If you are thinking about refinancing your mortgage to a lower rate, then you are probably looking forward to saving money on your monthly payments. You can also go through the refinancing process to tap into the equity in your home to finance home improvements while also consolidating your other debts. At the same time, this is a big decision and you need to work with the best mortgage lenders to get a new home loan that is favorable to your financial situation. When it comes to refinancing your first mortgage, there are a few tips to follow.

Have you grabbed your copy of the October Grand Strand Magazine? You'll definitely want to grab one and check out the Women in Business Edition, featuring profiles of some of our area's most prominent businesswomen.

Can you believe it is already fall? It seems like summer just flew by. As much as I love summer, I am ready for cooler weather and fun fall festivities. Growing up in the mountains in Virginia, I always loved watching the leaves change colors each fall. Although the scenery doesn't change as drastically here in South Carolina, there are still lots of other ways to get into the fall spirit.

As the community credit union, Carolina Trust prides itself on living out the credit union philosophy, "people helping people." From the way we do business to our community involvement, we show our care for the community. We look for these same core values in the organizations we work with, which is why it is such an honor to work with The Ricky Sapp Foundation.

The Ricky Sapp Foundation was formed by NFL Veteran Linebacker Ricky Sapp to help kids become their very best and educate adults that their actions matter. Ricky saw the opportunity to take his platform and encourage youth to make positive changes within themselves, their schools, and communities. With his foundation, he's had the chance to speak to kids at school pep rallies, team sporting events, banquets, pre-games, college classes, etc. This past year, Ricky paired up with Carolina Trust for the I'm a Buddy Not a Bully project, where he attended school visits and spoke to kids about bullying and how it affected his life.

Along with motivational speaking, Ricky holds several events throughout the year with his foundation.

Since the NFL, Ricky has been very active in the football community. The Ricky Sapp Youth Football Camp is held in Bamberg, SC, annually. NFL pros, friends, and family assist Ricky with the camp.

The Ricky Sapp Foundation also holds an annual Back-to-School Drive, where they've provided hundreds of kids with support such as backpacks, school supplies, haircuts, new shoes, and more. Carolina Trust had the opportunity to help The Ricky Sapp Foundation with its Back-To-School Drive this year. It was heartwarming to see each child's excitement as they got to select a backpack full of supplies.

Click here for more information about The Ricky Sapp Foundation and how they're helping our community. Also, check out the Living Local Carolina Segment below, where show host Rainee Romero sits down with Ricky Sapp for an inside exclusive about his foundation.

For the second year in a row, Carolina Trust was named WMBF News' Best in Banking in their Best of the Grand Strand Contest. It is such an honor to be voted as "Best Bank" by members of the Grand Strand Community.

On August 26th, we celebrated National Dog Day; A day dedicated to appreciating man's best friend and the joys that they bring to our lives. If you are considering making the addition of a furry friend to your family, I encourage you to check out your local animal shelter. There are many shelters in our local community with wonderful animals looking for their forever home.

Like most things in 2020, the start of a new school year looks a little different this year for the students at Coastal Carolina University. Unlike previous years, the freshmen class will move onto campus without an official orientation, which showcases many of the school's significant highlights. As a Coastal alumnus, I've put together a list of my favorite spots to check out around campus. Click here for a map of the campus to guide you around to each of my favorite spots.

Last week on Living Local Carolina, we dove into Carolina Trust's Auto Loan options. As people are beginning to go back to work and school, we know that obtaining a means for transportation is becoming more prevalent, and we're here to help!

Purchasing a home is a huge milestone in many people's lives. It can be intimidating; I know it definitely was for me as I first began the process. Luckily, with the help of the mortgage team at Carolina Trust, I was able to put my worries aside and enjoy embarking on the journey of house hunting and purchasing my first home.