Mid-Year Financial Check-In: 5 Smart Moves to Make This July

Home Blog Mid-Year Financial Check-In: 5 Smart Moves to Make This July

Posted On: July 28, 2025 by Peoples Bank of Kankakee County in: General Personal Finances Saving

As we step into the second half of the year, July offers more than fireworks and family barbecues—it’s also the perfect time for a financial check-in. Whether your goals include buying a home, building savings, or simply staying on top of your budget, taking a moment to reflect and realign can set the stage for a stronger finish to the year.

At Peoples Bank, we believe that staying proactive about your financial health is one of the most empowering things you can do. Here are five simple steps to help you evaluate where you stand and plan your next moves:

1. Revisit Your 2025 Goals

Remember those financial resolutions you made back in January? Take a look at your progress. Have you stuck to your savings goals? Paid down debt? Maybe your priorities have shifted—and that’s okay. Use July as a reset point to fine-tune your goals for the remainder of the year.

2. Track Your Spending

Summer often brings extra expenses—travel, outings, back-to-school prep. Now’s a great time to review your bank statements and track where your money is going. You might spot patterns or subscriptions that are worth canceling. Awareness is the first step toward better control.

3. Evaluate Emergency Savings

If there’s one lesson we’ve learned over the years, it’s that life is unpredictable. Experts recommend having 3–6 months of expenses set aside. If you’re not quite there yet, don’t stress—but consider making a plan to build that cushion gradually.

4. Review Your Credit

Your credit health plays a major role in everything from car loans to mortgage rates. Take a few minutes this month to check your credit report for accuracy and look for opportunities to improve your score. You can request a free credit report at annualcreditreport.com.

5. Schedule a Financial Check-In

Think of this like your annual doctor’s visit—but for your money. Whether you meet with a financial advisor, chat with a banker, or simply spend time organizing your financial documents, regular check-ins keep you focused and on track.

July Is a Great Time to Rebalance

Summer is a season of energy, growth, and reflection. Taking even one or two small steps now can reduce stress, improve your confidence, and help you head into fall feeling more in control of your finances.

At Peoples Bank, we’re here to support your financial journey—whatever stage you’re in. From budgeting tools to expert guidance, we’re proud to be part of your mid-year momentum.

Ready to refocus your financial goals? Peoples Bank is here to help you move forward with clarity and confidence!

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.