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12 ON THE WEB WEBSITES TO GET TO KNOW. Larky helps financial institutions and membership organizations better connect with their audiences by delivering discounts and product information to users through mobile and web platforms. Larky boosts wallet share, loyalty, and retention while driving mortgages. Larky helps you stand out from traditional financial institutions who aren't targeting their marketing to their communities and helps bridge the gap in today's lending environment where mobile interaction can seem impersonal. Larky is especially a favorite among the much sought- after millennial generation. If you need smart, savvy financial advice, this is the place to go. As an added bonus, LearnVest also offers affordable personal financial planning services, including a dedicated financial planner, a detailed financial action plan that breaks down goals and steps, a commitment calendar that details how much to put toward your goals, custom challenges that break down your action items, a custom money center for keeping track of spending and saving, and access to exclusive content and events. is is a great source for visual news, particularly if you want to make your own infographics. For projects, all Visually requires is for you come up with a project and then to send their reps the idea. en, they give a price quote. e thing that makes Visually great for business is that even though it has a team of people working on projects, the project's originator always gets to take credit for it. Visually's product line includes videos, infographics, eBooks, reports and presentations, photography, social media microcontent, interactive microsites, writing, content strategies and illustrations. LEARNVEST.COM 2 LARKY.COM 1 VISUAL.LY 3 U.S. SENATE DISCUSSES DATA SECURITY AND EQUIFAX e U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, & Urban Affairs met in an open session titled "Consumer Data Security and the Credit Bureaus" to address how credit bureaus intend on protecting consumer data—specifically in light of the recent Equifax data breach. U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Chairman of the committee, delivered the opening remarks. "As a follow-up to our hearing on the Equifax data breach, today we will receive testimony on the protection of consumer data at credit bureaus," Sen. Crapo said. At the Equifax hearing, Crapo said that members expressed interest in better understanding how credit bureaus are regulated, how they protect consumer data, and whether there are gaps that Congress needs to fill. "It is critical that personal data is protected, consumer impact in the event of a breach is minimized, and consumers' ability to access credit is not harmed," Sen. Crapo said. "Credit bureaus play a valuable role in our financial system by helping financial institutions assess a consumer's ability to meet financial obligations, and also facilitating access to beneficial financial products and services." During the hearing, three testimonies were delivered addressing the future of cybersecurity. Testimonies came from Andrew M. Smith, Partner, Covington & Burling LLP on behalf of the Consumer Data Industry Association; Marc Rotenberg, President of Electronic Privacy Information Center; and Chris Jaikaran, Analyst in the Cybersecurity Policy Congressional Research Service. In the aftermath of the Equifax data breach, it is important to note just how much this cyber- attack impacts consumers' ability to receive a mortgage. According to a recent New York Times article, when consumers apply for a home mortgage or to refinance an existing loan, Equifax is more than likely a part of that process. Why? e article notes that of the three major credit-reporting agencies only Equifax has a division, Equifax Mortgage Solutions, that supplies lenders with a merged credit report. How can the data breach impact consumers trying to achieve mortgages? According to an article by Cornerstone Home Lending, Inc., anyone affected by the data breach may face significant credit setbacks. As one's credit score plays the most significant role in obtaining a competitive mortgage rate, the breach can prevent someone from being able to have proper credit to get a mortgage. In the end, what can one do to stay protected? e article notes that it is simply important for homebuyers to stay cautious. One practice that is advised is pulling personal credit reports as soon as one starts thinking about becoming a homeowner—giving them the chance to stay alert to suspicious information and clear any up before applying for a mortgage.

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