Every year on August 14, National Financial Awareness Day encourages individuals to take control of their financial well-being. It’s a day to reflect, reset, and make informed choices that help you reach your money goals whether that means finally starting a budget, reviewing your credit, or simply checking your bank accounts more often. No matter where you are on your financial journey, here are five practical, meaningful ways to boost your financial awareness today and set yourself up
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How does a phone call look like it’s coming from the bank, when in reality, it’s not? Scammers commonly use software, both free and paid, to exploit VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol), allowing them to manipulate the caller ID to display any number they choose. Often times, the local number exchanges (708) 946 or (708) 258 are used to increase the chances of the recipient picking up. In some cases, the software can even alter the caller ID display name, like First Community Bank and
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Press Release: Beecher, IL. (June 27, 2025) - First Community Bank and Trust, a trusted and locally owned financial institution serving families and communities since 1916, has announced a new partnership with GoodTrust, a leader in smart digital estate planning services. This collaboration brings cutting-edge estate planning tools directly to First Community Bank and Trust customers, enabling them to safeguard their family, assets, and legacy with ease and confidence. Through this partnership,
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Press Release: Beecher, IL. (June 2, 2025) - In recognition of National Homeownership Month, First Community Bank and Trust (FCBT) and the Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) are encouraging consumers to consult their local community banker to make the homebuying process, simple, efficient and more affordable. “An important component in building financial independence is owning a home,” said Wendy Hoekstra, Vice President – Retail Lending. “At First Community
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This is the Executive Summary of U.S. Economic and Regulatory Highlights from the Experian Commercial Pulse: Small Business Insights for May 2025. For more in depth information regarding this article, download the entire report here. The advance estimate for Q1 2025 GDP showed the U.S. economy shrunk at an annual rate of 0.3%, a drop from the 2.4% growth recorded in Q4 and marking the first contraction since Q1 2022, as imports surged ahead of anticipated new tariffs being imposed. Q1 GDP grew
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Press Release: Beecher, IL. (May 6, 2025) — First Community Bank and Trust (FCBT) and the Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) encourage Americans to reinvest in their local community by shopping with small businesses during National Small Business Week, May 4-10, 2025. Small businesses account for two out of every three jobs added to the economy.  “At the center of our commitment to fostering local prosperity is empowering small businesses,” says Cameron Ohlendorf,
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This article was written by Jen A. Miller and featured in the Independent Banker Magazine. Artificial intelligence has streamlined spear phishing, a kind of cyberattack involving emails, video calls or other forms of communication facilitated by fraudsters posing as a trusted colleague, boss or organization. Here’s how community banks, like First Community Bank and Trust, can hit back. In 2023, an employee of multinational design and engineering company, Arup, thought he was just doing
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Spring is here! While most of us focus on cleaning out the closet or freshening up our homes, it’s also the perfect time to take a step back and tidy up your finances. A financial spring cleaning not only helps you organize your money but also gives you the opportunity to assess your goals and set yourself up for a successful financial year. Here’s how you can spring clean your finances in just a few simple steps. 1. Review and Update Your Budget Spring is the perfect time to reassess
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Press Release: Beecher, IL. (April 1, 2025)—First Community Bank and Trust (FCBT) and the Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) are celebrating Financial Literacy Month in April by encouraging Americans to take control of their financial future and learn fiscally responsible habits that can benefit them at every age and stage of their financial journey. 27% of Americans report that “just getting by financially or finding it hard to get by” describes them completely or
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This blog post was written by Beauceron Security. Romance scams are among the most psychologically manipulative forms of cyber fraud. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Americans reported over $1 billion in losses to romance scams in 2023, making it one of the costliest types of consumer fraud. Given the right circumstances, any person can fall prey to these scams as they tap into powerful aspects of what it is to be human. Being vigilant to these scams can protect
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