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Creating a Competitive Employee Benefits Plan Employee benefits plans are an important part of any business owner’s company structure. Part of attracting and retaining talented employees is offering them a competitive benefits package. Some benefits are required by law, while others can be offered simply to boost your company’s appeal. Creating a competitive benefits package is about finding the balance between what is required, what you can afford and what will make your employees happy. Employee Benefits Requirements and Extras The law requires that employers provide their employees with certain benefits, including: Social Security taxes Unemployment insurance Workers compensation Disability insurance Leave benefits (required by the Family and Medical Leave Act) Optional employee benefits and incentives include health insurance plans, retirement plans and pensions, flex time, free financial wellness programs, and corporate memberships. However, most companies offer at least a few of these benefits given that many job seekers feel that they must have them in order to apply for a job. To create an employee benefits plan that works well for your company and your employees, start by including all of the benefits required by law, then add from there. Most employees feel that they must at least have health insurance, and many others desire a retirement plan, disability insurance, and more. Add in the benefits that have become standard in most companies, such as health and life insurance, and consider adding other benefits based on your budget. It may also be beneficial to survey your employees about what benefits they desire, or you may try to find out what benefits your competitors offer. *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: SBA: https://www.sba.gov/content/required-employee-benefits 2 min read

Need Online Payroll Services Nearby? Trust Your Local First Bank Going green isn’t only good for the environment. If you’re a business owner, turning your business into an eco-friendly venture could help you save money and attract more customers. By cutting costs in certain areas, you can spend more money focusing on things like marketing and employee growth, or just make more of a profit. Customers also love to support green businesses, and it could help your reputation to show that you care about more than your own personal success. If you own a business and want to make it more environmentally friendly, switching to online payroll services is a good place to start. Eliminating paper checks and the need for a bookkeeper can help you cut down on paper costs and save a few trees in the process. If you are ready to make the switch, you may be looking for online payroll services near you. Look no further than First Bank. We offer a variety of online payroll services sure to meet the needs of you and your business. Reduce Your Business’ Carbon Footprint With Top Payroll Companies Near You End your search for online payroll services near you at First Bank. We offer a Payroll Direct Deposit service, as well as Everywhere Electronic Payments that enable you to cut costs and reduce your carbon footprint. With First Bank’s Payroll Direct Deposit services you won’t have to play your employees by check. You will be able to deposit pay directly into their checking or savings accounts. You can also use Direct Deposit to expense reimbursements, pension payments, dividends, and other disbursements. Everywhere Electronic Payments give control of your funds until the exact moment you need them. Electronic payments can also be used to disburse funds like direct deposit of payroll, expense reimbursement, royalty payments, or vendor payments. When you provide information electronically, you will reduce the time and expense of writing, processing, and reconciling checks. Lessen your impact on the environment by visiting a First Bank branch today. We have nearly 100 locations in North Carolina and South Carolina, making it easy to find online payroll services near you. ——— Sources: USA.gov: http://www.usa.gov/topics/environment-agriculture/going-green-tips.shtml 2 min read

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Top Five Reasons to Offer Employees First@Work Did you know that 78% of Americans live paycheck to paycheck? And only 40% of Americans have sufficient savings to cover a financial emergency of $1000 or more? Imagine the stress that money issues like those might cause, and what that stress can do to employee productivity. According to a study by the American Institute of Stress of over 800,000 workers in over 300 companies, the number of employees calling in sick tripled in a four-year period and an estimated 1 million workers are absent every day due to stress. It doesn’t have to be that way. In order to help alleviate some of that stress, First Bank offers businesses a financial wellness program called First@Work. This program provides them with education and an exclusive suite of products, discounts, and unique services. The top 5 reasons you should offer your employees a First@Work account: It costs you nothing, and you can include it in your list of benefits for your employees. A Focus on Financial Wellness that includes: Online Courses: Free online courses empower employees with the knowledge they need to make smart financial choices. In-Person Seminars: Live workplace workshops inform and educate your team at your location. MyMoney tool: Free personal financial management tool helps employees manage their money in real time. It includes no hassle checking and savings accounts: No fee checking with direct deposit1 No fee savings with monthly $10 auto transfer No First Bank fees at out-of-network ATM and other bank fee rebates up to $15.00 per month 1 free overdraft per year Digital banking and mobile banking app with check deposit World-Class Protection IDProtect® – Identity Theft Monitoring and Resolution service2 that includes: Credit file monitoring3 Up to $10,000 ID theft expense reimbursement4 And more! Cell phone protection4 Convenience More than 100 branch locations across the Carolinas No First Bank fees at out-of-network ATMs plus with our ATM fee rebates we will refund up to $15/month of fees charged by other ATM owners5 Free digital banking and free mobile app with check deposit and Zelle®6 Ready to Get Started? Sign up for a free consultation or visit your local First Bank branch! Avoid the $20 monthly maintenance fee by receiving a direct deposit of 4 min read

6 Ways to Boost Morale (and Your Bottom Line) in the Office If you want to keep your productivity high and your turnover low, you need to keep your team happy. 5 min read

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