Videos

I told them that we weren't looking for a place to rent. We were looking for a home.
And so I think that Azubuike has found a home.

The reason we chose to call ourselves Azubuike African-American Council for the Arts is the name actually has a meaning.
And the meaning is "the past is our strength."
And so we thought that that was a good name for the type of organization that we were trying to establish here in the Quad Cities.
The goal is to enrich our community and to provide different opportunities, especially for African-American youth that don't get these enrichment opportunities.
And a lot of programing has been kind of cut down in schools because of budgetary demands and just streamlining curriculum and things like that.
So arts and especially information about African-American culture and history doesn't get the highlight in public schools that maybe it should at least what we think it should.
So that is why we started Azubuike. For the art class, the kids come in and we have a different assignment.
It just depends. Sometimes the assignments or the projects that we are working on take more than one session.
And they know that, you know, art is something that that you take your time with.
So anyone that comes to our programing, it is free of charge. And we want to be able to keep it that way and to just be a service and a resource to the community.
Because if you go into a marginalized community, I mean, how do you charge people?
We believe that if you give young people a form of expression in self-expression, and being able to capture their realities, I think that you've given them a voice, you've given them a platform that they can show what they're feeling and thinking and communicate with others.
This is where our film program comes in. The only thing that most of the kids that come through here at first know about filmmaking, the African-American ones, is the acting.
Well, they know the actors. They might know a few of the directors, but they are not looking at the people who write the scripts, the screenplays, and things like that.
They don't look at the technical people and know that there's a whole crew behind them.
So we try to let them know the different types of professions that they can get just from the arts that we expose in here.
And I think that artists have always been at the forefront of social change. So we feel as artists that we have the same responsibility.
Art is not just art for art's sake.
It has to reflect what's going on with our community, what's happening in the world today.
That's how we feel we fit into the overall theme of being a resource in this in the Lincoln Resource Center, and also trying to do as much as we can to uplift our community and to deal with things head on that impact the African-American community more specifically. We see the community is getting whatever skills and expertize that we have to offer and then taking it and then like, let it spread, take it, go teach somebody else,
go help someone else learn this.
So we want it to spread like that. And we'd like for any of the expertize that they learn here that they can take back to their families, their friends, their schools, their churches, and start doing it there.

Love Girls Magazine is a loving network of support for young women in the Quad Cities.
And when they participate in Love Girls Magazine, they have opportunities for leadership and learning and all things related to media.
So that could be podcasting, graphic design, writing, public speaking, so that they actually leave Love Girls magazine with marketable skills and actually having a network of people that they've met that they can access for opportunities.
And that's, that's one of the huge things with the population we work with is access.
And the Lincoln Center provides us access because without the space we wouldn't be able to afford to have an on site location for the magazine.
We looked at it as an educational project, but what we've discovered is that, you know, you're never too young to lead.
We're opening doors for opportunity for young women.
And, you know, we've been around long enough, ten years, that we've been able to see the fruits of our labor.
We have young women who are working for TV stations, for newspapers and are using their leadership skills now that they've graduated from college.
You know, a lot of people say that self-esteem doesn't really matter, but it's not true.
It makes a difference in your leaders for tomorrow.
You know, we are an African-American led organization because my daughter is African-American and I am. And when young women see her in that leadership role, they're like, there's somebody who looks like me.
And so they want to be a part of that.
But we've never said that our doors aren't open to other populations.
And so certainly we serve a large number of African-American girls, of Asian girls, of Hispanic girls and of white girls as well.
But, yes, it's a huge number because representation matters.
You know, you see someone who looks like you, you're like, I can do that, too.
I was just recently talking with one of our podcast hosts, and she said that she was drawn to the magazine.
She came to the media arts camp. She said she'd always been a quiet person, very shy, and she wanted to really come out of her shell.
And she said, you know, "The thing it gave me was purpose."
She said, "I really struggled with knowing that I'm valued, that knowing that I measure up, that I'm good enough or that there's something special about me that's worthwhile." And she said, "That's what the magazine gave me." She said, "It gives me a sense of purpose and it changed my life." And that's really exciting to hear because, you know, that's that wasn't necessarily the vision, but that has now become our mission to give young women a sense of purpose, to give them a voice.

