Browse the Blog
Browse the BlogClose
Portrait of Katie J. Skipper

Katie J. Skipper

(She, Her, Hers)

BECU Community Content Manager

Katie manages the BECU Blog and writes about personal finance topics including credit cards, budgeting, debt management, loans, taxes, home improvement, inflation, fraud and scams. She also writes about race, gender and social equity, and features the stories and expertise of BECU employees and community members.

A former journalist, she has reported for daily newspapers in Washington and Montana, including The Daily (Everett) Herald, Great Falls (Montana) Tribune and The Bellingham Herald, covering a range of topics including government, law and justice, and the environment.

She transitioned to public service, communicating on behalf of the Northwest Clean Air Agency and the Washington Department of Ecology with a focus on helping communities understand complex environmental and regulatory issues. She broadened her communications portfolio to the private sector at Ragan Communications and Nyhus (now DH).

Katie has a Master of Communication, Digital Media, and a certificate in content strategy from the University of Washington.

You can learn more about Katie's professional experience and education on her LinkedIn profile.

A green and white street sign. The green street sign says "Greenwood Ave" and the white sign says "Black Wall Street" with a key near the name. In the background is a brick building and trees.

The Financial Significance of Juneteenth

Learn about barriers to Black Americans' financial health.

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.

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.

A headshot of BECU employee Nadim Homsany. He's posed outside and is wearing a dark blazer and checkered shirt.

AI and the Future of Personal Finance

How Gen AI tools could help provide rapid and personalized financial guidance.

A group of BECU employees pose gather in front of a love sign in a festive mall setting. They are all wearing red sweatshirts that say "purpose."

Holiday Fun in Washington

Discover budget-friendly winter activities that spark the holiday spirit.

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.

A couple in helmets biking on a trail, enjoying the outdoors together. In the background is a mountain view, trees and blue sky. The two are both wearing sunglasses.

Budget-Friendly Vacations in Washington

Explore Washington on a budget with these vacation ideas.

Load More
This is an image of three younger girls running at Gas Works Park in Seattle, Washington. They are all smiling and the girl in the front has her hands in the air. She is wearing a pink sweatshirt and a yellow headband. The other two girls are wearing red and blue sweatshirts. In the background are people and children hanging out at the park. Also in the background is the gasification plant. The grass is bright green and the sky is light blue.

Equity and Access to a Clean Environment

How pollution has a bigger effect on poor communities and communities of color.

BECU's Vice President of Servicing and ATM Operations Shawna Thompson.

Path to Equity: A Woman VP's Perspective

How the workplace has changed for women in Shawna Thompson's 30 years with BECU.

Illustration of a person sitting at a computer, working from home. Across the room, a dog is on a couch across below a window with curtains.

How Remote Work Changed Working With a Disability

Employees talk about how remote work has helped them take care of their needs.

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,

2024 Home Improvements That Increase Value

Learn which projects increase home value and which to avoid in 2024.

Two people kayaking in orange boats with orange paddles on a sunny day. A woman in the foreground is smiling, looking in the direction that the man in the boat behind her is pointing. The sun is shining on the calm water.

9 Steps To Include Fun in Your Budget

Learn how to loosen up spending limits to avoid splurges.

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.

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 Adjust Your Budget for Inflation

Learn how to adapt your budget when prices are high.

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.

Load More
A woman stands in a warehouse, holding a bag filled with clothes, ready to sort or donate the items inside.

How To Maximize Your Charitable Donations

Get tips for making the most of your donation dollars and time.

Illustration of a Native American drum.

Barriers to Indigenous Wealth

Learn how access to financial health has been limited for Native people throughout U.S. history.

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, man and dog sit on the front stairs outside their gray house. The bright yellow front door is ajar behind them.

How To Avoid Mortgage Scams

Mortgage scams can leave you with loss of money and home.

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.

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 collage of images of Black finance leaders in history.

12 Black Finance Leaders in History

Learn about Black trailblazers in finance.

Load More
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.