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Am I Eligible for FEMA Relief? Here’s What You Need to Know Who Qualifies for Assistance? Federal disaster aid is available for residents and business owners in the following counties: Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Clay, Cleveland, Gaston, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Lincoln, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Transylvania, Watauga, Wilkes, and Yancey. Not sure if you’re eligible? You can verify your eligibility and apply directly on FEMA’s website: DisasterAssistance.gov. What Assistance Does FEMA Offer? FEMA provides a range of relief programs aimed at helping individuals and businesses recover from disasters. Here’s a closer look at what you may be eligible to receive: 1. Housing Assistance This aid helps you secure safe shelter while your home is being repaired or rebuilt. FEMA can provide funds for: Rental Assistance: Financial support to rent a temporary residence if your home is uninhabitable due to disaster-related damage. Lodging Expense Reimbursement: If you had to stay in a hotel or motel, FEMA can reimburse you for these expenses. This is especially helpful if you were unable to find immediate rental options. Home Repair or Replacement: Grants are available to help repair or replace your home and address disaster-specific damages, such as water damage or mold. FEMA may also cover hazard mitigation measures that reduce the risk of future damage. Accessibility Needs: If you or someone in your household has a disability, FEMA can provide funds to make your home accessible. This might include ramps, grab bars, and other necessary modifications, even if these were not originally present before the disaster. Privately-Owned Roads, Bridges, and Docks: If the only access to your home has been damaged, FEMA can help cover repair costs for private infrastructure like roads and bridges. 2. Other Needs Assistance This program helps with essential expenses and serious needs beyond housing. Covered expenses include: Serious Needs: Grants to cover immediate necessities like food, water, first aid, prescriptions, and personal hygiene items, ensuring you have access to essentials during recovery. Displacement: If your home is uninhabitable, FEMA can help cover the cost of staying with family, friends, or in a hotel while you search for a more permanent solution. Personal Property: Financial assistance to repair or replace items essential to daily life, such as appliances, furniture, and work or school-related items like computers and tools. This can also include uniforms, books, and equipment needed for self-employment. Medical and Dental Expenses: If the disaster caused injury or damaged medical or dental equipment, FEMA can help cover the costs for treatment, equipment replacement, and prescribed medications. Funeral Costs: In the unfortunate event that the disaster resulted in a loss of life, FEMA offers support to cover funeral or reburial expenses. Child Care: For families facing increased child care costs due to the disaster, FEMA can provide funds to help cover these additional expenses. Assistance for Miscellaneous Items: Reimbursement for items like generators, dehumidifiers, and chainsaws that were purchased or rented to aid in the recovery process. Transportation: If your vehicle was damaged and you don’t have an alternative mode of transportation, FEMA may help cover the repair or replacement costs to ensure you have a way to get to work, school, or other essential places. Moving and Storage Expenses: FEMA can help with costs associated with moving and storing personal property, especially if it needs to be relocated temporarily during home repairs or if you need to move to a new residence. Each of these programs is designed to provide immediate and practical support, so you can focus on the well-being of your family and community as you rebuild after the disaster. How Do I Apply for FEMA Assistance? Applying for FEMA relief is straightforward. Here are the steps to get started: Apply Online: Visit DisasterAssistance.gov to apply for assistance. You can also download the FEMA App or call FEMA’s toll-free number at 1-800-621-3362. Register for an Account: If you’re applying online, you’ll need to create an account on Login.gov. This will allow you to save your application, upload documents, and check your status. Prepare Your Information: You’ll need details like your home and mailing address, Social Security number, insurance info, and bank details for direct deposit. Submit Your Application: Once you’ve completed the application, review it, make any necessary changes, and submit it. Be sure to save your application ID as you’ll need it for future communication with FEMA. What Happens After You Apply? After applying, FEMA will review your application and may contact you for additional information or to schedule an inspection. You can always log into your account on DisasterAssistance.gov to check your application status and receive updates. If approved, FEMA will disburse funds via direct deposit or a mailed check, based on your preference. For more information or to begin the application process, visit DisasterAssistance.gov, call FEMA at 1-800-621-3362, or use the FEMA App. Recovering from Disaster with FEMA’s Support If you’re affected by Hurricane Helene, you don’t have to face it alone. FEMA offers a range of programs designed to help you get back on your feet. Take advantage of these resources to help ease the journey to recovery. 5 min read

