What is Personal Finance?

Are you ready to get a handle on your finances and prepare for your future? The first step is understanding personal finance.

According to Investopedia, “Personal finance defines all financial decisions and activities of an individual or household, including budgeting, insurance, mortgage planning, savings and retirement planning.” Understanding these terms can help you better control your funds and prepare for future financial success.

Important Personal Finance Terms

Budgeting — Establishing a budget is an important part of managing your personal finances. A budget helps you keep track of your spending patterns and plan how you are going to spend your income each month. Start by calculating your total monthly income, then use MyMoney to track all of your expenses each month. This will help you see where your money is going, where you can save and where you can spend a little extra each month.

Insurance — Purchasing insurance is another large part of managing your personal finances. According to Investopedia, by purchasing insurance — like health insurance, life insurance and car insurance and homeowner’s insurance — you are protecting yourself from risk and ensuring the security of your material standing.

Savings — Whether you’re in your 20s and just starting to learn about personal finances, or are in your 30s and looking to better manage your funds, one thing is certain, you should be saving for the future. It is important to establish an emergency savings fund to cover any financial hardships and a retirement savings plan to help you in the future.

Articles on Personal Finance

For more information on personal finances, check out these articles from First Bank’s Financial Education Center:

Source:

Investopedia: http://www.investopedia.com/terms/p/personalfinance.asp#ixzz40uIYOSwU

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Calculate Your Monthly Mortgage Loan Payment (with Taxes and Insurance) A mortgage loan calculator with taxes and insurance can help prospective homeowners prepare for the financial responsibility of owning a home. Purchasing a home may be one of the biggest decisions you ever make, so it is important to know how much your mortgage payment will be each month after taxes and insurance are added, so you can know how much house you can afford. How Much House Can I Afford? First Bank* provides a mortgage loan calculator with taxes and insurance for potential homebuyers who want to estimate their monthly payments before applying for a loan. Before you use the calculator, you will need to gather the following information: Loan term in years Purchase price Percentage down Interest rate Annual tax Annual insurance Once you have all of the necessary information, you can click here to calculate your potential monthly mortgage payment.** Applying for a Home Loan Now that you’ve calculated how much house you can afford, you may be ready to apply for a mortgage loan. You can get the homebuying process started by visiting First Bank’s online Mortgage Center. Our Mortgage Center provides you with tools, tips, and tricks to help you find a loan that meets all of your needs. Whether you are a first-time home buyer or ready to build your vacation home, we can structure a loan to meet your needs. First Bank offers a variety of home loan options*** with competitive interest rates, including : Conventional loans Government loans Professional loans Jumbo loans Construction loans Dream It, Own It loans The path to quickly finding an affordable home loan starts at First Bank. When you’re ready to apply, all you have to do is start an online application or visit your local branch to speak with one of our home loan experts. *Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender. NMLS #474504. **Determining exact rates and payments can be a complex process. Your exact rates and payment amounts will depend on a number of factors including geographical location and personal financial information. This tool provides you with an estimate of payments based on the information you put in but does not guarantee them. Loans are subject to credit and collateral approval. ***Loans subject to credit approval. 2 min read

Banks With Hassle-Free Checking Accounts If you’re like most people, you probably want a checking account with all the perks but none of the stress. First Bank has more than 100 locations throughout North Carolina and South Carolina that offer banks with hassle-free checking accounts. Checking Accounts at First Bank Here’s a breakdown of First Bank’s five personal checking accounts and what makes them hassle-free: Everywhere Checking What it is: A no-frills account to give you exactly what you need and nothing you don’t. How it’s hassle-free: Maintain either a $600 minimum balance, a $1,200 average monthly balance or make a monthly direct deposit of any amount.* Everywhere Plus What it is: A simple checking account that accumulates interest. How it’s hassle-free: Keep a $1,200 balance or an average monthly balance of $2,400.* Everywhere Premium What it is: An upper-tier account that earns interest and features additional perks. How it’s hassle-free: Maintain either a $5,000 minimum balance, an average monthly balance of $10,000 or maintain $20,000 in personal deposits or outstanding personal loans or HELOC balances.* Campus Checking What it is: A checking account for college students or those about to go to college. How it’s hassle-free: No monthly maintenance fees or minimum balance requirement as long as the customer is under the age of 25. Senior Checking What it is: Checking account for individuals over the age of 55. How it’s hassle-free: Keep a $600 minimum or $1,200 average balance or make a direct deposit of $250 or more.* With our hassle-free checking accounts, you get online and mobile banking, paper or eStatements, online bill pay, and debit cards. You also gain access to account alerts so you can stay on top of your activity. Visit a First Bank Today Find a First Bank with hassle-free checking accounts nearest you and lose the stress today. Account holders may avoid the Monthly Maintenance Fee by meeting any of the requirements listed in the Keep if Fee Free™ section of the account summary table for their account type. Other account service fees may apply as described in the Account Services Fee Schedule, also available at your local branch. Direct deposit defined as external ACH credit. Transfers from other First Bank accounts or deposits made at a 3 min read

