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You signed the papers, got the keys and opened the front door. Now, that quaint little place is all yours. But more freedom comes with more responsibility. A lot changes once you’re a homeowner. Here’s how to prepare for a few of the adjustments — emotionally and financially. 1. You think about money more often Ideally, you start thinking about money long before you sign the papers for your home. Say a mortgage on your

Every day, scam artists are at work targeting millions of people in an attempt to steal money or confidential banking information.  This is alarming to think about, but you are protected through Mountain Valley Bank.  We are here to help you with any transactions you did not authorize. We are watching out for you – we partner with Fraud Watch Services to offer 24/7 monitoring of transactions completed with your Mountain Valley Bank Debit and

When customers walk into their community bank they are met with a friendly face, greeting and a smile. Once the transaction is complete, the customer is going about the day perhaps not realizing what supporting a community bank really means… The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation classifies community banks as having $10 Billion, or less, in assets. These Banks, Community Banks, are more likely to be privately owned than much larger banks. Community Banks maintain a

Most people would be better off not having mortgages in retirement. Relatively few will get any tax benefit from this debt, and the payments can get more difficult to manage on fixed incomes. But retiring a mortgage before you retire isn’t always possible. Financial planners recommend creating a Plan B to ensure you don’t wind up house rich and cash poor. Why a mortgage-free retirement is usually best Mortgage interest is technically tax deductible, but taxpayers must

If you’re getting a divorce, it pays to keep quiet on social media, says New York divorce attorney Jacqueline Newman. Trashing a soon-to-be ex or boasting about your great new life can complicate divorce negotiations. One client’s husband, for example, insisted he couldn’t afford a proposed settlement. Then, he inadvertently gave Newman leverage to get a better deal. “He bragged [on social media] about the great vacation he just took and the big deal he

Most financial to-do lists focus on what you need to get done by Dec. 31, but there’s also a brief window early in the new year to save yourself some significant cash. Here are three tasks to consider doing now: 1. Avoid tax penalties If you live in a high-tax area, have a bunch of children or otherwise take a lot of deductions, you may face an unpleasant surprise on April 15. It won’t just

My wife and I once tried wearing cat and dog masks to talk about money. Our previous attempt to make a budget ended in shouts and pointed fingers, and I thought this might help tame our hair-trigger emotions. Instead, it sparked another disagreement over spending. “I was thinking something more Cirque du Soleil,” she said through the rubber cat mask I bought her. “I feel like we’re about to rob a bank.” Our Halloween tactic

All of us are vulnerable to fraud. But the ways some older people use technology can put them at higher risk. That’s where you come in. When you’re home for the holidays, or the next time you visit your folks, offer to help with a few tasks that can keep your parents safer online. Check privacy settings Identity thieves glean details from social media accounts that they can use to impersonate others. Unfortunately, many people

Millennials’ aversion to credit cards can make it hard for them to build good credit scores. A recently announced scoring system, the UltraFICO, may someday help them and other consumers get loans and credit based on how they use their bank accounts. People who don’t overdraw and who keep a few hundred dollars in their accounts could get enough points added to their traditional FICO credit scores to qualify for approvals or better rates and terms.

Big sales, must-have items and a list that just seems to get longer: Holiday shopping can drain your wallet and your sanity. Don’t let the stress erode your guard against identity theft, though. All that holiday shopping can leave you more vulnerable to scams. “It’s the fact that we’re not paying attention that makes the holidays so risky for ID theft,” says Eva Velasquez, CEO of Identity Theft Resource Center, a nonprofit dedicated to helping consumers