Your Top 5 Tips for Effective Online Money Management Information on the Internet moves quickly. That’s why First Bank* offers streamlined online money management for individuals and small businesses throughout North Carolina and South Carolina. Accounts can easily be linked in our app, which is free to download in the Apple and Android stores.** Download our app today, or contact us to learn how you can benefit from our digital banking services. 5 Online Money Management Tips First Bank’s digital banking services provide tools for you manage your personal money, or your business finances, online. Whether you are already with First Bank, or you’re looking for an online money management solution, consider these tips to make online money management easier and more productive. Enroll in automatic bill pay. Most banks have this feature for online banking customers. Link your bills directly to your checking account to prevent late payments. Set up account alerts. Stay on top of financial issues that matter to you the most with the alert system. You can set up alerts to occur when a withdrawal happens, when you are close to an overdraft, or when a credit card payment is due. Alerts are deliverable via text or email. View statements online. Before digital banking, bank statements were mailed. For a busy account, a single month could amount to pages upon pages of transactions. Online money management allows you to access your statements without wasting paper. Also, you can use the search feature to easily find specific charges. Track spending patterns. With online money management, it’s easy to access your withdrawal history. Use that data to produce a graph or table that tracks your spending habits. By tracking your spending history, you can pinpoint ways to stay on budget. Quick, easy access to money. Easily transfer funds between accounts and view budgets and cash flow. Contact First Bank today and learn more about our digital banking suite of services, including mobile, text, and tablet banking, mobile check deposit, alerts, eStatements, and bill pay. **The First Bank Digital Banking Apps are available for select mobile and tablet devices. There is no charge from First Bank, but message and data rates may apply. Customers must enroll in First Bank Online Banking and download the First Bank Digital Banking App from 2 min read

Apply for a Personal Loan in South Carolina | First Bank If you’re looking for a personal loan in South Carolina, stop by your local First Bank. We offer highly competitive rates and flexible terms, allowing you to customize your loan based on your financial needs. Visit your local First Bank today to compare personal loan* options and find competitive rates. Tips to Apply for Personal Loan If you need to apply for a personal loan but don’t know where to start, follow these tips to help you secure the best option. Check Your Credit Score—Most lenders will require you to have a high credit score for loan qualification purposes. If your credit score isn’t high enough, consider getting a cosigner to help you qualify for the loan. Know What You Qualify For—Since applying for loans will decrease your credit score, apply only for loans you qualify for. Gather the Necessary Paperwork—Loan applications will require you to prove your annual income, monthly house payments, and employment status. Have these items on hand to simplify your loan application process. Find a Local Bank—Most local banks will give you great deals on personal loans, walk you through the loan application process, and customize the right loan for you. Personal Loan Options at First Bank First Bank offers a number of personal loans options: Personal Line of Credit—A personal line of credit allows you to borrow money instantly. In order to secure your personal line of credit, you may need qualified collateral to apply. HELOC—A home equity line of credit can give you the flexibility to consolidate debt, make a big purchase, or fund a home improvement project using the equity you’ve built up in your home. Vehicle loans—Get a competitive rate on a car or boat loan. For more information on personal loans, visit your local First Bank branch. Additional Loan Options at First Bank For other loan options, consider the following services offered by First Bank: Platinum Rewards Mastercard—No annual fee or charge for balance transfers, this card has everything you need to cover expenses, including the option to participate in a free rewards program. Business Loans—First Bank offers long-term business loans to help you expand your business, finance new equipment, or refinance debt. Construction and Mortgage Loans—Our construction loans provide businesses with 3 min read

What is an Unsecured Personal Loan? If you need help covering unexpected expenses, you may be asking the question, “What is an unsecured personal loan?” An unsecured personal loan is a loan given out without the involvement of any collateral. It is based solely on the trust that the borrower will pay back the money under the terms of the loan. Unsecured vs. Secured Personal Loans According to Investopedia: “A loan that is issued and supported only by the borrower’s creditworthiness, rather than by a type of collateral. An unsecured loan is one that is obtained without the use of property as collateral for the loan. Borrowers generally must have high credit ratings to be approved for an unsecured loan.” This is different from a secured loan, where an item of collateral such as a vehicle or piece of property is put down to secure the loan. If you fail to repay the loan, the lender takes the item of collateral. What do Unsecured Personal Loans Cover? Most personal loans are taken out for things like costly medical procedures, home renovations, and vehicle purchases. First Bank offers a personal credit line* that may or may not require any collateral. Typically, the better your credit history, the better your chances of qualifying for an unsecured personal loan. Because you’re not risking the loss of any collateral, unsecured personal loans typically come with higher interest rates than secured loans. Contact First Bank Today If you need an unsecured personal loan, seek out a First Bank location and speak to one of our friendly associates about getting the money you need. *Loans subject to credit approval. ——— Sources: Investopedia: http://www.investopedia.com/terms/u/unsecuredloan.asp#ixzz3sGyigwlj 2 min read

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