Money Management Archives - River City Bank

Blog Category: Money Management

Make the Switch to Electronic Statements!

Online Banking Statement
African American Using Online Bank Authentication For Transfer

Monday, May 9, 2022

Benefits of Going Paperless

Enjoy the full benefits of Online Banking by enrolling in electronic statements (eStatements). eStatements provide fast, safe, and secure delivery of your bank statements which means less worry for you!

Wondering if eStatements are right for you? Here are a few reasons why you should enroll today:

Immediate Access

No more waiting for paper statements to arrive in the mail at your home or business. You can view your bank statement online the business day after the end of your statement cycle. You will even receive an email notification when your statement is available for viewing.

Increased Security

Reduce the risk of mail fraud and identity theft. eStatements are secured by your online banking login credentials and can only be accessed by you.

Account Access 24/7

You have the ability to download your statements anytime at your convenience. Save your PDF statement to your computer or a thumb drive for easy access and printing when needed.

Eco-Friendly

Replacing your multi-page paper statement with an electronic version saves trees and reduces pollution associated with paper manufacturing, printing, and mail transportation.

Reduced clutter

Give yourself less paperwork to sort through and less clutter in your mailbox. You can access 18 months of statements with the click of a button.

Sign up is a snap

It’s easy to enroll online. To choose eStatements for your River City Bank accounts:

  • Log in to your River City Bank Online Banking.
  • Expand the Accounts menu and click Electronic Statements.
  • Follow the on-screen instructions and choose your statement delivery preference.
  • Once you select electronic delivery, you no longer need to worry about receiving a paper statement.

To learn more about eStatements, contact one of our team members at (706) 236-2123.

Mobile & Online Banking Alerts

Couple Computer
Happy Hispanic couple using laptop while sitting on couch in living room at home

Thursday, June 3, 2021

Stay connected and in control

Who’s got time every day to check their bank accounts? With our mobile and online banking alerts, we will notify you if something changes. Customizable alert notifications are a simple way to keep tabs on your bank accounts without signing in to your Online Banking or Mobile Banking app. Alerts can also help you identify unusual account activity faster, and ultimately, reduce the potential impact of identity theft and fraud. Through online banking you can activate alert notifications to be delivered via email or text notifications.

Customized Alert Options:

Account Alerts

  • Account Transfer Alerts-
    • Daily or Weekly Transfer Summary
    • Recurring or Scheduled Transfer “x” Days in Advance
    • Recurring Transfer Stopped
    • Transfer Changed
  • Balance Alerts-
    • Available Balance Equals or Exceeds “x” Dollars
    • Available Balance is Below “x” Dollars
    • Daily or Weekly Available Balance
  • Service Alerts
    • Address Changed
    • Email Address Changed
    • New Secure Message
    • Password Changed
    • Phone Number Changed
    • Session Activity Email
    • Sign On Attempt Failed
    • Username Changed
  • How to Set up your Alerts
    1. In Online Banking, select the Self Service tab in the navigation menu to access the Alerts home page.
    2. The alerts home page is displayed. You can view, add, delete, and modify your alerts for each account linked to your Online Banking profile.
    3. Update the email address(es) and mobile number for alert notifications. You may have up to two email addresses on file to receive alert notifications.
    4. You can turn “on” and set specifications for each alert you would like to have active on the account.
    5. Save the modifications made.

How is Your Credit?

Credit Score
The businessman trying to improve credit score

Monday, January 24, 2022

Having an annual financial checkup is just as important as a physical checkup. A regular check of your financial health can help identify problems and allow you to chart a course to take steps towards achieving your goals. Contact us to get started on your financial checkup and together we will work to reach your financial goals. 

An important part of a financial checkup is understanding your credit report and credit score because they both impact your financial success.

 

