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Smart Banking Solutions Video Series
	Balancing Your Finances Episode 11 - August 2010 Reports about consumers who have had their credit ratings or even their lives wrecked by identity theft are very popular in the news media. While these incidents thankfully are rare, they also are very real.
	Protect Yourself Against Identity Theft Episode 10 - July 2010 Reports about consumers who have had their credit ratings or even their lives wrecked by identity theft are very popular in the news media. While these incidents thankfully are rare, they also are very real.
	Take control of your finances with on-the-go banking Episode 9 - June 2010 From managing a successful career to organizing a hectic family schedule, most people are busier than ever before. As we continue to see signs of a reenergized economy, many of us are looking for ways to balance our busy lives with fast and easy ways to take control of our finances.
	Find mortgage solutions that fit your lifestyle Episode 8 - May 2010 Home sales are picking up in the Midwest and across the country. Whether you are looking to upsize, downsize or buy your first home, making the decision to invest in a home can be an exciting and sometimes overwhelming experience.
	Take Charge of Your Retirement Planning Episode 7 - April With hopes of spending more time with family or a dream of traveling the world, many wonder if they can still make their retirement plans a reality. The financial impact of the recent recession will redefine the way many of us prepare for and build our retirement savings.
<	Rebuild Your Savings for the Future Episode 6 - March Many Americans are regaining their footing as they work through challenges presented by the weak economy in the last few years. Periods of unemployment, underperforming investments and unanticipated expenses have contributed to substantially smaller nest eggs for many individuals and families.
	Sensible Holiday Spending Episode 5 - October The holidays are just around the corner and there’s no better time than now to establish your holiday spending plan. Not sure where to start? Take advantage of some of the services your bank has to offer to help make this year’s shopping experience an enjoyable one.
	Simple Ways to Manage Your Money Online Episode 4 - August The Internet has made our lives easier in many ways, including the way we manage our finances. Online banking provides security, convenience, and can even save you money.
	Smart Credit Solutions Episode 3 - July Smart borrowing can help you accomplish your goals, build your credit history, and is often part of a good financial planning process.
	Smart Ways to Grow Your Savings Episode 2 - June Whether it’s buying a car or a house, planning for a renovation or taking the family on a much-needed vacation, a solid savings plan will help you get there.
	Getting the Most from Your Bank Episode 1 - May President and CEO, Claude E. Davis discusses how you can earn more with all the extras at First Financial Bank.

Rebuild Your Savings for the Future

Many Americans are regaining their footing as they work through challenges presented by the weak economy in the last few years. Periods of unemployment, underperforming investments and unanticipated expenses have contributed to substantially smaller nest eggs for many individuals and families.

Times have been tough on many of us, but the good news is we are starting to see some positive shifts in the economy. The time for us to get back on track and start rebuilding our savings for the future is now.

Take Control and Be Prepared
It’s important to be prepared for the big, and even the unexpected life moments ahead of us. And having a clear plan will help you stay on track and reach your financial goals.

Start on your path to success by making the commitment to take control of your financial future. Once committed, remember to keep it simple (www.bankatfirst.com/savingspage.asp).

Establish clear and attainable goals for your savings.
Schedule an appointment (www.bankatfirst.com/client_services.asp) with your banker to establish your savings plan based on your current income and expenses. A goal of at least 10 percent of your monthly income is a very good start.
Commit to putting away money each pay period.

Feel More Secure
Be prepared for the “just in case” moments with a reserve fund. When the unexpected happens, you’ll feel secure knowing you have the resources set aside to get through it. It’s important to contribute to your reserve fund every month with a goal to set aside three to six months worth of living expenses. Remember, these funds are for emergencies. It may be tempting to dip into this account but remember this is a cushion for life’s unexpected financial setbacks.

Not sure how to get started? Take a look at First Financial’s Reserve Fund Worksheet to organize your financial information and savings goals. Then be sure to sit down with a First Financial banker to review your account choices and start saving.

Use These Simple, Helpful Tips
Don’t forget these simple, valuable tools and techniques that can make your savings program easy and convenient:

Keep track with a financial journal. Record your goals and lessons learned from past experiences and the recent recession.
Take advantage of direct deposit and automatic transfers (www.bankatfirst.com/conv_services.asp) to help build your savings. These tools help you pay yourself first. When a portion of your pay goes directly into savings, you’re less likely to spend it.
Stay in control of your accounts through your bank’s online solutions (www.bankatfirst.com/online_bank_personal.asp) including e-Statements and mobile banking for easy, 24/7 access
Develop a plan to pay off your credit card balances. Set an amount greater than the minimum payment to help reduce your balance each month. Once your balance is paid off, you’ll have additional funds to build your savings each month.

Contact a First Financial banker today to get started or visit us online to find the best banking center location (www.bankatfirst.com/maps/) near you.

1-877-322-9530
www.bankatfirst.com