BYU NewsNet - Blog Offers the Lowdown on Finances

By PRISCILLA DE LA VEGA

Thanks to the World Wide Web, Caitlyn Power gets her banking done at the Wells Fargo Web site. There is no need to visit the branch at the BYU Bookstore and wait in the line that sometimes extends out to the greeting card section.

"They are really easy to use," said Power, a public relations major from Wisconsin. "I do everything online."

Many students find it convenient to have a Wells Fargo branch on campus, but when time is limited and they need some extra financial tips, a couple clicks on wellsfargo.com can lead to the blog, "The StudentLoanDown."

"Blogs are our generation," Power said. "That's what we're used to."

"The StudentLoanDown" blog gives students the lowdown on student loans, federal financial aid, budgeting, debt management strategies and many more financial issues. It's a multiple-author blog where students can read different voices and opinions.

The lead voice for the blog is Staci Schiller, a marketing program manager for Wells Fargo Education Financial Services. Along with other bloggers, Schiller is able to reach many audiences such as high school students, college graduates and parents.

"We want to educate young adults about making good financial decisions," Schiller said. "We're able to have a conversation with people. It's very honest."

Conversations give opportunities for bloggers to share their thoughts about finances and college students can respond with their financial questions. With paying rent, groceries, books and tuition, the college experience proves to be hectic.

"It's all real world," Schiller said.

The financial world does get more chaotic as time goes on and even Wells Fargo employees appreciate the blog.

"It's great to be able to learn from our customers," Schiller said.

When Schiller started working on the blog two years ago, she shared this:

"Sure, I can hear you already: 'Wells Fargo? What's a big financial services company like that trying to sell me now?' We're here to share our experiences with student loans, the financial aid process, and debt management. And we're hoping that you'll do the same. After all, we've got some knowledge that you might need - and we're pretty sure that you have some insight to share."

Brendan Page, a Wells Fargo employee at the BYU Bookstore branch, recently discovered the Wells Fargo blog.

"There's a lot of good information," Page said. "I'd recommend it."

He said students need to "be on top of the game" when it comes to finances.

With so many questions lingering around, Page suggested looking through the Internet about credit information.