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The holiday seasons is almost upon us but that doesn’t mean everyone is in the festive mood. Cyber criminals don’t slow down. Here are a few tips to keep in mind while shopping for the holiday.

As more Americans are practicing social distancing and staying home right now, it may be a good time to make a home improvement list for the future. A Home Equity Loan is one of the most affordable ways to get money when you need it most. In short, a home equity loan allows a borrower to use the equity in his or her home as collateral. It gives you the opportunity to take the money you’ve invested in your property, and use it for other things.

Can you be a victim of debit card fraud if you still physically have the card in your possession? The answer is yes!

Modern technology has given parents more shopping options than ever before, but some are discovering the benefits of more traditional back-to-school shopping money management. There are also a few modern twists on classic budgeting tips, too.

3 days to a new financial future with a Fidelity Home Equity Loan When it’s time to make home improvements, help a college-bound student finance their education, or consolidate credit card debt, homeowners may want to consider applying for a home equity loan. With modern technology, and a few tips from Kate Abraham, Mortgage Underwriting

Working and learning remotely for the past year has caused many people to reconsider what “home” means to them. Preparing more meals at home can lead to dreams of modernized kitchen, and lack of space can quickly become apparent when everyone is home at the same time for months. For those who have not experienced

FDIC insurance covers all deposit accounts including checking and savings accounts, money market deposit accounts and certificates of deposit (CDs). These accounts at Fidelity Bank are insured by the FDIC up to the standard maximum deposit insurance amount ($250,000) per depositor for each deposit insurance ownership category.

When it comes to college students and credit cards, there are plenty of opportunities to improve financial literacy, and some of the best teachable moments arrive before college careers begin.

For many Americans, the answer is “no.” An article published by CNBC addressed this issue in 2019, citing some startling statistics from the Federal Reserve: 40% of Americans have not reserved $400 for an emergency, and 25 percent of Americans have nothing saved for retirement.

While business disruption is never easy, having a business continuity plan in place can ease some of the stress and financial hardship when disaster occurs. The plan outlines protocol to help businesses function during or immediately following a disaster, which may include anything from a weather event to a technology failure.

As families across the country are observing various stages of stay-at-home orders due to the pandemic, now might be an ideal time to sneak some math and finance lessons into the new daily routine.

When it comes to financial wellness, the best approach is a proactive one, especially during uncertain economic times. Perhaps now more than ever, it’s important to take steps to protect, and build, credit.

Successful small business owners know they must be resilient, in good times and in times of uncertainty. As the world copes with the COVID-19 pandemic, entrepreneurs have swiftly modified their business models and adopted new operational and management procedures.

While balancing work, family, and friends, it can be easy to let certain financial subjects lie dormant in the “let’s think about that later” section of the brain. Saving for retirement can be one of those subjects, but it’s important to resist that tendency. Regardless of one’s financial situation, it’s always a good idea to evaluate retirement savings options. It’s never too late to start, or modify, a plan.

Ever wonder about the people who are financially comfortable and choose to drive older model vehicles? Well, don’t wonder. Instead, do the math. There just may be a method to their madness — and it’s pretty smart.

Money management isn’t part of the curriculum in most American schools, but it’s an important skill set for every child to develop. There are lots of ways parents can incorporate financial management lessons into daily life, and the best time to start is now.

Kristin Grow, Assistant Vice President & Customer Care Center Manager at Fidelity Bank, offers insight and strategies for modern money management. Know the facts, and gain peace of mind.

To avoid post-holiday bill blues in January, Jill Valentini, Assistant Vice President & Retail Branch Manager, Fidelity Bank in Dunmore, offers a few strategies on making a holiday budget, checking it twice, and sticking to it. With a little creativity and determination, it can be done.

