BECU Blog

Your source for BECU stories and information to help you reach your financial health goals.

About 30 people stand outside in front of tall glass doors. A man in the middle of the photo holding oversized scissors has cut through large red and white ribbons. A red BECU logo is centered at the top of the image.

Expanding Access 

BECU is adding locations to meet demand in growing communities.

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BECU Spotlight | Advancing Equity | Budgeting | Credit & Debt | Spending & Shopping | Mortgages & Home | Security, Scams & Fraud | Hear From Our CEO | Taxes | Jobs & Income | BECU in the Community | Business Banking Tips

Featured

A couple at a hockey game, wearing Seattle Thunderbirds jerseys. The man, on the left, is smiling and wearing glasses. The woman, on the right, looks excited, posing with her mouth open. The two are seated in a hockey arena setting.

Save Money With a Staycation

Find affordable ways to enjoy a vacation near your home.

A BECU member consultant shows a brochure to a member. The member consultant is sitting on a couch and smiling at the member who is seated across from her in a cushioned chair facing away from the camera.

Teller vs. Tellerless: What To Know

Compare teller and tellerless options at BECU locations.

Two people sit at a dining room table, sharing food, with bookshelves behind them.

Create a More Affordable Life in 8 Steps

Tips to stretch your budget when life becomes less affordable.

Most Recent

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A woman sits cross-legged on a fuzzy rug on a wood floor with her laptop open in front of her. She's looking at a piece of paper she's holding up. A bright turquoise arm chair, houseplant and window are behind her. Trees and sunlight fill the window.

What Can I Use a Personal Loan For?

Learn when a personal loan might help you cover a big expense.

A group of friends sit around a table at a restaurant. A woman smiles as she reaches to pay with her credit card on the card reader held by the server.

How To Get a Credit Card

Learn how to choose, apply for and use a credit card responsibly.

A front shot of a house with an attached garage. The house is blue with white trim. The garage door panel is wood. The front lawn shows green grass and some landscaped hedging,

2026 Home Improvements That Increase Value

Learn which projects increase home value and which to avoid in 2026.

BECU Spotlight

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A collage of scenic and member photos

2025 Year in Review: More Value for Members

See BECU's 2025 highlights for members and communities.

BECU President and CEO Beverly Anderson speaks at a podium during a formal event, with stage lighting and floral decor in the background.

BECU CEO Honored for Supporting Education

UNCF recognizes Beverly Anderson for leadership and education access.

Nine professionals stand together in business attire inside a wood‑paneled government building, with a red carpet and a U.S. flag in the background.

Credit Union Support Tops Washington, D.C. Agenda

BECU advocated for members at national conference. Learn what it means for you.

Advancing Equity

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BECU employees march in the Seattle Pride Parade wearing matching white tee-shirts with a colorful design. Two people at the center of the photo are wearing rainbow colored tutus, have colorful hair and are carrying a rainbow umbrella. A Pride flag waves in the background.

How BECU is Rallying for Pride

Employee voices and community partnerships shape Pride at BECU.

More than 25 BECU employees stand and kneel in the sun in front of a red tent with the white BECU logo that is set up on a sidewalk. Bushes, trees and the Tukwila Financial Center are in the background.

How BECU Supports Sustainability

BECU supports sustainability through volunteer and operational efforts.

A woman on a bench, using a laptop, with a park setting in the background. She's wearing a teal blazer and has long dark hair.

7 Asian American Financial Influencers

Learn about these "finfluencers" and their platforms.

Budgeting

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Two individuals seated at a table in an office setting, collaborating over a laptop. The woman, on the right, is holding a pen and has short blue hair. She's wearing a white top. The man, on the left, has dark hair and is wearing a blue long sleeve shirt.

How To Save Money

Learn smart ways to save more money.

Two people stand in an auto repair shop reviewing a clipboard beneath a car on a lift.

Emergency Funds: Your Financial Safety Net

Learn what an emergency fund is, why you need one and how much you should save.

Two adults sit on the floor with a young child while one adult cradles a newborn, all seated closely together.

Year 1 Baby Costs: More Than You Think

Prepare for necessary and optional costs in the first year of your baby's life.

