East Wisconsin Savings Bank

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With all that’s happened in 2020, who wouldn’t jump at the chance to end the year on a positive note? Barry can help you do just that, with his Holiday-Maker approach to refinancing your home. Check it out and take advantage of the opportunity to make your holidays brighter! EASTWIS.COM Make Your Holidays Brighter

Let's Talk Finances Subsidized and Unsubsidized Student Loans – What’s the Difference? The cost of college tuition, books, room and board (if applicable) add up quickly and can leave you anxious about your ability to pay for school. Even with scholarships and grants, you may still have trouble covering the entire cost, leading you to apply for student loans. Loans can help you afford the education you desire, but they also come with varying levels of interest, benefits, and drawbacks. If you choose a subsidized or unsubsidized Federal Direct Loan from the U.S. Department of Education, you must fulfill specific criteria. The school you choose to attend must participate in the loan program. A Social Security Number is also required, and you must be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen. You must have earned your high school diploma or equivalent, and if you have existing federal loans, your accounts must be in good standing. Male students between the ages of 18 and 25 must also register with the Selective Service. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is used for both subsidized and unsubsidized loans. Subsidized student loans If you are pursuing an undergraduate degree, you can apply for a subsidized loan. You will be required to prove your financial need, and will be limited in the amount you can borrow, but interest on a subsidized loan does not accrue while you are a student and for six months after you are done with school. It is also possible to apply for a loan deferment (up to three years). During the deferment period, you will not be responsible for interest payments. Unsubsidized student loans An unsubsidized student loan is available if you are planning to earn an undergraduate, graduate or professional degree. Unlike subsidized loans, your eligibility does not depend on your financial need, and limits on the amount you can borrow are higher. With an unsubsidized student loan, the borrowing limit for the entire time you’re enrolled is $31,000 for dependent undergraduate students. Higher limits are available for independent undergraduate students and for graduate students, who are automatically considered independent. These higher limits offer more financial assistance and may allow you to achieve a more advanced degree, but they come at a higher price in terms of interest. For unsubsidized loans, interest begins to accrue as soon as the loan is disbursed, including while students are enrolled in school. Loan payments are not due until six months after you leave school, but interest will continue to build during this time. Both subsidized and unsubsidized loans have pros and cons. Before you choose, evaluate both options carefully so that you can pursue your degree with a minimum of stress over how you will pay back the loan after graduation.

With all that’s happened in 2020, who wouldn’t jump at the chance to end the year on a positive note? Barry can help you do just that, with his Holiday-Maker approach to refinancing your home. Check it out and take advantage of the opportunity to make your holidays brighter! EASTWIS.COM Make Your Holidays Brighter

Let's Talk Finances Online Finance Basics Online and Mobile Banking are great ways to stay on top of your financial needs without actually visiting your bank. These convenient options are offered by most financial institutions, and make it simple and safe to deposit checks move money, and more. Why go online? For most people, the biggest advantage of online and mobile banking is convenience. Using a browser or mobile app, you can check your balance, pay your bills, send money to a friend or make a deposit, with just a few clicks or taps. Even better, you can perform these actions instantly, any time of day or night, including holidays. Another benefit is being more aware of how your money is working for you. You can log in multiple times a day to monitor pending transactions and keep tabs on your balances, which allows you to react more quickly when there’s unexpected activity. By checking your accounts regularly, you are in a better position to protect yourself from fraudulent activity. How to take advantage One good way to start is to gather your account numbers from your statement and visit your bank’s website. There you can use your information to create an online account. Most online banking systems will walk you through the process of creating a username and strong password, choosing security questions, and setting up multi-factor authentication to further protect your account from fraudulent access. Once you’ve completed your set-up, you are ready to begin accessing your account through your bank’s website or app. Take a bit of time to familiarize yourself with the interface and available functions. If you have any questions, most banking websites and mobile apps provide ways to request online assistance, as well as a telephone number and/or email address to use for support. What can you do? Online and mobile banking allow you to perform most everyday financial activities. You can also set up automatic notifications to alert you whenever money goes in or out of an account or if your balance falls below a certain amount. Once you become comfortable with online banking, you can choose to go paperless and receive your monthly statements entirely online. Depositing checks is a common mobile banking feature that’s become quite popular. You’ll need a smartphone or tablet with a camera and your bank’s mobile app, which will tell you how to endorse the check and what steps to take. After you submit the photo of your check, it’s a good idea to hold onto it for a few days to make sure there are no problems, and then destroy it when the money has cleared. If you have multiple accounts at the same bank – for example, both a saving and checking account – online or mobile banking allows you to transfer money between them. These transfers are usually instantaneous, which can be very helpful in a moment of need. Most systems will also allow you to set up transfers between different financial institutions; this comes in handy if you have loans at different banks, or if you need to send money to a friend or family member. Online and mobile banking are convenient in any situation, and they are particularly helpful in the face of today’s difficulties. If you are not currently enrolled to use them, contact your bank to learn more about what they offer and how to use it.

