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How a Business Credit Card Can Transform Cash Flow Management for Your Business Cash flow is the lifeblood of any business, and managing it effectively is crucial for long-term success. Whether you’re running a growing enterprise in Charleston or a small business in Raleigh, a business credit card can be a powerful tool to optimize your financial health. 6 min read

[First Bank Webinar] Banking on Business: Everyday Strategies for Running Your Business Event Details: Date: Tuesday, October 29 Time: 12-1 pm Location: Zoom Webinar What to Expect: Our First Bank experts will share tips and advice on running your business day-to-day in a dynamic roundtable format moderated by Joe Diggs, SBA Sales Leader. Topics covered include: Cash Management: Efficiently managing your cash flow and financial operations Preventing Fraud: Protecting your business from financial threats Access to Capital: Exploring the best ways to secure funding for growth Growth Strategies: Planning for long-term success Employee Engagement: Building a motivated and dedicated workforce Meet our First Bank Experts: Joe Diggs, SBA Sales Leader Jenna Williams, Director of Treasury Services Rob Patterson, Community Banking Executive Karen Smith, First@Work Business Development Officer Our knowledgeable panel will share their experiences and provide actionable insights, helping you make informed decisions for your business. Whether you’re looking to streamline operations, expand, or improve employee satisfaction, this webinar has something for everyone. How to Register: [Registration closed] Can’t Attend? We’ve Got You Covered We understand that not everyone may be able to attend due to scheduling conflicts or potential disruptions, especially with Hurricane Helene impacting parts of the Carolinas. If you’re unable to join the webinar live, whether due to internet access issues or other conflicts, don’t worry! We will be recording the session, and it will be available for you to view on our website. The recording will be posted shortly after the event, so you can still benefit from the expert insights and strategies discussed. Keep an eye on our website for updates, and feel free to reach out to your local branch for any specific questions you may have after viewing the recording. 2 min read

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A Complete Guide to Business Loans Owning a business comes with tremendous opportunity, but it also takes significant amounts of discipline, time, effort, and of course, money. Whether you are running a major corporation or starting a small business from the ground up, capital is vital for your growth and success. For this reason, many organizations seek business loans to obtain the financing they need. Loans in general are very common. Most people are familiar with personal loans, such as student loans, car loans, and mortgages. Business loans are actually quite similar, but they can certainly seem overwhelming at first glance. And while they are an effective tool to kickstart your business, there’s a bit more to them than that. But not to worry, we have you covered! Before applying for a business loan, it is critical to understand what they are, the standard terms and language used in business loans, what you’ll need to apply and qualify for a business loan, and the different types of business loans and their advantages. Some of this guide may seem straightforward, but at First Bank, we take pride in keeping you informed and in‑the‑know. Additionally, business loans can be hard to get, and the requirements can be strict. But that’s exactly what we’re here for — we want to help your business grow. Follow our step‑by‑step guide to prepare your business loan application and improve your odds of being approved. What This Guide Covers: What is a business loan? What are key terms to know regarding business loans? What factors do most lenders consider for business loan approval? What documents might you need to apply for a business loan? How can you improve your odds of being approved for a business loan? How does a typical business loan process work? What are the advantages of business loans? What are the different types of business loans? What Is a Business Loan? Business loans are used to finance a variety of business operations and expenses by borrowing money from a lender under specific terms and conditions. When a company needs financing or capital, it can turn to a bank or other financial institution for a business loan. Whether you’re starting, acquiring, or expanding a business, you won’t want to drain 28 min read

Where to Get Payroll Services If you are wondering where to get payroll services, consider First Bank. With First Bank’s payroll services, you can: Reduce expenses associated with paper-based payment systems like printing and storing of checks. Manage risks by reducing check fraud losses. Submit transaction information directly through our online banking system. Handle direct deposits into employee accounts without having to write checks. Payroll Services from First Bank If you want to cut business costs and start saving money, switching to a payroll service is a great way to begin. Payroll services enable you to maintain control of your funds until you need them, all while eliminating the need to buy paper excess paper or to hire a bookkeeper. With First Bank, you don’t have to wonder where to get payroll services anymore. Our Payroll Direct Deposit service can be used to disburse funds such as:* Direct deposit of payroll Expense reimbursement Royalty payments Vendor payments Our electronic disbursement payments give you control of your funds until the moment you need them to cover disbursements. You can also reduce the time and expense or writing, processing, and reconciling checks when you provide information electronically. If your company uses payroll, pensions, expense reimbursements, annuities, dividends, interest, or royalties and has vendors interested in electronic payments—First Bank’s payroll solutions might be a great solution for your business. Visit a branch near you for a free small business financial consultation or more information. *Subject to credit approval. ——— Sources: Business News Daily: http://www.businessnewsdaily.com/7477-choosing-payroll-service.html Investopedia: http://www.investopedia.com/terms/d/disbursement.asp 2 min read

