Personal

Did you know that First Citizens Bank can help you with your holiday shopping? Are you in need of a perfect gift for someone on your Christmas list? Well, look no further than First Citizens! Here are three great reasons to purchase Mastercard® gift cards from us: Reason #1: They make great gifts and are available in a variety of designs (including holiday)! They can have a value in any amount from $10 up to $1,000!* It’s a gift you won’t have to worry about the recipient returning.

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Tags: Gift Card Advantages

This year the Thanksgiving holiday lands on November 28th (the very last Thursday in November). It is a day to be thankful for family, caring friends, and all the things in life that we are blessed to have. At First Citizens, we are thankful for all the wonderful friends, coworkers, customers, community members, and readers of this blog. Giving thanks is good because reflecting on and expressing thanks for the good things in your life can give you a happiness boost. But how do you get into the

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Tags: CULTIVATE GRATITUDE

If you’re a veteran who is thinking of purchasing a home or refinancing the home you have, you may want to consider a VA loan instead of conventional financing. This government loan program was created to help current and former U.S. military service members, active-duty personnel, reservists, and eligible surviving spouses become homeowners. There are some key benefits of a VA loan: In most cases, you can buy a home with no down payment. VA loans are one of the last zero-down home

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Tags: VA LOANS

November is Financial Aid Awareness Month! It’s time for those attending college during the 2020-2021 academic year to start thinking FAFSA. FAFSA is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. It’s the form to fill out (using 2018 tax and financial information) in order to apply for student grants, work-study, and loans. Here are 5 things you should know about financial aid this month: 1. Total College Costs You should be able to determine average costs for the upcoming

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Tags: FINANCIAL AID AWARENESS

Debit cards, debit cards, debit cards! A debit card can make everyday transactions very easy. First Citizens has a variety of debit cards to choose from: MasterCard® Debit Card, My Pic Photo Debit Card, or My Pic ID Debit Card. If you've never used a debit card before, or are thinking about getting one, here are our top five reasons why you should. No Need for Checks. Writing checks is time-consuming and is quickly becoming an antiquated payment method. Debit cards essentially do

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Tags: FIRST CITIZENS DEBIT CARD

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