Know the Signs of Elder Financial Abuse Senior citizens are grandparents, neighbors, friends, and well-respected members of our society. Unfortunately, they’re also the most vulnerable to financial abuse. According to the National Council on Aging (NCOA) up to five million seniors experience financial abuse of some kind, costing older Americans more than $36.5 billion annually. Sadly, unlike some other forms of financial… Read More
3 Steps to Create Healthy Habits It seems like only yesterday everyone was busy making New Year’s resolutions. As we tumble quickly into late spring, many of us are starting to wonder how these resolutions are turning out. Do our butts hurt because we’ve stayed true to our commitment to the gym or are we sore from falling off the wagon… Read More
The Scoop on Skimming: How to Protect Your Card Information You take precautions to avoid card fraud. You’re careful where you shop online, you filter out robocalls and you use cash when you can. But did you know that something as simple as getting gas may leave you vulnerable to skimming? What is skimming? Skimming is a kind of fraud where fraudsters use a device… Read More
What You Need to Know About Online Scams The unfortunate reality is that fraud can happen to anyone. How you, and your financial institution, respond is crucial. Take a look at this testimonial from a FirstBank customer who received a fraudulent phishing email from an individual posing as a customer service representative. The scammer began by notifying them of an attempted fraudulent purchase on… Read More
21 Ways to Happiness in 2021 2020 was a doozy but it’s over now. A new year is here, and with it, the possibility for a healthier, happier 2021. Let’s dig into some of the ways we can all achieve a bit of happiness in the year ahead. 1. Fix your credit score The New Year is more than a date… Read More
4 Ways to Stand Out in the Virtual Job Market The work world has drastically changed over the last year and landing a new job may seem like a daunting task. Luckily, the New Year may be a great time to secure a new career. And while many practices have changed to accommodate the current environment, these tips will help you stand out as a… Read More
Can You Spot a Phishing Scam? Every day, thousands of people fall victim to fraudulent emails, texts and calls from scammers pretending to be their bank. And in this time of expanded use of online banking, the problem is only growing worse. In fact, the Federal Trade Commission’s 2019 report on fraud estimates that American consumers reported losing a staggering $1.9… Read More
Financial Self-Care Checklist for Challenging Times Challenging times can inspire us to strengthen community ties and support recovery efforts, together. They can also inspire people to evaluate their lives and take better care of themselves — 80 percent of Americans say they intend to incorporate self-care into their daily routines more regularly after COVID-19. Given the pandemic’s economic impact, it’s not… Read More
Seven Smart Ways to Prepare for a New Baby According to the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics, the sweltering summer months host the highest birthrates, with August taking the lead for largest number of births. While we can only speculate about why so many babies are born this time of year (insert cheeky remarks about too many holiday drinks), we recognize this is… Read More
6 Simple Tips to Help Teach Your Teen Good Money Habits Whether or not we like to admit it, money is the motivating factor in most of our decisions. Yet, managing it effectively is a tough subject to grasp, especially for young adults. Considering only one-third of U.S. states require students to take a personal finance class, the onus falls on parents and guardians to impart… Read More