A responsible way to prevent identity theft is by watching your individual Credit. Good recommendations are to view your credit report regularly from the three credit bureaus, monitor your credit, and seek credit counseling for any money management situation that arises.

	IDentityTheft Shield Identity Theft is the fastest growing crime in the US. Protect yourself and your personal information from criminals and be prepared if something happens to you. Get credit reports, constant credit monitoring, emailed updates, and guaranteed credit/personal repair if you experience any form of Identity Theft.
	Credit Reports For a one-time low fee, get your current complete credit information from all three national credit bureaus, in one instant online report. It is recommended that you check your credit report at least annually for signs of stolen identity.
	BALANCE Financial Fitness Program Whether you're interested in developing a workable spending and savings plan, getting out of debt, taking a look at your credit report, buying a home, or planning for your financial future, Allegacy wants to help. That's why Allegacy has provided access to free and confidential financial counseling and education through BALANCE, which includes many online services, a toll-free InfoLine, a Credit Report Review, Money Management Counseling, Housing Counseling, Debt Management, Identity Theft Solutions and more. Assistance is available in many languages.
Local, Personal, Confidential	Pathway: Credit Counseling and Money Management Assistance for Allegacy members residing in North Carolina Pathway is a completely confidential and personal money management assistance program for Allegacy members. Pathway is offered through Allegacy and our trusted, licensed partner Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Forsyth County, especially created to serve you. Protect your identity through a Credit Report Review by working with a counselor one-on-one. A certified counselor can assist you with a variety of services including Housing counseling, Debt Management, Credit Counseling, and Budgeting. Pathway en Español serves the Hispanic population.

• Secure your identity from being stolen and repairing stolen identity
• Conveniently and easily obtain credit reports
• Monitor your credit file for inquiries and identity theft
• Receive your current credit score
• Seek Money Management assistance through confidential credit counseling.

Explanations of common terms that you may encounter:

• Credit is each person's individual record of financial and other activity, including loan information, bill payment information, past and present residential addresses, employers, etc.
• A Credit Report is your personal report containing detailed information on your credit history, including identifying information, credit accounts and loans, bankruptcies and late payments, and recent inquiries. It can be obtained by prospective lenders with the borrower's permission, to determine his or her creditworthiness.
• Your Credit Score is a number based on your credit history that determines if you are eligible for a loan, certain accounts, and much more.
• Your Credit History is a record of your past borrowing and repaying behavior. It will list personal or corporate information, credit lines currently in the person's name, and risk factors like late payments or a recent bankruptcy.
• The Fair Credit Reporting Act: Federal law gives you the right to examine your own personal credit history. The provisions of this law enable consumers to approach credit reporting agencies to see what the agencies may be saying about them, find out if their credit information has been used any third parties, and approach an agency to dispute wrongful use or interpretation of their information.