Community Highlights Mar 30, 2022
The Lincoln Center - Business Incubator
When programs are culturally relevant or you see someone that looks like you, so you know that they understand what you're going through versus telling you how to make your life better, that it's received better.
So specifically for the Lincoln Center, we want programing that not only helps with the basic needs, but also taps into some of those more specific needs as it relates to being an African-American

We're a family. We're family. We all we all like these guys here. How long you guys been here? About a year? A year and a half? Almost two?
See how fast that goes, man?
Pena's is a mainstay in our community and they've produced some world champions. They have.
But at the same time, I think what they offer the kids in our community is hope and stability.
My dad started it as a promise to my oldest brother in 19 and we've been going out for 54 years and it's for the kids.
He would always say it's for the kids. And now I understand what he means.

I think Pat, being in the Lincoln Center being here for the kids, being here longer than we've been here 0even is really a statement on what he means to our community and what he means to the kids that are here in our community.
You know, we have a lot of things going on in the black community as far as trouble. It provides a place for black children or younger
black youth to come and get away, give them something to look forward to instead of being in the streets.
I think what more importantly they're getting is the comfort of knowing that there's someone that cares about them.

That's one of the big things I like to see is that we're a big family. That's one of the main things that I like to see.
Everybody takes time to work with each other, make sure we're all we're all up to par for our fights.
Make sure everybody's in shape. Mainly because we're like a family. So it's a good connection. It's all love in here. All love here.

I can tell you a lot about Cops and Kids. I love Cops and Kids. I'm so excited about the program.
I ride around with books in my car. So anytime I have the opportunity to interact with kids this past summer, anytime I'd see a lemonade stand or some kids playing basketball or something especially younger ones,
I'd go out with them and I just I'd offer them a book instead of the lemonade and just create that positive environment, a positive interaction with with the community, with the kids specifically.

We're accomplishing two goals. The first goal was positive interaction with law enforcement so that it's not always them coming to the house on a negative mission, but to have positive interaction and talk with them.
But then the second one was promoting literacy. I think that we have to put the conversation about literacy in with the same conversation we have where we say kids need stable housing.
Kids need food. Kids need to know how to read. It's an awesome concept, and I'm glad we're doing something like this.
I think it's definitely needed. Just being intentional.
In our community, specifically in the Quad Cities pre-pandemic, the numbers of black third graders reading at third grade reading proficiency was at 42%.
So over half of our kids weren't reading at third grade reading proficiency.
Post-pandemic, I just saw the numbers, this dropped all the way to 11%, are only reading at Third-Grade reading level.
And so bringing a program like cops and kids here, we accomplish not just the goal of positive interaction with police, but putting a focus on literacy.

There's a lot that we do, whether it's chasing the bad guys or investigating the heinous crimes.
But at the end of the day, when I get to interact with the kids at community events and see the smiles on their faces interacting with me positively, it's it's it's what I look for.

