4 Tips for Navigating Interest Rates and Loans in 2023 With the Federal Reserve continuing to raise interest rates to fight inflation, it can feel intimidating to navigate interest rates, loans and mortgages these days. The Fed raised rates for the 10th consecutive time following their meeting on May 3rd. However, the modest .25% hike suggests policymakers might be moving in a new direction for… Read More
6 Ways Your Teen Can Prepare for Financial Responsibility According to a Greenlight® study in 2021, 74% of teens don’t feel confident about their financial education. What’s more, only 13 states require high school students to take a personal-finance class to graduate. So, the chances of your teen learning basic money lessons, without your help, are meager. Since financial literacy is key to building… Read More
Retail vs. Bank Credit Cards: Which Is Right for You? There are a lot of credit cards out there today. Name a demographic or spending category, and a credit card is probably designed just for people within that category. On top of that, there are different kinds of cards, including retail and bank cards. No wonder that the average American adult has three credit cards… Read More
60 Savings and Money-Making Tips You Didn’t Know Existed To celebrate FirstBank’s 60 years of “banking for good,” we’ve compiled a list of 60 ways to help you make money and save it. Check out 60 Things You Didn’t Know About FirstBank at efirstbankblog.com to learn more! Finances 1. Earn More with Your Money. Do you have money that seems to be just sitting… Read More
6 Ways to Fight Inflation and Rising Costs with A Look Back At the 1960s As FirstBank celebrates 60 years of “banking for good,” we’re looking back at our inception date, 1963. In the same year, Martin Luther King Jr. gave his famous “I Have a Dream” speech, and President John F. Kennedy was assassinated. While the culture has changed drastically, rising costs and inflation have made 1963 feel worlds… Read More
Love Don’t Cost a Thing: Plan a Romantic Valentine’s Day Without Breaking the Bank Americans spend an estimated 117.4 billion dollars per year on dating, but that number is coming down as high inflation takes its toll on love. With the cost of food, cocktails, gas, and personal care services skyrocketing, around 40% of people on dating apps are changing their dating habits or pressing pause on their search… Read More
Zelle® Safety: How FirstBank is Helping Safeguard its Customers from Mobile Payment Scams As mobile payment apps/services like Venmo or Zelle® become more popular due to its quick and convenient way to send money, it’s also become another target for scammers. Whether it’s repaying a friend for concert tickets or sending money to a handyman or babysitter, electronic payments like these have reduced the reliance on cash and… Read More
Cash Stuffing: How Will This New Budgeting Trend Help You Save? One of the newest budgeting trends made popular by Generation Z is similar to one from a less digital world, about 20 to 30 years ago. Before the surge of plastic payment methods and virtual wallets, hoarding cash was the norm. However, the recent cash-stuffing trend has taken social media platforms by storm. If you’ve… Read More
8 More Ways To Save Money on Groceries During Rising Inflation According to the most recent Consumer Price Index report, food prices have risen 11.4 percent from August 2021 to August 2022. In the same year, common food items have drastically increased including eggs, which went up by 39.8 percent, and butter, which rose by 24.6 percent. As the cost of groceries continues to rise, we’ve… Read More
8 Side Gigs to Land Extra Cash Who couldn’t use some extra dough in today’s high-priced market? Whether you’re trying to outpace inflation, saving for a big purchase, or aiming to grow your emergency fund, finding creative ways to earn extra cash can help you expedite your financial goals. Fortunately, we’re highlighting eight ways to earn some extra cash using your skills,… Read More