During the holiday buying season, it’s important to shop smart. Whether you’re buying in bulk for holiday gatherings, prepping extended staycations, crossing items off your gift list, or planning in advance for those essential Black Friday pickups, now is the time to think twice about where you’re buying what. When planning out the holidays, a wise shopper considers several factors: customer service, price, and environment are the most important for many. And for...

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There's no shortage of reasons to bank local. It may surprise you that — all things equal — one out of three U.S. adults would rather bank at a community bank  than one of the major national banks. But in reality, most people don't. Why? The megabanks earn their "mega" stripes because they spend a lot of money to bring in a lot of customers. Maybe it's a simple question of information. While the advertising budgets may never be equal,...

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We’d like to put debit card users in three categories: The second nature user – you use your debit card for all purchases and don’t even think about other means of currency. The cautious debit card holder – you want to be mindful of a potential unauthorized purchase and limit when and where you use your card (especially online). The “what debit card?” user – You rely on checks and cash to manage your flow and that debit card rarely sees the light...

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Which is better, debit or credit cards? The answer is — both! Debit and credit cards both have advantages, and which is best for you really depends on multiple factors, such as what you’re using the card for, what kind of rewards each offers, and how good you are at managing a budget. To help you decide which card is right for you at any given time, consider these advantages and disadvantages: Your trusty debit card The good: Because a debit card is tied to your checking (and...

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When you have a Kasasa checking account, you can earn rewards every month. One of the ways Kasasa account holders earn those rewards is by using their debit card regularly – around 15 swipes a month. Most Kasasa account holders find this requirement is no problem at all, but every once in a while, we hear from people who prefer to stick with using their credit card or checks when making purchases. This post is for those of you hesitant to switch out your checkbook for your...

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