Financial Community Education

Clearwater Credit Union Community Education is a series of classes for Missoula residents regarding various aspects of finances from understanding credit to avoiding scams to proper budgeting. Each month will feature a different class topic to help community members improve their financial literacy.

7/16/2026 – Topic: Preparing for Your Next Vehicle – Erika Sylvester – Cooper Room A

Confidently finance your first or next vehicle with the help of this interactive class. You’ll learn what factors into a loan decision, and what comes next as you continue to grow your credit history with a vehicle loan. We’ll also work through loan payment and interest rate examples.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

• Understand the process of buying a vehicle from searching for your next vehicle to ownership of that vehicle.
• Look at the factors that go into a loan decision, often called the 4 C’s of Lending (Credit, capacity, collateral and character).
• Discuss the additional products needed to protect your purchase and the importance of on-time payments.
• Examine the impact of APR, down payments, and extra payments with multiple loan payment examples.

8/20/2026 – Topic: Buying Your Next Home – Erika Sylvester – Cooper Room A

Are you thinking about purchasing your first home? Or it has been a while since you went through the home purchasing process? Learn the benefits of home ownership, the application and shopping process, and get ready for your monthly payment.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

• Compare the benefits of home ownership and renting.
• Prepare yourself, and your budget for the financial impact of purchasing a home.
• Learn the steps of the home loan process.