Identity theft goes far beyond a single stolen credit card number. As the bank's Security Officer, Daniel Hill joins Shanna Browning to dive into serious threats like the "Grandparent Scam," elder fraud, and the invisible danger of synthetic ID theft. This episode is a crucial guide to safeguarding your personal information. Daniel and Shanna explain what a credit freeze is, why it's the single most powerful tool for preventing new accounts from being opened in your name, and the proactive steps you can take to protect yourself and your family.

Credit Bureau Credit Freeze

• Equifax
• Experian
• TransUnion

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Fake emails, suspicious texts, and urgent calls—scammers are working overtime to trick you. In this episode, cybersecurity expert Ben Lawson, GM of Burk IT, joins the conversation to teach you how to spot the red flags of a phishing attack. You'll learn the psychological tricks of urgency and authority that fraudsters use to manipulate you, how to inspect a sender's email address, and hover over links to reveal the truth.

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Your bank is in your pocket, but is your account secure? Joined by Wesley Minton, COO & Information Security Officer at First Century Bank, we discuss the essential habits for staying safe in the digital world. This episode is a masterclass in personal cybersecurity, explaining what makes a truly "strong" password in the modern era and why Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) is the single most effective tool for protecting your account. We'll also cover simple rules for using public Wi-Fi and setting up alerts to turn your phone into a fraud detection system.

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The path to homeownership can feel overwhelming, but it doesn't have to be. In this episode, we break down the crucial first steps of the mortgage process. This episode is a jargon-free introduction to buying a home with confidence, explaining the critical difference between a pre-qualification and a pre-approval, how to understand your total monthly payment (or "DTI"), and the truth about the 20% down payment myth and other options available to first-time homebuyers.

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Is all your money piled into one checking or savings account? In this episode, Daniel and Shanna explore the financial toolbox of different bank accounts. We’ll explain the specific jobs of Checking, Savings, Money Market, and CD accounts. Learn how to use this "bucket system" to organize your finances, protect your emergency fund, and make your savings work harder for you by matching the right account type to your specific financial goals.

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Which card should you swipe at the checkout? It’s not about "good" vs. "bad"—it's about using the right tool for the right job. In this episode, we explore the fundamental differences between debit and credit cards, focusing on the crucial distinctions in fraud protection and liability. We’ll also cover how each card impacts your ability to build a credit history and earn rewards, and we'll provide a simple, hybrid strategy to get the best of both worlds: the security of credit and the discipline of debit.

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The word "budget" often brings up feelings of restriction and stress. In this episode, we reframe budgeting not as a financial diet, but as an empowering roadmap for your money. Daniel and Shanna explore simple, sustainable methods that you can actually stick with. We’ll teach you how to use the balanced 50/30/20 rule to categorize your spending without getting overwhelmed, and we’ll explore the power of the "Reverse Budget" for those who hate tracking every penny. Find the right method for your personality and feel in control of your cash flow.

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Why is it so hard to save money, even with the best intentions? In this episode, Daniel and Shanna are joined by First Century Bank President & CEO Rob Barger to discuss the single most powerful habit for building long-term wealth: Paying Yourself First. Rob explains the crucial mindset shift from "saving what's left" to treating savings as your most important bill. We’ll discuss how to start saving even if you feel you're living paycheck to paycheck and why automation is the secret weapon for effortless, consistent success.

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Your three-digit credit score holds incredible power over your financial life, affecting everything from loan rates to insurance premiums. But how is it actually calculated? In this deep dive, we pull back the curtain on the credit score formula, breaking down the five key ingredients that make up your score and revealing which ones matter most. We'll also bust common myths, like why you don't need to carry a credit card balance to build credit, and provide simple, practical habits you can start today to build a positive history.

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APR and APY sound almost the same, but one costs you money while the other makes you money. In this episode, Daniel and Shanna demystify these common but confusing acronyms with clear, real-world examples. We'll explore what APR (Annual Percentage Rate) really means for borrowers and why it includes more than just the interest rate. Then, we'll flip the script to explain how APY (Annual Percentage Yield) accounts for the magic of compounding interest, helping your savings grow faster. This is a foundational episode that will make you a smarter consumer and a more effective saver.

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