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If you’re considering building your dream home instead of purchasing an existing house, you’ll need financing. The whole thing can be confusing and more than a little intimidating. Do you need a mortgage? A personal loan? It’s hard to know where to start. What’s tricky is that you’re asking for financing for something that doesn’t actually exist yet. It requires something different than a traditional mortgage. Trying to find land, a builder, and all the other...

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Did you know… The average FICO score in America is 695 and the average Vantage score stands at 673. [source] Less than 1% of the population has a perfect credit score of 850. [source] Only 41% of Americans understand that a credit score measures your risk of not paying a loan, according to a joint survey from the Consumer Federation of America and VantageScore. Credit is important for pretty much all facets of adult life. Credit can be impacted by a number of different things....

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There are plenty of aspects of running a small business that are begging for your time and attention. When that’s the case, it’s important to do things as efficiently as possible—things that will make your life easier and make those things that are vying for your time a little more manageable. Besides convenience, there are plenty of benefits to online and digital banking. Here’s how online banking and digital banking services with Falcon National Bank can give you back precious...

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Did you know that there is more Monopoly money printed every year than actual cash? If only we could pay for things using Monopoly money! Unfortunately, we can’t just pass Go for another $200 and there is no such thing as Community Chest. Or is there? While your community bank isn’t going to give you $10 for winning 2nd prize in a beauty contest, there are some definite advantages to banking with a local, community bank. Here are some advantages you can expect to see when you bank with...

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The home buying market is hot right now. Summer is the perfect time to move, the economy is stable and buyer confidence is high. However, inventory is also a bit low and that means that houses are selling fast. If you are actively looking, you will want to be prepared to act quickly when you find that perfect property. That means having all your financing sources in-line. What’s the first step? Pre-qualification and pre-approval are two different terms used to describe the initial part of...

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It wasn’t all that long ago that phrases like “dead zone,” “no Wi-Fi,” and “airplane mode” didn’t cause inner panic and turmoil. Fortunately, or unfortunately depending on how you look at it, we now live in a very technology-driven world. One of the many ways technology has made our lives easier is with mobile banking. Don’t believe us? Here are 3 ways mobile banking has simplified a lot of life things, along with saved many a headache:   Insta-bank: As...

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Every business is susceptible to fraud, but small businesses are the most vulnerable. According to the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE), private companies and small businesses rank highest in occupational fraud which can total a median loss of $164,000. Cybercriminals continue to develop sophisticated means to commit fraud. Spoof emails, malicious software spread through attachments and social media, fund transferring, and information breaches are just a few ways to gain access to...

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Buying a home is right up there with some of the most impactful events in a person’s life. Unfortunately, many people become victims of mortgage scams and fraud.  Someone is always out there looking to make a quick buck. Criminals prey at a time you could be the most vulnerable. You’re distracted and excited about this next chapter of your life. The fact that you’re falling victim to a scam doesn’t even show up on your radar. Understanding mortgage fraud is critical to...

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Let’s face it, very few people actually take the time to balance a checkbook anymore. With online banking and eStatements, it’s easy to check to make sure you have enough in your account to cover your purchase without really taking the time to look at each withdrawal. You probably don’t take stock in what’s happening with your account until there’s a noticeable problem. Debit card fraud thrives in these situations, especially when the withdrawals are small amounts over...

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I think we can all agree it was a long winter. The beautiful weather outside can make it a challenge to keep employees focused on the job inside the office. Summer can be the toughest time to keep productivity high. While having fun is not always something we associate with work, our work can and should be enjoyable. Summer team building is a great way to boost morale and productivity.  Here are a few easy ideas to brighten up the office and your work days while getting the whole team involved: Company...

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