Information & Tips

Your Credit Report
  • Your credit report and your credit score are two different things. A credit report is a statement that has information about your credit activity and current credit situation such as loan paying history and the status of your credit accounts. Your credit score is calculated based on the information in your credit report.
  • You can request a free copy of your credit report from each of the three major credit bureaus — Equifax, Experian and TransUnion — once every 12 months, as well as under certain other circumstances, such as if you’ve been denied credit or employment based on your credit report or if you believe you may be a fraud victim.
  • You can get your free credit report from Annual Credit Report. That is the only free place to get your report. You can get it online: AnnualCreditReport.com, or by phone: 1-877-322-8228.
  • Negative information in a credit report can include public records–tax liens, judgments, bankruptcies–that provide insight into your financial status and obligations. A credit reporting company generally can report most negative information for seven years.
​Checking Your Credit Report
  • As part of your financial checkup, you should check your credit report at least once a year to make sure there are no errors that could keep you from getting credit or best available terms on a loan.
  • Be sure to check your credit report before making a major purchase that may involve a loan, such as a house or a car.
  • If you are shopping for a mortgage, knowing one of your credit scores can help you find out the range of mortgage rates you can expect.
  • Be sure to check your credit report before applying for a new job. Many companies look at your credit history when hiring employees.
  • Be sure to check your credit report to guard against identity theft. Identity theft occurs when someone uses your personal or financial information to commit fraud.
What is a Credit Score?
  • A credit score is a number. It is based on your credit history. But it does not come with your free credit report unless you pay for it.
  • Your credit score is developed by a computer model based exclusively on the information in your credit report, and it is intended to predict, for example, how likely you are to repay your debts.
  • A high credit score means you have good credit. A low credit score means you have bad credit. Different companies have different scores. Low scores are around 300. High scores are around 700-850.
  • A key component of your credit score is how much you currently owe on each account compared to its original loan amount or credit limit.
  • If you are interested in knowing your credit score, you can order one for a small fee from a number of outlets, most of them accessible online. When doing so, though, think carefully before signing up for a subscription to additional services, which can be costly.
Your Credit History
  • Your credit history includes how many credit cards do you have, how many loans do you have, and if you pay your bills on time. If you have a credit card or a loan from a bank, you have a credit history. Companies collect information about your loans and credit cards.
  • You might not have a credit history if you have not had credit card, you have not gotten a loan from a bank or credit union. Without a credit history, it can be harder to get a job, an apartment, or even a credit card.
  • If you need to build your credit history, you will need to pay bills that are included in a credit report.
Building Good Credit
  • No credit is often just as bad as poor credit to a lender. If you have no credit history, build it wisely by applying for No Credit Needed payment options and make all of your payments on time.
  • Pay your loans and other bills on time. Even if you fell into trouble in the past, you can rebuild your credit history by beginning to make payments as agreed. Paying your debts on time will have a positive effect on your credit score and can improve your access to credit.
  • Utility bills that are in your name can help build credit. Sometimes, you can get a store credit card that can help build credit. A secured credit card also can help you build your credit.
  • To help show that you have not borrowed too much, try to minimize how much you owe in relation to your credit limit. Don’t automatically close credit card accounts that have been paid in full and haven’t been used recently because that may lower your available credit. However, you may want to close a card with a zero balance if you pay a monthly fee for the card.
Take Control of Your Credit
  • If you believe you cannot repay your creditors, contact them immediately and explain your situation. Ask about renegotiating the terms of your loan, including the amount you repay. Reputable credit counseling organizations also can help you develop a personalized plan to solve your money problems, but less-reputable providers offer questionable or expensive services or make unsubstantiated claims.
  • Placing a credit freeze allows you to restrict access to your credit report. This is important after a data breach or identity theft when someone could use your personal information to apply for new credit accounts. You have the right to place or lift a credit freeze for free. You can place a freeze on your own credit files and on those of your children age 16 or younger.
  • Anyone who denies you credit, housing, insurance, or a job because of a credit report must give you the name, address, and telephone number of the credit reporting agency (CRA) that provided the report. Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), you have the right to request a free report within 60 days if a company denies you credit based on the report.
  • If you have a problem with credit reporting, you can file a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).
Resources:

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)

Credit Reports and Scores

Consumer.gov
FDIC

USA.gov: Credit Reports and Scores

FTC: Credit Freeze FAQs

Money Management – Back to Basics

Tuesday, April 19, 2022

A large percentage of the population is worried about their finances – across all income levels. Although some financial challenges are beyond our control, basic financial planning can equip you to handle whatever comes your way. Everyone needs to be empowered to make wise financial decisions.

There are 5 key components to managing your money: Earn, Spend, Save, Borrow, and Protect.

 

EARN

Before you begin spending, saving, and borrowing, you need to understand your paycheck to know how much money you are making. Do you make the same amount each pay period, or does that amount vary? Identify your gross and net income. You’ll also need to take into account any other deductions, such as your employer-sponsored health insurance and retirement plan.

Once you’ve determined your monthly net income, you are ready to spend responsibly, preferably with a personal budget.

SPEND

A personal budget is simply a monthly plan for how you want to spend your money, but it is also a necessary tool to help you achieve your financial goals. Creating your monthly budget requires that you track your spending throughout the month. It’s helpful to break expenses into categories, but tailor it to fit your specific needs.

One of the most popular tools is the 50/30/20 rule. It recommends allocating 50% of your net income on basic needs, leaving 30% to spend on non-essentials and 20% for savings. This budget may not work for everyone, but it’s a great guideline for anyone who is new to the budgeting process.

SAVE

We always hear how important it is to save money, but if we don’t have specific financial goals identified and a budget in place, it’s difficult to spend less than you earn. Ideally, your financial goals should include:

  • Saving for an emergency fund – Set aside some money in an emergency fund to give you peace of mind and prepare you for those unexpected expenses that may occur. Most financial experts recommend having at least three months’ worth of basic living expenses in an emergency fund.
  • Planning for retirement – It is never too early to start saving for retirement. A good rule of thumb is to set aside at least 10% of your take-home pay each month in a 401(k), IRA, or both.
  • Saving for a big purchase – Taking an expensive vacation, buying a car, or paying for a wedding? The sooner you start saving, the less you will need to put aside each month.
  • Paying off debt – Most of us have some kind of debt – student loans, credit cards, or car loans. Make sure you know the interest rates you are paying on your loans. Paying off higher interest loans on time or ahead of schedule can save you interest.

BORROW

Even if you are frugal and have been diligently saving money, at some point you will probably need to borrow money to cover a large expense like a home or car. Borrowing money isn’t a bad thing as long as you know how to shop for a loan, pay it back responsibly, and protect your credit score.

PROTECT

As you begin putting these money management components in place, it’s important that you know how to protect the money you’ve made and saved. Review your bank account and credit card statements regularly for suspicious activity. Keep your confidential documents and passwords secure to prevent scams and identity theft. Determine the appropriate type of insurance to protect yourself in the event of an emergency.

HELPFUL RESOURCES

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau