• Should You Make Extra Mortgage Payments? A Look at the Pros and Cons

    Jan 06, 2025

    A mortgage comes with one huge benefit: homeownership. But it also comes with a tough reality: paying interest. That can lead to sticker shock when you see how much that interest adds up over the life of your loan. Making extra payments in addition to your monthly mortgage payment could help you save hundreds or thousands of dollars of the life of your loan. But is that always the best financial choice?​Full Story

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  • A Special Message from Alice Frazier for the 2025 New Year

    Jan 01, 2025

    Happy New Year Friends and Neighbors! New Year’s Day is always a special time for reflection and setting intentions. In the early quiet hours, before the household begins to stir, is my time. Nestled in my cozy corner of the couch, with the fireplace warming the room and the Christmas tree lights twinkling, I sit with my notebook and pen, ready to reflect and set my intentions for the year.Full Story

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  • Avoid Holiday Scams

    Dec 01, 2024

    As the holiday season approaches, it seems like there are more and more fake shopping sites. The ads on social media show expensive products like electric scooters, designer bags, and other popular toys and gifts at unbelievably low prices. Many of these bogus sites use photos and logos the scammers steal from legitimate businesses, but they won’t send you authentic products. If you’re wondering how to avoid these phony offers, there are a few ways to help you detect them.Full Story

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  • Cybersecurity Awareness Month

    Oct 01, 2024

    Staying Safe Online is Easier Than You Think! Every day we are more and more connected—whether messaging family and friends, shopping online or ordering supplies for our small businesses. It’s important to take steps to stay safe when using our phones, laptops and smart devices. The Cybersecurity & Infrastruction Security Agency of the United States of America, also known as CISA, provides important information to help. Full Story

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  • Please Verify You Are Human: AI-Assisted Phishing

    Aug 26, 2024

    It’s no secret that artificial intelligence (AI) has been the talk of the town for the last couple of years. With tech giants like Google and Microsoft investing heavily in their applications, it seems this new technology is here to stay. From students outsourcing their assignments to ChatGPT, to businesses generating marketing material featuring employees with a few too many fingers, AI can be a powerful tool to increase the user’s productivity. Full Story

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