There’s no doubt about it: even though some aspects of the economy have improved since the Great Recession of 2008, financial stress continues to be an issue for most Americans. The American Psychological Association (APA) 2015 Stress in America Survey revealed that 72 percent of Americans reported feeling stressed about money at least some of the time during the prior month. Transcending gender, race and socio-economic status, the issue is particularly prevalent among parents and those under age 50.

The road to entrepreneurship can be exciting, and daunting. It requires a certain type of personality, a high level of skill, and a lot of planning – including financial. Small businesses make a big impact on the economy of local communities, and the country as a whole.

Jody Lewis, Branch Manager in Moosic, (and, incidentally, the mother of triplets who knows a little something about planning) offers a few financial tips to help expectant parents get their financial house in order, before and after, baby’s arrival.

This week, our experts discuss grants and programs available to first-time homebuyers, and they’ve created a checklist that every first-time homebuyer needs.

Estate planning. It may not be something we care to think about when we’re healthy, building our careers, and enjoying family life, but that’s exactly when we should be thinking about it. By being proactive now, we can ease the burden our loved ones may face in the future.

This week, they share insight into how women can be more proactive in their financial futures (and, spoiler alert, these tips will work for men, too!)

When it comes to swindling people out of their hard-earned money, scam artists are on top of their game. Continually crafting new schemes to prey upon people of all ages and backgrounds, anyone can become a victim if caught unprepared.

If you were born between 1981 and 1996, your generation is facing some unique challenges when it comes to finances. You likely have higher student loan payments than your older siblings with a lifestyle including conveniences that come with a cost. Using smart phones, tablets, and ordering meals through an app adds up.

From large corporations to small business owners, this year’s tax season brings some noteworthy changes. Rosemarie Coyne, CPA, AVP, Financial Reporting Specialist at Fidelity Bank, highlights a few new regulations that every business owner should be mindful of as the deadline for filing approaches.

You’ve likely heard this famous Jonathan Winters quote, encouraging us to be proactive in life. We shouldn’t wait for great things to come our way. We should take charge and make great things happen. Perhaps we can apply this approach to our finances, too. If our ship is financial stability, then saving for the future is our way of swimming out to meet it.

Banking is so much more than finances. It’s about relationships. It’s about trust. It’s about sharing information. It’s about commitment to one’s community. Through this new blog, the Fidelity Bankers will share their expertise on a variety of topics as diverse as the communities we serve. From budgeting and saving, to debt reduction, first-time home buying, retirement planning — and everything in between — we’ll explore strategies that you can start implementing today.

Financing is essential for starting a business, growing a business and continuing to prosper. Without lending and obtaining business credit, a new or existing business will struggle to reach their goals. In order for a lending institution to grant a loan or extend business credit, the business owner will have to prove their personal credit worthiness and show that they possess the needed skills and appropriate business plan that will lead to success.

The #1 obstacle for small business owners is managing cash flow but with careful planning, discipline, and good financial management tools you can get over the hurdle much easier.

With tax season in full swing, we can all benefit from additional tips, knowledge, and insight to help improve the financial outcome of our tax returns. Whether you visit an accounting professional or calculate your own tax returns, this three month period can be a stressful time.

At Fidelity Bank, we want to make sure you’re aware of “phishing” scams that can put you at risk. Phishing is a term used to describe a technique that gains your personal information. These emails may appear to come from Fidelity Bank and may even contain images that look like our logo.

You know there is only one you. DNA analysis can even prove it scientifically. Even so, a crafty criminal may be able to “clone” you for purposes of committing fraud. With sufficient information, a con artist can become “you” and use your identity to order new credit cards, make counterfeit cards or checks, or otherwise go on a spending spree in your name. It’s called identity theft or ID theft, and it’s a serious problem. Here’s why.

Visa® Check Card Usage May Be Affected In order to protect your safety when traveling overseas, the fraud monitoring system Fidelity Bank has in place may be activated. This means that your Personal or Business Fidelity Visa® Check Card may be declined at ATMs or points-of-sale outside the United States. Please note that this is