During America Saves Week, First Bank Offers Tips for Savings Success

In recognition of America Saves Week (February 27-March 4, 2017), First Bank would like to help you assess and improve your savings strategy. America Saves Week is an opportunity to step back and analyze your savings goals. A few small changes daily, weekly, and monthly can have a big impact on your overall financial future.

To help put you on the path toward savings success, First Bank offers the following tips:

• Set a goal. The first step is to establish a realistic savings goal. Consider your expenses, make a

budget, and determine how much you can put away each month.

• Track your spending. Hold yourself to the budget you’ve set by tracking your expenses. Consider using websites that will segment your spending so you can easily see what areas, if any, you are going over budget. Then, you can adjust accordingly.

• Pay yourself first. Arrange to have a specific amount automatically transferred to your savings

account every pay period with account-to-account transfer. If you wait until the end of the month to see what's left over, you are less likely to save.

• Consult a banker. Stop in and speak with your banker about which package of products

and services geared toward savings would best suit your needs.

• Consider investments. For long-term goals, such as saving for a home or retirement, look into

bonds, mutual funds, real estate, and stocks.

• Set up automatic bill pay. Although 97 percent of Americans pay their bills on time, some

consumers find themselves paying late fees. Set up automatic bill pay so you’re never paying more than needed.

America Saves Week http://www.americasavesweek.org/ is coordinated by America Saves http://www.americasaves.org/ and the American Savings Education Council http://www.choosetosave.org/asec/. Started in 2007, the week is an annual opportunity for organizations to promote good savings behavior and a chance for individuals to assess their own saving status.

First Bank firstbanks.com is one of the largest privately owned banks in the country with $6.1 billion in assets and over 100 locations in Missouri, Illinois, and California.