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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.

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.

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:

• Free Visa^® Debit Card
• Free mobile banking with mobile deposit ²
• Free online banking & bill pay²
• Free access to Credit Score through Credit Insights Powered by Savvy Money^® 
• Surcharge-free ATM usage at all FNBC and at more than 55,000 Allpoint Network^® ATMs worldwide
• Fast, Safe & Easy Mobile Payments with Zelle^{® 3}
• No Minimum Balance Requirement
• No Monthly Maintenance Fee¹
• Unlimited Transactions
• And more! 

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

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.

Join us for Shred Day on Saturday, April 26th, from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM at our LaGrange and West Chicago branches. This free community event provides a safe and secure way to dispose of sensitive documents.