Learning Center
Online Library
This page shows a summary of all article categories and latest articles in the Learning Center.
Home Ownership
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2013 Recap: Everybody Likes Roller Coasters
The mortgage market in 2013 was not unlike the best of roller coaster rides. But have we reached the station yet?
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Financing a New Construction Home
New construction is starting to pop up nearly everywhere after years of inactivity. Is a brand new home right for you? Read this before you buy.
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5 Ways to Get the Best Price for Your Home
Several indexes show that pending home sales and home prices have started to bounce back. Homeowners who have been on the fence about selling may start to consider it more carefully now. If you are thinking about selling your home, you’ll want to get the best price for it by following these five steps.
Investing
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Cold Winter Put a Chill on Economy in First Quarter
The coldest winter in 20 years contributed to the markets' bumpy start in the first quarter. Learn more about housing and unemployment and what's ahead for the rest of the year.
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Fed's Decision to Taper Affects Bonds, Mortgages
The combination of steady economic growth and continued monetary accommodation by the Fed drove stocks to new highs in 2013. Get an overview of how the economy fared in the fourth quarter and what's ahead for 2014.
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Government Shutdown Could Reduce GDP Growth
The recent government shutdown will affect the economy in the short term, but the debt ceiling agreement means there will be little long-term effect. Read more about 3Q13 and what's ahead for 2014.
Managing Your Money
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10 Rules for Getting the Most Money When Selling Your Car
Selling a car can be a stressful and overwhelming experience, but it doesn’t have to be. By following a few simple rules, you can ensure that you will get top dollar for your car.
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Get Ready for Healthcare Reform
The Affordable Care Act is the biggest change to health insurance since it was invented. Because the law effectively is an overhaul of the entire system, everyone’s health insurance will be affected. Here are some of the major changes that will impact you.
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Detecting a Fake Cashier’s Check
It’s hard to tell just by looking at a cashier’s check whether it’s real or fake. Learn about the common scams involving cashier’s checks and how to verify that funds are legitimately available.
Retirement
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6 Money Management Strategies for Retirees
Here are some strategies for retirees to make the most of what they have saved and make sure it lasts.
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10 Things You Need to Know about Social Security
Here are 10 facts everyone should know about Social Security before making any retirement plans.
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5 Factors in Making Long-Term Care Decisions
Many people will need long-term care at some point in their life to perform daily activities. Here are five factors to consider when making your plans.
Starting a Company
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SBA 7(a) Loans: A Financing Alternative for All Growing Businesses
Obtaining financing for a venture can be a challenge for business owners who don’t qualify for conventional loans. One option for entrepreneurs who want to start or expand a business is the SBA 7(a) program. Learn more about what the program entails, who is eligible and what the funds can be used for.
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5 Ways to Finance a Startup
Access to funding is one of the most important elements of getting your new business off the ground. Fortunately, you have options. Here are five ways you can get financing for your startup.
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Podcast: 5 Types of Business Structures
Making a decision on the best structure for a business is a very important one, but no single approach works for everybody. Listen to this podcast for more information on each type of structure.
Managing Your Business
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Navigating International Trade
About 95 percent of the world’s consumers live outside of the United States. Making the transition from domestic to international trade can be challenging for U.S. companies, but the risks can be managed. Find out how.
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5 Business Lessons from Olympic Athletes
Olympians’ dedication to their sport and pursuit of excellence holds many lessons that business owners can apply to their own ventures.
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Keep Your Business Going during a Disaster
You can’t foresee when fire, floods or storms may happen, but there’s always a chance that “acts of God” could affect your business operations. Here are some tips on how you can plan for the unexpected and keep your business going during a disaster.
Finance and Money Matters
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When (and When Not) to Use Credit Cards for Your Business
Pulling out plastic for a purchase is convenient, but is it always the right choice for your business? Find out here.
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5 Key Elements of Strong Cash Flow
No business owner wants to wake up on a Friday morning with no idea how they are going to make payroll or pay that mission-critical vendor. Learn about the five key elements of cash flow management.
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Growing Your Business? Prepare for a Loan Request
Evidence is mounting that the economy is starting to turn the corner and that small businesses are feeling more hopeful about their prospects. If you are considering making improvements to or growing your business, here are some steps you can take to increase your chances of being approved for a loan.
How Pinnacle Protects You
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How Secure are My Accounts?
Pinnacle places the highest importance on protecting our clients’ funds and information. Read this for information on how we accomplish that.
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Does Pinnacle Share My Personal Information?
Financial services firms like Pinnacle choose how to share clients’ personal information, but federal law gives consumers the right to limit some of how your information is shared. Read about your rights here.
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Secure Communications from Pinnacle
Learn about the channels Pinnacle relies on to communicate with our clients.
Safe Online Practices for Consumers
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Protect Yourself from a Data Breach
In today’s environment chances are good that your card information could be compromised in the future. Here’s what to do if you’re a consumer, a merchant or another type of small business to protect yourself from a security breach.
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Staying Safe on Social Media
Social networking sites have become a popular target for cyber criminals. Hackers can use these sites to distribute malware or glean personal information. Here are some tips to help you stay safe online.
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5 Things to Know about Identity Theft
The number of identity theft victims goes up every year. Here are five things you need to know about identity theft and what you can do to avoid becoming a statistic.
Safe Practices for Businesses
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Don’t Wait to Update
Microsoft is no longer supporting its Windows XP operating system. Computers that run XP will be vulnerable to viruses, malware and other security threats. Learn more about the importance of updating your computer's software.
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Protect Yourself from a Data Breach
In today’s environment chances are good that your card information could be compromised in the future. Here’s what to do if you’re a consumer, a merchant or another type of small business to protect yourself from a security breach.
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[Webinar] How to Avoid Email Scams
Unfortunately, as phishing attacks become more sophisticated, it is very difficult for the average person to tell if a message is fraudulent. Pinnacle developed a list of the "Super 6" questions you can ask yourself to help determine the legitimacy of any email.
Tips on Reporting Fraud
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Report a Lost or Stolen Debit/Credit Card
If you believe your Pinnacle debit or credit card is lost or stolen, call us immediately.
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How to Report Identity Theft
While dealing with problems resulting from identity theft can be time-consuming and frustrating, most victims can resolve their cases by being assertive, organized, and knowledgeable about their legal rights. Read this for steps you should take immediately.
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How to Obtain Your Free Credit Report
Each of the major nationwide consumer reporting companies is required to provide you with a free copy of your credit report, at your request, once every 12 months. Here’s how to get it.
Security Threats
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Merchants: Visa Malware Alert
Visa has become aware of a variation of payment card-stealing malware referred to as “Chewbacca,” which targets merchant point-of-sale systems. Here are some ways you can protect yourself.
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Merchants: MasterCard Phishing Scam
MasterCard is reporting a scam where merchants are receiving an automated message advising that they have been locked out of their account.
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New Tax Scam
Fraudsters know that nearly everyone is working to file their taxes by April 15. They're using that knowledge to scam taxpayers out of more money. Find out how.
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Case Studies
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