The steps you take to safeguard yourself, your family and your property should also extend to your finances so you have the money available to weather an emergency and recover should disaster strike. Here’s how to prepare for your financial survival:

Build an Emergency Fund.

Have at least three to six months of living expenses in a place you can easily access, like a Grow Basic Savings Account, and withdraw the cash immediately at an ATM if your area is placed under a weather alert. Remember, after a storm hits, ATMs and terminals may be down, so you can’t rely on credit/debit cards or mobile pay.

Review Your Insurance Coverage.

Check your policies, (homeowner’s/renter’s, auto), to ensure you’re sufficiently covered in case of damage or loss. Update your coverage limits, if necessary, and also be aware of any out-of-pocket expenses, such as deductibles.

Obtain Flood Insurance.

It’s coverage every homeowner in the Southeast should have, and it’s surprisingly affordable. For your free quote, call our affiliated insurance services provider, Quorum Insurance LLC, at 800.714.1447 or visit their website.^*

Take Inventory.

This will make settling any insurance claims a lot easier. Have both a written and photographic inventory of your property and personal belongings, and keep the inventory in a safe deposit box or secure data storage site.

Have a Secure Storage Container.

Into this goes all of your important documents – birth certificates, passports, insurance policies, medical and financial records. If you have to evacuate, the container goes with you. Also make a list of your important contacts, such as your employer, physician and pharmacy.

Set Payments on Autopilot.

Emergency or not, bills have to be paid and services like Grow Bill Pay ensure your monthly payments are made on time, even when you’ve got more important things on your mind.

Like you, here at Grow we’re hoping for the best and preparing for the worst. Our mobile response unit, for example, is a fully-functioning corporate office in a more portable size. So even if we lose power at headquarters, the unit will be up and running to handle any transaction and to ensure your accounts are secure.

For more information, visit ready.gov, the official website of FEMA.

^*Quorum Insurance LLC is an affiliate of Grow Financial. Insurance products purchased through Quorum Insurance LLC are not deposits of Grow Financial and are not protected by NCUA. They are not an obligation of or guaranteed by Grow Financial and may be subject to risk. Business conducted with Quorum Insurance LLC is separate and distinct from any business conducted with Grow Financial. Grow Financial is in no way responsible for the services provided through this program.

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• Security Education