sometimes called high-yield savings accounts – are special savings accounts that earn a guaranteed dividend rate and annual percentage yield (APY) if minimum balance requirements are met.

Saving in a Wealth Builder account is a great way to harness the power of compound growth without having to risk your money investing in the stock market or keeping your money in an illiquid savings vehicle like a share certificate.

Yes – you may be able to negotiate a lower auto loan interest rate with some lenders. Lenders base approved rates on traditional loan approval criteria like a borrower’s credit score and the size of their down payment. However, there isn’t a uniform rubric for rate decisions, and there are a handful of techniques car purchasers can employ to secure a lower rate.

Credit cards are powerful financial tools that can significantly enhance your purchasing power and quality of life. They allow you to build and improve your credit while simultaneously freeing you from the need to carry around cash or wait for your paycheck to arrive before you can go grocery shopping or make everyday purchases.

Every person is a multifaceted individual who faces unique struggles. Many consumers have overcome significant obstacles in their lives, some of which have knock-on financial consequences.

Fair or not, your credit “worthiness” is distilled down to a three-digit number that represents the totality of your financial existence – in the eyes of lenders at least.

There’s a common misconception, especially among long-term renters, that having no credit or poor credit prevents you from qualifying for a mortgage and purchasing a home. This is not always the case. Your credit score is not the only stat mortgage lenders consider when analyzing your loan application.

A credit score, at its core, is a numerical representation of an individual's creditworthiness. In simpler terms, it’s the likelihood of them repaying borrowed money. Think of it as a financial report card, where lenders, landlords and sometimes even employers check your grade to determine your reliability.

There are a lot of great things about financing, from reward points for credit card purchases to being able to buy a home, pay for renovations or get a reliable vehicle without requiring liquid cash on hand. The primary challenge for many people seeking loans or financing has to do with their credit score – or lack thereof. Poor credit can impact nearly every aspect of your life, from your ability to rent a good apartment or buy a car, to your rates on student loans and credit cards.

The adage that “good credit opens doors,” is maybe most evident when you begin a mortgage application process. Virtually every aspect of the qualification application and approval process is less stressful – not to mention the better rates and terms you’ll have available.

1. Go to com and click the “Request your free credit reports” button
2. Choose how you want to use the tool (you can get them all at once or choose to space them out over any given 12-month period)
3. Enter the necessary personal information (name, address, birth date and Social Security number)
4. Pick the reporting company to request a report from
5. Answer any necessary identity verification questions
6. View or download your credit report

A new construction loan is different from your typical home mortgage. It's a short-term, interim loan for financing the cost of construction. It operates on an interest-only basis during the building phase, meaning you'll only be paying off the interest on the money drawn out while your home is being built.

In the simplest terms, a land loan is like a mortgage for the specific purpose of purchasing land. A construction loan finances the cost of construction but becomes a more traditional mortgage after the house is built. In most respects, they’re similar to traditional mortgages a homebuyer might apply for if they were simply purchasing an existing home.

Yes, you can take equity out of your home without refinancing your current mortgage by using a home equity loan or a home equity line of credit (HELOC). Both options allow you to borrow against the equity in your home, but they work a bit differently.

A Home Equity Loan is what’s traditionally referred to as a “second mortgage” – or a secured loan for a fixed amount, at a fixed interest rate, with a set payment schedule. The loan is secured by the equity you have in your current home (what you’ve paid off/the portion of your home you own outright).

To even be considered for a home equity line of credit (HELOC) you must first own a home and have built up at least 15 to 20 percent equity (or more depending on the lender and your credit). If you don’t own a home or just recently purchased a home and have yet to reach the necessary threshold for your lending institution, you won’t qualify for a HELOC.

For most people, the importance of having an emergency fund set aside to cover any unexpected expenses is indisputable.

Although these amounts can vary depending on your individual financial situation, it’s recommended to have at least three to six months of living expenses saved in your emergency fund.

Saving for a big purchase doesn’t have to be a daunting task. With careful planning and dedication, you can save up for that big purchase in no time. Whether you're saving for a car, a vacation or something else entirely, there are plenty of financial tools and habits that can help you reach your goal.