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Looking for ways to protect your identity? Two options to consider are fraud alerts and credit freezes. But what’s the difference? A fraud alert makes companies verify your identity before granting new credit in your name. Usually, that means calling you to check if you’re really trying to open a new account. Placing a fraud alert is easy – you contact any one of the three nationwide credit reporting agencies (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion) and that one must notify the other...

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When it comes to creating your budget for the year, a vacation allowance is not typically considered an important expense. But maybe it should be, especially if you have little ones in your household. Planning and saving for a vacation is a great way not only to create life-long memories but also give your children the tools to learn how to create a budget and instill saving at a young age. Where do you start? The most important lesson you can teach your children is conceptualizing money and...

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Last year, the ‘ghost’ tax preparer scam was the newest attempt to hoodwink taxpayers into paying con-artists instead of the IRS. When tax season approaches, most individuals are looking to bring home their tax return. Sometimes, we get overzealous and turn a blind eye to scams hoping that they’ll increase the size of our refund. To make sure you don’t fall victim to a tax scam this year, here are some easy tips: Keep yourself educated Knowing exactly how scammers are...

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It’s 2020, so this should be the year that provides clarity for you to look at your personal finances with an eagle eye. Be honest with yourself, did the holidays cause you to go into debt? Because it’s a new start to the year, we want you to start the year strong and achieve financial stability before next December. Untangle yourself from all the debt you’ve accumulated over the years with these simple tips: Cut up your credit cards immediately The fourth biggest cause of...

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Starting your own business is a huge personal feat. It’s not until months or maybe years later when you realize how wrapped up your business and personal finances have become. Not only is it important to have separate business and personal bank accounts, but it’s also important to have a line of credit devoted specifically to business expenses.  Most individuals assume they should open a business credit card, when in reality, a business line of credit is a better option for them. Establishing...

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Holiday season is quickly approaching, which means that your pocketbook is going to feel strained these next couple of months. In fact, financial experts anticipate that holidays sales, purchases made between November 1 until December 31, will rise this year to more than $730 billion. This is nearly a $3 billion increase from the year before, according to the National Retail Federation. With a large percentage of your earnings being spent on family dinners and gifts for loved ones, it’s important...

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Loans through the Small Business Administration (SBA) offer flexible and competitive financing to help you launch, manage, and grow your business. Businesses can utilize loans for major fixed assets, payment of operating expenses, equipment purchases, and more.  In short: you get the funds you need from your local nationwide bank with benefits like long-term, fixed-rate financing, and lower (and more predictable) monthly payments. So, how do you get approved for an SBA loan?...

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As we think about Halloween costumes and trick-or-treaters, Falcon National Bank is focusing on the “treats” that set community banks apart and keep customers coming back for more. Here are a few reasons we stand out in the community: Personal Service When you bank locally, you get a sense that you are a part of a family. We know you by name and can offer more personalization in the services we offer. Community banks traditionally have lower rates of turnover, which means you are...

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Credit is important for pretty much all facets of adult life. Credit can be impacted by a number of different things. If you’ve been turned down for credit or you’re looking to buy a house, credit is pretty important. It could be that you just don’t have enough of it or maybe you made some poor financial decisions. Poor credit can be embarrassing, stressful, and expensive. In fact, poor credit can actually cost you hundreds of thousands of dollars in interest over time on a mortgage....

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These days it’s rare to see someone without a smartphone in their hand. In fact, there’s a good chance you’re reading this from a smartphone! The truth is, 2.7 billion people around the globe are smartphone users. [source] There aren’t many things a person can’t accomplish with a smartphone and that includes their banking. Mobile banking continues to grow and evolve as technology does the same, but there are some features that are awesome regardless of how much the...

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