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Financial planning or financial downfall? That depends on the individual executing the budget.

The elements of financial planning include having an effective budget. The downside of this is that if a person is not committed to making the budget work, it can be a financial downfall. Commitment is vital when it comes to executing a budget. The layout is there, but the person must take the next step to make it work. The power is in their hands.

A financial downfall can take place when the person begins digging a deeper hole monetarily. For example, they may spend more than they bring home. This happens often when a person is in denial of their financial situation. For many, the hardest part of financial planning is facing the truth about their own finances.

Many are reluctant to accept that they are in financial trouble. As a result, an individual may become rebellious to the entire process. They go into a downward cycle. This is a sad reality. When a person sabotages their own success, it can yield undesirable outcomes. Some of those outcomes result in economic loss and higher debt.

The flip side to budgeting is that a person corrects their financial situation. If a person commits to the budget and takes it seriously, they will begin to see things change for them. For example, a person begins allocating certain amounts of money towards bills before they arrive. They will begin to see that the expenses get paid on time. This will make them feel better about themselves. In turn, they will be motivated to continue using the budget.

Another way this can take place is if the person abides by the “delayed gratification” principle. Delayed gratification is simply denying ones self of an item they can’t afford for the time being. It means to wait until the money available to purchase something. When a person waits until the funds are there, they will notice that they have more control. This control will help them to feel confident, because they will realize that they can deny themselves and be alright with it.

So you see, the results of a good budget depend on the individual and their amount of dedication. It is what they make it. If a person wants to be successful financially, they will choose to be successful. However, if they does not commit to the process, they risk losing time and money. Time and money are too precious to lose or waste. The worst case scenario is that a person wakes up one morning and sees that they have allowed 5 years of their life pass without changing anything. This does not need to be the case. A person can change their financial life and following a good budget can help.

Recently I have been attending a great deal of events to network with others in the Chicago business community and as usual have found the topic for this message. It seems to me that way too many individuals I have met are more concerned about semblance then they are about substance, and I don’t want you to be led astray. I believe that far too many people are impressed with people who have impressive titles. They believe that if someone has a M.D., PHD. , JD., or MBA he or she is insightful and wise. Well don’t let that fool you, because degrees and titles mean absolutely nothing in the real business world. Some of the dumbest people I have ever met had advanced degrees behind their names and some of the smartest people I ever met don’t even know what those degrees are. Hell I have one of those myself.

Aristotle made the distinction between titles and accomplishment when he wrote, “Dignity does not consist in possessing honors, but in deserving them.”

A title is just a piece of paper. I believe what’s important is your ability, not your title. In life as in sports you have to prove your self. Do you believe IBM cared if Bill Gates had initials/titles? Heck no! They were interested in his product. All they wanted was for him to crank out that software. The bottom line was, are you competent- can you produce? And that is the way I feel it should be competence-performance, believe me that’s the way it is in sports. Just because Michael Jordan shows up you don’t think all the other players say, ” Oh, Michael here we lost the game.” No way! They’re going to make him prove he’s the best every time he walks on the court. They could care less that he is considered the best player ever to play the game. Of course, Jordan can prove his worth when he walks on the court; he’s worked his whole life in order to develop his skills. He did not stop training after he was recognized as the greatest player in his sport. He forged on because he knew he would have to prove himself over and over again.

Unfortunately, that’s not the case with most Chicagoans. They get a degree or title and they tend to rest on their laurels. I believe this is a large mistake of significant consequences. Through that kind of immobility you will never grow, and you will never change. I think we need to recognize a basic law of nature; that which does not grow dies. A life that is lived within fixed limits and travels only the well-worn paths of habit and routine is diminished greatly by failing to recognize that we live in a constant state of change. In fact, we live in a fast paced dynamic society that just doing nothing we fall way behind.

As I mentioned before, in life you have to prove yourself each and every day. You can’t rest on your accolades. Once you think you have it made, you will reach a cumulative point, inertia will breed, and before you know it you will be on a backslide. I believe that it’s in your best interest to never be totally dissatisfied, but to be always unsatisfied. I don’t care where you are in life, you are still nowhere.

Wherever you are you are just beginning. There is more to be realized by a hundred fold than where you are now. Consequently, we should always be reaching out, experimenting, learning, and growing. The pursuit of greatness is a life-long activity. Each day we should learn something new about the world, and in so doing we will never again be the same. You have to work long and hard if you want to really grow. And always remember that which does not grow, dies.

