After serving overseas, military service members return home to face a new economic reality that often includes, unfortunately, lenders looking to take advantage of their vulnerability. Unscrupulous auto lenders and credit card companies have also been known to target members of the military. The government has moved to crack down on predatory lending, enacting the Military Lending Act in 2006. Not only does predatory lending cause undue financial stress, it can also negatively impact a soldier’s military readiness, said Falcone. Predatory lenders like to prey on young military members because they’re often inexperienced with money, have little to no credit and are usually very excited to spend that first paycheck.-Tara Falcone FOUNDER OF REISUP4.

---