Community Highlights Mar 24, 2022
The Lincoln Center - Programs
I guess the easier question is what is it not about, right? Because we have so much going on under our roof. We were committed from the beginning on making this the hub for the African-American community and anything that the community needed, whether it be resources, services, programs, events. It was going to happen here at the Lincoln Center. That's what we were determined to do.
And so we committed to filling this space up with black owned businesses, nonprofits and organizations. So we started out small and like I said, work with what we had. But in a year, we have progressed. So much things that are happening now I was not expecting to happen for two or three years. So we just adapt and adjust and keep going with the momentum that we have.
Pena's Boxing Club has existed in our community for over 60 years, and so they have a whole downstairs. And every day he gets about 40 kids down there Azubuike was the first artist that we had come in and take over a space and really make it her own. And then since then, we've had two more artists come
We have theater production and acting classes, afterschool programing, a community garden ministry who during the winter they plant your seedlings in greenhouses, and then in the spring they go out and plant them around the community. Our YAP program will be housed in here. We also have our Blessing Box, which is a nonprofit that collects household items that go out to families through the food pantry.
We have a couple of artists that do like the sip and paint and maternity bellies and skincare and cosmetics, LOVE Girls Magazine is in here. They do a lot of mentoring to young girls in our community with writing and photography and podcasting. We have two fitness studios and a photography studio. We have an event planner in here and we have two dance programs.
We have our plans for a food pantry We have our plans. That will happen sooner than later for our business center and a community meeting room. We have partnerships with Palmer and with Genesis for a walk in clinics and outreach clinics. Right here in the building. We have a library that will give out free books so that we can start attacking those literacy numbers that are affecting the black community.
We have programs that work with effective black parenting and business acceleration to help everyone get better. I want our businesses to get to the point where they've outgrown this space, because then that means we've done our job here at the Lincoln Center and that they do move on so that we can get other businesses in here and start that same process with them.
So at any given day, we have approximately a hundred kids that are in the building, whether they're at the boxing club, whether they're at dance practice or training for basketball or at the after school program. What we're doing here at the Lincoln Center is no excuses. If you need board members to diversify your board, we have a board training and leadership development course.
If you have kids, if you have a position to open for kids, we have a hundred kids in here that we can get jobs for Our mission is so simple, but is so impactful at the same time to empower and educate our youth, our families and our community.
We aren't always at the table. We're not. And that's just a fact. And so I if I couldn't place us at the table, then we were just going to get our own table and make our own plans and create for our own people. The reality is in the Quad Cities, the black community is only 11% of the population.
So a lot of times in class, on a team, in a store, you're going to be the only black person. And that gets exhausting at times. So if us opening our doors at least gives them a moment to breathe a moment to just be a moment to not feel like you're being judged just because of the color of your skin, then we've done our job.
We're in central Davenport, where within a mile radius, there's no grocery store, there's no convenience store, there's no gas station, there's no ATM machine. There's no medical facilities. There is nothing in this neighborhood. So we knew because of where we are located that we have to be a resource for the people that live right here, that if they walk in through that door and they need food, they need health care, they need tutoring assistance, they need help filling out a job application.
They need clothes. That we have to be able to provide those things for this neighborhood. I was stopped in the middle of a tour one time, and the person said, so is this just for black people? No, it's not just for black people. When we get 100 kids in here, they're white, they're black, they're Mexican, they're everything. Just know what the focus is when you walk in the door and the focus is on the black community.
But at the same time, I'm a big proponent of education and engagement creates understanding I talk to these kids and they have the same dreams and the same goals as anybody else. But at the same time, their circumstances, adults could not deal with a lot of the things that they have to deal with. Our goal is to create this home for our youth that they can go from basketball practice to the boxing club, that they can go from art class to dance class, that they can take an acting class because we are creating that space where anyone can walk through the doors, but we want to make sure they understand.
The focus is on educating and empowering our youth, our families and our community. And if we can do that, we make for a greater Quad Cities at the end of the day. We wouldn't be talking about it if it wasn't a need, right? We are in a crisis right now. There's no other way to put it. The black community is in a crisis right now, and nothing changes if nothing changes.
So we have to approach it differently. The community has to approach it differently. Good things should not just happen to a certain segment of people. Good things happen to everybody. And there are achievement gaps, there are academic gaps, but that comes from lack of opportunity. That opportunity is not always there for people of color. Whether it's intentional or unintentional, whether it's systemic or just on chance it's just not always there.
There was a great light shined on the two Americas after George Floyd. There's a black America and then there's America. And things that were happening in Chicago in Atlanta, in Minnesota, were actually happening right here in the Quad Cities. So we had to get comfortable being uncomfortable and having these difficult conversations about the challenges that our black community is facing right here in the Quad Cities. When it comes to education, when it comes to income, when it comes to health when it comes to wealth building, nothing was being done on this level. Things that were happening here in the Quad Cities, grants for buildings and grants for programs, and these things were being thought about, created and funded without one black person sitting at the table giving their input on what they felt should be within our region. You know, we're not asking for anything more.
We're asking for just what we should have, which is a safe space for our kids and our families and our community to feel like they have a space here in the Quad Cities. So with the Lincoln Center, I think that this was an opportunity to start bringing the black community together and saying, Okay, we have this space we we have a mission, let's work together. If you give us a chance, we will definitely make a difference. Not just in the black community in starting to change that narrative and working towards tearing down the systemic issues that have been going on for years here in our community and start building that community back up. But by doing that, then the Quad Cities becomes that welcome, inclusive and diverse community.
So come through these doors, understand why this is a black founded, black led organization. Understand why we have black businesses, organizations and nonprofits in here. Understand why we are so focused on helping the black community. And once you understand that because you've engaged with us, because you've learned things while you're in here, then it makes you more understanding and more willing to help the cause.

