It’s a new year and financial wellness may be on the top of your list of things to accomplish in 2026. But what exactly are we talking about when we say, “financial wellness”? In this blog, we’ll explore the common questions related to this topic and how Travis Credit Union has been a trusted resource for financial wellness for 75 years.
What Are Financial Wellness Resources and Why Do They Matter?
Financial wellness is the overall state of your financial health and stability. It includes being able to meet your current obligations, feeling confident about your future and making money-related decisions that bring joy to your life. The key components are budgeting, saving, good credit and managing debt.
There are many resources available for learning about these topics. Creating a budget and sticking to it builds a sound foundation. Saving money and building an emergency fund give you peace of mind for the unexpected. Establishing a good credit history and credit score puts you in a strong position to be approved for a loan with a low interest rate. And paying bills on time builds good credit and gives you confidence in your ability to wisely manage your funds.
Which Financial Wellness Tools Does Travis Credit Union Provide?
Travis Credit Union can teach you how to plan, save, spend and borrow better on your financial journey. Members have access to these resources and many others on Traviscu.org or by signing into digital banking or the TCU mobile app. Some examples are:
- Financial Health Checkup: Take an assessment that employs a combination credit rating using seven indicators of your current financial situation.
- How to Set Goals: Set and monitor your savings goals.
- Spending Analysis: This helps you understand your spending habits and how to better budget for future goals.
- Manage Your Credit Score: TCU’s partnership with SavvyMoney® helps you understand your credit score, simulate potential credit scores, monitor for identity theft and more.
TCU offers financial education courses through our Knowledge Base, a free online platform that offers interactive courses, resources and tips on a variety of topics. Designed to empower you to reach your financial goals, here are some of its features:
- Resources to help you build savings, plan for your retirement and more.
- A free money personality analysis.
- Financial situation assessment.
If you need financial advice, Travis Credit Union has partnered with GreenPath to provide members access to free, personalized financial counseling with certified experts. GreenPath is a non-profit organization that is a member of the National Foundation for Credit Counseling. Some of the group’s features include:
- Free, expert, confidential support about your financial situation.
- Counseling on personalized budgeting.
- Budget management strategies based on your income, expenses and goals.
How Can Members Improve Their Financial Wellness with Educational Content?
TCU’s educational content, which includes Knowledge Base and financial wellness blogs, provide a wealth of information you can use to become better at money management. Here are some examples:
- Building a Budget: Building a budget is a critical first step in your financial wellness journey. TCU can help you plan your budget through personalized Knowledge Base courses, such as “Creating a Budget (and Sticking to it)” and “Creating a Financial Plan for Your Priorities and Goals”. Also, the TCU blog, “Budgeting for Big Expenditure Goals,” can walk you through the steps of designing your budget and goals around a big purchase.
- Tracking Expenses: Tracking expenses in the budget you’ve built is the next important step. In courses such as “Managing Financial Stress” and “Building Smarter Spending Habits,” you’ll learn how everyday spending impacts your finances and how to identify financial stressors in your life. The “5 Smart Money Moves to Start 2026 Strong” blog post contains information about building your savings, so you’ll be ready for that big purchase or monthly expenses.
- Building Credit: Having good credit is important when you apply for a loan. Courses such as “Understanding Credit Reports and Scores” and “Mastering Credit and Optimizing Your Score” will educate you on how to read your credit report and provide strategies for using credit effectively. “The Cost of Borrowing – How You Pay Matters” blog post has information about good practices of using credit cards.
- Setting Realistic Goals: Setting realistic financial goals for your specific needs is key to maintaining your budget. Courses such as “Saving for Goals” and “Planning for Retirement” can teach you how to prioritize goals and plan for retirement. The “Financial Planning for a Prosperous New Year” blog post tells you how to plan your finances to align with your goals for the next 12 months.
What Community Programs Support Financial Wellness?
The TCU Foundation supports nonprofit organizations by offering financial coaching and other programs that empower people who serve our communities. For example, financial coaching grants create a network of financial coaches who in turn help others with financial literacy. To learn more, visit the TCU Foundation page.
To protect your financial wellness and identity, TCU offers several free shred events throughout the year so you can properly dispose of personal and financial documents. This is an effective way to protect against identity theft and fraud. Visit our Community Events page to locate a shred event near you in 2026.
TCU Fairfield Branch Manager Michele Davis recalled how TCU products and programs help members. A member wanted to improve his credit score. Michele told him exactly what products to get, how to maintain them and when to pay them. Nine months later, he saw Michele again and was happy to tell her he had raised his credit score. “Miss Michele, I want to thank you for helping me nine months ago. I did everything you told me to do, and it worked. My score is at 741!” he exclaimed.
How Can Members Use These Resources in Everyday Life?
TCU’s free financial wellness tools and resources can be used in your everyday life. Completing Knowledge Base courses can give you personalized strategies for paying down debt, saving for goals and improving your credit. By checking your spending analysis weekly on the website, you can track your spending habits to see if they align with your budget and long-term goals.
How Travis Credit Union Can Help Members
At Travis Credit Union, Knowledge is Power. TCU members have access to a variety of financial education tools, such as:
- Digital financial wellness tools, such as spending analyses, credit score insights and goal tracking.
- Knowledge Base educational resources covering saving, planning and money basics.
- Free financial counseling that supports planning and budgeting.
- Community programs and financial coaching grants through the TCU Foundation for improving financial habits.
Ready To Improve Your Financial Wellness?
Since 1951, Travis Credit Union has focused on helping people reach their financial goals. Explore TCU’s array of products and services, financial education and wellness tools and digital banking resources so you can confidently manage your money. Start today at Traviscu.org.