Make Your Business Truly Mobile With SpotPay

by Pam Reiss

These days, smartphones and mobile devices have empowered us to stay connected no matter where we happen to be. Armed with these tools, we’re able to access the same wealth of information whether we’re watching the kids play soccer, putting the last minute touches on a project at the office or waiting for departure at the airport.

In other words, today’s world is an increasingly mobile one. As a business owner, you know full well how your customers are always on the go. Now, thanks to SpotPay, your business can cater to today’s mobile world without a hitch.

SpotPay, which is proudly offered by The Milford Bank, allows your business to accept charge card transactions no matter where you happen to be. All you need is a mobile device and an Internet connection and, voilà, your business can be wherever you want it to be.

By registering with SpotPay through The Milford Bank, all of your card and check transactions will be securely deposited in your business or personal account. As a result, you’ll be able to access your funds quicker.

With SpotPay, you can provide receipts and refunds as well as void transactions right from your mobile device. What’s more, the secure mobile point-of-sale system makes it so that sensitive customer data is not stored on your device.

In addition to the ability to accept charges on mobile devices, SpotPay also has plans to add remote check deposit functionality, mobile balance inquiries and transfers and more, so you’ll be able to better accommodate your customers in the future.

SpotPay costs $8.95 per month in addition to a 1.99-percent fee on most transactions. But that pales in comparison to the untold fortunes the technology can bring to your business. Click here to learn more.

How to Improve Your Credit Score

by JoAnn Sabas

A good credit score is what each of us aspires to. After all, a credit score is one of the important determining factors when it comes to borrowing money for a home.

Mortgage lenders look at your credit score as one of the essential elements when determining whether or not to approve your mortgage application. A higher score reflects a strong credit history.

So how can you give your credit a boost to improve your chances of getting the lowest possible mortgage rate? Let’s take a look:
• Begin by getting your credit score: You have to know where you stand in order to improve. Get started by running your credit reports. By law, you’re allowed one free credit report from each of the three major credit reporting bureaus every 12 months. The reports will explain how your score was determined. For instance, your FICO score—which many lenders use to assess an applicant’s credit risk—is calculated using both positive and negative information in your report. That information is broken down into five main categories: payment history, amounts owed, length of credit history, new credit, and types of credit used.

• Fix errors on your credit report: This is a crucial step that can dramatically improve your score. If you find errors on any of your reports, dispute them immediately with the appropriate bureau. The first step is to inform the responsible credit bureau of the inaccurate information. Next, do the same with the creditor or information provider, and explain why you’re disputing the item.

• Pay down your debts and pay bills on time: Keeping your loan balances low can have a positive impact on your FICO score because your “amounts owed” category accounts for around 30 percent of your FICO score. If you can swing it, paying down your credit card debt balances to 30 percent of your total limit is an easy way to give your score a bump. Also, late payments and collections leave major blemishes on your credit report; paying your bills on time and avoiding late payment is the only way to keep a positive payment history. In addition to bankruptcy, foreclosure and judgments, collections and habitual late payments are the worst things to see on a credit report.

Undeniably, it’s important to go into the mortgage process with the best potential credit position. Just make sure to give yourself ample time to find and correct credit report errors. What’s more, doing this clean-up in advance will also speed up the mortgage process.

If you have questions about how to read your credit report, whether you might be eligible for a mortgage or any financial products or services, please contact us. We’re here to help!