Community Highlights Feb 16, 2022
The Lincoln Center - The Mission
At first I was scared. I'm not gonna lie.
I thought maybe since my credit was bad, I wouldn’t get a chance.

In her situation, she only needed a small amount.
So we started with a small amount.
And we've been able to take baby steps.

I was talking to Carrie.
I told her I didn't have very good credit.
And she said, Well, starting off with a small loan to help build up your credit.

Her situation. Being a single mom with kids and kind of living paycheck to paycheck, we're not just looking at credit.
It's the relationship.

I feel like that I improved my credit.
I improved my finances.
My next goal is to come down here and see if I can get a loan for a house.

It's fun, kind of getting creative and being able to help.

I just needed help building my credit.

Community Highlights Feb 2, 2022
Real Life Real Hope - Dawn E
I came in with a hard situation.
It was a stuck cycle that these check cashing places kind of had me sucked in.

Dawn's debt versus her income was pretty high by herself.
So I had to go higher up and really push the story, and we made the loan.

And it wasn't a quick yes now, but it was a “we're going to help you out any way we can.”

That's what we do. We don't just look at a credit score. We don't just look at the credit report.
We hear a story and we work to help.

It was a wonderful, wonderful experience. What Jennifer did for me.

The day that we got Dawn's loan finalized, I don't know who was happier.
I just needed to get away from payday lenders.

Community Highlights Jan 11, 2022
Real Life Real Hope - Dawn B
I can't really understand why my rate would be that different.
Seems like something isn't right.

When I first met Alana, I realized that she was paying outrageous interest rates.

The car was 18% and my personal loan was 21%.

When I was able to show her how much money it would save for her, she was blown away.
I knew right from the get go that we could bring those down significantly and cut those into about a third of what she was paying.

Lindsey pulled my information and was able to combine those loans, and then my payment is $100 less per month.

For Alana, she was used to just where she was at.

She kind of thought that's how things were.

To feel like I was being taken advantage of at another financial institution and then to come here and be treated well.
It makes a big difference.
I just needed someone to give me a loan.

Community Highlights Jan 10, 2022
Real Life Real Hope - Alana C
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There are good tips, like create a budget and there are bad tips, like spending all your money on unicorn finger puppets.
At Ascentra, we’re here to help you know which ones to follow and which to leave behind.
Bad tip: Let George do your makeup.
Good tip: When you open a new credit or debit card with Ascentra, make sure to enroll them into uChoose Rewards. Unlike most financial rewards programs, you can earn points for purchases made on your Ascentra Visa® Credit AND Debit cards.
So follow the good tips, not the bad and head on over to ascentra.org/visa to apply today.

