Reading financial statements can be a great way to freshen up your finances. If you’re like most people, you receive monthly credit reports and e-statements from credit card companies and your bank yet ignore them. By taking time to evaluate financial reports and statements you can prevent identity theft, catch errors, and reduce unnecessary spending. 

It is not uncommon to find mistakes on credit reports. If you don’t read yours, you could miss an incorrect address, name, or birthday. Closed accounts may appear as open, and errors in payment history can happen – which can be very damaging to your credit score. Bank and credit card statements are the key to spotting fraudulent charges quickly. Even better, download the apps for your bank and credit card companies and check activity daily. 

It may seem excessive to check your bank and credit card activity daily but considering how crafty con artists are getting these days it really isn’t. Mobile banking apps help you keep track of your finances easily from anywhere. Beyond making digital deposits, paying bills, and transferring money between accounts you can report fraudulent activity or schedule an appointment to discuss loan options at your bank – all within the app. 

Downloading and using credit card company apps will give you control you've never had before. You will be able to freeze and unfreeze your card, replace a lost or stolen card, set-up fraud alerts, and track rewards – within each app. No phone calls necessary! Once you link your bank, you’ll be able to pay your bills instantly. Remember to pay more than the minimum on each card every month to better control spending and reduce debt. This is another great way to freshen up your finances!