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Tips to Improve Your Credit Score

What is a credit score? Why is it so important? How can I improve my credit score? These are just a few questions that applicants ask when applying for any type of credit.

A credit score is a number that ranges from 300-850 that is assigned to consumer credit history reports. This score is based on an individual’s prior history of bill payment and debt management. The credit score is significant because it indicates the likelihood that an individual will pay their bills on time.  The higher the score, the better the chance of being approved for credit cards, loans and lines of credit.

We put together some tips to follow to build and maintain a strong credit score.

  1. Pay your bills on time. When lenders review your credit report they are interested to see your past performance. If your previous performance shows that you paid all your debts on time, this will indicate how reliable you are in paying them back.
  2. Keep balances low on credit cards and revolving lines. When applying for a loan, lenders typically like to see that you have balances that are 30% or lower. This indicates to a lender that you have not used your credit cards to the full credit line and can manage your finances well.
  3. Don’t close unused or paid off accounts unnecessarily. Closing accounts sounds like a good idea but it can, in fact, hurt your credit score. For example, if you close your oldest account this will shorten your active credit history. Instead, you can find many websites that offer products or services that can help you figure out the next steps to take to achieve a better credit score. For example, TransUnion offers a tool called Credit Compass™1that gives recommendation to consumers to help attain their credit score goals and also gives you the capability to track your progress in a glance.
  4. Dispute any errors in your credit report. You should review all three credit bureaus (Experian, TransUnion and Equifax) to check any discrepancies. Your credit report should always be correct as this demonstrates how your credit performance has been throughout its history. You may request a free copy of your credit report every 12 months from each of the credit bureaus through www.annualcreditreport.com, or by calling 1-877-322-8228. This is the only authorized website for free credit reports. You should not have to pay a fee to obtain your credit report.
  5. Understand and limit credit inquiries. Inquiries are known to be either “soft” or “hard” when it comes to obtaining a new credit line. A soft inquiry is when you review your own credit report or when a lender who would like to send you a preapproved offer views it. This will not impact your credit score. A hard inquiry is when a lender pulls your credit report for the decision-making process when you have applied for a loan or credit card. This type of inquiry can appear on your credit report for just over 2 years and can negatively affect your credit score if there are too many hard inquiries in a short time span. Lenders may be apprehensive giving out new credit as this may indicate financial troubles or a risk of overspending.
A good credit report and credit score can help you qualify for better interest rates, receive better terms on a new credit, and improve your access to financing in general. Building or maintaining your credit score may take some time but it can be done. These simple steps will get you on your way to improving and maintaining a good credit score.

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FNBC Bank & Trust Partners with BEDS Plus on Summit Medical Respite Center Project

FNBC Bank & Trust is pleased to be the primary lender of the BEDS Plus Linda Sokol Francis Summit Center in Summit, Illinois. Kevin McLaughlin, Senior Vice President of Commercial Lending, completed several site visits to ensure the progression of the Summit Center is on track. Kevin and FNBC Bank & Trust were also an integral part of the completion of the BEDS Plus Ogden Avenue Supportive Housing facility at 9601 E. Ogden Ave in La Grange.

To acknowledge the bank’s support and Kevin’s efforts, BEDS Plus recently featured Kevin in their Summit Center Newsletter. Kevin reiterated FNBC Bank & Trust’s dedication to the project by saying, "FNBC Bank & Trust is committed to supporting BEDS Plus in their work to provide housing, healthcare, and support services to our neighbors in need. Assisting with the financing of the BEDS Plus Linda Sokol Francis Summit Center is an investment in the health and vitality of our local community. We are proud to partner with this organization that changes lives and directly impacts our local community in such a positive and meaningful way." 

To learn more about the center, visit BEDS Plus Summit Center.

 

New Digital Loan Origination System Makes Business Borrowing Easier at FNBC Bank & Trust

Following their success with PPP, the community bank is expanding its use of Numerated to bring additional convenience and efficiency to their full suite of business banking products. 

LaGrange, IL/Boston—FNBC Bank & Trust, a $650 million locally owned and locally managed community bank serving the Chicago metropolitan area, is making business banking easy by providing fast and efficient customer experiences through their expanded use of the Numerated Digital Loan Origination System.

Starting today, Feb. 1, Chicago area businesses will be able to easily apply online for a growing list of business loan products and enjoy an industry-leading experience consistent with the exceptional service for which FNBC Bank & Trust is known.

“We benefited from using Numerated’s digital LOS to quickly get Paycheck Protection Program loans to our business clients,” said FNBC Bank & Trust CEO John Madden. “After very positive feedback from customers on the convenient experience, and from bankers on the more efficient process, it was an easy decision to put our full suite of business and commercial lending products on Numerated. Fast forward to today, and we are proud to offer businesses in the greater Chicago metropolitan area fully digital business and commercial borrowing experiences that are on par with, if not better than, the big banks.”

Numerated is a SaaS digital loan origination system for business banking that dramatically reduces work for financial institutions and their customers by using data. The platform pulls in data at each stage of origination, saving time for lenders and their business customers. Efficiencies include pre-filling applications, automating spreading, aggregating data and scoring applications, and fully automating the time-consuming preparation of document packages.  More than 140 lenders have used the award-winning platform to process more than $50 billion in lending for over 400,000 businesses.

“FNBC Bank & Trust is an institution that puts their customers first. Their expanded use of the Numerated LOS shows they are committed to using technology that puts their customers first, as well,” said Numerated CEO and co-founder Dan O’Malley. “We’re excited to partner with FNBC Bank & Trust to make business banking as easy as possible for their Chicago area business clients.”

Numerated’s digital loan origination system supports a wide range of business banking products, including commercial and industrial lending, SBA lending, and business deposit account opening. Learn more by visiting http://www.numerated.com.

