America Saves Week is Feb. 24–29

Feb. 24, 2020—First Community Bank and Trust and The Independent Community Bankers of America® (ICBA) want to remind consumers during America Saves Week that building a nest egg can help alleviate stress and provide additional financial security during times of unexpected financial hardship. 

Seventeen percent of adults cannot pay their current month’s bills in full, another 12 percent would be unable to pay their current month’s bill if they also had an unexpected $400 expense, and nearly 27 percent of Americans would sell something they own or borrow money to pay the unexpected expense, according to a Federal Reserve Economic Well-Being of US Households report.

“Savings is a key component in building wealth—not debt—and achieving financial freedom,” Greg Ohlendorf, President and CEO of First Community Bank and Trust said. “As relationship-based lenders, we’re here to help and challenge all Americans to take the pledge to invest in their future by paying down debt and filling their savings coffers to achieve their short- and long-term financial goals.” 

First Community Bank and Trust and ICBA offer the following tips to help consumers boost their savings:

• Pay yourself first. Many employers offer automatic payroll deduction, which is one of the best ways to start and keep saving. Use those funds to build a retirement fund. 
• Create a spending plan. Unlike a strict budget, a spending plan is a guide to help you take control of your finances by tracking where your money goes so you can prioritize your spending. 
• Start small. Setting aside just $63 a month (the average cost of a daily cup of specialty coffee) for one year can boost your emergency fund by $766 annually.
• Build a cushion. Strive for an emergency savings of six to nine months of living expenses.
• Put your tax refund to work. With the average tax refund totaling roughly $3,000, more than half (52 percent)of Americans plan to use their returns for savings, investing or paying off debt.

Other important factors to consider when choosing where to place your savings: 

• Access. How quickly can you access funds? Community banks use the latest technology to allow consumers the freedom to access their money when and where they need it. Be sure to download First eBanc Mobile so you can access your money from anywhere.
• Safety. How safe is your money? The FDIC insures deposits up to $250,000 per depositor and $250,000 for certain retirement accounts. No one has ever lost a penny of FDIC-insured funds.
• Earnings. How much will you earn? Community banks offer competitively priced products and services. 

“Community banks are good stewards of their customers’ financial health, serving as trusted advisors and helping to finance major purchases and build financial wealth,” ICBA President and CEO Rebeca Romero Rainey said. “We encourage consumers to reap the full benefits relationship banking and put their hard-earned dollars to work at their local community bank.” 

About First Community Bank and Trust

First Community Bank and Trust is a privately-owned bank. Established in 1916 First Community Bank and Trust has been serving Beecher, IL, Peotone, IL and the surrounding communities for over 100 years. Our commitment to providing the best banking products and services is matched only by our outstanding customer service. We offer traditional community banking services, including mortgage, consumer, and commercial lending, as well as state of the art electronic banking services.

About ICBA

The Independent Community Bankers of America® creates and promotes an environment where community banks flourish. With more than 50,000 locations nationwide, community banks constitute 99 percent of all banks, employ nearly 750,000 Americans and are the only physical banking presence in one in three U.S. counties. Holding more than $5 trillion in assets, nearly $4 trillion in deposits, and more than $3.4 trillion in loans to consumers, small businesses and the agricultural community, community banks channel local deposits into the Main Streets and neighborhoods they serve, spurring job creation, fostering innovation and fueling their customers’ dreams in communities throughout America. For more information, visit ICBA’s website at www.icba.org.