Hopefully, you are already at the stage where you are looking for funds to start or expand your business. In this article, we will explain some of the different ways to find financing. Due to the high cost of setting up a business, determining how you will finance your business is crucial.

Loans are a time-tested way of raising capital for your business. We would love to tell you that it is as easy as going to the bank and asking for money, but as you probably know by now it is quite the opposite. We wrote the following steps to help you raise the right amount of capital to get your business going.

Step 1: Decide how much money you need.

This is an obvious but often misunderstood statement. Entrepreneurs, particularly start-ups, when budgeting for their business often focus on what they will need to get their business going, or to finance a particular project without accounting for working capital or cash for contingencies. This is dangerous because lack of working capital can mean the death knell for the business.

On the other hand, some entrepreneurs, again start-ups, drastically overestimate their costs. This will make lenders not only to question the entrepreneurs’ assumptions, but also question whether they know what they are doing.

Now that we decided on an amount, lets focus on the lender.

a) If you are a start-up:

Loan amounts below $25,000 are considered smaller, micro-loans. Not all banks will be interested in doing a SBA guaranteed loan for small amounts (more below). Micro-lenders and Alternative-lenders are better equipped to handle this type of loans. These lenders usually make smaller loans and have a community focus. Look to credit unions, local development corporations and other non-profit lenders.

A Small Business Administration (SBA) guaranteed loan is a guarantee to the lender. If the borrower defaults, the lender is guaranteed repayment of a portion of the loan by the SBA. You are still liable for the loan, so your obligation does not go away. From our experience, an amount of $50,000 and above is the usual range for SBA loans. The higher the amount requested the more the lender would look for collateral to secure the loans. Start-ups and existing businesses can apply for SBA guaranteed loans.

b) If you are an existing business:

If you own a company that has documented sales (you will need to show previous years’ tax statements) then you can apply for conventional bank loans. These loans are usually easier to apply, and may have lower interest rates. Normally for a conventional bank loan, you will need to be in operations for at least 2 years.

c) Set your expectations:

The bank does not want to own your business. It is highly unlikely that you will get a loan for a 100% percent of the project cost. You will need to put down a co-payment. Although the minimum co-payment varies by industry and lender, expect to put down at least 20%-30% or more of the cost of the project.

Step 2: Find out your credit score.

You should check your credit score and look over your credit report to make sure there are no problems. A credit score of above 650-680 is considered “Good”, but it does not mean you will get a loan. A credit score in the 700-800’s is very good and increases your chance of getting approved.

You can request your credit report from one of the reporting agencies, or use one of the many online services available to check your score.

Step 3: Start researching your options.

Start weighing all your options. Think of ways to strengthen your loan application. Can you find a co-signer? Bring in a partner with good credit or experience? Invest more cash into the business? If you think that you are not a strong candidate for a business loan, you can present the lender with options to increase your chances.

Step 4: Start writing the business plan and create the financial projections.

The business plan is more than a plan—it is a tool that helps you evaluate your business concept, your product or service, and discusses how to implement your ideas. A business plan is also a tool to obtain investors, lenders, and strategic partners. You can find many resources and opinions on the Internet as well as your local bookstore on how to build an effective business plan. A lender will usually require a comprehensive business plan as well as a projected 1-year cash flow projection (month-by-month), 3 years income statements, a balance sheet, a statement of sources and uses of funds, and a loan amortization schedule. One mistake that we usually see is that the figures on the Business Plan do not match the figures on the financial projection. Double-check your work before sending it to the bank.

Step 5: Find a lender

Finding the right lender is not easy; each lender has its own criteria for lending. However you can use the list below to get an idea of what type of institution is a better fit for your loan needs.

a) Commercial Banks

Banks are one of the largest small business lenders but their approach to lending varies. Commercial Banks decisions are based on your strength as a borrower (a good credit score, personal financial statements, experience and collateral) the banks goals for the period and their lending philosophy. Banks may be looking to expand their small business loan consumer base; others may focus on larger loans or a specific industry.

You will need a high credit score if you are applying for a bank loan (with or without the SBA guarantee). Although, this is not an absolute rule for all banks, we found that a credit score over 700 is a better predictor on the success of a loan application. The bank may look for collateral (home equity, saving, etc) if you are applying for amounts over $50,000.

The borrower’s personal financial situation is key for the application. The bank’s underwriter will analyze the person’s net worth; as well as look at her previous earnings, length of credit history, among other factors.

For lower amounts the bank may not require a business plan. However, if there is a particular weakness in the loan application, the loan officer may ask the borrower to submit a business plan and financial projections.

b) Non-Bank lenders

These institutions do not conduct consumer banking but offer business services and business loans. Lenders’ requirements vary depending on the institution, and some prefer lending to specific industries. The Non-bank lender may take longer to process your loan application than a regular bank, but they can approve loans that banks find too risky.

Non-Bank lenders usually require a business plan and ample documentation with the loan application. Compared to banks these lenders have more flexibility working with lower credit scores as long as the borrower has the necessary experience and collateral.

c) Region specific Lenders

There are neighborhood specific for-profit/non-profit lenders that have more flexible lending terms. For example: Credit Unions and Community Development Organizations may lend to specific neighborhoods. The nature of your business and the reason why you are requesting the loan should fit with the organizations’ goals.

d) Micro and Alternative lenders
Micro and Alternative Lenders lend to riskier borrowers. These borrowers usually have low credit scores or they are just building credit, also they don’t have a strong financial history and have little or no collateral. These institutions lend lower amounts and charge higher interest rates.

Step 6: Prepare the loan application package
A “Loan Package” is the paperwork you submit to the bank in order to apply for a loan. The Loan Package includes the following:

• Business Plan
• Business Financial Projections
• Personal Financial Information
• Personal Tax Statements
• Information about business, location, sales contracts, etc.
• Business Owners’ Resumes

Step 7: Waiting

Loan applications are approved or declined much quicker than people think. A lender can approve an SBA express loan within 36 hours. Regular commercial loans have similar processing times. You should expect to get an answer within 2 weeks, and hopefully close the loan (get access to the money) within another 2 weeks. However, if the institution needs more documentation, or if the loan is for a larger amount, then it might take longer to process the loan, especially SBA loans.

As the name suggests, airline credit cards are credit cards associated with air travel. Airline credit cards are becoming popular as more and more people are opting for air travel. They can be used for a particular airline or for several airlines and is also an excellent means for saving on travel expenses. A variety of airline miles credit cards are available in the market. Understanding certain basic factors of airline credit cards can arm you to get a better deal.

Why Should I Opt for An Airline Credit Card?

The simple reason why people opt for an airline credit card is that it saves on travel expenses. Often times, it works best for a frequent traveler. The benefits offered vary from one type of credit card to another. The primary features of the card also varies with each airline miles credit card.

Apart from saving on travel expenses, there are several other benefits involved. Several types of insurance associated with travel are offered by most airline miles credit cards, including lost baggage insurance and car rental insurance. The coverage provided under travel accident insurance is far above what would be considered normal coverage. Occasional freebies are also offered by some airline credit cards.

How Does an Airline Credit Card Work?

Most airline miles credit cards follow a method of giving points for the dollars spent on the card. The way the points are counted differs from one card to another, but most of the airline miles credit cards follow a point system which is quite similar. To make use of the points, you need to have a minimum number, which varies with each card. When you have the desired amount of points, you can substitute the points with airline miles. Now, how the points are substituted again depends on the type of credit card you opt for.

Certain airline credit cards offer bonus points. Bonus points are offered when you make use of an airline credit card with other products, services and merchandise purchases.

How to Select an Airline Credit Card?

The key to selecting an airline miles credit card depends on the way you travel. If you are in the habit of traveling by a single airline, you can choose a credit card that does business with your favorite airline. Things are a bit tough if you are in the habit of frequently changing the airline you travel. Then you should choose a card that can match with your traveling habits.

Two important things to keep in mind while selecting an airline credit card are the annual fees and interest rates. You should make sure that the annual fee does not wash away all the other benefits you get from the credit card. It is a well known fact that airline credit cards carry a high interest rate. The APR can even be increased if you make even a single late payment with some airline credit cards. So make sure you keep up with your monthly payments.

The freebies and benefits offered by each airline credit card vary. You should take into account all the benefits offered by the different companies before selecting your credit card. Some of the benefits can be very handy while you are traveling.

The best place to search for an airline credit card is the Internet. Information regarding a huge selection of airline credit cards is available online where you can compare for the price and benefits offered by each company.

Your choice of banking services is a fundamental decision that will have an enormous effect on the success of your small business. Starting a small business is a stressful enough experience as it is without having to worry about your banking package; this is why making the right decision early on is advisable. If you can create a settled financial platform for your small business, this foundation can be the perfect starting block on a path to success.