Helpful Tips Oct 5, 2021
Good Tip Bad Tip - uChoose Rewards
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There are good tips, like having an emergency fund and there are bad tips, like spending all your money on the pizza pouch for your emergency slice of pizza.
At Ascentra, we’re here to help you decide which ones to follow and which to leave behind.
Bad tip: Let George make your lunch.
Good tip: Instead of opening a credit card with a big bank that hides the annual fee and high rates in the fine print, open an Ascentra Visa credit card. You'll love our fine print, where explain there will be no annual fee and no high rates.
So follow the good tips, not the bad and head on over to ascentra.org/visa to apply today.

Helpful Tips Sep 27, 2021
Good Tip Bad Tip - No Annual Fee
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There are good tips, like create a budget and there are bad tips, like spending large googly eyes.
At Ascentra, we’re here to help you know which ones to follow and which to leave behind.
Bad tip: Let George crive your card.
Good tip: Download the CardValet app and load your Ascentra Visa® Credit and Debit Cards. You can turn your cards on and off if they get misplaced, setup alerts for every time your card is used, and more!
So follow the good tips, not the bad and head on over to ascentra.org/visa to apply today.

Helpful Tips Sep 3, 2021
Good Tip Bad Tip - CardValet
The holidays tend to get a bit out of hand, especially when it comes to spending money. The regret that comes with that January credit card bill can be a bit of a… pink nightmare.

But it doesn’t have to be that way. Here are a few tips to help you defeat the holiday bill regret.

Don’t buy on impulse. I know the deals are almost as attractive as my leg lamp, but don’t give in. Go into the holidays knowing what you need to buy and don’t buy random gifts on impulse JUST because it’s on sale.

Keep track of your spending. You can use Ascentra’s Financial Tools to see how much you’ve spent vs your income so you can stick to your spending plan.

Remember that the gift is in the giving, but it doesn’t need to be expensive. Shoot, my boys were just as happy with me telling them we’re going out for dinner as they were with their gifts.

While you’re doing your smart shopping, don’t forget to use your Ascentra VISA Credit Card. When you use it you’ll lock in a low 4.9% APR from November 1 - December 31. And you don’t even have to bargain like at the Christmas tree farm.

Helpful Tips Dec 10, 2020
Hol-ee-day Tips - Bill Regret
It seems no matter how hard you try, there’s always some CON FLABBERIN’ unexpected expenses around the holidays. Like your kid shoots their eye out and needs new glasses.

That’s not the only unexpected expense you might run into during the holidays. Here are a few things that could come up and how to be prepared for them.

Increased shipping costs. If you don’t start shopping early and plan on shopping online, you could end up paying for expedited shipping just so it’s under the tree in time for Christmas. Instead, take our advice and shop early!

Of all the people to buy me a Christmas gift, my paper boy? Really? Now I feel the need to get HIM something. Luckily, I know this happens every year, so I’ve added a little wiggle room in my holiday spending plan so it’s not as unexpected. That will come in handy when you forget about your office white elephant exchange.

Why is wrapping paper so dang expensive? I’ll save myself some money and hassle, and just use my newspapers. I’ve heard it will give it a “trendy” look anyways.

If that’s not enough to get you through the holidays, with an Ascentra Holiday loan you can borrow up to $2500 dollars for 12 months with a rate as low as 5.9% APR. You should take advantage of that. I triple dog dare you.

Helpful Tips Nov 27, 2020
Hol-ee-day Tips - Unexpected Expenses
You know back in my day, we didn’t have any CON FLABBERIN’ Black Friday or Cyber Monday. You just went to the mall and left your kid in line to meet Santa while you got the shopping done.

But this year, things are different. That dadgummit virus has made things difficult, but there are still ways to make sure your holidays are as merry as ever. Here are a few things the wife and I plan on doing.

Shop early. Stores are using the entire month of November for deals, so we can get our shopping done early and save some money.

