In episode eleven of Insights, Kellie Davis, Program Specialist, and Matthew Melton, Consumer Finance Examiner sit down with IDeal- Idaho College Savings Program Executive Director, Dawn Hall and Sr. Institutional Relationship manager, Nick Thiros to learn more about IDeal and how the program benefits Idahoans across the state. This conversation will be a deep dive into the IDeal program and will equip listeners with all the information they need to know about Idaho’s 529 program.

In episode ten of Insights, Securities Bureau chief John Yaros sits down with Joe Saar from Chainalysis to do a deep dive into what pig butchering scams are and how the public can recognize the potential warning signs for this growing type of investment scheme. This episode will offer vital information on how consumers can better protect themselves from the increasing threat pig butchering poses.

In episode nine, Consumer Finance Bureau Chief Erin Van Engelen sits down with Michelle Guth
and Tyler Porter to dive into tips geared towards Navigating the Barriers to First Time
Homebuying and how to purchase a home successfully. The guests featured in this episode are
experts in the mortgage industry, representing one current and one past member of the Idaho
Mortgage Advisory Board. They will offer tips for First Time Buyers, including but not limited to
downpayment myth busters, checking your credit, knowing your budget, seeking advice,
focusing on long-term goals, and understanding rates.

In episode eight Consumer Finance Bureau Chief Erin Van Engelen talks with Tom Nate, Supervisor of the Regulated Lender Program, about Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) loans. The number of consumers utilizing BNPL has steadily increased, and this model continues to expand in the mainstream marketplace. Learn about the key components of BNPL agreements, how they differ from more traditional financing options, and potential benefits and drawbacks to consider.

In episode seven special guest Superintendent Intendent of Public Instruction, Debbie Critchfield joins Consumer Finance Bureau Chief Erin Van Engelen and Securities Bureau Chief John Yaros to talk through the highlights and practical applications of newly adopted legislation requiring financial literacy for Idaho students.

In episode six, Securities Bureau Chief John Yaros sits down with Carole House, former Director of Cybersecurity and Secure Digital Innovation at the White House’s National Security Council, to dive into the growing threat of Account Takeover Fraud; a type of cybercrime that most commonly occurs as a result of compromised passwords, login credentials for financial accounts, etc. Learn about the evolution and prominence of this threat and how to effectively mitigate your risk through cyber hygiene and account monitoring, and what to do in the event of an account takeover. 

In episode five, Consumer Finance Bureau Chief Erin Van Engelen and Deputy Director Anthony Polidori discuss the basic financial practices that young adults, and those who support them, can begin implementing to ease the transition to financial independence.

In recognition of National Consumer Protection Week Consumer Protection Specialists Celia Kinney with the Idaho Department of Finance, and Rachelle Littau with Idaho Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division, share essential information to help consumers protect themselves from identity theft, and highlight strategies to recognize and report attempted fraud and scams.

The second segment of this two-part series spotlights Idaho community banks. Trent Wright, President of the Idaho Bankers Association sits down with Financial Institutions Bureau Chief Salvador Cruz to discuss the components that set Idaho chartered banks apart from other financial institutions, and how they have continued to adapt to support Idaho entrepreneurs,  families, and communities in Idaho.

In the first of a two-part series, Financial Institutions Bureau Chief Salvador Cruz interviews Troy Stang, President and CEO of GoWest Credit Union Association, to discuss how Idaho community credit unions have transformed over time, and how “banking locally” can directly benefit Idaho consumers, businesses, and communities.