It may be an added worry as you attempt to sort out business premises, suppliers and employees but if you can find the right banking package early on, it is a factor that will essentially look after itself. So if you are starting a small business; read on and find helpful advice to aid your decision of which banking services to opt for.

If your small business is operating as a limited company you will definitely need a business account. It may seem like an inconvenience but when it comes to the time of your of tax returns, you will bless the decision to utilise a specialist business banking package. A business account means that you finances will be easily read, with dedicated statements and reports it will be possible for you to easily cross reference transactions giving a clear picture of income and expenditure.

If you are starting a small business for the first time you should definitely make use of the bank’s small business banking team. These advisory services may come at a premium but it will be well worth while in terms of the experience you will gain. The small business advice you will gain access to as a business banking customer usually offers a great deal of support for those starting a company, pooling years of knowledge and experience, passing this on to you. Arguably, these advisory services are a brilliant way to gain impartial advice that comes at a small premium to your existing banking charges.

Charges in particular should form a large element in our choice of banking package. Often the initial offers given to small business are temporary and subsequently an in depth study of how the charges will change after the interim period should be made. It is often the case that banks will attempt to lure small business customers with high interest rates. In the main these should be avoided, it is rare that a business will receive enough revenue to generate the interest promised by the banks early on. Instead of interest rates your main concern when signing up to a bank account should be the charges you will incur in the long term.

Most banks, in addition to the small banking advice teams will offer your business other services that form part of your baking package. At this stage you should take into account how your business will make best use of these services. For instance, if you operate out of working hours, telephone and internet banking options can be considered an ideal way to have access to your finances. It is worth checking however if these services come at a premium or are included in your basic monthly charges.

After considering these factors when selecting your account package it is time to choose a bank, try and gain as much information on the bank from friends, colleagues and family before opening account. With personal recommendations you will be able to make a well informed choice. After all the considerations have been made, head to the bank ad build a rapport with your account manager. By following this advice you will be able to construct a solid financial platform for your small business.

Online unsecured loans as the name suggests are unsecured in nature. You don’t have to place any collateral against the loan amount to avail an online unsecured loan. Online unsecured loans can be availed by filling up an online application form. With online unsecured loan you can avail an amount ranging from £5000 to £25000. The repayment duration for online unsecured loans ranges from 5 – 15 years

ONLINE UNSECURED LOANS: FEATURES

Online unsecured loans as the name suggests are unsecured in nature. You don’t have to place any collateral against the loan amount to avail an online unsecured loan. Online unsecured loans can be availed by filling up an online application form. With online unsecured loan you can avail an amount ranging from £5000 to £25000. The repayment duration for online unsecured loans ranges from 5 – 15 years. The loan amount depends upon various factors like credit status, repayment ability etc. being unsecured in nature online unsecured loans carry high rate of interest, this is because lenders take risk by advancing loans without any security. But you can avail an online unsecured loan at competitive interest rate with good research. It’s easy to obtain an online unsecured loan if you are having a good credit status. But you’ll have to show certain documents like job proof, income proof, and bank statement. People with bad credit status can also avail online unsecured loans but for that they’ll have to convince lenders regarding their repayment ability.

ONLINE UNSECURED LOANS: USES

There are many uses of online unsecured loans. Unsecured loans are risk free loans as you don’t have to risk any of your personal properties to avail it. It can be availed by both tenants and homeowners who don’t want to risk their property. Online unsecured loans carry lower interest rate compared to other unsecured loans because of online availability.

It can also be availed by people having bad credit status. You can use online unsecured loans to meet any of your personal or professional needs like renovation of home, car, paying debts etc. applying for a loan online has many benefits. You don’t have to visit the lenders personally to apply for loan. The transaction is a lot faster and less time consuming. Also it requires less paperwork. Online unsecured loans are approved within very short time because it is unsecured in nature. To apply online you just have to fill up an online application form.

ONLINE UNSECURED LOANS: SUGGESTIONS

There are many loan sharks that provide fake offers, so beware while applying for online unsecured loans. Always look for well known lenders having good reputation in the market. Once the loan gets approved pay all the loan installments on time to avoid any problems in future. Bad credit borrowers can improve their credit score by paying the loan installments on due time; this can be very useful for them to avail any loan in future.

