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We all dream of it: winning the lottery and kissing all our problems goodbye! Well, maybe… I recently met a lucky fellow who had won $2 million on a scratch-off lottery ticket. His odds of winning were approximately 1 in 2.76 million, according to the Florida Lottery, so he was a very lucky man indeed! (And by the way, he was already an active saver for retirement as well. Lucky and smart.)

April marks my first six months as the President/CEO of VyStar Credit Union—and what a busy and productive first six months it has been! I am excited about the changes that have already taken place at VyStar, as well as those that are soon to come. While I continue my work with the Board of Directors and Senior Management Team to improve our internal processes and efficiencies, I am equally focused on ways we can make it easier for you to access and transact on your accounts, and how we can give back more to our member-owners and communities.

Accidents happen. And if you use your debit/business debit card regularly, you know how easy (and scary) it is to misplace it. But finding yourself in such a common situation doesn’t mean you should have to worry about someone misusing your account while you’re looking for your card or waiting for a replacement. Fortunately, VyStar cardholders now have the option to download our new Card Control App, which gives you more control over the access to your card—and greater peace of mind.

In my previous blog posts, we’ve discussed student loan basics and tips for paying off student loans. This week, I’d like to delve deeper into a question that many student loan borrowers face: Will I be able to take on a mortgage if I am still paying off my student debt? Graduating from a reputable college or university, landing a steady well-paying job after graduation and eventually buying a home have long been the American dream.

We ask a lot of our military, and rely on them to protect our freedoms both here and abroad. Unfortunately, the demands of that service can make them more vulnerable to identity theft than other individuals. In fact, the Federal Trade Commission released a study in 2013 saying that military personnel report identity theft twice as much as the general public.

So you were lucky enough to get your hands on that cool new gadget you’ve had your eye on for a while—possibly a new smartphone, tablet or laptop. Now, it’s time to get rid of your old device to make way for the new. But do you just toss it in the trash can? Well, technically, you could; however, it wouldn’t be a safe move (or an environmentally friendly one, either).

New Mobile Banking App updates were released over the weekend. We are excited to announce: • Fingerprint Recognition is now available for Android devices • Card Control for Debit, Business Debit, Health Savings Account (HSA) and Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC) cards • Principal Only Payments for VyStar loans Read on to learn more about each convenient new enhancement!

When you walk into a VyStar Credit Union location, it is hard to miss the bright, colorful artwork that is displayed throughout the branch. What you may not realize, however, is that each piece of art tells an important story: the story of VyStar. It is a visual account of not only how our credit union came to be, but also how we continue to serve our members in the best possible way.

For many people, knowing a tax refund is on the way can be a big relief, an exciting treat, or both. And the sooner the refund arrives, the better. For victims of tax identity theft, however, the wait can drag on for almost a year. Not to mention they may have to deal with a lot of red tape to get what’s rightfully theirs.

Despite what Barney may have told you growing up, sometimes sharing does not mean caring. Being in the social media game for almost 15 years, you can bet I’ve seen some strange things. The first time I saw someone post a photo of their full debit card (front and back, no joke) on Instagram, I wanted to call them immediately and ask why they would do such a thing. The barriers of privacy are seemingly nonexistent lately, but there is hope … kind of.