February 2026 News

Find Inspiration at the Colorado Garden & Home Show

The Colorado Garden & Home Show will be returning to the Colorado Convention Center in downtown Denver from February 14 to 22. This is the oldest, largest, and most prestigious garden and home show in the Rocky Mountains. Attendees can visit and get advice from some of the region’s most knowledgeable gardening gurus and home improvement experts. Plus, there are over 400 booths featuring great local products and services for every project inside and outside your home. Whether you’re a new homeowner starting from scratch or a seasoned pro looking for something new and exciting, you’re sure to find inspiration from the Colorado Garden & Home Show.

Plus, since Bellco Credit Union is a proud sponsor of the show, all Bellco members can get two free tickets each day to the Garden & Home Show! Simply show your Bellco debit card, credit card, or mobile app at the Ticket Booths at the show and start exploring the latest in home and garden enhancements for free. Then turn those new ideas into new home projects by taking advantage of Bellco’s limited time offer of a fixed rate as low as 6.24% APR on an advance of $10,000.00 or more with Bellco’s ChoiceLine. For more information visit Bellco’s Home Equity ChoiceLine webpage. Bellco is an Equal Housing Opportunity Lender.

What Credit Score Changes in 2026 Mean for You

Article Courtesy of GreenPath Financial Wellness

If you’ve been hearing that credit scores are changing, you’re not imagining it. 2026 is shaping up to be a transition year for how lenders evaluate borrowers, especially for mortgages. Fortunately, most of the habits that help your credit stay healthy are not changing.

The Big Shift: New Scoring Models

Mortgage lenders can now use newer models, like VantageScore 4.0, which consider additional information – such as rent, utilities, or telecom payments.

This can help more people, especially those with limited or “thin” credit histories, have a score on record. It does not guarantee loan approval. However, it gives lenders a fuller picture when evaluating applications, and it highlights how credit scoring is evolving to include a wider range of financial behaviors.

Lenders are also adopting FICO 10, which looks beyond a single snapshot to your credit patterns over the past two years. This means consistent habits matter more than short-term fixes.

Other Changes to Watch in 2026

Credit scoring isn’t just getting a facelift – it is evolving in ways that could impact how you borrow and manage debt. Here’s what else is on the horizon:

Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) Reporting

BNPL plans where you can postpone payment of purchases until a future date or divide it into a series of installment payments will start showing up on credit reports. This can help build credit if you pay on time, but missed payments could hurt your score.

What’s Staying the Same

The fundamentals of credit health are not changing. No matter which scoring model a lender uses:

  • On-time payments still matter most.
  • Lower balances relative to your limits (a.k.a. credit utilization) remain important.
  • Length of credit history still plays a role, so older accounts often help.
  • New credit and how often you apply still factors into your score.
  • A credit mix that reflects a variety of credit types (like credit cards, installment loans, or a mortgage) can positively impact your score.

For broader guidance, including budgeting, debt management, or big financial goals Bellco members have access to GreenPath. We offer free financial counseling with NFCC- and HUD-certified experts to help you review your finances and support you in taking the next step forward.

Stay Safe with Our Account and Card Alerts

At Bellco, we know that keeping your bank accounts and personal information secure is a top priority. That’s why we offer account and card alerts, a convenient way to stay on top of your finances and detect suspicious activity quickly. 

Here’s how Bellco account alerts can help you:

  • Monitor your account activity: Get notified whenever a transaction occurs on your debit or credit card, including the amount spent and the merchant where the purchase was made. You can even customize alerts to set transaction amount thresholds and limit the merchants where your card can be used.
  • Fast fraud detection: Early awareness of unauthorized transactions allows you to take immediate action, minimizing potential losses.
  • Peace of mind when you travel: Schedule travel alerts to avoid disruptions caused by blocked cards due to unfamiliar locations.
  • Misplaced your card? No problem: Bellco alerts allow you to easily access mobile banking to block and unblock your card right from your phone, giving you control over your finances.

Setting up account alerts is simple and takes just a few minutes:

  1. Log in to Online Banking and navigate to the Cards tab. On Mobile Banking, this can be found after tapping “More” on the bottom navigation.
  2. Select “Manage Cards” from the drop-down menu.
  3. Choose the debit and/or credit card you want to set alerts for.
  4. Customize your alert settings to receive notifications based on your preferences.

With Bellco alerts, you can help ensure your money is safe and your information secure. For a step-by-step guide including pictures on how to manage your debit and credit card preferences, you can visit our How to Manage Debit and Credit Cards online guide.

Recognizing the Common Signs of Fraud

Cases of fraud are, unfortunately, on the rise, and we’re particularly concerned about those that target Bellco members. We feel that it’s imperative that you understand the hallmarks of these scams and how to protect yourself from falling victim to these very stressful, seemingly real scenarios.

In many instances, the con artists impersonate Bellco associates, including tech support or even Fraud Department employees. Typically, the fraudster uses text messages or even direct phone calls to the member, claiming to have found an issue with the member’s account, including things like fraudulent charges or technical issues with online banking. In some cases, the swindler asks the member to withdraw money (including very large sums) and to lie to the teller about the withdrawal. In other cases, the con artists direct members to a URL or QR code that will ultimately drain an account. In several instances, the fraudster will work to get the member to divulge personal information, including username and password, debit/credit card information, and even Social Security number. 

If you are contacted by someone claiming to be from Bellco, beware of the following red flags:

  • Pressure to make quick decisions especially based on threats that feel real and serious. If you’re speaking with a real Bellco associate, you should never feel pressured into making choices about your account.
  • Tactics that involve you turning over Multifactor Authentication (MFA) codes. Bellco uses these codes to verify your identity and therefore play a large role in protecting your transactions, including Zelle transfers, wire transfers, and when using your credit or debit cards. 
  • Demands that you lie or keep transactions secret from Bellco employees. At Bellco, we take your financial wellbeing seriously, including keeping all transactions above-board. If anyone tells you to lie to a Bellco employee, this is a sure sign you’re being scammed.
  • Requests to move your money to cryptocurrency accounts, or other accounts you do not own or control.
  • Suggesting you purchase gift cards or other prepaid cards and provide them with the card information.

Remember, Bellco will never call or text you and ask for your personal or account information. Bellco will also never pressure you into making a decision. If you think you are being scammed based on the red flags above or just a bad feeling, feel free to hang up the call, no matter how urgent the caller makes it seem, and contact Bellco directly at 1-800-BELLCO-1. Once someone answers the call, ask to speak to a representative that can tell you the truth about what’s going on with your accounts. If you think your account security has already been compromised, please contact our Fraud Department at 303-689-7548 and leave a message. Someone will get back to you as soon as possible and assist you.