Education Savings Account – North Carolina College is expensive. The cost of tuition, housing, books, food, and transportation starts to add up. The cost of going to college has gone up by over 400% since the 1970s. The average college student’s debt is $37,172. Don’t get bogged down with student or parent loans. In North Carolina, a First Bank education savings account can help you save for college. Start A Savings Account for Education at First Bank in North Carolina North Carolina is home to some of the best universities in the country, like N.C. State, UNC Chapel Hill, Duke, Elon, Eastern Carolina University, and Wake Forest. You shouldn’t have to miss out on the great education North Carolina has to offer because of the high costs. First Bank understands the importance of education. Our education savings accounts can help you prepare for your future and achieve your career goals. Everywhere Savings – Our Everywhere Savings account is a great option for anyone who wants to start saving for college. MyFirst Savings – It is never too early to start saving for your education. First Bank customers under 18 years of age can open a MyFirst Savings account with only a $10 initial deposit. Money Market – First Bank’s Money Market account is a good option for parents or young adults who can put down a little more money to deposit. CDs – A certificate of deposit may be a good option for parents or students who do not need immediate access to their funds. CDs usually earn interest at a higher rate, and are FDIC-insured.* All of our accounts come with free online and mobile banking services.** First Bank makes it easy for you to manage your account from virtually anywhere. Contact or visit your local First Bank to speak with one of our experts about the best education savings account option for you. With over 80 locations in North Carolina, it is easy to find a First Bank near you. *CDs are subject to penalty for early withdrawals prior to maturity date. Penalty will reduce earnings. Investment and Insurance Products are NOT Bank Deposits, NOT FDIC-Insured, HAVE NO Bank Guarantee, NOT Insured by any Federal Government Agency, May Go Down in Value. **While First 3 min read

Community Banks Near Me Where can I find banks near me? When it comes to banking, customers want banks nearby that are part of the communities where they live, work and play. First Bank is rooted in a community focus that dates back to the days of the Great Depression when we helped farmers and local businesses make every dollar count. Our core values have not changed in the eight decades since we opened our doors. First Bank remains a community bank that’s committed to helping communities prosper and thrive. First Bank: Your Community Bank We began as a community bank in 1935 with only one location but now we have more than 100 branches in North Carolina and South Carolina, mountains to coast. First Bank is the best of both worlds when it comes to community banks: small enough to serve our communities on a personal level but large enough to fully manage any financial needs. Services Offered by First Bank Here are just some of the amenities offered by First Bank: 5 different types of personal checking accounts and 5 types of business accounts 6 levels of personal savings accounts and certificate deposits (CDs) and 3 options for business savings Credit cards and debit cards for both personal and business use Loans for personal, business and home equity Adjustable, fixed-rate, and non-conforming mortgage loans FHA, rural housing and VA loans Professional and construction loans Free financial wellness programs for your employees Wealth management services including mutual funds, stocks and bonds, annuities, 401(k) and IRA’s, life insurance and more Personal and business insurance First Bank utilizes modern technology to stay close to our customers at any time from any location. We offer 24-hour banking via our online and mobile banking. Our accessibility is one of the many reasons why we are one of the best community banks near you. Visit a Local Branch Near You First Bank has many locations in North Carolina and South Carolina. Use our location finder to see a branch near you. Investment and Insurance Products are NOT Bank Deposits, NOT FDIC-Insured, HAVE NO Bank Guarantee, NOT Insured by any Federal Government Agency, May Go Down in Value. ——— Sources: FDIC: https://www.fdic.gov/regulations/resources/cbi/report/cbsi-1.pdf 2 min read

What is Personal Finance?

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Important Personal Finance Terms

Articles on Personal Finance

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