Author: Cathy Carpenter

About The Author

Cathy Carpenter is the Senior Vice President of Lending at HRCCU and has over four decades of experience in lending. Cathy started her career as a teller at HRCCU and worked her way up the ranks, allowing her to work closely with the community to assist with obtaining mortgages, auto loans, and more.

white-colored power outlet with a bright green plug mounted on green wall

How to Lower Your Energy Bill & Save Money

In the United States, nearly 3% of a home’s annual income goes towards electricity bills. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), American households spent nearly $118 per month on electricity in 2020, which averages to an annual cost of over $1,400. And with the EIA projecting a 6% increase in electricity costs by… Read more »

Complete Guide to the First-Time Homebuying Process

The process of buying a house can be overwhelming, especially for first-time homebuyers. To streamline the homebuying process, this guide compiles the tips first-time homebuyers need to know, from prequalification to closing and every step in between. Step 1. Analyze Finances to Set a Budget It is important for first-time homebuyers to assess their finances…. Read more »

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7 Main Factors That Determine Loan Amounts

Prospective borrowers must consider quite a few factors before applying for a loan of any type, most importantly, perhaps is how much they can borrow. Loan amounts and borrowing capacity greatly influence a borrower’s budget. For financing milestone purchases such as a first home, this is a big deal. Whether it’s an auto loan, personal… Read more »

closeup of an adult wearing a red and blue plaid shirt driving a vehicle with a black steering wheel

How to Negotiate a Car Lease

A car lease is an agreement between the lessee and the lessor — typically a car dealership — to drive a vehicle for a limited period of time and an allotted number of miles, for a specific price. Unlike auto loans, however, car leases are typically for borrowing a car rather than building equity towards purchasing a car. Find out which type of auto financing agreement — to buy or to lease — is best for you…. Read more »

woman with black hair wearing a gray sweater filling out a student loan application on a gray laptop

Why Do I Need a Co-Signer for My Student Loans?

As students and young adults prepare for college, it is not uncommon for them to need financial assistance to help cover the costs of their education. And when financial aid is not available or doesn’t cover enough of the costs, a student loan could be a solution. Needing a loan is not uncommon. In fact,… Read more »

man wearing a blue tee shirt holding United States money to make a deposit

How to Deposit Cash to Your Bank When Out of Town

Although many of us are finding ourselves spending less time at the bank, it’s still important to know how to deposit cash, especially while traveling. And, even though there was a decline in cash usage during 2020 — speculated to have been caused by the coronavirus pandemic — there’s still quite a lot of currency… Read more »

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How to Increase Your Credit Score

Your credit score is more than just a meaningless three-digit number. Lenders use your credit score to help them decide whether you are an ideal candidate for a loan or credit card. These three-digit numbers turn out to be quite significant. The higher your credit score is, the more likely you are to qualify for… Read more »