Personal

Have you ever seen a customer hold their phone over a card reader to pay in a store and wondered what they were doing? Would you feel comfortable paying with a mobile device instead of with cash, a debit, or a credit card? In today’s world, there are more ways than ever to pay for goods and services. The option to use a digital wallet is becoming increasingly common. The concept can be confusing at first, but the technology can be helpful for busy daily life. Read on to gain an understanding

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Tags: DIGITAL WALLET

1. A bank's safe deposit box is a good place to store originals. Good candidates include originals of key documents, such as birth certificates, property deeds, car titles, and U.S. Savings Bonds that haven't been converted into electronic securities. Other possibilities include family keepsakes, valuable collections, pictures or videos of your home's contents for insurance purposes, and negatives for irreplaceable photos. (Another option may be to store digital images of important documents

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Tags: Best Places for Valuables

Summer is finally here! Many of you will be heading off on family vacations or other getaways. If you are traveling outside of your normal area and plan on using your First Citizens debit card, please let us know before you go. Stop in to the location nearest you or call 800-423-1602. If you don’t, we might think a thief (and not you) is making all those fun-filled vacation purchases and your debit card may get blocked.  At First Citizens, we use a fraud protection tool provided through

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Tags: Travel Debit Card Tips

It is not uncommon for people (especially singles and young couples who are just starting out with their careers) to have mixed feelings about purchasing a house. It is a big step and a huge financial responsibility. Owning a home can be a solid investment and you’ll want to make the right decisions. Here are 5 reasons to consider buying a home: 1. Interest rates are currently very low. The lower the interest rate, the less you actually pay on a monthly basis for your house and the sooner

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Tags: HOME LOANS

According to the calendar, March 20th is the official first day of spring. Hooray! It’s a good time to clean out closets, wash windows, and get rid of the clutter that has built up over the cold months. Spring is also an ideal time to tidy up your saving and spending habits. Here are 5 tips to help put your finances in order: Review your budget. A lot can change in a year. If you’ve been promoted, had a child, or become a new homeowner or renter, be sure to update your budget.

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Tags: PERSONAL FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT

Do you still receive your monthly bank statement via U.S. postal mail? Have you ever thought about switching to electronic statements to avoid the hassle of waiting for your statement to be delivered? Here are 5 reasons to consider signing up for eStatements: 1. Faster Delivery. Your statement will be accessible for viewing as soon as it is ready. You will receive an email notifying you when your monthly statement is available for viewing in Online Banking. 2. Increased Security. Unlike paper

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Tags: ELECTRONIC STATEMENTS

Now is the time to line up that construction loan, mortgage loan or, maybe you just want to remodel your home and need a line of credit or home equity loan. The place to start for any of those is First Citizens Bank! Construction Loans. While some people search for their dream home among a pool of houses already built, others prefer to customize them by building on a specific plot of land. If building your dream home appeals to you, you may want to consider a home construction loan that’s

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Tags: HOME LOANS

A credit card may seem like just another tool to help you make purchases, but it can be much more. When used responsibly, a credit card can help you build a good credit history. This could allow you to get loans at favorable interest rates, insurance with lower premiums, or better pricing with a cellular plan. The use of a credit card is directly connected to your credit score, the report card for borrowers. The responsible way you handle your credit card is recorded in your credit history for

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First Citizens Bank is committed to bringing you the most up-to-date products and services. As we dive into the new year, this is a perfect time to take control of your finances and set some savings and budgeting goals for 2019. Do you really know how much you spend on gas, groceries, shopping and eating out each month? Have all that information and more right at your fingertips with Money Management located within Online Banking!   Money Management is FREE and allows you to see all your accounts,

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Tags: MONEY MANAGEMENT

Discouraged about not having enough money for your holiday season expenses? This most wonderful time of the year can put a strain on anyone’s wallet. Take the pressure off next year’s holiday season by setting money aside early with a Christmas Club account.  Here are 5 great features about this interest earning savings account:* There is no minimum opening deposit. There are no service fees! Deposits can be made in any amount at any time. Interest is calculated on

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