Establish Good Saving Habits Pay yourself first. If you wait to see what's left over, you are less likely to save. Determine in advance how much money you plan to keep on deposit each month. If you receive a raise, increase the amount of money deposited into your savings account. Take advantage of bank technology. Consider automatic payroll deductions or automatic transfer from checking to savings. Arrange to have a specific amount transferred to your savings account every pay period. Pay your bills on time-and pay more than the minimum amount. Although 97 percent of Americans pay their bills on time, some consumers find themselves paying late fees. Alleviate the hassle by scheduling time once a month to pay bills, and put them in the mail with enough time to get to the creditor. Determine needs versus wants.Do you need to eat out every day for lunch? Do you need that gourmet cup of coffee in the morning? By bringing your lunch to work a couple days a week, you can save hundreds of dollars a year. Consider investments. For long-term goals, such as saving for a home or retirement, look into bonds, mutual funds, real estate and stocks.  Consult the bank.Ask which package of bank products and services would best suit your needs. Your banker is the best source of information about accounts and interest rates available. Download the Family Savings Goal Worksheet here from the ABA Education Foundation FRAUD TIP #2 Write checks using a pen with thick, dark ink and draw lines to fill in gaps in the amount and payee fields.  Purchase high quality checks with built-in security features that help make them tamper-resistant to check washing or counterfeiting.  Store your extra checks in a secure place. Debit Card Users: Please Note When it comes to fraud detection, we’re always looking out for you   We are participating in the FDIC's Transaction Account Guarantee Program. Under this program, through December 31, 2010, all noninterest-bearing transaction accounts are fully guaranteed by the FDIC for the entire amount in the account. Coverage under the Transaction Account Guarantee Program is in addition to and separate form the coverage available under the FDIC's general deposit insurance rules. Transaction accounts earning interest over .25% are not fully guaranteed by the FDIC for the entire amount in the account.