If you’re considering a home purchase or refinance, you’ve probably noticed the historically low interest rates available right now. Today, Charlie joins Lisa and Millaine on Local 5 Live to share a bit about the trade-off between rates, points, and closing costs, and how East Wisconsin Savings Bank can help you choose the loan product that best fits your needs.

Identity theft got you worried? Learn to spot scams with the #BanksNeverAskThat quiz, and you win weekly prizes up to $1,000, courtesy of the @American Bankers Association: bit.ly/2Dt8bCD

Banks never ask "Do you like peanut butter smooth or crunchy?" They'll never text, email, or call you to verify your PIN either. Think you can outsmart the scammers? Take the #BanksNeverAsk quiz to find out: bit.ly/2Dt8bCD

Your bank will never ask you to provide confidential information (your account number, SSN, name, address, password, etc.) in emails or text messages. They will only ask for confidential information to verify your identity when you call their toll-free Customer Service numbers. Find your scam IQ and take the #BanksNeverAskThat quiz: bit.ly/2Dt8bCD

EASTWIS.COM Cash Back for Living East Wisconsin Savings Bank October 5 at 9:03 AM · The East Wisconsin Savings Bank Credit Card gives you cash back just for living your life.

We all get spammy texts. But what if it looks and sounds like your bank? Here's one way to tell it's a scam: it asks you to click a suspicious link. #BanksNeverAskThat. See what else your bank will never do here: bit.ly/2Dt8bCD

"Want to get tacos?" Banks never text that. They'll also never text you a suspicious link and ask you to click it. Learn to spot scams—and win $1,000 from the @American Bankers Association—with the #BanksNeverAskThat quiz: bit.ly/2Dt8bCD

"Do you hang your toilet paper over or under?" Banks never ask that. They'll also never call you and ask you to visit a URL. That's a scam. Take the #BanksNeverAskThat quiz and find your scam IQ: bit.ly/2Dt8bCD

This right here is why you do business locally! You don't get this kind of service with just anyone! Erik Hosking, thank you for the treats!

The easiest way to spot online scams is to recognize the things a real bank would never ask you. The @American Bankers Association will show you how here: bit.ly/2Dt8bCD #BanksNeverAskThat

It's Holiday Season for the bad guys too! But not the way you might think. They go into scam-overdrive mode. Black Friday and Cyber Monday are the busiest online shopping days and the bad guys are planning to get rich with your money. So, here are this year's Top 10 Holiday Cybersecurity Alert Tips. Since this year is unprecedented, do not let the bad guys exploit your holiday spirit and use it against you. Remember to stay alert when you shop online, and to Think Before You Click!

Let's Talk Finances Budgeting for the Holidays You may have been a last-minute holiday shopper last year, but planning now can help you have a happier, stress-free holiday season this year. • Make a list, and check it twice. Experts agree that it helps to write down a list of all the people for whom you plan to shop, before you hit the stores or turn on the computer. Next to each name write down what you want to buy for that person, and how much you want to spend. This will help you get a clear idea of the numbers involved and know in advance how many gifts you need to purchase. • Shop for bargains once you have an idea of what you're looking for, and for whom you are buying. In addition, if you are purchasing a number of items from the same online retailer, buying all the items together can cut down on shipping costs. • Curb impulse shopping and spending – buy only what is on your list. If you've forgotten someone, add them to your holiday budget and, if necessary, adjust the amounts you spend on others so you keep the same total. • Make a plan for those other expenses. Give some thought to how much you'll be spending during the holiday season on things other than gifts. Be sure to include the following: postage for cards and presents that need to be shipped; wrapping paper, bows, greeting cards and other supplies; decorations; food and drink for holiday meals; and travel expenses. • Review your receipts and bills from last year. This will give you an idea of the amount you actually spent and how long it took to pay for it all. • Save your holiday receipts from this year and either total them daily or add them up two weeks before the actual holiday. Expenses add up fast during this busy season. Seeing your totals will provide you with a reality check as to how much more you can afford to spend. • Using credit during the holidays? If so, take only the credit cards you will need and limit those to as few as possible. And be sure to check your credit card statements carefully for any unauthorized charges. Report such charges immediately to your financial institution or credit card company. Following some of these simple tips should allow you to have a successful and financially stress-free holiday season!

Pass along a smile today! #SmilesAreContagious

EASTWIS.COM Easy, Safe, and Contact Free. East Wisconsin Savings Bank November 17 at 10:40 AM · Now you can open an account without ever leaving your home.

Summer is over and it’s time for all those great fall scents, flavors, and décor. Tune in as Shannon and Katie discuss their favorite “Affordable Fall Finds” in this episode of Is This Adulting. “Is This Adulting?” is sponsored by East Wisconsin Savings Bank

Online account opening now available at www.eastwis.com/www.eastwis.com/personal-banking/checking-accounts/ See terms and conditions at www.eastwis.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/chk_bonus_disclosure.html

It’s Identity Theft Awareness Week! Learn about free events and resources at ftc.gov/idtheftweek. #IDTheftWeek2021 #idtheft

Now is the time! Don't wait! https://www.eastwis.com/personal-banking/loans/

EAST WISCONSIN SAVINGS BANK Part-Time Member Relations Representative (Teller)

Go Green Today! www.eastwis.com