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Trick Yourself into Saving: Why a Certificate Could Be the Financial Hack You Need  

Lady stashing away cash

Saving money is one of those things in life that’s easier said than done. 

Maybe you have every intention of saving your leftover money after payday, but somehow it disappears between groceries, plans with friends, and the occasional “it’s only a $30” purchase. 

Sound familiar? 

You don’t necessarily need more willpower. You might just need to make your savings a little harder to access. 

The Problem With “I’ll Save What’s Left” 

It’s easy to think, “I’ll save whatever I have left at the end of the month.” But when that money is sitting in an easily accessible savings account, it can be tempting to spend it.

Maybe you move $100 into savings, then transfer $40 back for dinner. A few days later, you need another $25 for something else. None of those purchases seem like a big deal on their own, but they can add up quickly. 

Before you know it, the money you meant to save is gone. 

Especially when the cost of everyday life keeps climbing, saving money can be harder than it sounds. 

Make Your Savings Harder to Spend 

This is where a certificate of deposit can come in. 

Locking your funds into a certificate that earns a fixed interest rate for a set term could be exactly what you need, especially if saving feels harder than spending. 

Certificates allow you to “lock up” money you don’t need right now while it earns interest. While there are several terms to choose from, like 6, 9, or 12 months, we’re currently offering 4.05% APY* on our 15-month certificate. 

Certificates can be a great set-it-and-forget-it option for saving money you know you won’t need right away. 

Why 15 Months? 

Fifteen months may sound like a long time, but that’s also what makes it useful for saving toward a longer-term goal. 

You don’t have to think about moving the money every month or decide whether you should spend it. You simply let it sit and earn interest while you focus on everything else. 

And when the term ends, you’ll have your original savings plus the interest it earned, subject to the certificate’s terms. 

Who Could a Certificate Make Sense For? 

A certificate isn’t right for everyone, and you don’t need to put all your savings into one. 

It could make sense if you have some extra money set aside that you know you won’t need for the next fifteen months, and you’re looking for a way to keep yourself from spending it. 

Maybe you’re saving for a future move, building toward a larger purchase, or simply want to put some distance between yourself and your savings. 

The goal isn’t to lock up every dollar you have. 

It’s to give the money you don’t need right now a job to do. 

A Little Less Temptation, A Little More Interest 

Saving doesn’t always come down to discipline. 

Sometimes, it’s about setting up your money in a way that makes your goals easier to stick to. 

If you have money sitting around that you know you won’t need for the next 15 months, a certificate could give you a little more separation from your savings while helping it earn interest along the way. 

And if you’re the kind of person who opens their savings account with good intentions and somehow ends up spending it anyway, maybe a little financial friction is exactly what you need. 

Learn more about Central One’s 15-month certificate and see if it’s right for your savings goals. 

*APY = Annual Percentage Yield. APY is accurate as of 8/1/2026. Minimum balance to earn APY is $500. Fees may affect earnings. Penalty may be imposed for early withdrawal. Federally insured by NCUA. 

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Adjustable Rate Mortgages

  • The 15/5 Adjustable Rate Mortgage offers a fixed APR of for the first 15 years then adjusts to a new rate every 5 years.

    Term: Available for terms up to 40 years.

    Rate caps: 2% per adjustment and 5% over the initial rate for the life of the loan.

    Benefits: Central One’s ARMs often have lower down payment requirements, lower initial monthly payments and lower initial APRs than a 30 year fixed rate.

    Calculate your monthly payment using the ARM Mortgage Calculator

    Prior to applying, please make sure your credit is not frozen by the credit reporting agencies, or we will not be able to process your application. Payments do not include taxes and insurance. 

    Begin the Application Process Check Rates

  • The 15/5 Adjustable Rate Mortgage offers a fixed APR of for the first 15 years then adjusts to a new rate every 5 years.

    Term: Available for terms up to 40 years.

    Rate caps: 2% per adjustment and 5% over the initial rate for the life of the loan.

    Benefits: Central One’s ARMs often have lower down payment requirements, lower initial monthly payments and lower initial APRs than a 30 year fixed rate.

    Calculate your monthly payment using the ARM Mortgage Calculator

    Prior to applying, please make sure your credit is not frozen by the credit reporting agencies or we will not be able to process your application. Payments do not include taxes and insurance. 

     

    Begin the Application Process Check Rates

  • The 10/5 Adjustable Rate Mortgage offers a fixed APR of for the first 10 years then adjusts to a new rate every 5 years.

    Term: Available for terms up to 30 years.

    Rate caps: 2% per adjustment and 5% over the initial rate for the life of the loan.

    Benefits: Central One’s ARMs often have lower down payment requirements, lower initial monthly payments and lower initial APRs than a 30 year fixed rate.

