With the growth of technology at an all-time high, there has never been a more opportune time for cybercriminals to take advantage of vulnerable people. Protecting yourself and your private information can be difficult when there are so many different types of fraud.

Carolina Trust wants to make sure you have all the tools you need to protect yourself from scammers and know what to do if you've been scammed, which is why this month's Financial Friday Community Panel was all about fraud. Check it out below:

It seems that emergencies always strike when you least expect them.

I went out of town this past weekend on a girls' trip, where I probably spent a little more money than I should have, and wouldn't you know it; my car broke down on the way home from the airport. My first thought was, "please don't let this be expensive," and my second was, " all that money I just spent on my trip would come in handy right now."

Unfortunately, wishing my worries away isn't going to pay for the auto repairs. Luckily, I have an emergency savings account. Although I hate depleting it, times like this are precisely what that safety net is for.

I couldn't help but think of the trouble and panic I'd feel if I didn't have my emergency savings account to fall back on, so I wanted to share the tips below from BALANCE on how to jump-start your emergency fund.

There is no better time of year to live at the beach than the summer. I love spending time outside by the ocean or the river and soaking up the UV rays, with sunscreen, of course. 

Summertime has finally arrived at the grand strand, and unfortunately, hurricane season came right along with it. Living near the coast, we are in hurricane season from June 1st to November 30th. Thinking about a potential hurricane can be somewhat stressful. However, being educated and prepared can help relieve a bit of that anxiety. Check out the BALANCE blog post below for tips on how to financially prepare before a natural disaster.

As you may know, I just graduated from the 42nd class of Leadership Grand Strand. Leadership Grand Strand is a 10-month program sponsored by the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce to develop a corps of informed, committed, and qualified individuals who provide dynamic leadership for the Grand Strand area. As part of the requirements for graduation, my classmates and I had to volunteer at least 75 hours with various local charities, including Habitat for Humanity and New Directions Men’s Shelter in Myrtle Beach.

Although I already knew that I had a heart for service through previous volunteer opportunities with the credit union, Leadership Grand Strand tremendously strengthened my desire to give back to the community. However, with so many different volunteer opportunities, finding ways to help that will actually make an impact can be tricky.

If you are already an avid volunteer or are looking for ways to start giving back to your community, check out the BALANCE blog post below:

Did you know that May is mental health awareness month? According to Mental Health America, approximately 20% of adults in the United States are experiencing a mental illness, with South Carolina ranked 10th in prevalence. 

April is Credit Union Youth Month, and Carolina Trust is celebrating in full swing like we do every year. This year's official youth month theme is "Save Small. Dream Big. at your credit union™, and one day you may have enough to fulfill a financial dream!" This theme makes saving for the future fun and encourages younger members to create financial dreams and work hard to see them through.

Youth Month is a great annual opportunity to engage with our young members and teach them about important financial topics. Taking financial concepts and putting them into terms that kids can understand can be tricky, so I'm here to help!

In this BALANCE blog post, you'll learn different tips and tricks to raising kids that are financially responsible.

April is Credit Union Youth Month, and Carolina Trust is celebrating in full swing like we do every year. This year's official youth month theme is "Save Small. Dream Big. at your credit union™, and one day you may have enough to fulfill a financial dream!" This theme makes saving for the future fun and encourages younger members to create financial dreams and work hard to see them through.

Youth Month is a great annual opportunity to engage with our young members and teach them about important financial topics. Taking financial concepts and putting them into terms that kids can understand can be tricky, so I'm here to help!

In this BALANCE blog post, you'll learn different tips and tricks to raising kids that are financially savvy.

April is Credit Union Youth Month, and Carolina Trust is celebrating in full swing like we do every year. This year's official youth month theme is "Save Small. Dream Big. at your credit union™, and one day you may have enough to fulfill a financial dream!" This theme makes saving for the future fun and encourages younger members to create financial dreams and work hard to see them through.

Youth Month is a great annual opportunity to engage with our young members and teach them about important financial topics. Taking topics like credit, investing, and budgeting and putting them into terms that kids can understand can be tricky, so I'm here to help!

In this blog post, I will show you how you can teach the kids in your life about budgeting by having them assist with grocery shopping.

I loved going to the grocery store with my parents as a kid. I would always try to sneak treats into the buggy and collect as many coupons from the aisle coupon machines as possible. Although going to the grocery store was a fun trip for me, I'm sure all of my shenanigans made it quite stressful for my parents. If you're in the same boat when it comes to grocery shopping with kids, try letting them assist with shopping. Having them help gives them something to do, and it's also an excellent opportunity to teach them about budgeting.

April is Credit Union Youth Month, and Carolina Trust is celebrating in full swing like we do every year. This year's official youth month theme is "Save Small. Dream Big. at your credit union™, and one day you may have enough to fulfill a financial dream!" This theme makes saving for the future fun and encourages younger members to create financial dreams and work hard to see them through.

Youth Month is a great annual opportunity to engage with our young members and teach them about important financial topics. Taking topics like credit, investing, and budgeting and putting them into terms that kids can understand can be tricky, so I'm here to help!

In this blog post, I will show you how you can teach the kids in your life about investing.