Personal

In the age of cloud storage and digital recordkeeping, a safe deposit box may seem like a relic from another era. However, some items such as property deeds, original birth certificates, or family heirlooms are difficult or expensive to replace. Storing them in a safe deposit box will keep them safe and secure. Here are 5 things to think about before placing your items inside a safe deposit box. Safe Deposit Boxes are not insured. Unlike money in your bank deposit account, the contents of

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Tags: SAFE DEPOSIT BOX

Tax time doesn’t have to be stressful! First Citizens has teamed up with TurboTax® and offers exclusive TurboTax access, right inside your online banking page! Simply login to your First Citizens Online Banking and look for the TurboTax ad or go to “My TurboTax” in the top ribbon. Your First Citizens Bank account data can be uploaded securely into your tax return to help ensure accuracy and save time.   When you use TurboTax year after year, your

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Tags: TAX TIME, TURBOTAX

Your computer. It's always there when you need it and is an integral part of daily life. Most of us don't realize how important our computers are until something happens and we have to live without them. There's a special time of the year to remind us about the importance of our computers and taking care of them — National Clean Up Your Computer Month! Who knew there was such a thing right? But when you stop and think for a moment, it makes sense. January is the start of a new

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Tags: COMPUTER MAINTENANCE, NATIONAL CLEAN UP YOUR COMPUTER MONTH

It's crucial for your family to know the basics of financial literacy, but how do you approach teaching them? Luckily, you're making financial decisions every day—you simply need to let your kids in on the conversation. What is Financial Literacy? Financial literacy includes many different financial skills and concepts; to be financially literate simply means having the know-how to make wise decisions with your personal finances. Financial literacy includes any topic that touches

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Tags: Financial Literacy

An Individual Retirement Account (IRA) is a tax-deferred, personal retirement plan. You must have earned income to contribute, and you can put money into an IRA whether or not you participate in an employer’s retirement plan. This blog article focuses on two types: the traditional IRAs, to which contributions may be deductible or nondeductible, and the Roth IRA. All traditional IRAs are tax deferred. This means you owe no tax on your earnings until you withdraw.

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Tags: IRA, ROTH IRA, TRADITIONAL IRA

Financial literacy is very important to us at First Citizens Bank. That is why we have partnered with Banzai, an innovative online program, to offer FREE hands-on financial learning! We believe there is something in this program that everyone can learn. Banzai provides personal financial education courses that include pre-tests and post-tests. Banzai Courses use real-life scenarios to demonstrate the power of good financial planning. The modules are self-paced, fun, interactive, and age-appropriate*.

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Tags: FINANCIAL EDUCATION

With rising costs each year, being prepared for medical expenses is nothing to sneeze at. It’s well worth exploring your health insurance options. A health savings account (HSA) can be a valuable tool to help you manage your health care costs and plan for your future. HSA’s were created so that individuals covered by high deductible health plans could receive tax-preferred treatment for the money they save for medical expenses.* These eligibility requirements include: The account

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Tags: HEALTH SAVINGS ACCOUNT, HSA, PERSONAL FINANCES, RETIREMENT

In today’s busy world, the ability to do things online is priceless. That includes banking. Opening a brand new bank account online with First Citizens is quick. It takes around 10 minutes — much faster than visiting one of our physical branch locations in person. From our website, we make applying for a bank account engaging, intuitive, and as hassle-free as possible. Before we get into all of that though, you need to meet the following eligibility requirements: Be a US resident

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Tags: ONLINE ACCOUNT OPENING, OPEN CD ACCOUNT ONLINE, OPEN CHECKING ACCOUNT ONLINE, OPEN SAVINGS ACCOUNT ONLINE

Humans are fallible—sometimes we just need guidelines. If you struggle making sense of a sea of budgeting systems and apps, consider the 50/30/20 rule. The 50/30/20 rule states that your after-tax income should be roughly divided three ways: 50% to needs 30% to wants 20% to long-term savings The 50/30/20 rule is not gospel and it's not a law. It's a guard rail around your spending and savings decisions. Here's a tool to help you see how much of your monthly income

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Tags: 50/30/20 RULE, BUDGETING, SAVINGS

Did you know that you can take control of your finances by using a First Citizens debit card? It’s true! Having a debit card eliminates the "Do I have enough cash with me?" worry and so much more. With a debit card, you can enjoy the following features and benefits: Contactless Payments/Digital Wallet No need for germy cash! Simply use your FC debit card from your digital wallet that is located on your smartphone, smartwatch, or tablet.   Purchase Rewards Earns rewards

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Tags: BUSINESS DEBIT CARD, DEBIT CARD