Small Business Payroll Services If you’re like many small business owners, it’s likely that you wear many hats and are always on the go. From managing to accounting, there are multiple tasks you have to manage each day. Simplify your to-do list with payroll services for small businesses from First Bank. Outsourcing Your Payroll Services Many small businesses outsource services to compete with larger companies. Payroll services are one of the primary aspects of conducting business that new entrepreneurs outsource, and the benefits can add up. Instead of spending a significant amount of time providing management reports, calculating payroll, and preparing checks, owners and their employees can focus on the rest of their work priorities. The Houston Chronicle named its top 4 advantages of outsourcing payroll as part of your business’ financial management. “Accountability”—With constantly changing tax regulations, it’s almost inevitable that you’ll make an error in your calculations. Many payroll providers “offer services to file state and federal payroll taxes for your business.” This saves you time that might have been lost in calculating taxes and potentially refiling them later. “Tax Expertise”—The IRS states that “40 percent of small businesses pay penalties each year for late or incorrect filings and payments.” How can you avoid this? A tax guarantee. This is something that many payroll providers offer that may cover you financially if any penalties are incurred when taxes are filed. “Productivity”—This can’t be emphasized enough: outsourcing payroll services saves you time (a lot of it). Managing your own payroll system takes up a lot of your time and prevents you and your employees from pursuing “more important value-added and revenue-generating activities.” It can also save your employees a trip to the bank. “Financial Reporting”—Drafting and finalizing financial reports for your small business is also extremely time-consuming. Many outsource providers offer a variety of report services, including “summaries on earning statements, payroll by departments, timesheets, expenses,” and more. This helps you to keep detailed records of your business’ financial history. A Payroll Service Provider You Can Trust for Your Small Business When you’re outsourcing a service, particularly a financial one, it’s important for you to not only have confidence in that provider’s abilities but in its trustworthiness as well. As your community bank, we’ve 3 min read

Where to Get Mobile Payroll Solutions In today’s on-the-go world, you can do just about anything from a mobile phone, tablet or laptop. If you run a business in this tech-driven environment and have employees to pay, you might be wondering where to get mobile payroll solutions. First Bank has more than 100 locations in the Carolinas, but you don’t need to physically visit one to satisfy your payroll or banking needs. With free online and mobile banking for all of our business checking and savings accounts, First Bank is with you and your employees wherever you go. Mobile Banking Options First Bank provides customers with two easy ways to bank on the go. With a wireless web connection, just log into your account through our website to access your money 24 hours a day, making it easy to process your payroll during off-business hours. If you have an iPhone, iPod touch or Android device, just download our LocalFirstBank mobile app* and access your account with one touch of the screen. Mobile Payroll Benefits First Bank is the go-to place to get mobile payroll solutions. We offer a number of advantages associated with digital banking. By being able to make direct deposits from any location at any time, our business customers can: Cut Costs. Stop spending money on printed checks and postage and avoid fees associated with stop payments and reissues for lost or stolen checks. Improve timeliness. Nobody likes waiting for their paycheck and with our direct deposit service you can easily distribute checks to absent or off-site employees. Eliminate the time required to print, sign and mail checks. Reduce risk. Eliminate check fraud by eliminating checks altogether. Provide added convenience. Allow your employees to split their deposits between checking and savings accounts and reduce trips to the bank. Get Mobile Payroll Solutions with First Bank Learn more about why First Bank is where to get mobile payroll solutions and how you can even use payroll cards to make direct deposits to employees without bank accounts. *While First Bank does not charge for mobile banking, check with your mobile service provider for web access fees. iPhone®, and iPod Touch® are registered trademarks of Apple, Inc. Android™ is a trademark of Google Inc. ——— Sources: Investopedia: http://www.investopedia.com/terms/d/directdeposit.asp Investopedia: 2 min read

