Resources
Open a Low- or No-Cost Bank Account:
Bank On Connecticut:
Bank On Connecticut is a private public partnership created to offer individuals without bank accounts a way of learning about banking and opening a safe starter checking or savings account. We hope to provide a way for people who have traditionally avoided banks to feel comfortable opening an account.
Bank On Connecticut will help you:
- Avoid check cashing fees
- Get your tax refund, state benefits, or pay check directly deposited into your account
- Establish credit
- Save for your future
Visit us today at www.bankonct.org!
Help With Savings:
Individual Development Accounts (IDAs): These are matched savings accounts offered by local nonprofit agencies. IDAs provide people who save with a 1:1 match or higher, meaning that if you save $25 in a month you would receive $25 from the program, which adds up to $50!
IDAs can be used for a variety of things, including:
- A down payment on a house or security deposit on an apartment
- Education expenses
- To start or expand a small business
- Pay for a car if you need one to get to work
Additional information can be found at the Connecticut Department of Labor’s website. Locations are found here.
Get Your Free Credit Report:
You can get one free credit report each year from each of the three credit reporting agencies. There are a few websites that claim to be free but they will charge you to access your reports. Not sure how to read your credit report? Sign up for a class on what credit means today.
Go to the only websites that are free of charge is www.annualcreditreport.com or www.creditrepairbusinessservices.com to check your credit reports now. (There is a small fee to get your credit score.)
Also, check out this guide to see if signing up for a credit card is a good idea for you.
http://www.bos.frb.org/consumer/knowbeforeyougo/credit-card/credit-card.pdf
Paying for Education:
If you decide college is right for you, fill out a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form from the US Department of Education and see if you are eligible for grants or students loans. You can get federal student loans or grants that do not have to be paid back.
Call 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243) for more information.
For more information on Connecticut Higher Education Resources go to the CT Department of Higher Education site.
Homeownership:
Own it, Keep it! grew out of a need to help prospective home buyers understand how to buy a home- where to start, who to talk to, and what to look for- and then, once you own a home, how to keep it. The website is a collaboration of information provided by the Connecticut Association of Realtors®, Inc., the Connecticut Housing Financial Authority, and the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development.
Tax Help:
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) works with local nonprofit agencies to set up Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites across Connecticut. These free tax sites prepare taxes for individuals who make up to $42,000 a year. Taxes are prepared by IRS certified volunteers who screen for special benefits, such as the Earned Income Tax Credit or EITC.
VITA sites can be found all over Connecticut and are usually located in neighborhood centers, libraries, schools, and other convenient locations. Dial 2-1-1 and find a site near you.
Statewide VITA listings
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