Whether you have a blank credit file or are recovering from past financial mistakes, this episode provides a clear roadmap to a better score. We lay out actionable strategies for building a positive credit history, starting from day one. We’ll explore how to leverage a secured credit card to prove your creditworthiness, the benefits of a credit-builder loan, and how becoming an authorized user can provide a powerful head start. It’s never too late to write a new financial story.

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Your credit report is the official story of your financial life—but is it telling the truth? In this episode, we provide a step-by-step guide to pulling your free annual credit report from the only official source. We'll teach you how to decode the four key sections of your report, how to spot common errors or red flags for fraud, and the exact process for formally disputing an inaccurate item with the credit bureaus to protect your score and your reputation.

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Life's biggest milestones—getting married, having a baby, buying a home—are also major financial events. Joined by CFO Barron D. Kennedy, IV, we discuss the key financial conversations and action steps for these exciting transitions. Learn how to have the "money talk" with your partner before getting married, the non-negotiable financial steps to take when a child is on the way, and how to avoid being "house poor" by buying what you can comfortably afford, not just what you're approved for.

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Identity theft goes far beyond a single stolen credit card number. As the bank's Security Officer, Daniel Hill joins Shanna Browning to dive into serious threats like the "Grandparent Scam," elder fraud, and the invisible danger of synthetic ID theft. This episode is a crucial guide to safeguarding your personal information. Daniel and Shanna explain what a credit freeze is, why it's the single most powerful tool for preventing new accounts from being opened in your name, and the proactive steps you can take to protect yourself and your family.

Credit Bureau Credit Freeze

• Equifax
• Experian
• TransUnion

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Fake emails, suspicious texts, and urgent calls—scammers are working overtime to trick you. In this episode, cybersecurity expert Ben Lawson, GM of Burk IT, joins the conversation to teach you how to spot the red flags of a phishing attack. You'll learn the psychological tricks of urgency and authority that fraudsters use to manipulate you, how to inspect a sender's email address, and hover over links to reveal the truth.

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Your bank is in your pocket, but is your account secure? Joined by Wesley Minton, COO & Information Security Officer at First Century Bank, we discuss the essential habits for staying safe in the digital world. This episode is a masterclass in personal cybersecurity, explaining what makes a truly "strong" password in the modern era and why Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) is the single most effective tool for protecting your account. We'll also cover simple rules for using public Wi-Fi and setting up alerts to turn your phone into a fraud detection system.

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The path to homeownership can feel overwhelming, but it doesn't have to be. In this episode, we break down the crucial first steps of the mortgage process. This episode is a jargon-free introduction to buying a home with confidence, explaining the critical difference between a pre-qualification and a pre-approval, how to understand your total monthly payment (or "DTI"), and the truth about the 20% down payment myth and other options available to first-time homebuyers.

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Is all your money piled into one checking or savings account? In this episode, Daniel and Shanna explore the financial toolbox of different bank accounts. We’ll explain the specific jobs of Checking, Savings, Money Market, and CD accounts. Learn how to use this "bucket system" to organize your finances, protect your emergency fund, and make your savings work harder for you by matching the right account type to your specific financial goals.

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