Gift giving can be the best and worst part of the holiday season. On one hand, it feels great to give gifts to those you love the most and to receive gifts in return. But nothing is as stressful during the holidays as trying to find the perfect gift for that difficult someone. What do you get the person who seems to have everything?  What do you get your in-law who only ever seems to buy you candles? (Not that we don’t love a festive holiday candle). Finding the perfect gift can seem impossible. Here’s some tips for finding the perfect gift for everyone on your list.

This holiday season, consumers are expected to spend nearly $1.1 trillion. It’s no surprise that whether online or in stores, the majority of these purchases will be made with a card of some sort. Debit and credit cards are very different and have their pros and cons when it comes to holiday shopping. We’ve broken down the implications of using a debit or credit card this holiday season so you can choose the swipe that’s right for you.

Giving Tuesday is on November 27^th this year, and there’s plenty of ways you can help give back! We came up with 4 ways you can get involved and lend a helping hand this #GivingTuesday.

Black Friday and Cyber Monday are almost here, and the deals are always getting better and better. Whether you’re buying yourself something special or getting started on this year’s holiday shopping, these tips will save you time and money.  

As summer comes to a close, and fall is upon us, most of us are probably realizing the same thing; we spent way too much money this summer. From vacations, to home improvement, to the perfect beach bag, summer spending can get to even the best of us. But not to worry! As fall rolls around, here are some certified tips to get back on track with your savings account just in time for the holidays!

It’s August and you know what that means Trojans; the fall semester is almost upon us. In a few weeks you’ll be back in your dorms hitting the books, but don’t worry! There’s still plenty of time to make this summer the best one yet. Here are some last-minute summer activities that’ll be sure to satisfy your need for summer fun before school starts. 

It’s July! We hope you all enjoyed your holiday. While you were barbecuing, swimming, and gazing at fireworks, a small part of you may have been a bit distracted. Maybe you were celebrating LeBron James’s contract with the Lakers, maybe you were dreading going back to work, or perhaps you were stressing about a seemingly intimidating topic: student loans. It seems like such a big deal (I mean, its my education right?!). It’s hard to even know where to begin. Luckily, the USC Credit Union offers incredible student loans in addition to refinance and consolidation services. We have taken the ~liberty~ of predicting and answering some Frequently Asked Questions about our incredible loan services. So there is no need to worry—you can get back to celebrating the Lakers very soon after scanning this basic information. Enjoy!

The dream of Martin Luther King Jr. was for the word “united” in United States to truly exist. Inclusion for all, showing compassion to our fellow neighbor, and appreciation of diversity and love are all ideologies behind his activism.

Ways to Celebrate:

Visit a Museum for Free

Visit the California African American Museum for free during their annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration. The festivities last from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

The clock is ticking down. It seems that the holidays sneak up on you more every year. It's okay. We have some tips for you on the best strategies for last minute holiday shopping.

December is always a hectic shopping season as people scramble to buy last-minute gifts. Fraudsters, however, take advantage of this haste and try to steal your information while your mind is preoccupied. Here is how you can be aware and protect yourself from scams so you can have a safe and fun holiday season!

1. Sign-up for Transaction Alerts

If your bank does not offer transaction alerts, try to regularly monitor your account to ensure no fraudulent purchases are being made.

2. Always Question Online Legitimacy

Cybercriminals will often mimic legitimate content making it difficult to tell the difference. Some tell-tale signs the site is illegitimate are incorrect designs, poor spelling or grammar, or deals that seem “too good to be true”. The only way to ensure if it is the right site is to check the URL. Even the slight difference of one letter means the site is not official.