CCOA

10/16/2026

Financial Fact Friday! The three C's of credit are Character, Capacity, and Capital (or Collateral), which lenders use to evaluate your creditworthiness.

10/12/2026

Congratulations, Jamanthea! 👏 We were honored to be part of helping you reach your goal!

A big thank you to Michael Barr and his sister, Martha, for donating a car to our Changing Lanes Program!

Pictured is our happy and grateful recipient, Jamanthea. She no longer has to spend money on rideshare services and can help her family by picking up and going wherever she’s needed. Congratulations, Jamanthea!

Thank you to our partners at CCOA for helping Jamanthea learn how to build credit. Many of our clients have poor credit, while others, like Jamanthea, have limited credit history. Both can make it difficult to qualify for low-interest loans, such as the ones our program offers.

We’re grateful to all our car donors. If you are planning to sell a car directly or through a real estate auction, please consider donating it to Changing Lanes. Our finance director can provide documentation for tax purposes, and your gift can help someone seeking a hand up; not a handout, gain reliable transportation.

Please note we have every car offered to Changing Lanes inspected for mechanical issues and cover the cost of necessary repairs. However, we cannot accept cars with failing transmissions or other issues our mechanic determines cannot be repaired safely and reliably.

For more information about Changing Lanes, please call our church office.

10/09/2026

Financial Fact Friday: The average amount financed for a new vehicle reached a record $44,664.
Average monthly payment of $787 is also a record.

A record 21.2% of new car buyers who financed their purchases have $1,000+ payments.

Over 25% of new car buyers who financed took on loans of 7 years or longer.

The average new vehicle price rose to $50,089.

10/08/2026

View "Holiday Spending: Money & Stress Tips" -- our 30 minute free webinar filled with tips to enjoy the holidays without overspending and being overwhelmed!

10/08/2026

Free webinar -- Today at 12:15! Got 30 minutes to discover some ways to enjoy the holidays without overspending, plus ways to reduce your holiday stress? Join certified financial educator and licensed therapist Mark Foster Thursday, Oct. 8 on Zoom, from 12:15-12:45. If interested, direct message us and we'll reply to you with our Zoom link.

10/07/2026

Got 30 minutes to discover some ways to enjoy the holidays without overspending, plus ways to reduce your holiday stress? Join certified financial educator and licensed therapist Mark Foster tomorrow/Thursday, Oct. 8 on Zoom, from 12:15-12:45. FREE webinar! If interested, direct message us and we'll reply to you with our Zoom link.

10/06/2026

We hear you. It's incredibly tough to juggle life in this economy -- 29% of U.S. adults can’t afford a $400 unexpected expense. Credit cards average 21% interest, which can take forever to pay debt off. Non-profit CCOA has helped people become debt-free and achieve financial freedom for 31 years! Call (479) 521-8877 for a free financial analysis and Action Plan appointment. Appointments available in our Bentonville, Fayetteville and Fort Smith offices, plus by phone and online.

Since 1995, non-profit CCOA has helped people with budgeting and personal finances.

10/02/2026

Financial Fact Friday: About 37% of U.S. adults can't can cover a $400 emergency expense using cash or savings.

CCOA empowers financial stability and can help you financially navigate life! Just call (479) 521-8877 or visit www.CCOAcares.com

09/29/2026

Holiday spending tip: Don’t give your gifts early or you may be tempted to buy more. (Oof! I feel so seen! 😂). What's one of your best holiday tips?

Find more holiday spending tips here at our website:
https://www.ccoacares.com/financial-tips/

09/29/2026

Holiday spending tips!

The holidays are all about making memories—not adding financial stress. 🎁💙

A little planning now can go a long way. Before the holiday season gets into full swing:

🎄 Set a realistic holiday spending limit
💳 Review your budget and prioritize what matters most
🛍️ Make a gift list and shop with a plan
💰 Set aside money for holiday expenses when you can
📊 Keep an eye on credit card balances and payment due dates

And remember, you don’t have to navigate your finances alone. The NFCC can connect you with a certified credit counselor who can help you create a budgeting plan that works for you.

Visit NFCC.org to get started and make this holiday season a little more financially manageable.