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Banking Basics

Congratulations!!! You’ve graduated college…what a huge accomplishment. There is so much for you to be proud of and, we are sure, lots of planning you must now consider. As you start this new chapter of your life, be sure to bring with you these 5 financial tips for college graduates:

READ MORE: Financial Tips for College Graduates

With the holidays just around the corner, there are many options available for where and how to spend your money. While shopping online offers convenience and variety, shopping locally offers SO much more!

READ MORE: Shopping Local for the Holidays

 This past year had a lot of ups and downs for many people – global pandemic, derechos, losing loved ones, losing jobs, the list goes on for many people. 

READ MORE: What is an Emergency Fund?

  Budgeting is a process for tracking, planning, and controlling income and expenses. It is a process that we begin soon after we get our first spending money. Analyze your current situation, determine your goals, and develop a written plan against which you'll measure your progress.

READ MORE: Budgeting

  According to Bankrate, almost 3 in 10 Americans have no savings set aside to cover emergency expenses. Teaching your child about money and helping them establish good savings and healthy spending habits is critical. Also, in doing so, you are setting them up for success later in life.

READ MORE: Raising Savvy Savers

 Our Mobile app has been upgraded! Much will look the same but you will also have the ability to put in your Clinton National Bank debit or credit card into the wallet. From here, you can control your card(s)!

READ MORE:  Love at First Login

Lending

 Consumers (that’s you) are allowed to review their credit report for free once a year at annualcreditreport.com. There is no fee to do this and it does not hurt your credit to pull it!

 READ MORE: Check Your Free Annual Credit Report

  For most people, part of “The American Dream” is OWNING your home. Sometimes people choose to extend that dream and BUILD their home.  This might sound like an overwhelming process! However, if you partner with your lender and contractor, building can be simpler than you think

READ MORE: Build Your Home

Many first-time home buyers are sure they can pay their NEW mortgage payment when applying for a home loan, but worry about HOW they will come up with the funds needed to secure their down payment as well as the closing costs

READ MORE: Down Payment Options

No one likes the thought of owing money. But as many business owners know, there's often no way around having debt. Here’s some ways you can reduce your debt for your business and pump up that bottom line.

READ MORE: Business Owners: Reduce Debt

Home Equity Loan or a Home Equity Line of Credit? Turn the equity you have in your home into a source for home improvements, bill consolidation, and more.

READ MORE: Home Equity Loan/Line of Credit

  Thinking of buying your first home but not sure where to start?! This is a great place!

READ MORE: First Time Home Buyer

  Credit is something that is not easily understood and it has a lasting effect on your financial situation.  By keeping your credit score high, you are more likely to receive lower interest rates on loans and credit cards. These lower interest rates correlate with more money in the bank because you are not having to pay as much in interest. More money means more savings which means more success.

READ MORE: Use Credit Wisely

Fraud & Cyber Security

 You only have so much time to address a charge and dispute it (if necessary) before you can no longer dispute it and you could be out that money.

READ MORE: Don't Ignore Those Suspicious Charges!

 Fraud/scams seem to be an all year-round fiasco these days. Scammers are now becoming more convincing by customizing their scam to certain times of the year, like tax season for example...

READ MORE: Recognizing Tax Scams 

 We live in a digital world, and most of us give little thought to data privacy …that is until AFTER our personal data has been compromised. Most of us rely on digital technologies, and being aware of what we share about ourselves, when and where we share it, and who we are sharing it with is all part of data privacy awareness.

READ MORE: 5 Tips for Safeguarding Personal Information

 The average person spends over 2 hours a day on social media.  This time does not go without some inherent risks!

Hackers are constantly on the prowl for information they can use in malicious attacks, whether it’s stealing your identity, hacking your information online, or getting you to download malware.

READ MORE: Social Media Sharing

Fraud attempts are on the rise with stimulus payments and tax refunds hitting accounts.  No one wants to be a victim of fraud.  Unfortunately, fraudsters are getting better and better at their game.  My go-to for staying safe?  STAR: Stop, Think, Act, Review.

READ MORE: Become a STAR Against Fraud

Retirement & Estate Planning

  Begin investing today! Whether you are starting your career or contemplating retirement in the next few years, it is important to make the most of your current earnings. That means paying yourself first. Set aside 2% to 10% or more of your gross salary. Here are a few ways to do that:

READ MORE: Saving for Retirement

 Wills- What, Who, When & how, learn it all here!

READ MORE: Wills

Investments

 Want to learn about investments?  Check out this glossary of investment terms for beginners.

READ MORE: Investment Glossary

 What is a 401(k) Plan? Many don't know, but you can learn all the basics here!

READ MORE: 401(k) Plans