BECU Blog

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

A person sits at an outdoor café table holding a smartphone and credit card, with a coffee cup on the table and other diners in the background.

New Credit Cards To Fit You

Earn rewards, get cash back or keep interest costs lower.

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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

Five people stand in front of a gray military jet. Four wear matching blue shirts with the Veterans Employee Resource Group logo.

Military Veterans Reflect on Money Matters

BECU military veterans discuss financial challenges and opportunities.

Sixteen people representing BECU, BECU Foundation, BECU Board of Directors and nonprofit partners stand together on a stage with a pink and purple backdrop.

BECU Foundation Awards $4 Million in Grants

See how new grants will help community partners expand work already underway.

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.

Most Recent

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Woman sitting on a sofa, holding a smartphone and credit card beside a suitcase and headphones.

What Are Credit Card Points and How Do They Work?

Learn how credit card points work and what to compare when choosing a card.

Person seated at an outdoor café table, holding a smartphone and credit card beside a cup of coffee, with café chairs and greenery in the background.

What Is Cash Back on a Credit Card?

Learn how cash back works and how to make rewards count.

Smiling person seated in an armchair, holding a tablet in one hand and a mug in the other.

Prequalified vs. Preapproved for Credit Cards

Explore what credit card offers mean before you apply.

BECU Spotlight

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Young baseball fan holding a glove poses with family members and Mariner Moose mascot on the field at T-Mobile stadium.

Big-League Moments for Young Fans

See how BECU and the Mariners Kids Club help families make baseball memories.

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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Two people stand beside a “Únete a la cultura” banner for the National Association of Latino Credit Unions & Professionals.

Building Pathways to Leadership

Explore how mentorship and more can help Latinx professionals advance.

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.

Budgeting

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A young boy stands next to his mother and father in the aisle of an office supplies store. The family is facing a wall full of writing utensils and other back-to-school supplies, with the father reaching to pull an item off the shelf.

Back-to-School Budget-Friendly Checklist

Browse common school supplies to build your must-buy list.

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.

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.

Credit & Debt

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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.

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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Two people stand together while looking at a large printout of construction plans. The Consumers’ Checkbook logo appears in white in the lower right corner.

How To Choose a Home Remodeling Contractor

Learn how to vet contractors before remodeling your home.

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 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.

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 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 phone screen displaying a text message with a notification that says, "Potential Scam."

Seven Top Financial Scams in 2026

Learn about common scams that could swipe your savings and identity.

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.