FDIC-logo-01

What Happens If You Keep Too Much Money in Your Checking Account?

Young smiling pretty adult woman working on laptop while checking home invoices

Life is so busy these days that it’s easy to leave your checking account on autopilot. Your income flows in, your bills go out, and maybe you’ll have something extra in there at the end of each month. Hopefully those extra funds accumulate over time and give you a financial cushion you can use in […]

Best Way to Use a Savings Account: Emergency Fund, Goals, or Both?

Life planning: Saving for education, family, emergencies, and goals.

Opening a savings account is one of the most straightforward things you can do for your financial health. The harder part is knowing how to use it. Should the money be for emergencies? A specific goal? Both at once? The answer matters more than most people realize, and getting clear on it changes how consistently […]

8 Reasons Why People Switch Banks

Woman sitting on couch using her smartphone to open a bank account online. Time to switch.

Americans tend to stick with their banks for a long time; in many cases, it’s for more than a decade or most of their lives. Their reasons to change banks might be because of fees, poor customer service, lack of transparency, or inadequate access to local branches. As a local community bank, many of our […]

What Makes a “Good” Checking Account in 2026?

Young couple looking at best checking account features

Your checking account is the center of your financial life. Every paycheck lands there, you likely pay most of your bills from it, and your daily purchases all use money living in that account. Yet most people spend more time choosing a new phone than the account that manages their daily money. In 2026, the […]

Should You Downsize in Retirement? A Guide for West Virginia Retirees

Older retired couple kayaking

Retirement is a milestone many people spend years preparing for. It brings the freedom to leave the daily grind behind and focus on what matters most. For many West Virginians, one of the biggest questions during this transition is: ‘Should I downsize in retirement?’ It’s a decision with both financial and emotional implications, making it […]

The Benefits of Banking with a Local Bank in West Virginia

Benefits of banking locally, woman with debit card

Is it Better to Bank with a Local Community Bank? People look for a new bank for many reasons. They could be unhappy with their current financial institution, want to avoid fees, or just moved to a new area. Whatever the reason, when people decide where to open a new bank account, they often weigh […]

Holiday Spending Recovery Tips for 2025

holiday debt pile

Many people end the holiday season with a little more around their waist, and a little less in their wallets and bank accounts. It’s normal to get caught up in wintertime festivities, where you avoid exercise and saving while eating and spending more. We’re not experts on dieting or physical fitness, but we can help […]

Checking vs. Savings: What’s The Difference?

checking account hero image

There are plenty of bank account options out there, but finding the right one for you can be hard. You may not even be sure which features and benefits you need and which you don’t. Whether you’re looking for a new checking account, wondering if you need a savings account, or both, keep reading to […]

Calculating Your Retirement Cost of Living in West Virigina

How to Retire in North Central WV Whether you just started your career in West Virginia, are considering moving to our region to be closer to family or take advantage of our low cost of living and scenic beauty, or have been a Mountaineer your whole life, planning for your retirement is an essential part […]

How To Choose The Right Checking Account

Whether you are opening your first checking account or looking for a better checking account in North Central West Virginia, there are many options to consider when it comes to finding the best one for you with the right benefits to meet your needs. Keep reading to learn about the different types of checking accounts available to […]

THIRD PARTY WEBSITE DISCLOSURE

You are leaving First Exchange Bank’s website and linking to a third party site. Please be advised that you will then link to a website hosted by another party, where you will no longer be subject to, or under the protection of, the privacy and security policies of First Exchange Bank. We recommend that you review and evaluate the privacy and security policies of the site that you are entering. First Exchange Bank assumes no liability for the content, information, security, policies or transactions provided by these other sites.