About Numerated

Numerated is a SaaS digital loan origination system for business banking that dramatically reduces work for financial institutions and their customers by using data. Banks and credit unions use Numerated to meet businesses' expectations for digital convenience, and to bring efficiency gains to internal teams. The platform's unique use of data streamlines originations for any business banking product, from application to decision to close. More than 400,000 businesses and 30,000 financial institution associates have leveraged the platform to process over $50 billion in lending, making Numerated the fastest-growing fintech SaaS company on the 2021 Inc. 5,000.

About FNBC Bank & Trust

FNBC Bank & Trust is a locally owned and locally managed community bank with a 100-year history of providing financial services, support and leadership to communities throughout the Chicago metropolitan area. For more information, call us at 708-482-7700 or visit our website at www.fnbcbt.com.

Media Contacts:

Numerated
Sal Trifilio
(781) 473-0690
[email protected]

FNBC Bank & Trust
Bridget Wright
(708) 482-8627
[email protected]

Protect Yourself from Caller ID Spoofing Scams

As technology becomes an important part of our daily lives, we need to be cautious of scams and fraudsters. There is technology now available that enables scammers to pretend the number they are calling from is legitimate. This scam can be effective, especially if the number displayed on the caller ID appears to be your financial institution’s correct phone number. 

What is Caller ID Spoofing?

Spoofing is when a scammer disguises their actual phone number and displays another phone number in the caller ID instead. Caller ID lets individuals know who is calling them, but these scammers may manipulate the caller ID and masquerade as a representative of banks, creditors or even from government agencies. This scam is often used to trick someone into giving them confidential information, which can be used in fraudulent activity.

How can you avoid a Spoof scam? 

Take caution when answering a call, especially if the caller is requesting confidential information. Below are some tips to take to avoid a spoofing scam:

  • Do not give out confidential information such as account numbers, Social Security numbers, PINs, passwords or other identifying information in response to an unexpected call from someone who says they are a representative from your financial institution, creditor, or government agency. If you are at all suspicious, hang up and call the phone number on your account statement, or on the website of your financial institution, creditor or government agency to verify the legitimacy of the request.  
  • If you answer an unexpected call and the caller asks you to click a button to stop getting the calls, you should hang up immediately.
  • If you have a voicemail account with your phone service, be sure to set a password for it. Some voicemail services are preset to allow access if you call in from your own phone number. A hacker could spoof your home phone number and gain access to your voicemail if you do not set a password.

The best way to be ahead of the scammers is to never assume that someone is who they say they represent to be just because the number displayed on your caller ID matches that of a financial institution, company or organization you know. Always be suspicious if you’re asked for confidential information. Remember, your financial institution will never ask you to do any of these things.

If you have questions or concerns about spoofing, please contact us at 708-482-7700. We are here to assist you.

FREE Digital Banking & More with FNBC Student Checking

Graduating high school? Heading to college? Starting your first job? It's the perfect time to open an FNBC Student Checking Account!

Free digital banking options give students easy, secure, banking access to pay for purchases, transfer funds, track spending habits, monitor credit score activity, and much more.
 
There’s no better way to learn money management than through hands-on experience with the FNBC Student Checking Account.
 
The FNBC Student Checking Account includes:

It’s so easy!
Students can bank close to home, get personal customer support when they need it, and sign up for all the digital banking options that give them access to their accounts anytime and anywhere they need it. 

The account benefits don't stop at graduation.
This is an account for a lifetime.  Your student will continue to enjoy these account benefits beyond school, helping them manage their money as they launch their careers, buy their first homes, and plan for the future.

Help your student get started on a good financial footing with the FNBC Student Checking Account!

1Overdraft/returned item fees may apply

2Third party data and Internet charges may apply

3Per Zelle terms of use, accountholders must be at least 18 years of age to use Zelle

Five Tips to Keep Your Personal Data Private and Secure

In a world that is primarily based around technology, keeping your personal information private and secure may seem like a daunting task. By applying the following tips, you can help keep your data safe from unwanted individuals accessing your personal information.

  • Create strong passwords. Use strong passwords with your computers and laptops, bank, and other accounts. Be creative: think of a special phrase and use the first letter of each word as your password. Substitute numbers for some words or letters.
  • Avoid oversharing on social media. Posting too much information about yourself can lead to a stolen identity. An unwanted individual may use your information to answer ‘challenge’ questions on your accounts, and gain access to your money and personal information. Do not post your Social Security number, address, phone number, or account numbers in a publicly accessible site.
  • Secure your computers. To protect against intrusions and viruses on your computer or laptop, think about installing an anti-virus software and a firewall. By installing these security programs, you can help keep your computer files and passwords safe from others who are trying to steal your personal information.
  • Be cautious of public Wi-Fi. Public Wi-Fi is available in many places, such as coffee shops, hotels, airports, and other public places. Although Wi-Fi has made life a bit easier, it can also present security risks to the confidential data hosted on your laptop and smartphone. Make sure when you need to use a public Wi-Fi network, confirm it is secure. A secured network usually requires the user to agree to their legal terms or type in a password before connecting.
  • Keep browser secure. As you visit websites make sure you see a “lock” icon on the status bar of your internet browser. This indicates your information will be secure. Look for the lock before you send personal or financial information online.

There may not be a 100% guaranteed protection method, but there are plenty of steps to take to keep your data private and secure. Stay up to date on the latest security tactics to help reduce the risk of identity theft. And remember that FNBC Bank & Trust will never contact you to ask for your personal information or passwords.

If you have questions or concerns about user access and data security on your accounts at FNBC Bank & Trust, please contact us at 708-482-7700.

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