Skip to main content
Find Your Local Branch
Back
Scroll to top

Online Money Hacks – First Bank

Personal Finances 3 min read

Ready to talk to an expert?

Find A Location Get In Touch

If you are active on social media, you’ve probably tried a “life hack” at some point. Life hacks are little things you can do to make your life easier. For example, tying a small piece of bright colored fabric to your luggage makes it easier to tell which bag at the airport. Life hacks are great, but do you know what’s even better? Money hacks! Money hacks not only make your life easier, they help you save your hard earned cash.

Money Hacks Worth Trying

Money hacks can be anything from saving your spare change in a piggy bank to skipping your morning Starbucks run and making coffee at home. Small money hacks will help you save a little bit of money, but if you’re looking to save in a big way, try these money hacks from Forbes and from your very own First Bank.

  • Borrow against your home’s equity. This money hack is specifically for homeowners, but it’s useful to know if you are ever planning on buying a home. If you find yourself needing a personal loan for a large amount of money, it might be better to borrow money against your home’s equity. Since you already have been approved for a mortgage the loan application process will typically be easier. Another benefit is that interest payments on home equity lines of credit are typically tax-deductible, unlike interest paid on personal loans. Consult your tax advisor for details on the deductibility of interest.
  • Pay insurance premiums once a year. You’re probably currently making monthly payments for policies like life insurance and auto insurance, but it isn’t required that you make your payments that way. You can opt to pay your insurance policy in one lump sum, which can save you money in the long run. Paying by the month may be convenient, but insurance companies typically charge a courtesy fee.

Fun Tips to Save More Money

  • Try a service contract. Instead of shelling out hundreds of dollars for a car or home repair, offset the costs by considering monthly payments for an auto warranty or home protection plan.
  • Stay cool. Preserve the longevity of your batteries, hosiery, and candles by storing them in your freezer.
  • Raise a glass to energy savings. Cooking for two? Save energy by microwaving both bowls at once. Just place a glass underneath one to cook both dishes evenly.
  • Go bananas. Don’t let those extra bananas you dutifully planned to eat for breakfast for the week rot and go to waste. Repair minor scratches on CDs and DVDs by rubbing a banana on your disks.

Whether you’re crowding your freezer with stockings or changing the way you pay insurance premiums, it saves to plan ahead and get resourceful. Want to learn more about how you can save money? Contact or visit a First Bank branch near you.

To learn even more about First Bank, check out our financial education and wellness resources, or browse the First Bank website to get a sense of the many products and services it offers.
———

Sources:

LifeHack: http://www.lifehack.org/articles/lifestyle/100-life-hacks-that-make-life-easier.html

Forbes: http://www.forbes.com

Ready to talk to an expert?

Find A Location Get In Touch
Share:

You may be interested in...

