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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Cash flow is important for every business, regardless of how profitable it may look on paper. A monthly or quarterly profit & loss statement might show positive earnings, but that doesn’t always translate to available cash. The real challenge is having the liquidity to cover day-to-day obligations like payroll, fuel, utilities and rent. What if your company is short on cash to pay for these short-term expenses? These obligations need to be paid in a timely manner in order to avoid any interruption
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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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Alerts on all types of accounts, not just your bank account, can help protect both your personal information and your money. They notify you when expected and unexpected activity occur. First eAlerts and My Cards debit card controls at First Community Bank and Trust are easy to set up and customizable to best fit your needs. You can choose to receive account activity alerts in up to three different ways, ensuring you stay informed in real time. These alerts provide instant notifications about
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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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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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This blog post was published by Chis O’Shea from SavvyMoney Hub. What to know about child identity theft. Believe it or not, child identity theft is a big deal. According to a study, from 2021 to 2022, 900,000 children were the victims of identity fraud, with kids under seven the most likely targets. Let’s take a look at this issue and find ways to prevent it from ever happening. Signs of ID Theft There are some ways you can tell if your child has been the victim of identity
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This article was written by Chris O’Shea from SavvyMoney. How to prioritize an emergency fund or retirement savings. Having a well-stocked emergency fund is important. But so is saving for retirement. How do you know which one to focus on? Well, we’ve got you covered. Here’s what you should know. An Emergency Fund is Important An emergency fund is extremely important. If something unexpected happens, you don’t want to be completely unprepared. When deciding on
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