Dollars & Sense Blog

Want more detailed information on loans, renting vs. buying, credit scores, or finances? Check out our blog!

Staying Safe While Shopping Online

With the convenience of online shopping comes the risk of having your information stolen by scammers looking to take advantage of you. Follow these helpful tips to keep your finances and personal information safe this holiday season.

How To Avoid a Home Improvement Scam

Adding a room, renovating a basement, or doing some much-needed repairs around your home can be a big undertaking. Finding a trustworthy contractor is an important first step. Scammers will promise to do the work, but leave you and your home worse off than when you started. They may do shoddy work, damage your home, overcharge you, or just take your money without performing any services. So how do you tell the difference between a trustworthy contractor and a scammer? Before you hire a contractor, learn how to recognize the signs of a home improvement scam.

Five Factors That Impact Your Credit Score

Your credit score is a three-digit number that plays an important role in qualifying you for everything from loans and credit cards to apartment rentals and some insurance policies. It usually falls between 300 and 850 (a higher number is better) and its calculation has a lot to do with the five factors explained below.

Passwords: Changing with the Times

It’s commonly understood that your password is your first and typically best line of defense for private data and information. Yet, reports show that more than 2 in 3 people reuse the same passwords across multiple accounts – one of the biggest “no-no’s” in the book!

Fall Money-Saving Tips for Your Family

As the summer comes to an end and back-to-school shopping has got you strapped for cash, Heartland Bank has a few ideas for how you can save money this fall.