    Calculate your monthly payment using the ARM Mortgage Calculator

    Prior to applying, please make sure your credit is not frozen by the credit reporting agencies or we will not be able to process your application. Payments do not include taxes and insurance. 

     

    Begin the Application Process Check Rates

  • The 10/5 Adjustable Rate Mortgage offers a fixed APR of for the first 10 years then adjusts to a new rate every 5 years.

     

    Term: Available for terms up to 30 years.

    Rate caps: 2% per adjustment and 5% over the initial rate for the life of the loan.

    Benefits: Central One’s ARMs often have lower down payment requirements, lower initial monthly payments and lower initial APRs than a 30-year fixed rate.

     

    Calculate your monthly payment using the ARM Mortgage Calculator

    Prior to applying, please make sure your credit is not frozen by the credit reporting agencies, or we will not be able to process your application.

     

    Begin the Application Process Check Rates

  • The 5/1 Adjustable Rate Mortgage offers a fixed APR of for the first 5 years then adjusts to a new rate every 1 year.

     

    Term: Available for terms up to 30 years.

    Rate caps: 2% per adjustment and 5% over the initial rate for the life of the loan.

    Benefits: Central One’s ARMs often have lower down payment requirements, lower initial monthly payments and lower initial APRs than a 30-year fixed rate.

     

    Calculate your monthly payment using the ARM Mortgage Calculator

    Prior to applying, please make sure your credit is not frozen by the credit reporting agencies or we will not be able to process your application.

     

    Begin the Application Process Check Rates

  • The 5/1 Adjustable Rate Mortgage offers a fixed APR of for the first 5 years then adjusts to a new rate every 1 year.

     

    Term: Available for terms up to 30 years.

    Rate caps: 2% per adjustment and 5% over the initial rate for the life of the loan.

    Benefits: Central One’s ARMs often have lower down payment requirements, lower initial monthly payments and lower initial APRs than a 30 year fixed rate.

     

    Calculate your monthly payment using the ARM Mortgage Calculator

    Prior to applying, please make sure your credit is not frozen by the credit reporting agencies, or we will not be able to process your application.

     

    Begin the Application Process Check Rates

  • The 3/3 Adjustable Rate Mortgage offers a fixed APR of for the first 3 years then adjusts to a new rate every 3 years.

     

    Term: Available for terms up to 30 years.

    Rate caps: 2% per adjustment and 5% over the initial rate for the life of the loan.

    Benefits: Central One’s ARMs often have lower down payment requirements, lower initial monthly payments and lower initial APRs than a 30 year fixed rate.

     

    Calculate your monthly payment using the ARM Mortgage Calculator

    Prior to applying, please make sure your credit is not frozen by the credit reporting agencies or we will not be able to process your application.

     

    Begin the Application Process Check Rates

  • The 3/3 Adjustable Rate Mortgage offers a fixed APR of for the first 3 years then adjusts to a new rate every 3 years.

     

    Term: Available for terms up to 30 years.

    Rate caps: 2% per adjustment and 5% over the initial rate for the life of the loan.

    Benefits: Central One’s ARMs often have lower down payment requirements, lower initial monthly payments and lower initial APRs than a 30 year fixed rate.

     

    Calculate your monthly payment using the ARM Mortgage Calculator

    Prior to applying, please make sure your credit is not frozen by the credit reporting agencies or we will not be able to process your application.

     

    Begin the Application Process Check Rates

  • The 1/1 Adjustable Rate Mortgage offers a fixed APR of for the first 1 year then adjusts to a new rate every 1 year.

     

    Term: Available for terms up to 30 years.

    Rate caps: 2% per adjustment and 5% over the initial rate for the life of the loan.

    Benefits: Central One’s ARMs often have lower down payment requirements, lower initial monthly payments and lower initial APRs than a 30-year fixed rate.

     

    Calculate your monthly payment using the ARM Mortgage Calculator

    Prior to applying, please make sure your credit is not frozen by the credit reporting agencies or we will not be able to process your application.

     

    Begin the Application Process Check Rates

  • The 1/1 Adjustable Rate Mortgage offers a fixed APR of for the first 1 year then adjusts to a new rate every 1 year.

     

    Term: Available for terms up to 30 years.

    Rate caps: 2% per adjustment and 5% over the initial rate for the life of the loan.

    Benefits: Central One’s ARMs often have lower down payment requirements, lower initial monthly payments and lower initial APRs than a 30 year fixed rate.

     

    Calculate your monthly payment using the ARM Mortgage Calculator

    Prior to applying, please make sure your credit is not frozen by the credit reporting agencies or we will not be able to process your application.

     

    Begin the Application Process Check Rates

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