Financial Education

Why You Should Get Pre-Qualified Before Purchasing a Home


Pre Qualified Blog 2
Buying a home is one of the most significant financial decisions you'll ever make. Whether you're a first-time homebuyer or a seasoned investor, navigating the real estate market can be challenging. One crucial step in the home-buying process is getting pre-qualified for a mortgage. Here’s why you should consider this step before you start house hunting:

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Preventing Elder Financial Abuse


Elder Fraud Blog 2
Elder financial abuse robs older Americans of billions of dollars in money, property and other assets every year. As those safeguarding their customers’ finances, community bankers are key watchdogs for monitoring and preventing this abuse.

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Can You Spot a Phishing Scam?


Banksneveraskthat 2
Every day, thousands of people fall victim to fraudulent emails, texts and calls from scammers pretending to be their bank. And in this time of expanded use of online and mobile banking, the problem is only growing worse.

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Travel Best Practices


Travel Blog
According to ustravel.org, for the first time since the start of the pandemic, travel spending ($100 billion) was 3% above 2019 levels in April 2022. Since peak travel season is upon us, remember these best practices when it comes to your financial life.

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Protect Yourself Against Identity Theft


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Protecting yourself against Identity Theft is a full-time job in today’s environment. Continue reading to learn about basic precautionary steps you can take, how to detect when your information is compromised, and we’ll also tell you about a new security benefit offered to Peoples Bank of Alabama customers at no cost!

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Personal Loan or Credit Card


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A common challenge that all banks face is efficiently originating smaller dollar loans to satisfy customer needs without losing money due to the cost of loan origination and servicing. With that being the case, most banks find it necessary to establish a minimum loan amount and offer a credit card application for those requests that fall below the threshold.

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The 5 C's That Almost Ruined Banking, Part 5


Conditions vs Carelessness - outside of plaza branch
Knowledge is power and we believe in empowering you with knowledge about banking to help you better manage your business. No matter your business's life cycle you can benefit from knowing the difference between the 5 Fundamental C's and the 5 Detrimental C's of credit. In part 4 of this 5 part series, we take a closer look at Conditions vs Carelessness.

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The 5 C's That Almost Ruined Banking, Part 4


Collateral vs Certainty - outside of plaza branch
Knowledge is power and we believe in empowering you with knowledge about banking to help you better manage your business. No matter your business's life cycle you can benefit from knowing the difference between the 5 Fundamental C's and the 5 Detrimental C's of credit. In part 4 of this 5 part series, we take a closer look at Collateral vs Certainty.

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The 5 C's That Almost Ruined Banking, Part 3


Capital vs Compensation - outside of the plaza branch
Knowledge is power and we believe in empowering you with knowledge about banking to help you better manage your business. No matter your business's life cycle you can benefit from knowing the difference between the 5 Fundamental C's and the 5 Detrimental C's of credit. In part 3 of this 5 part series, we take a closer look at Capital vs Compensation.

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The 5 C's That Almost Ruined Banking, Part 2


Capacity vs Caffeine - outside of plaza branch
Knowledge is power and we believe in empowering you with knowledge about banking to help you better manage your business. No matter your business's life cycle you can benefit from knowing the difference between the 5 Fundamental C's and the 5 Detrimental C's of credit. In part 2 of this 5 part series, we take a closer look at Capacity vs Caffeine.

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The 5 C's That Almost Ruined Banking, Part 1


Character vs Camouflage - Outside of plaza branch
Knowledge is power and we believe in empowering you with knowledge about banking to help you better manage your business. No matter your business's life cycle you can benefit from knowing the difference between the 5 Fundamental C's and the 5 Detrimental C's of credit. In part 1 of this 5 part series, we'll provide an overview of each and take a closer look at Character vs Camouflage.

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PPP Flexibility Act Information


Important PPP Flexibility Act Information
On June 3, 2020 the Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act of 2020 was passed in both the House and Senate. This Act was signed by President Trump on Friday, June 5th. Read more about how the changes passed in this Act can benefit you during the forgiveness period.

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Paycheck Protection Program - Loan Forgiveness Best Practices


Mask with man blurred in background on laptop
Many people across the country have spent countless hours working hard to provide Paycheck Protection Program loans to millions of businesses. However, receiving loan funds is only the beginning. Documenting and applying for loan forgiveness is a critical step and in this blog, we discuss best practices you need to follow.

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New Year Banking Resolutions


3 ways to make 2020 your best banking year ever
Ready or not, a new year is here and we want to help your business succeed. Over my 30+ year banking career, I've worked with all kinds of businesses. I've discovered that those who have a stress-free and strong banking relationship have these three things in common.

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Top 5 Reasons Small Businesses Fail


Avoid these mistakes
Making the move from employee to business owner is a big risk, and unfortunately more start ups fail than succeed. We love small businesses and want to help them thrive. Continue reading to find out the top 5 reasons small businesses fail to avoid these mistakes.

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Make Life and Christmas Less Stressful


Mall escalator at Christmas
The calendar has officially reached the half way point of 2019. First, pause for a moment and reflect on how fast 6 months ticked by… if your life is anything like mine, it feels like time is ticking away faster and faster. So if you think the first half of the year has flown by, don’t you think the second half will as well? So, I have to ask, are you prepared for Christmas?

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3 Qualities for Strong Passwords


One of the most vital tools that we use every day when it comes to technology is a password. Unfortunately, it's also one of the things we all hate to manage. Even with the advancements in password replacement technologies, we are still several years away from completely eliminating them. In this article, learn three qualities all passwords need to keep you and your information protected.

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Better Understand SBA Lending - 3 Questions & Answers


In my 30+ years working in banking, I've helped many business owners better understand the options available to start, grow or expand their business. In working with the Small Business Administration, we expand the lending options available to help businesses maximize cash flow. Understanding the answers to these three questions can help you and your business make the best decision for your future.

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Money Leaks & Budget Killers


banker at desk smiling at customer with tablet
It’s easy to avoid large, extravagant purchases like dream vacations or the fully loaded luxury car, but small everyday spending adds up over time. If you’ve ever said, “Where did all my money go?” keep reading to learn how you can plug up the money leaks and stop the budget killers in your spending.

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Teen Banking


Teenagers using phones and tablets
​Sound financial habits don’t have to wait until kids are grown. The best time to start is early so that kids learn responsible banking before they go out on their own and make a bad decision that negatively impacts them for years. We are here to help you teach your teen how to save, spend responsibly and avoid overdrafts. Read on to learn some critical areas to cover when discussing banking with your teen.

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Relocating for Retirement


Door with Retired sign on it
Many people save and plan all their lives with the full intention of relocating for retirement. Continue reading to understand the benefits, impacts and tips for relocating in retirement.

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