Why shop in store when I can shop online? The interwebs is so fast now that I can get all my shopping done in minutes!

Set a spending plan and stick to it! Ralphie doesn’t need the most expensive Red Ryder BB gun. A more affordable alternative will do just fine. (CU of Ralphie)

Take advantage of Black Friday and Cyber Monday. As the kids have told me, they’ll have “deals, on deals, on deals”. Whatever that means.

Lastly, use your Ascentra VISA Credit and Debit Cards for qualifying purchases on Black Friday and Cyber Monday. You’ll earn two times the uChoose Rewards points. Now that’s a major RE-ward.

Helpful Tips Nov 13, 2020
Hol-ee-day Tips - Black Friday and Cyber Monday
There are now more people without enough food than ever before in history.
This holiday Ascentra wants to bring attention to a sharp rise in food insecurity that is affecting many throughout our region due to COVID-19.
A phenomenon that experts are calling a hunger pandemic.
To help with the fight against hunger and as part of "Season of Caring" social initiative,
Ascentra wants to highlight the work of the River Bend Foodbank.
Five years ago, we distributed 7.3 million meals. Now in the best year we have distributed over 20 million meals.
And it's up even more since COVID.
The River Bend Foodbank leads the community-wide effort to end hunger, by collecting and distributing food to hunger relief charities in 23 counties.
Pre-COVID there were 105,000 people without enough food, and Post-COVID that has jumped to almost 160,000 people.
Food insecurity is up by over 50% since COVID.
The foodbank provides free and convenient access to healthy foods.
People who have never needed help from the foodbank or a pantry before don't know what to do.
And what we're telling those folks is if you need food, please come see us.
That's why we're here. Don't hesitate or think it's for someone else. Don't think it's not at the end of the rope yet.
If you need help, please come see us.
With a projected recession, continued unemployment and spikes in coronavirus cases,
Higher demand for food will likely continue into 2021.
This is going to be a marathon not a sprint.
While the foodbank has distributed 45% more food than just last year, we are also having to balance response to the immediate need against sustaining that response over time because this is not going to be over any time quickly.
It takes three things to make this work: food, time and money.
If you know of some place that is throwing away food, please let us know.
If you are able to volunteer, we have thousands of volunteers and need help with that.
And of course it takes finances to make this work.
Together we can solve hunger.
Get more information on this hunger pandemic and learn how you can help at ascentra.org/caring.

Community Highlights Sep 30, 2020
Ascentra and River Bend Join the Season of Caring
“Today Ascentra is Making Sense of Estate Planning”

Estate planning is the process of designating the distribution of your assets upon your death. It also dictates how your affairs will be conducted, if you are no longer able to make these decisions yourself.

Is it just for the rich or older people? No, regardless of your age or the size and complexity of your estate, a good estate plan should:

Identify the family members and other loved ones that you wish to receive your property;

Ensure that your property will be transferred to those you have identified; and

Minimize the amount of potential taxes and fees that may need to be paid.

Elements of estate planning include a Will or Trust, Power of Attorney for medical and financial needs, and a Medical directive - known as a Living Will - which in the event you’re incapacitated, spells out, the care you’ll accept.

A well-planned estate can help avoid family disputes, and is a valuable gift to your loved ones, during a tough time.

Banking Jan 8, 2020
Making Cents of Estate Planning
“Today Ascentra is Making Sense of Overdraft Protection”

Overdraft Protection is a service tied to your checking account that for a fee, will allow you to make purchases with a check, debit card, or allow automatic payments to process even if you lack sufficient funds.

Options and fees vary by financial institution. One option is automatic transfers of predetermined increments from a savings account, when you fall below your available balance. Doing this will incur a fee in the $5 to $12 range.

Another option is tying your account to a line of credit. This also deposits predetermined increments to your account, but instead of a fee, you are charged interest on the amount borrowed.