Absolutely, because we are the leader of innovations and we will lead whatever the new trend in lifestyle. In the new millennium, everything changes, from home appliances, to cars, to food production, to telephone and of course, they way we banking. Electronic banking changes the needs and the way of life of the consumers.

Because of the convenience of computer, telephone, credit/debit cards, people could do any activities wherever they are. People likes to travel, they want convenience on any activities wherever they are. They want to go with current lifestyle, so their way of banking goes with their lifestyles.

There are several alternatives in banking for consumer’s convenience. They are:

1. Phone banking

2. Internet banking

3. Preferred rewards Debit Card

4. Debit ATM Cards

5. Direct Deposits

Each style of banking mentioned above have a unique convenience to each one of you. You could sign in for one or you could get them all, it is your lifestyle.

PHONE BANKING: It is safe, fast and convenient way of banking. It gives you freedom and personalizes your banking anytime and anyplace. You could travel in other countries and you bring your bank with you. You could use any touch phone or personalize it with your most innovative cellular phone and your banking is one within 24 hours.

INTERNET BANKING: This is another way of e-banking system. This is convenient, safe and reliable way of banking. You could do your banking at home, at work (during your work free time), on travel for 24 hours using your laptop or personal computer. Another way of doing your banking conveniently wherever you are.

PREFERRED REWARD DEBIT CARD: This card allows you to use it personally like your personal checks. You could purchase anything in any store using this card. In using this card, you could earn points, which you could use to dine, to shop and other purchases according to rewards giveaway. Not only this banking system is for convenience, but also giving you two way rewards by using this debit card banking system.

DEBIT ATM CARD: It will give you banking convenience within 24 hours, 7 days a week, anywhere, any place and when you are on vacation. You don’t have to worry the availability of cash when you are away from home. It is available in almost all countries.

DIRECT DEPOSIT: Another electronic convenient banking system. It is safe, fast and save you time and money, for the free is service. Your payroll checks, social security checks, retirement and other income checks are deposited safely in your bank. Either, the transfer is to your saving account or checking account, you are worry free; it is safe and fast and no worry of losing or mishandling your checks.

The above e-banking is for your convenience and safety, but you have to check yourself by verifying the bank if they are offering these kinds of electronic banking. Check also their websites to learn e-banking on a certain bank of your choice; there are hundreds of banks offering e-banking. Always check the safety of their handling and also check their policy for you safety, before signing.

When opening a business account with a bank there is a large amount of documentation that is essential in order for the account to be opened. Naturally you must give the bank a clear idea of what the business is, and what it intends to do. Additionally most bank managers will want to see details of where the start up finances came from; whether it is your personal capital, or funding from a group of investors. The reason these are needed by the bank is because in order to support your business, they need information on how development will occur, and the security of your start up capital.

As part of the bank recognising your goals and objectives it is likely that the account manager will want to see a detailed business plan. This plan is a simple enough document to put together and should include information on the operations, the long and short term objectives of the business and what types of strategies will be utilised in order to achieve these goals. In addition, most business plans should include detailed financial forecasts, usually based on the estimated income over the next three to five years. The bank will normally use this information to assess whether the goals are realistic and to evaluate the level of success in the coming years.

As well as the business plan, the representative will want to see a number of other documents in order for you to open a business account. The first of these documents cover identification, such as passports or driving licences for yourself and any other partners; the bank needs to see these to prevent any illegal money laundering operations. For limited companies, a Certificate of Incorporation will be required although sole traders will need no such certification. As well as these two key elements a credit history and a list of signatories will also have to be presented before an account can be opened.

When selecting an account it is important to remember bank charges. Obviously details of bank charging policy will be available in the accompanying literature; this is information worth reading and understanding fully. The majority of charges are compiled in a monthly or quarterly format although some charges, for instance those relating to transactions can be based upon a pro rata basis.

Many business owners find it difficult to get down to the bank during office hours due to the restrictions of owning and running a business. Fortunately the majority of banks now have internet and phone banking options meaning that finances are either a click or phone call away at any point during the day or night. Many will also want to utilise services such as direct debit that allow customers to make payments automatically, meaning that bills and rent are never forgotten and hence no financial penalties are levied.

Naturally opening a business account for many is a daunting and difficult task. Unfortunately it is an essential part of starting a company. Having a specialist account, even as a sole trader can make tax returns and accounting functions that much easier. Also, a bank can provide great levels of support in terms of advice and hence these services should be utilised extensively. A final tip is to always build a good rapport with the bank’s representatives, by keeping them on side as well as giving them a clear idea of your goals and objectives it is possible to create a solid financial base for a company.

Ever since Stacey Smith got her credit card, she has been trying to decode the alien credit card terms that the credit card companies use. Deciphering credit card terms is a task in itself! The credit card companies use fancy language, which we don’t use in our everyday use. So much so that even filling the application form is a pain. What is needed is a good credit card glossary to enable mortals like us to understand credit card terms.

We have complied a simple to understand credit card glossary. In simple words, it is card which can be used to obtain cash, goods or services up to a stipulated credit limit. The glossary covers some of the most commonly used credit card terms.

Lets begin with the most basic “account number”. It refers to a unique number that is assigned to every credit card. Next in the credit card terms come “annual fees”. Some of the credit card holders are charged annually for holding the card. This is known as annual fees. Another credit card term that would be used frequently is “APR”. It is the rate at which card companies charge you every year for your account.

No credit card terms dictionary is complete without the term “balance transfer”. It simply means moving your credit balance from one credit account to another. It helps in saving your interest payments. A credit card term that most people are afraid to come across in credit card terms is “bad credit”. It means poor or bad credit rating. It can be caused by late payments, exceeding card limits etc.

In credit card terms, the next word would be, “cash advance”. Cash advance means a loan taken through your credit card, using an ATM. Then in credit card glossary comes “credit report”. It is a record of your credit history that is usually consulted by lenders in order to decide whether they should lend you money or not, and how much.

In credit card terms, you will also find the term “debit card”. Debit card allows you to spend money on the balance available in your account – usually from a current or savings account.

Next in our list of credit card terms is “grace period”. It is the time period between the transaction date and billing date when the payment can be made without incurring any interest rate.

If you are going through a money crunch then this credit card term is essential for you to understand – the “minimum payment”. Minimum payment is the smallest payment that you can pay to keep your account in good standing.

Another very important credit card term to understand is “PIN number”. It is the security code that you need for authorization while making money transaction through your credit card.

Next credit card term is “pre approved”. This means a customer who has already passed the initial credit bureau evaluation.

Here’s to hoping that you would now feel more confident about using your credit cards with at least the credit card terms making some sense to you!

CITIZENS BANK

Citizens Bank also known as Citizens Financial Group has 1,600 office. Citizens Bank’s are located are on the East coast in New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Vermont.

Citizens Bank was established in 1828 originally called the “High Street Bank” in Rhode Island. In 2007 they partnered with several other banks including: Charter One, First National and Great bank.

They offer five types of checking accounts beginning with the basic checking account and ending with the combination checking/savings account.

1) PERSONAL CHECKING ACCOUNT WITH INTEREST

– Minimum $50 to open an account

– No monthly fee if you maintain a balance of $1,000 ( under a thousand is $10.)

– Free online banking and Bill pay

– Free debit card with rewards (1 point for every dollar spent)

2) GREEN CHECKING ACCOUNT

– Minimum $50 to open account

– No minimum balance

– No monthly fee

– Free online banking and Bill pay

– Free debit card with rewards (1 point for every 1 dollar spent)

– NO interest account

3) CIRCLE GOLD CHECKING WITH INTEREST

– Minimum to open $100

– Monthly fee $20 (for balances over $20,000 no monthly fee)

– Earned interest is currently 1.90%

– Free checks

– Overdraft protection

– Free debit card with rewards ( 1 point for every 1 dollar spent)

– Free online banking and Bill pay

– No fee money orders, cashier checks, travelers checks

– Free ATM withdrawals at ANY bank or ATM machine

– Free safe deposit box

* This checking account is best used with one or more accounts to maintain the $20,000 minimum. Accounts can include savings, retirement, CD’s or mortgages.

4) CIRCLE CHECKING WITH INTEREST

– Minimum $100 to open account

– $7,500 balance maintained or a $15 monthly fee

– Interest is currently .25%

– Offers all the same benefits as the Gold Account

* Follows along the same guidelines as the Gold account for combined accounts.

5) CIRCLE CHECKING ACCOUNT

– Minimum $100 to open account

– $5,000 balance maintained or a $15 monthly fee

– Offers all the benefits from the above accounts

– NO interest offered on this checking account

If you live on the East coast Citizens bank is a good choice. I banked with them for several years. They have an excellent customer service center and I never had a problem with them.

Sources Per Helium Requirments

www.firstcitzens.com

www.citizensbank.com