USALLIANCE Blog

One-time passwords (OTPs) are a crucial security feature in our digital age as an extra layer of protection for online transactions and account logins. An OTP is a string of characters that is automatically generated to authenticate a user for a single login session. In some cases, an OTP is a replacement for traditional login information, and in others, it’s a manner for multifactor authentication. In any case, scammers are often trying to hijack these codes so they can steal sensitive info, money, or both.

Your home is one of your most valuable assets, so if you find yourself in need of some extra cash, you may want to consider tapping into that asset with a home equity loan. A home equity loan allows homeowners to borrow against the equity in their homes. The loan amount is based on the difference between the home’s current market value and the remaining balance due on the homeowner’s mortgage. You can use a home equity loan for a number of different major expenses, including:

If you’re in credit card debt, it can sometimes feel like there’s no hope of ever getting out of it – but don’t lose hope! You can break the cycle, dig yourself out of credit card debt, and eventually live debt free as long as you use the right tools and are willing to put in the work. In this article, we’ll break down how you can start making progress in paying off your debt and start seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.

It’s the summertime and that means vacations! Exploring foreign shores and dining on exotic fare are the stuff that dream vacations are made of, but it can also get expensive quickly. This infographic walks you through ways that you can have a great experience without bursting your budget. Learn how to get the most for your money while vacationing overseas.

We talk a lot about being smart with your money – prioritizing savings, minimizing debt, and keeping to your budget – so you might wonder, is it ever OK to give in to the urge to splurge? Life is boring when you follow all the rules, all the time. Yes, even the money rules. Sometimes can, and should, give in to the urge to splurge. It’s just important that you do so sensibly. Here’s when and how to indulge responsibly.

Many people use the terms “interest rate” and “APR” interchangeably, but the two have different meanings and the distinction is important. This infographic defines these two crucial financial terms, shows the difference between them, and gives insight on how to apply this information to real world situations.

Previously, we shared a Financial Glossary infographic that focused on a wide range of financial terms that members are likely to come across in their lives. It’s an essential building block of financial education to know and understand these terms. It opens more options and gives members more control over their finances. Many of these terms are a bit too advanced for kids, however, and providing early financial education to children can go a long way to preparing them for a financially successful future. That’s why we’ve created another Financial Glossary for Kids, so that parents can help walk them through some basics and begin teaching their children about how to handle money.

In today's world, where many people spend hours of each day browsing the Internet, staying safe online is paramount. The web is rife with scammers employing sophisticated tactics to get at your money and information. Scammers will sometimes set up fake websites purporting to sell legitimate products, but all they will do is steal your information and the product will never arrive. Another common tactic of criminals online is to spoof websites – creating a nearly identical version of a website that users know which tricks users into interacting with the website as they normally would. Accessing these and other kinds of scam websites can leave you open to having your information stolen or malware downloaded onto your device. Fortunately, there are clear warning signs you can watch out for to help stay safe while you surf the web. Here are six ways to tell if a website is safe:

Summertime is almost here, and that means school is out, so is the sun, and it’s time for some fun! Whether you’ve got a vacation coming up that you’ve been waiting all winter for or you’re just planning to go to a few ballgames or concerts, you need to budget for those expenses. Summer vacations and entertainment is a ton of fun, but it won’t be so fun come the fall if you’ve exceeded your budget and put yourself under financial stress. Download this full infographic to learn about the average costs of some popular summer expenses including vacations, travel, lodging, food, and entertainment so that you can budget accordingly and maximize your fun this summer!

There are many reasons to start a home improvement project. You might have some outdated plumbing you need to take care of, or an addition to the family you need more room for, or maybe you’ve had your eye on a particular part of the house since you bought it and you can finally take on the project. Whatever the reason for your home improvement project in the here and now, you should also consider the future. Many home improvement projects can help boost the value of your home when it comes time to sell – often times you can recoup at least part of the cost of the project or even exceed it.