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Personal Finance 101 Articles

Gain a better understanding of financial basics so you can manage your money with confidence.

Learn About Personal Finance Basics

Use the articles below for tips on budgeting, saving, investing basics, paying off debt, and understanding your credit.

All Budgeting and Goals Credit: Score and More Family Finances Fending Off Fraud Invest, Invest, Invest Paying Off Debt Personal Finance 101 Homeownership Retirement Filing Your Taxes Student Loans For Teens
Infographic header financial wellness journey It’s Never Too Late to Start Your Financial Journey A little financial education can go a long way to help your employees manage their money and plan for the future. This infographic below, lays out some startling facts about why now is the time to boost financial savvy. 1 min read
Man holding baby smiling at camera Are You a Financial Wellness Wiz? Take our quick quiz to find out! Create your own user feedback survey If you got: 1-2 points: Good start! We’re here to talk you through the basics and to help you plan for the future. Also be sure to check out our free financial basics course. 3-4 points: Well done! You’ve got the basics down; but if you need help planning for a big purchase or life event, we can help. Start with our free course: Major Life Events. 5 points: Look at you go! Capitalize on all that great financial savvy with the right mix of tools and products you need for your plans. No matter your score, we’re committed to helping you achieve your dreams (big and small!). Visit your local branch today, or give us a call. Let’s start something amazing together. 2 min read
Image for tile. Happy National Financial Literacy Month! April, like any month of the year, is the perfect time to take a look at your spending habits and build better behaviors to hit your long-term savings goals. But what makes this month especially ideal is that it’s National Financial Literacy Month! 1 min read
Row of cars in a car sales lot Buying Your First New Car: What to Know It’s a moment to savor: getting your first vehicle, enjoying the new-car smell, taking pride in ownership. Here are some things to consider before you sign on the dotted line. 3 min read
Image for tile. Where Your Locally Spent Dollar Goes [Infographic] An illustrated look at what happens when you spend a dollar or two in your hometown. 1 min read
Phone with First Bank mobile app on table with coffee Is Mobile Banking Safe? Americans love their smart phones. The reasons for their adoration are seemingly endless. They Facebook. They text. They Google. They listen to music and watch movies. They take photos and video. They GPS their way to new destinations. And increasingly, they bank. First Bank has offered customers a mobile banking app since 2008, and in the recent years added increasingly popular features such as mobile check deposit, a P2P services, and financial management and budgeting tools. Unlike larger regional and national banks, who are constantly adding “shiny” new app features in an effort to draw new customers, smaller community banks like First Bank wait until the technology is more proven. It doesn’t take much longer, but our goal is to maintain a top level of security and a good customer experience. Consumers who are new to mobile banking might not realize that banking through an app is more secure than through a web browser, says Cary Whaley, vice president of payments and technology policy at the Washington-based Independent Community Bankers of America. The vast majority of fraud involves credit/debit cards and checks, rather than from mobile apps, Whaley said. With a mobile app, the bank knows with whom it’s dealing. The app typically cannot be accessed without a password or challenge question, and now, with biometrics such as a fingerprint and FaceID. “That’s pretty powerful security,” Whaley said. “We would call that 2-factor authentication.” Ready to get started with mobile banking? Download the app today. 2 min read
Question marks on a red background. Top Questions We Get From You, Our Customers We love seeing our customers in person, and we’ve compiled a list of some of the most common questions our customers bring to our experienced tellers and customer service representatives. 4 min read
Table of different Thanksgiving food Give Thanks for These 5 Thanksgiving Savings Tips Thanksgiving is in just a few weeks, but it’s not too early to start shopping for the best deals on food, decorations, and beverages. If you’re hosting a house full of friends and family, you don’t have to spend a fortune to enjoy the holiday. 2 min read
Image for tile. 5 Tips for Safely Managing Your Finances Online Online banking is not completely without risk. Here are a few simple tips to help you safely manage your finances online. 2 min read

Explore Courses to Grow Your Personal Finances

Illustration of a piggy bank and smart phone. Starting Out Take smarter first steps into personal banking. 5 Topics
Illustration of piggybank and charts. Smart Savings Create a plan for reaching your financial goals. 4 Topics
Illustration of clipboard with charts, a credit card, and a calculator. Family Financial Planning Bring the family together to talk about a financial plan. 7 Topics
Illustration of buildings and houses. Financial Caregiving Learn what you should know about handling another person’s finances. 6 Topics
Illustration of a piggy bank with an umbrella above it. Building Financial Resilience Learn how to bounce back from financial setbacks. 11 Topics
Illustration of shopping bags and charts. Smart Investing Explore how you participate in the economy and the global market. 5 Topics
Illustration of car and house. Major Life Events Big life events don’t have to mean big financial headaches. 13 Topics
Illustration of charts, a car, and calculators. Smart Budgeting Create a financial plan for an awesome roadtrip! 5 Topics
First Bank personal credit card with rewards attached to a clipboard. Get rewarded for qualified everyday purchases View Credit Cards
Smartphones showing First Bank MyMoney financial charts. Discover the joy of financial clarity with MyMoney View Features
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