Personal Finances Articles

From personal finance to paying off debt, credit score insights, and more — you’ll find everyday financing basics here.

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Understanding how to manage your money is the first step to financial health. To help our communities, we’ve compiled articles with helpful tips for stretching your hard-earned dollars further. For a deeper dive on financial topics below, you can also check out our financial wellness courses.

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Best Bank for Checking Account – South Carolina With options like First Bank, you shouldn’t have to feel uncertain about whether or not you’re making the right choices with your hard earned cash. Make the switch to First Bank and you’ll see why we are the best bank for a checking account in South Carolina and North Carolina. Checking Account Options at First Bank First Bank wants you to be able to answer the question, “What is the best bank for a checking account in South Carolina?” with confidence. That is why we offer five checking account options for individuals who are looking to get the most out of their money and bank. Each of our checking accounts comes with free online and mobile banking,* online bill pay, and free eStatements or paper statements. Our individual checking account options include: Our basic Everywhere Checking account Our Everywhere Plus that has all the benefits of Everywhere Checking, plus the chance to accrue interest Our Everywhere Premium account that has all the basics of Everywhere Plus, plus additional complimentary services A Campus Checking account designed for college students A Senior Checking account specifically for seniors over 55 Visit a First Bank Today First Bank’s dedication to its customers doesn’t end with our checking accounts. We offer more personal banking options, such as savings accounts and credit cards, as well as banking business banking options, a variety of mortgage products, wealth management options, and insurance. Visit a First Bank location in South Carolina today. *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. Compatibility notice: The First Bank mobile app is not currently compatible with iOS7, the new operating system for iPhone, iPad® and iPod Touch®. We are aware of the issue and are working on an update to address it. We apologize for any inconvenience. ——— Sources: Investopedia: http://www.investopedia.com/terms/c/checkingaccount.asp Investopedia: http://www.investopedia.com/terms/i/interest.asp 2 min read

Mobile Check Deposits from Anywhere Before mobile phones and tablets, checks had to be cashed in person or by mail. Now, mobile check deposits allows you to deposit your checks from anywhere, so long as your mobile device has Internet or cellular service. Most banks provide mobile apps to make the process easier, and First Bank* is no exception. First Bank provides mobile check deposits** for businesses and individuals so that you can deposit a check from anywhere, safely and securely. How Mobile Check Deposits Work Mobile check deposit use digital technology to deposit money into your account. All you need is a smartphone or tablet with a good camera. Here’s how it works: Sign Checks and Find a Flat Surface Even with digital deposits, the back of a check needs to be signed by the account holder. For added security, you can also include a restricted endorsement, such as, “For Mobile Deposit Only” underneath your signature. Next, find a flat, well-lit surface. This will help you get the best possible image. Take Photos Using the App Using the secure camera within First Bank’s mobile banking app snap a picture of the front and back of the check. You’ll see prompts on the screen that will help guide you. Make sure to wait for the camera to focus before taking the picture so that numbers and letters are clear. Deposit multiple checks per day using your mobile app. At First Bank, individuals can deposit up to $5,000 in mobile checks in one day, and business accounts can deposit up to $10,000 per month*. Deposit Your Checks When you press deposit, the pictures of your checks are sent to our databases and reviewed. At First Bank, if you deposit your checks before 6 PM on a normal business day, your funds will appear in your account the next day (if approved). Check Your Email for Verification First Bank sends an email verification for all mobile check deposit transactions for your records. Get More with Mobile Banking First Bank offers comprehensive mobile banking** options for the modern consumer. Our app is available in both the iTunes and Google Play stores, and can be used to deposit checks, transfer funds, manage accounts, stop payments, and link to external 3 min read