Your Community Bank in North Carolina Are you wondering how your community bank stacks up against some of the national banks in North Carolina? Well, don’t believe that community banks versus big banks comparisons are always infallible. First Bank debunks many of these proposed theories. Let’s first take a look at the pros of big banks and how First Bank, despite being a local bank, fits right in: Plenty of ATMs and branches. There’s this notion that local banks don’t have enough branches to meet the convenience level of their national competitors. But First Bank has more than 90 locations throughout North Carolina, from Kill Devil Hills in the east to Asheville in the west. Deep menu of financial services. The other misconception about your community banks is that they only offer very basic services. But in addition to checking and savings accounts, First Bank proudly offers personal and business loans, mortgages, investment options, credit cards and more. Cutting-edge tech tools. Where did this idea that only big banks can offer the latest in technology come from? First Bank customers enjoy digital banking from their home computers or wireless devices, remote and mobile check deposit, text message account alerts, and more. The Pros of Your Community Bank Now that we’ve debunked the most popular “negatives” of local banks, let’s examine the pros of community banks as listed in the article just to make sure First Bank accomplishes those as well. Trademark personal service. This is the backbone of First Bank. We take the time to get to know you personally, so we can cater to your every financial need. More checking options*. First Bank’s checking and savings accounts have ways of avoiding First Bank monthly maintenance fees by meeting certain requirements. As you can see, your community First Bank is small enough to capture all the advantages of local banks but capable of serving customers just like a big bank. Find your nearest community First Bank in North Carolina and experience the best of both worlds. __________________________________________________________________________ Account holders may avoid the Monthly Maintenance Fee by meeting any of the requirements listed in the Keep it Fee FreeTM section of the account summary table for their account type. Other account service fees may apply as described 2 min read
Image for tile. Money Mule Scams: How Criminals Convert Fraud into Profit What is a Money Mule? Money mules are individuals who unknowingly or knowingly assist criminals in laundering money, often by transferring illegally sourced funds between accounts or across borders. The source of the money comes from fraudulent scams or other illegal activities like drug trafficking. Criminals use their mule’s identity and layer the illegal transactions in an attempt to hide the illegal funds from law enforcement. Once properly hidden, the criminals are able to access their funds and cash out on their illegal activity. Common Money Mule Scams There are a number of ways that criminals will try to hide their money from law enforcement. Money mules are a form of money laundering, where criminals attempt to make their illegally sourced funds seem legitimate. Here are a few common ways people can unknowingly fall victim to money mule scams. 1- Deceptive Job Offers Money mule scammers will act as employers offering high-paying, remote positions. Common job titles could be payment processor, financial coordinator, or international fund liaison. While these job opportunities seem legitimate, their primary function is to receive and transfer illegal funds. The criminal will wire a large sum of funds to the mule, then instruct them to keep a percentage and transfer the remainder of the money to a different account or purchase a certain amount of cryptocurrency. The criminal hides behind their mule’s identity and is able to more easily access their funds. 2 – Romance Scams This type of mule scam exploits a victim’s emotions and trust. Scammers will find their victims on social media sites, dating sites or other online chat channels. They will deceive their victims with made up personas often using stolen photos and fake details. Over time, the scammer will attempt to build an emotional connection by sending affectionate messages or personal stories. Once they feel they have earned the victim’s trust, they will fabricate a story requiring financial assistance. These are oftentimes medical emergencies or travel issues that need quick funding into an account. Once the scammer has convinced their victim to oblige, they will continue to exploit their trust to launder their illegal funds. 3 – Lottery, Prize, and Investment Scams If something seems too good to be true – it probably is. These scams typically start via an unsolicited message or phone call informing you that you’ve won a prize. They instruct their victims to take a number of steps before they can claim their prize, and that is where the danger lies. These steps could include gathering your personal details, wiring a “prize tax” or fraudulent fee, accepting a large sum of money, and/or transferring a portion of the winning funds to another account. Similarly, investment scammers typically promise their mule victims “return” for their illegal money transfers – sometimes in the form of cryptocurrency or percentages of the money they wire. What are the Consequences? Large overdraft balances are most often the first consequence to the money mule. Once the criminal has access to their mule’s account, they typically push a large lump sum out of the account. This amount oftentimes will exceed the typical balance in the mule’s account, leaving them with a substantial negative balance to dig out from. Acting as a money mule is illegal, whether the crime is knowing or unknowingly committed. The punishment for these crimes include imprisonment and federal charges. Additionally, your identity and personal information could be stolen from the criminals involved in the money mule scheme. Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3): The IC3 is run by the FBI and accepts online internet crime complaints from the victim at www.ic3.gov How to Protect Yourself As with most methods of protecting yourself against fraud – remain cautious whenever someone requests your personal information or banking information. Only share those details with people or organizations that you trust. If you receive a job offer from an online business, do your due diligence to confirm they are a legitimate company. Additionally, a legitimate employer will not ask you to form a company or open a new bank account on their behalf. Always be cautious if anyone asks you to wire or transfer money on their behalf. Be weary if something seems too good to be true, like you’ve won an unsolicited prize or been chosen to participate in a giveaway. Scammers act on urgency. If someone is pressuring you to do something that you’re uncomfortable with, walk away. If you or someone you know is afraid they are involved in a money mule scheme, it’s not too late to stop.  Stop communicating with the person giving the directions. Tell your financial institution and consider changing accounts. Report suspicious communications or activity to law enforcement. The Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) is the Nation’s central hub for reporting cyber crime and run by the FBI.  Visit www.ic3.gov for resources and more information about how to file a report. Maintain receipts, contact information and communications (emails, text messages, voicemails) so that information can be passed to law enforcement, if needed.   5 min read
Close up of a For Rent sign in front of a house. Rent to Own: What the Buyer Should Consider If you're interested in buying a home but are unable to qualify for a mortgage, you might consider a rent-to-own situation. 3 min read
Checking Account Comparison – South Carolina With over 75 banks located in the state of South Carolina, checking account comparison can be overwhelming. If you live in South Carolina and are looking at opening a checking account, consider stopping in at First Bank. First Bank Checking Account Options First Bank aims to make the process of comparing checking accounts as easy as possible. That is why we offer five different checking accounts, ranging from basic accounts for individuals to specialized accounts for college students and senior citizens. Everywhere Checking Free online and mobile banking, free online bill pay, and free eStatements or paper statements.* Earn rewards when you use your eligible First Bank credit card*** Everywhere Plus Includes all the great features and benefits of Everywhere Checking Earn interest at a minimal balance requirement. Everywhere Premium Includes all the same benefits and features of Everywhere Plus Free member checks or 50% off other check designs 4 free official checks per statement cycle Unlimited out-of-network ATM transactions with no First Bank fee Campus Checking For students under 25 Includes all the benefits of Everywhere Checking No monthly maintenance fees Senior Checking Monthly direct deposit of $250 a month can qualify Seniors (55+) for no monthly maintenance fees**** Includes all the benefits of Everywhere Checking Free basic checks or 50% off other check designs You can also use the checking account comparison chart on our website to find the best checking account for you. Visit First Bank Today Call or visit the First Bank location nearest you. We can help with checking account comparisons and show you why First Bank is the best bank in South Carolina to open a checking account. *While First Bank does not charge for mobile banking, your mobile carrier’s message and data rates may apply. ***Loans subject to credit approval. See our Terms and Conditions for complete details on our One Rewards Program. MasterCard, Debit MasterCard and the MasterCard brand marks are trademarks of MasterCard International Incorporated. ****Direct deposit defined as external ACH credit. Transfers from other First Bank accounts or deposits made at a branch do not apply. ——— Sources: Investopedia: http://www.investopedia.com/terms/d/directdeposit.asp Investopedia: http://www.investopedia.com/terms/m/minimum-balance.asp 2 min read
First Bank logo
Powered by  GDPR Cookie Compliance
Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognizing you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website are the most popular and useful.