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Credit & Debt

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Two young college-aged students sitting at a table inside located in front of large windows. Trees are in the background outside. The two students are looking together at the screen of a laptop that's in front of one of the students, who is typing on the laptop keyboard. The other student not in front of the laptop is holding a pen in one hand and has a book in their other hand resting on the table, open to a page.

Federal Student Loan Repayment

Learn more about changes to student loans.

Mother holding a mobile phone sits next to her child who is holding a credit card. They are sitting at a table, smiling. A large green plant is in the background.

Credit vs. Debit Card Options for Kids

Learn how to help build kids’ credit and teach them about managing finances.

Two women in an office setting, one gesturing as if explaining something while the other listens attentively. A laptop sits on the desk in front of them.

How To Pay Off Credit Card Debt

Get tips for paying off debt and saving for the future.

Spending & Shopping

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A man is smiling and riding a stationary bike indoors. In the background is fitness equipment. He is looking at a screen while riding the bike. Both of his hands are on the handlebars and he is wearing a red crewneck sweater. The photo has a Consumers' Checkbook logo and the bottom right-hand corner.

Exercise Your Options Before Joining a Gym

Consider your exercise goals and learn how to save money on fitness.

A smiling woman wearing sunglasses and a green top lies in a hammock while looking at her phone. A sandy beach, blue ocean and bright blue sky are in the background. The Consumers' Checkbook logo is in the upper right corner.

Do You Need Travel Insurance?

Get tips to help you decide if insurance makes sense for your trip.

A woman stands next to a white SUV in a parking lot setting, she's wearing a black top and black plaid pants. She has one hand on her hip and is smiling proudly. There are trees and another parked car in the background.

How To Get the Best Deal on a New Car

New car shopping requires savvy strategies.

Mortgages & Home

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A man and woman engage in a flooring project. The man is kneeled over and is measuring flooring on the ground and the woman is sitting behind him on steps. There's a paint can on the steps next to the woman, She has a paint brush in her hand. Both of them are smiling.

How a Home Equity Line of Credit Works

Learn how you can use your equity for home improvement projects.

Three people sit at a kitchen island with documents and a laptop, discussing a possible sale. One man appears to be signing papers while his partner looks at the papers and smiles.

How To Win a Bid in a Seller's Market

Even in a tough market, buyers can win a home.

Three people standing in front of a brick house, one person is holding and showing a document to the other two. The woman holding the document has curly black hair and glasses. She's wearing a green top and beige pants. The couple, are standing next to each other, looking at the document. A man, in the middle, is wearing a beige top and brown pants. He has dark hair. The woman, to the right, is wearing a white top and light jeans. She has blonde hair. To the left are some plants.

Homebuying as an Unmarried Couple

Learn about legal agreements and title options to protect both of you.

Security, Scams & Fraud

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A woman wearing a tan coat, carrying shopping bags walks through a mall.

2025 Holiday Shopping Scams To Avoid

Learn about the latest online holiday shopping scams so you can avoid them.

Image illustrating a log in and password prompt.

Password Phishing Scams: How To Avoid Them

Protect your personal and financial information from online attacks.

A woman in a yellow hoodie sits on the floor in a living room setting, holding a credit card and a smartphone, likely making an online purchase. There is a wooden bookshelf and gray couch in the background.

Voice Cloning AI Scams Are on the Rise

Watch out for AI scams that use the voices of family and loved ones.

Taxes

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A woman sits at a kitchen counter with a laptop open in front of her. The Consumers’ Checkbook logo appears in the upper right corner.

Big 2025 Income Tax Updates

Learn about big tax law changes and what they could mean for your return.

A family enjoys a meal together at a picnic table. A man is seated passing out chips and other family members are gathered and seated around the table with burgers.

What’s the 2026 Gift Tax Limit?

Learn about taxes on gifts.

A man sits in his kitchen looking at papers he's holding in his right hand and punching buttons on a calculator with his left hand. A laptop is open on the table in front of him.

2026 Tax Extension: Deadline, Rules, How To File

Need more time for your taxes? Learn about tax extensions.