E-Central Credit Union Offers Free Workshops on Avoiding Fraud, Buying Cars, Financing Housing and Growing Money Skills Today

E-Central Credit Union is opening its Pasadena office to members and nonmembers alike on Thursday, Nov. 12, for a day of free financial workshops on avoiding fraud, buying a car, navigating the housing market and money management skills for Gen Z.

The credit union calls the day both a Community Resource Fair and Membership Appreciation Day. It says the purpose is to celebrate its members, connect with the surrounding community and share financial resources. “All are welcome,” the credit union says, extending the invitation to neighbors, friends, family and members.

“We believe being a community-focused credit union means more than providing affordable financial services. It means providing financial literacy resources that make a difference, and creating opportunities to connect with the community,” said Evan Hitchcock, the credit union’s vice president of operations.

Each of the four sessions runs up to 45 minutes, including time for questions and answers.

The day opens at 10 a.m. with “Protecting Yourself Online and Against Fraud,” which the credit union says will cover the seven most common scams and offer tips on protecting personal information and bank accounts.

The topic arrives after reported losses rose in 2025. The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center received 1,008,597 complaints in 2025, with losses of nearly $21 billion, and Americans over 60 reported about $7.7 billion in losses, up 37% from 2024. California ranked first among states in both complaints and losses. The Federal Trade Commission said consumers reported losing nearly $1 billion to business impersonators in 2025, with the highest losses to scammers posing as banks.

Closer to home, the Pasadena Public Health Department warned on Oct. 28 of callers impersonating public health officials to obtain personal information. The department said no such scams had been reported in Pasadena, though reports had been made to the California Department of Public Health. E-Central’s own fourth-quarter newsletter reminds members that the credit union will never call or text to ask for an online username, password or one-time access code.

At 11:30 a.m., “Finding and Buying a New Car in Today’s Car Market” will cover the current state of the market, how to find a car at a fair price and, in the credit union’s words, “how to beat the dealer.” The average price paid for a new vehicle in the United States reached a record $51,109 in October, according to Kelley Blue Book.

At 1:30 p.m., “Buying or Selling a Home in Today’s Housing Market” turns to real estate. Los Angeles County scored 15 on the California Association of Realtors’ housing affordability index in the third quarter, with a median home price of $958,450 and a minimum qualifying income of $244,000.

The day closes at 3:30 p.m. with “Financial Literacy for Gen Z,” which the credit union says will teach basic money management skills for a digital banking world. Parents are welcome to attend. The subject is headed into California classrooms: under Assembly Bill 2927, signed in 2024, a stand-alone personal finance course becomes a high school graduation requirement beginning with the class of 2030–31.

Coffee from Rosebud Coffee, along with pastries and sweets, will be served from 9:30 a.m. to noon, and Handel’s Ice Cream will be on site from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. for members and the community. Both are offered while supplies last.

E-Central, which traces its founding to 1943, is a state-chartered, federally insured credit union with its office on South Fair Oaks Avenue. It reports about $174.5 million in total assets in its unaudited 2025 financial statements. Pasadena Village says the credit union has helped it inform older adults about the risks of scams and fraud. E-Central also partnered with the Rose Bowl Aquatics Center to host a credit-building workshop for the center’s employees.

Admission is free. The credit union is asking attendees to RSVP online for each workshop they plan to attend, and seats remained open in all four sessions early Thursday.

E-Central advertises in Pasadena Now.

E-Central Credit Union Community Resource Fair, Thursday, Nov. 12. Refreshments from 9:30 a.m.; workshops at 10 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. E-Central Credit Union, 990 S. Fair Oaks Ave., Pasadena. (626) 799-6000. ecentralcu.org/promotions/membership-appreciation-day. Free; RSVP online.