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Portrait of Katie J. Skipper

Katie J. Skipper

(She, Her, Hers)

BECU Community Content Manager

Katie writes for BECU about personal finance and social justice topics. She has reported for newspapers in Washington and Montana and communicated on behalf of government and private businesses. She has a master's in communication and a certificate in content strategy from the University of Washington.
White text on red background says, "Asian Pacific American Heritage Month," next to headshot of BECU SVP Bryan MacDonald

BECU SVP: Value Differences To Open Doors

Bryan Lee MacDonald says real connections pave the way to equity.
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.

2022 Tax Extension: Deadline, Rules, How To File

Need more time for your taxes? Learn about getting an extension in 2022.
A woman sits at her kitchen table reading a receipt she is holding in one hand. She is holding an apple in the other hand. A paper bag of groceries is on the table next to her.

How To Budget for Inflation

Get tips on how to adapt your budget as prices rise.
Two smiling men sit shoulder-to-shoulder in front of a laptop and look over a paper document together.

How To Pay Off Credit Card Debt

Get tips for paying off debt and saving for the future.
White text on red background says "Women's History Month," next to an image of a woman's smiling face. She is outside with green leaves behind her.

Pandemic Pressure: A Toll on Women's Finances

A BECU employee shares how her career took a detour because of the pandemic.
White text on red background says "Women's History Month" next to headshots of four women.

Women Leaders Share Vision for Path to Equity

BECU leaders discuss what it takes to increase opportunities for women.
White text on red background says "Women's History Month" next to headshots of four women.

Credit Unions Positioned to Lead on Gender Equity

Credit union leaders share their experiences and ideas for closing the gap.
White text on black background says, "Black History Month," to the left of headshot photo of TJ Peguero, BECU Financial Educator.

BECU Educator Helps Brighten Financial Futures

A Black financial educator empowers students to achieve financial health.
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White text on black background says, "Black History Month," next to headshot photo of Kesha Rodgers, co-founder of the Ally League.

Creating Opportunity for Black-Owned Business

Kesha Rodgers is on a quest to help local Black-owned businesses flourish.
White text on black background says, "Black History Month" to the left of photo of Maggie Lena Walker

10 Black Finance Leaders in History

In honor of Black History Month, learn about these trailblazers in finance.
A toddler squats in the grass, looking at a clover held by her smiling mother.

Guide to 2021 Child Tax Credit: Amounts, Eligibility

Find out how advance payments might affect your tax return.
A father, mother and their two boys pose for a family photo in front of their RV, which is hitched to their pickup truck.

RV Supplies Increasing, but Prices Still High

What to expect — and what to consider — if you’re shopping for an RV.
A BECU employee speaking with another person, with food donations in the background.

Holiday Giving: How To Maximize Your Donation

Tips for making the most of your donation dollars and time.
A woman wearing a tan coat, carrying shopping bags walks through a mall.

2021 Holiday Shopping Scams: What To Watch Out For

Learn about the latest online holiday shopping scams so you can avoid them.
Illustration of a Native American drum.

Barriers to Indigenous Wealth

How access to financial health has been limited for Native Americans.
Illustration of a person pointing at a screen displaying a digital replica of himself.

The Emerging Threat of AI in Cyber Scams

How scammers are using AI to fool you into giving away sensitive data.
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White text on red background: "Disability Employment Awareness Month," next to a photo of a smiling man driving a forklift and wearing personal protective equipment.

Different, Not Less: Employment for All Abilities

Randy Lewis’s successful effort to employ thousands with disabilities.
Computer screen with password typed in has a sticky note in the top right corner with a fishing hook going through it. White text below computer screen says "Cybersecurity Awareness Month"

Password Phishing Scams: How To Avoid Them

Protect your personal and financial information from online attacks.
White text on red background says, "Latinx Heritage Month," next to headshot of BECU's VP of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Jackie Martinez-Vasquez

BECU VP's Work for Equity Informed by Her Latinx Culture

Working to achieve equity for oppressed people.
Rental relief written in a notebook

End of Rental Eviction Ban: Where To Get Help

Find help through government and nonprofit programs.
A woman smiles as she paints a white wall gray using a roller brush.

Is DIY Home Improvement Right for You?

Save time and money and increase your home value by doing your homework.
A large blue house with white trim, stone veneer along the lower third and two white garage doors.

Home Improvements That Increase Value in 2021

How to make the most of your home improvement dollars.
A woman, man and dog sit on the front stairs outside their gray house. The bright yellow front door is ajar behind them.

Mortgage Scams Are Real in 2021: How To Avoid Them

Protect yourself from mortgage fraud, foreclosure scams and wire fraud.
Illustration of two people walking toward each other, one carrying a Pride flag and the other carrying a scarf that says "Pride." Five icons in circles arch over them: a grocery bag, a contract, a graph with a dollar sign, a beach scene and food. Text in the lower left reads "LGBTQIA+ PRIDE."

Why You Should Spend With Pride Year-Round

Your everyday spending can support the LGBTQIA+ community year-round.
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A Black person's hand holds a Juneteenth flag with a blue sky and clouds in the background. Text: Juneteenth Freedom Day

The Financial Significance of Juneteenth

We reflect on the nation’s history of barriers to Black financial health.
White text on teal background: MONEY AS MEDICINE; headshot of Edgar Villanueva

Edgar Villanueva on Closing the Racial Wealth Gap

The author of “Decolonizing Wealth” works for equity and community healing.
A woman dressed in warm clothes sits on a Pacific Northwest beach with two dogs

Consider Costs Before Getting a Pet

Learn how much you’ll need to budget to care for a new furry friend.
A person holds a stimulus check with two hands, facing the camera

No Stimulus Check Yet? Here’s What To Expect

Find out whether a payment might be due to you and how to claim it.
Standing in front of a yellow house, man cradles woman in his arms while she dangles keys from her fingers.

Buy or Refi? Low Mortgage Rates Boost Buying Power

Read expert tips about what low rates could mean for you.
White text on red background reads Women's History Month next to image of a woman's face

BECU SVP Faced Steeper Climb as a Woman in Finance

Jenni Fancher talks about her path in the male-dominated finance world.
Black man in a suit and tie looks at the camera; white text on black background says Black History Month

Employee Helps Others Benefit from his Experience

A Black BECU employee talks about overcoming adversity and helping others.
White text on black background reads "Black History Month" next to image of four Black women founders of the Black Future Co-op Fund

Fund Takes New Approach to Building Black Wealth

Transforming how philanthropy builds Black wealth and health.
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A man smiles at the camera while a woman wearing a flower wreath on her head hugs him from behind

A Wedding During COVID-19? Learn from Two Couples

Couples share how COVID-19 affected their big day and their budget.
Cafe worker wearing surgical mask over his nose and mouth standing in front of the counter

Small Businesses Get Second Boost for COVID-19 Relief

Learn the basics of the Paycheck Protection Program, Round 2.
Woman smiling, talking on a cell phone and looking at a laptop

How to Stay Positive When the Job Search Drags On

Motivation for when it seems like your job search has no end in sight.
A hand holding a check labeled "relief program" from the United States government

Stimulus Round 2 — What You Need to Know

Checks are on the way. Find out how much you’ll get and when you’ll get it.
Illustration of the start of a New Year's resolution list surrounded by six pictures in circles: an apple with a milk carton, a person walking outside, a person riding a bike, a book, a small picture of a piggy bank, and a small picture of a dumbbell.

Set Sights on Smaller Resolutions for 2021

After a tough 2020, it’s ok to set smaller goals for the new year.