Key Takeaways for Cybersecurity Awareness Month: Protecting Your Finances While Traveling This Holiday Season

Home Blog Key Takeaways for Cybersecurity Awareness Month: Protecting Your Finances While Traveling This Holiday Season

Posted On: October 5, 2023 by Peoples Bank of Kankakee County in: Cybersecurity Family Home

If you are planning to travel during the upcoming holiday season, Peoples Bank wants your journey to be memorable, cost-effective, and most importantly – safe. As we embrace the spirit of October’s Cybersecurity Awareness Month, remember the importance of safeguarding your finances while embarking on holiday travel. Keep reading as we guide you through tips to amplify your cybersecurity, as well as your savings!

Incorporating Essential Cybersecurity and Saving Measures During the Holidays

Early Planning

Just like cybersecurity requires proactive steps, early planning safeguards your travel experience. As the holiday season nears, flight, accommodation, and activity demand rise, causing prices to increase as well. By carefully organizing your trip early, you gain a significant edge. This approach not only helps you secure the best flight and lodging deals but also provides ample time for price comparison—a practice that mirrors the vigilance needed for online security.

Crafting a Realistic Budget

Crafting a sensible budget is essential for planning an affordable holiday getaway. Begin by researching your destination and listing all realistic expenses. This includes transportation, accommodations, meals, activities, and incidentals. Leave room for unexpected costs, just as you would in cybersecurity by preparing for unforeseen challenges.

Benefits of Group Travel

Just like teamwork bolsters online security, group travel offers shared moments and big savings. When you divide expenses for lodging and transportation and use group activity discounts, it reflects the idea of collective security. Group travel lets you enjoy memorable safe times together while also reaping significant financial benefits. By sharing costs, you're embracing a cooperative approach that works in both security and travel.

Exploring Affordable Activities

Choosing budget-friendly activities doesn't just save money—it creates richer experiences. To truly soak in the culture of your destination, explore free or low-cost attractions like parks, historic sites, and local markets. Many cities host discounted events during the holidays, such as concerts and art exhibitions, so plan to match your travel dates. Like cybersecurity's aim of balancing protection and user-friendliness, opting for secure and affordable activities enriches your journey while respecting your budget. Dive into cost-effective experiences that also immerse you in local life, just like integrating seamless security measures into your online routine.

Cost-Effective Dining

While enjoying local cuisine can enrich your travel, dining out for every meal can strain your wallet. To save money, consider these prudent dining strategies: Choose local dining options over tourist spots, relish street food stalls, food markets, and casual cafes for authentic tastes without the hefty prices. Additionally, when feasible, prepare your own meals. Just as adopting secure online habits safeguards you, these dining choices protect your financial well-being.

Use a Budget Tracking App

Budget-tracking apps can help travelers manage their expenses. These apps allow you to easily track your spending in real-time, sort your costs into categories, and establish limits for different parts of your trip. Much like cybersecurity tools safeguard your online activities, budget-tracking apps act as indispensable protectors of your financial well-being. Just as you strengthen your online presence with cybersecurity measures, these apps reinforce your financial journey, ensuring a smoother path ahead.

As we reflect on Cybersecurity Awareness Month, we recognize that effective budgeting aligns harmoniously with prudent online practices. Both effective budgeting and secure cybersecurity are essential when planning holiday travel. At Peoples Bank, we encourage you to prioritize cybersecurity while embarking on holiday adventures, ensuring a worry-free and enjoyable experience.

An overdraft occurs when you do not have enough money in your account to cover a transaction, but we pay it anyway. We can cover your overdrafts in two different ways:

We have standard overdraft practices that are available after your account has been open for 30 days and as long as you maintain your account in good standing.
We also offer an overdraft protection plan, Overdraft Protection Sweep, a link to a savings account. It may be less expensive than our standard overdraft practices. To learn more, ask us about this plan.

This notice explains our standard overdraft practices.

What are the standard overdraft practices that come with my account?

After your account has been open for 30 days and as long as you maintain your account in good standing, we do authorize and pay overdrafts for the following types of transactions:

Checks and other transactions made using your checking account number
Automatic bill payments

We do not authorize and pay overdrafts for the following types of transactions unless you ask us to (see below):

ATM transactions
Everyday debit card transactions

We pay overdrafts at our discretion, which means we do not guarantee that we will always authorize and pay any type of transaction.

If we do not authorize and pay an overdraft, your transaction will be declined.

What fees will I be charged if Peoples Bank of Kankakee County pays my overdraft?

Under our standard overdraft practices:

We will charge you a fee of up to $30 each time we pay an overdraft.
The maximum daily overdraft fee per presentment or item paid using the Overdraft Reserve Program is $150.00 per day.
No per item handling fee will be charged on de minimis overdrafts. De minimis overdraft for this policy means transactions that overdraw your account by $30 or less.
There is an overdraft fee of $5 per day that will be charged beginning the 4th consecutive business day your account is overdrawn.

Nonsufficient funds (NSF) fees - if an item drafted by you (such as a check) or a transaction you set up (such as a preauthorized transfer) is presented for payment in an amount that is more than the amount of money in your account and we decide not to pay the item or transaction, you agree that we can charge you an NSF fee for returning the payment. Be aware that such an item or payment may be presented multiple times by the merchant or other payee until it is paid, and that we do not monitor or control the number of times a transaction is presented for payment. You agree that we may charge you an NSF fee each time a payment is presented if the amount of money in your account is not sufficient to cover the payment, regardless of the number of times the payment is presented.

PAYMENT ORDER OF ITEMS - The law permits us to pay items drawn on your account in any order (for purposes of this section "items" means checks, orders and electronic transactions). To assist you in handling your account with us, we are providing you with the following information regarding how we process those items. When processing checks and orders drawn on your account our policy is to pay lower numbered checks and orders in numerical sequence, but electronic transactions are paid first in the order received. The order in which items are paid is important if there is not enough money in your account to pay all of the items that are presented. There is no policy that is favorable in every instance. If the smallest items are paid first, you may have fewer NSF or overdraft fees, but the largest, and perhaps more important items (such as rent or mortgage payments) might not be paid. However, if the largest items are paid first, your most important items might be paid but it may increase the overdraft or NSF fees if funds are not available to pay all of the items. We think our policy attains a reasonable balance between minimizing additional costs to you and paying your more important items. We encourage you to make careful records and practice good account management. This will help you to avoid creating items without sufficient funds and incurring the resulting fees.

What if I want Peoples Bank of Kankakee County to authorize and pay overdrafts on my ATM and everyday debit card transactions?

If you also want us to authorize and pay overdrafts on ATM and everyday debit card transactions after your account has been open for 30 days, you may opt in.

You have an ongoing right to change this consent at any time. If your overdraft privilege has been revoked for any reason, the opt-in or opt-out selection may not apply. Please contact your nearest office for more information.

Alternate ways to Opt In/Out or make changes:

By Phone. Our Customer Care Representatives can be reached at 815-936-7600.
By Mail. Peoples Bank of Kankakee County, 333 E. Court Street, Kankakee, IL 60901
In Person. Please visit your local office and ask a representative to help you decide which plan is best for you.