John Scharff is the Digital Marketing Lead at People Driven Credit Union, where he helps create clear, practical financial content for members and the communities PDCU serves. He focuses on making financial topics easier to understand, from loans and savings accounts to digital banking, fraud prevention, and everyday money management.
Essential Tips to Avoid Scams
Stay Alert: Protect Yourself to Avoid Scams and Keep Your Information Safe Scams are becoming more sophisticated, targeting people from all walks of life. At People Driven Credit Union, we want you to know that anyone can fall victim to a scam, and it’s crucial to stay informed and vigilant. While we may not always be able to recover funds ...
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QR Code Hijacking at the Detroit Auto Show
QR Code Hijacking at the Detroit Auto Show: What You Need to Know The Detroit Auto Show brings thousands of visitors together to see the latest vehicles and innovations. QR codes are everywhere at events like this, on signage, displays, promotional materials, and product information stands. They are convenient. They are also a target. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has ...
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Playoff Fever? Tips to Avoid Ticket Scams
Playoff Fever? Tips to Avoid Ticket Scams When Buying Detroit Lions Tickets The Detroit Lions are heading to the playoffs and tickets are in high demand. That combination is exactly what scammers look for. When fans are excited and moving fast to secure seats at Ford Field, they are more likely to skip the verification steps that would normally catch ...
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Financial Literacy for Kids: Build Strong Financial Habits Early
The money habits your child develops before age ten will shape how they handle finances for the rest of their life. Teaching kids about money does not require a curriculum or a classroom. It happens in everyday moments, at the grocery store, around the dinner table, and through the games they already love to play. Here’s How to Build Strong ...
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7 Advantages of Borrowing from a Credit Union for Your Home Equity Loan
When you are ready to tap into your home’s equity, you have a choice between a traditional bank and a credit union. Both can get you to a funded loan, but the experience and the total cost are often meaningfully different. Advantages of Borrowing from a Credit Union for Your Home Equity Loan Here are seven advantages of borrowing a ...
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Smart Strategies to Maintain a Healthy Housing Budget
Smart Strategies to Maintain a Healthy Housing Budget With rent and home prices at record highs across Michigan and the country, housing costs are consuming a larger share of household income than at any point in recent memory. If your housing budget feels tighter than it used to, you are not imagining it. Here is how to assess where you ...
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Buy Now, Pay Later: The Cost of Convenience
Buy Now, Pay Later: The Real Cost of Convenience Buy Now Pay Later services have grown from a niche payment option to a mainstream financial product remarkably fast. According to a report from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the number of BNPL loans in the United States surged from 16.8 million to 180 million between 2019 and 2021. Services like ...
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GAP Insurance (Guaranteed Asset Protection)
Guaranteed Asset Protection Insurance: Protect Your Vehicle Investment When you finance a vehicle, your auto insurance covers the market value of the car if it is totaled or stolen. The problem is that vehicles depreciate fast, often faster than your loan balance decreases. If your car is declared a total loss in the first few years of ownership, your insurance ...
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PDCU’s Own Julia Kaiser Wins SmCC “Helping Hands” Award
PDCU’s Julia Kaiser Wins Southeast Michigan Chamber of Commerce Helping Hands Award People Driven Credit Union is proud to announce that Julia Kaiser, Community Relationship Manager at PDCU, has been recognized with the Southeast Michigan Chamber of Commerce Helping Hands Award. The award recognizes individuals who go above and beyond to support their neighbors and strengthen their communities. Julia is ...
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New vs. Used Cars: Which Auto Loan is Right for You?
New vs. Used Cars: Which Auto Loan Is Right for You? The new versus used decision is one of the first and most consequential choices you make when buying a car. It affects your loan amount, your interest rate, your insurance cost, and how much value your vehicle holds over time. Neither option is universally better. The right answer depends ...
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