Finally, Be careful with Courtesy Pay which may charge a fee of up to $40 for every transaction that falls below your balance.

You can opt-out of these services, but you run the risk of being declined for purchases, or being charged Non-Sufficient Fund fees.

Avoid these fees altogether – by reconciling accounts, setting up text alerts, and sticking to your spending plan.

Banking Dec 11, 2019
Making Cents of Overdraft Protection
“Today Ascentra is Making Sense of Annual Percentage Yields”

The APY is the actual rate of return that includes compounding interests on savings accounts, and investments that financial institutions pay you.

While it’s important to compare the APY, the frequency of compounding is just as important.

Because some financial institutions compound more frequently, comparing accounts based on the APY alone, is not accurate.

Say two financial institutions offer a CD for 12 months at 2% APY, but one pays out compounding interest monthly, and the other annually.

Your return will be higher with the one that compounds monthly, since each month; you have an increasing principle earning interest, as opposed to only once.

Also, be sure to compare penalties for pulling money out of an account early, or if you fall below a certain balance. This may reduce your interest earnings, principal balance, or even hit you with fees.

Read the fine print when comparing accounts or CDs, and realize that the highest APY doesn’t always pay you the best.

Banking Nov 6, 2019
Making Cents of Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
Team Ascentra Nov 1, 2019
Hey! It's Ascentra
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“Today Ascentra is Making Sense of IRA Rollovers”

If you’ve been putting money away in an employer retirement plan such as a 401k, you have options on moving your retirement dollars safely.

If you’re switching jobs, and don’t want to move your existing retirement plan to your new employer, or pay penalties and taxes if you cash it out, you have the option of rolling it over to an IRA- an Individual Retirement Account.

An IRA rollover from a qualified retirement plan has no penalty and no tax consequences.

Perhaps you’re retiring, and wish to have more control over who, where, and how your hard-earned money is invested - An IRA rollover may be a perfect option.

Before making any big financial decision, it’s important to talk to a trusted financial advisor, to find out what works best with your retirement goals, and to make sense of any penalties or tax consequences that could apply.
With the right help, it can be done safely and easily.

Banking Oct 9, 2019
Making Cents of IRA Rollovers
“Today Ascentra is Making Sense of Auto Insurance”

Auto Insurance is a policy purchased by vehicle owners to alleviate costs in the event of an accident or theft.

Requirements may vary, but nearly every state requires drivers to carry a minimum of liability insurance.

Liability insurance will pay medical expenses, lost income, and vehicle repairs for the other driver, if you’re at fault in an accident.

Some states also require personal injury protection, and uninsured motorist coverage. --Which can cover the costs, when the other driver lacks insurance coverage.

While liability insurance covers the damage your vehicle has caused to others, it does not cover, damage to your own vehicle.

Collision and comprehensive are additional coverages, that can protect your vehicle in the event of an accident, or non-collision related incident.
Review of your policy every year. You may find that you can save money, while keeping or even

Auto Sep 11, 2019
Making Cents of Auto Insurance
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“Today Ascentra is Making Sense of Home Equity Line of Credit”

A home equity line of credit, or HELOC, can be a quick and convenient way to access funds for your next home improvement project or major life expense.

Like a credit card, a HELOC is a form of revolving credit that turns your home into cash.

It gives you the flexibility to access funds and use them when needed over a period of time, usually 5 to 10 years, known as the draw period.

Once the draw period is up, monthly payments are made to repay the loan during a repayment period, which is typically 20 years.

The interest rate on a HELOC is based on your balance and the prime rate.

Most lenders let you borrow up to 80 percent of your home’s value; at Ascentra, you may borrow up to 100 percent.

Unlike other loans, the interest on a HELOC could be tax-deductible, and generally has a lower interest rate.

Head to Ascentra Credit Union and see if a HELOC can help you with that remodel you’ve always wanted.

Home Jul 30, 2019
Making Cents of Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC)