Financial Wellness & Education

A Joint Effort to Protect Consumers from Scams On March 5, 2026, federal, state, and local governments, non-profit organizations, and private companies are joining forces to help protect consumers from scams. Over the years, scams have grown and evolved in scale and sophistication. The Federal Trade Commission reported that consumers lost over $12.5 billion to scams in 2024- a 25% increase from 2023. Consumers lost more than $5.7 billion to investment scams and almost $2.95 billion to...

What it means for your Business AI is transforming the way businesses operate. From streamlining processes to predicting market trends, AI offers significant advantages. However, with these advancements come new risks, and one of the most pressing concerns for businesses today is the rise of AI-powered threats, such as deepfakes. Deepfakes are realistic but artificially manipulated audio, video, or image content created using AI. While this technology can have legitimate uses in...

The Billion-Dollar Cyber Threat Every Company Must Address Businesses worldwide are encountering a rapidly growing cybersecurity threat: Business Email Compromise (BEC). This sophisticated form of cyberattack has become one of the most financially damaging crimes, targeting companies of all sizes to steal sensitive information and funds. What is Business Email Compromise? Business Email Compromise is a type of cyberattack in which criminals use email fraud to manipulate employees,...

The FBI has issued a nationwide alert about criminals pretending to be financial institution support teams through calls, texts, emails, and fake websites. Their goal is to take over accounts by convincing customers to share login information or one-time passcodes. Here’s how to stay protected: Planters First Bank will never call, text, or email asking for your password or passcode. Don’t trust caller ID — scammers can spoof it. Hang up and call us directly. Only log in by...

The holiday season should be filled with joy—not stress. Unfortunately, it’s also the time of year when scammers try to take advantage of busy shoppers, generous givers, and hardworking small businesses. At Planters First Bank, your security is our priority. To help keep you and your business protected, we’ve rounded up the top fraud schemes we see spike each holiday season, plus helpful tips to stay safe. 1. Business Account Takeover Attempts Cybercriminals look for ways to...

Older adults are among the most targeted and most impacted by online scams. In fact, the FBI reports that Americans over 60 lose more money to cybercrime than any other age group. With cybercriminals constantly changing their tactics, staying safe online can feel overwhelming. Planters First Bank is proud to share Then & Now, a new initiative from the National Cybersecurity Alliance designed to help older adults—and their caregivers—protect themselves online. This stay safe...

Text messaging has become one of the fastest, most convenient ways to communicate—and unfortunately, it has also become a favorite tool for scammers. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reported that in 2023, consumers suffered over $437 million in losses due to SMS/text scams, an increase from $330 million in 2022. The median loss per victim was around $1,100, indicating a steady rise each year. Scams involving banks and financial institutions continue to be among the most...

If you’re a servicemember, you’re probably used to moving around every few years. Whether you’re moving a few states away or to another country, you might need to break a lease, sell a car, or redirect your mail to a new address — all things involving your personal information. While planning your next big move, help protect your sensitive info from scammers. If scammers get hold of personal details like your name, date of birth, and Social Security number, they might get access...

Planters First Bank is proud to join forces with the Independent Community Bankers of America® (ICBA) in partnership with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service on an initiative to help customers protect themselves from the growing threat of check fraud. In support of this initiative, Planters First Bank offers educational materials and personal guidance to ensure customers have the tools they need to safeguard their financial assets and respond if they experience check fraud. "At Planters...

Planters First Bank is committed to your financial safety and awareness, not just during National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW) from March 2-8, 2025, but all year round. NCPW is a collaborative effort among government agencies, consumer protection groups, and community banks like ours to empower individuals with knowledge about consumer rights and fraud prevention. Tips to Avoid Fraud: Watch for Money Laundering Schemes – Be cautious if someone asks you to move money through...

Have you ever received a package with items you didn’t order? If so, you might have been targeted by a “brushing” scam. This deceptive practice involves a scammer sending packages to your address without your consent, often to boost their product’s online ratings and popularity. Here’s what you need to know and how to protect yourself. What Is a Brushing Scam? In a brushing scam, scammers use your information to pose as a verified buyer on platforms like Amazon or eBay. They...

Planters First Bank will never call, email, or otherwise contact you to request your access ID, password, or other login credentials. If you receive such a request, do not provide any information. Scammers are at it again! If you receive a text message like this - delete it. This text message is a scam. Please note the fraud texts could have different URLs and are impacting a multitude of banks and credit unions. NEVER CLICK on links in unsolicited texts. Learn more about how to...