Get Maximum Flexibility With a Small Business Credit Card Many small business owners often find themselves managing their business operations, financials, customer service and more. First Bank wants to lessen your workload with a small business credit card to streamline your financials into one place. A small business credit card not only allows you to establish good credit in your business’ name, but it also provides you with maximum flexibility for your business’ expenses. This flexibility stems from the ability to continue charging up to your credit limit in cases of larger purchases, as long as you repay your monthly bill. Having a specific business credit card also separates expenses for your personal card from those for your business when monthly bills arrive. 9 Benefits of a First Bank Credit Card for Your Small Business At First Bank, we know flexibility is essential when it comes to running a small business so we made sure to create a small business credit card* that caters to the user’s financial freedom in a convenient and secure way. Let’s take a look at the benefits our First Bank Business World Elite credit card can provide you. No annual fees. Yes, you read that right. No annual fees, whatsoever. Earn rewards on your every day and monthly purchases. With our business credit card, you can earn 1.25 points for every $1 spent on a qualified purchase. Calculate your points total with our rewards calculator. Zero liability means you only pay for purchases you’ve authorized on your Mastercard® debit or credit card. Other security benefits include protection in cases of employee misuse of charge privileges and fraudulent online use of your card information. Extended warranties. Paying with your eligible Mastercard can double your manufacturer warranties up to one year. Get coverage for items purchased with an eligible Mastercard that protects you if an item is damaged or stolen within 90 days of the purchase date. Travel assistance. Traveling 50 miles or more? We’ve got you covered with numerous travel-related assistance services, including medical and legal referrals to help during an emergency. Rental insurance that can provide you with reimbursement for physical damage to or theft of a rental vehicle. Recover VAT (Value Added Taxes) expenses incurred by U.S. company employees during foreign business travel. Visit 3 min read

What Are Mobile Merchant Services? If you own a business, you know how essential technology is to making it run smoothly. You may have even asked the question, “What are mobile merchant services?” Read more to figure out what mobile merchant services are and how First Bank can help you use them. What Are Mobile Merchant Services? In today’s world, keeping up with changes in technology is important, especially when running a business. Payment methods have evolved throughout the years, from cash and checks to credit and debit cards. Now, the mobile platform is being heavily utilized. Your business should be positioned to accommodate this changing landscape. Mobile merchant services are when a bank handles mobile electronic payment processing for merchants. In other words, mobile merchant services allow you to accept electronic payments through your cell phone or other mobile devices. First Bank offers a variety of merchant services, including in-store and mobile credit card processing. Credit card processing is a convenient way to control your cash flow by ensuring timely, automatic deposits into your account. With First Bank’s in-store and mobile merchant services, you get: Competitive rates with no hidden fees Multiple authorization networks and transaction processing methods Experienced and dedicated sales staff support National processing capabilities Comprehensive 24-hour online reporting Automated in-house chargeback/retrieval processing system with 24-hour turnaround 24-hour in-house merchant help desk 48-hour merchant settlement (24-hour merchant settlement if going to a First Bank account) Easy application process Contact First Bank Today Since 1935, First Bank has been dedicated to helping local businesses get the most out of their money. To learn more or to sign up for a free demonstration of our card processing services, call or visit a local branch. ———- Sources: Investopedia: http://www.investopedia.com/terms/m/merchant-account.asp 2 min read

Enjoy Hassle-Free Online Payment Processing Businesses need a fast and dependable way to manage client payments, whether online, at the point-of-sale, with an integrated solution, or on wireless or mobile devices. First Bank provides online payment processing to make this easy for you, and ensure you’re able to manage your customer payments correctly and securely. Payment Processing for Hassle Free Finances First Bank’s online payment processing offers a pricing advantage while reducing the likelihood of fraud. Our payment services include credit card processing and transaction tools. Credit Card Processing This option is available in-store and on mobile and allows you to streamline cash flow. By choosing First Bank’s services, you’re able to take advantage of these benefits: Competitive rates with no hidden fees Multiple authorization networks and transaction processing methods National processing capabilities 24-hour in-house merchant help desk 48-hour merchant settlement (24-hour merchant settlement if going to a First Bank account) Want to take advantage of these many benefits and capabilities at your business? Online payment processing is highly secure and comes with detailed reporting at First Bank. We offer a broad range of payment processing solutions for in store and mobile retailers. Start accepting cards at your store today with a free demo or visit a local branch for more information. 2 min read

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Common Cash Management Questions First Bank’s customized cash management services provide start-to-finish techniques that can help your business enhance cash flow, improve accounts payable and find new ways to efficiently automate payments and profits. 3 min read

Cash Management for Your Business Money management is critical for any business. One of the people who helps make that happen is Wendy Hales, Senior Vice President of the Cash Management Division at First Bank. 2 min read

Top Cash Management Mistakes Cash is the lifeblood of every small business. If you want your to succeed, there are 10 common cash management mistakes you should avoid. 5 min read

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