Set aside those Halloween M&Ms, Skittles, and Nerds. There’s another event that’s happening this October just for youth – National Be Smart About Credit Day.

Granted it may not be as sweet, but this awareness day, created by the American Bankers Association Foundation and celebrated on October 20, was designed to help high school students and young adults develop good financial habits for life.

In the “spirit” of National Be Smart About Credit Day, we’re sharing these valuable tips to help young people take charge of their credit and pave the way for future financial success:

• Open your own checking and savings accounts. If you’re age 18 or over, you can open your own checking account, which will allow you to manage your money and pay bills. In addition, a savings account linked to your checking can make it easy for you to start building savings for college or the next step in your life.
• Get a job. Bank of Mom and Dad is great, but having your own income is a great way to establish your independence and blaze your own financial path for the future.
• Make saving a habit. Once you get your job, have a portion of your paycheck direct deposited into your savings account.
• Get a debit card. A debit card is a valuable financial tool that allows you to make purchases and track the money you spend.
• Apply for a secured credit card. With a secured credit card, you deposit money into your card account and that money then becomes available for you to borrow. Once you have a secured card, you can use it to make purchases and pay back the money you borrow on time. This will help you start building your credit score and make it easier for you to qualify for a traditional credit card later on.
• Take advantage of Savvy Credit, a powerful tool to help you manage credit.

To make it even easier for all our customers to manage your credit every day, Avidia offers Savvy Credit as part of our Mobile Banking app.

With Savvy Credit, you can –

• Get your free credit score every month.
• Learn about the factors that impact your score, such as your credit usage, bill payment and credit history, and number of credit lines you have.
• Understand how your credit score impacts your goals, such as buying a home or getting a personal or student loan.
• Access tips and guidance to help you protect your identity and your money.

Start celebrating National Be Smart About Credit today!

Though National Be Smart About Credit Day only comes once a year, you can enjoy it every day by taking these smart steps. That’s cause for celebration – and maybe some M&Ms or Kisses.

THIS NOTICE IS REQUIRED BY LAW. Read more at FTC.gov.
You have the right to a free credit report from AnnualCreditReport.com or 877-322-8228, the only authorized source under federal law. Take me to the authorized source.