Umpqua Bank Unveils Financial Fitness Guide for New Year
December 13 2017 - 1:45PM
As an eventful 2017 marked by data breaches and natural
disasters draws to a close, Umpqua Bank has released a Financial
Fitness Guide to help Americans prepare financially for the year
ahead. From protecting credit to managing a windfall or bonus and
planning financially in case of a fire or flood, Umpqua’s 2018
Financial Fitness Guide provides a user-friendly list of actionable
steps households can take to begin the new year ready for success
and better prepared for the unexpected.
The Equifax data breach last September ranks among the most
notable financial events in 2017 that will continue to impact
Americans next year. According to Forbes, having personal financial
information stolen by hackers is now the top security concern of
Americans. Yet Money magazine reported that weeks after the Equifax
data breach, 81 percent of consumers had taken no concrete steps to
protect their financial information.
“The beginning of every year is an opportunity to take stock of
where you’re at financially, do some basic financial housekeeping
and plan for the year ahead. The ‘X’ factor in planning, of course,
is that you never know what the year has in store,” said Umpqua CEO
Cort O’Haver. “Whether 2018 is uneventful or full of surprises, our
2018 Financial Fitness Guide is designed to help people take a few,
simple steps to prepare for the future and improve their overall
financial health. We also plan to provide a steady stream of useful
and related financial health content throughout next year.”
Umpqua’s 2018 Financial Fitness Guide, which can be accessed at
umpquabank.com/fitness/, provides actionable steps people can take
leading into the new year, including:
Protecting personal credit: The Equifax data
breach exposed the data of 143 million Americans, but surveys
indicate few people have taken steps to protect themselves. From
freezing a personal credit file to password security, Umpqua makes
it easy for consumers to take action.
Preparing for a disaster: 2017 has been a year
of fires, floods and hurricanes. There are several useful and
important financial items people may need access to during a
disaster and can include as part of an emergency preparedness
kit.
Being wise with a windfall: Lump sum bonuses or
gifts are common this time of year. How they’re handled can have a
significant impact on short- and long-term financial plans. Though
every situation is unique, Umpqua gives options to consider before
deciding whether and how to spend or save.
Getting a financial tune-up: Financial fitness
starts with doing the little things that often get overlooked or
put off—setting goals, estimating taxes, strengthening account
security. Consumers can review Umpqua’s financial tune-up checklist
to make sure they’re ready for the year ahead.
To emphasize the importance of financial health in the new year,
Umpqua also announced a “Freeze Day” across its five-state
footprint to encourage associates, customers and families in the
communities it serves to take action and protect their personal
financial information. This Friday, Umpqua will give its more than
4,000 associates time to freeze their credit, which is a vital way
to ensure identity thieves can’t open credit accounts using stolen
information.
About Umpqua BankUmpqua Bank, headquartered in
Roseburg, Ore., is a subsidiary of Umpqua Holdings Corporation
(NASDAQ:UMPQ), and has locations across Idaho, Washington, Oregon,
California and Northern Nevada. Umpqua Bank has been acknowledged
for its innovative customer experience and banking strategy by
national publications including The Wall Street Journal, The New
York Times, BusinessWeek, Fast Company and CNBC. The company has
been recognized for eight years in a row on FORTUNE magazine's list
of the country's "100 Best Companies to Work For," and was recently
named by The Portland Business Journal the Most Admired Financial
Services Company in Oregon for the eleventh consecutive year. In
addition to its retail banking presence, Umpqua Bank owns Financial
Pacific Leasing, Inc., a nationally recognized commercial finance
company that provides equipment leases to small businesses.
Umpqua Holdings also owns a retail brokerage subsidiary, Umpqua
Investments, Inc., which offers services through Umpqua Bank stores
and in dedicated offices throughout Oregon. Umpqua's Wealth
Management Division serves high net worth individuals and
nonprofits by providing customized financial solutions and
offerings. Umpqua Holdings Corporation is headquartered in
Portland, Ore. For more information,
visit http://www.umpquabank.com.
Media Contact:Kurt Heath(503)
219-6124 kurtheath@UmpquaBank.com
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