Celebrate & Save: Your 2025 Holiday Budgeting Guide from CCB

The holidays are a time of warmth, connection, and community. They’re also a season of opportunity – opportunity to give, to share, and to invest in the places we call home. At CCB, we know what matters: meaningful moments, smart decisions, and a bank that’s truly local. Because here, “Where Community Counts,” we believe in helping you do more than just navigate the holiday whirlwind. We believe in empowering you to “Grow Local with CCB.”

Here’s how you can enjoy a jolly holiday season in 2025 – with peace of mind for your finances and joy for your community.

1. Budget for Joy (Not Stress)

The heart of partnering with CCB as your locally owned and operated independent bank this season is making your dollars work for you: for memories, for giving, and for community. Start by creating a clear holiday budget – carve out what you want to spend on gifts, experiences, entertaining, travel, or local outings.

At CCB, our team can show you budgeting tools – either online or in-person – that help you monitor your spending, assign a limit, and keep holiday cheer from turning into January regret.

Tip: Consider a dedicated holiday savings fund. Set aside a little each pay period now, so when the lights go on and the cookies get baked, you’re ready. And don’t forget to factor in those local touches: supporting a local artisan, grabbing a bite at a local café, choosing a gift from your own region rather than from afar. That’s the act of growing local in action!

2. Use the Right Checking and Savings Tools

Your day-to-day banking matters now more than ever. Whether you’re keeping an eye on spending via the CCB Advantage Checking or building a holiday-savings cushion with the CCB Advantage Savings – we’ve got you covered.

These accounts are designed with your local life in mind: access at our branches, ATMs around the region, online and mobile banking for when you’re on the go (or on holiday). Use them to separate regular expenses from holiday expenses – helping you keep the season merry and the budget sane.

3. Holiday Credit Smart: Cards & Loans with Purpose

Sometimes you want a little extra flexibility – maybe you find the perfect gift earlier than planned, or an event pops up that’s worth fitting in. At CCB, you’ll find credit-card options and personal-loan opportunities that are designed for your life in our region. We’ll walk with you through the details: rates, rewards, repayment – making sure it fits with your overall holiday plan.

Just remember: borrowing has value when it’s intentional. Use it to plan, not panic. And the best plan? Use your tools, stay in control, and keep your sight on the bigger picture – next holidays, next year, next chapter.

4. Digital Banking & Security: Stay Safe in the Season’s Hustle

Between community events, family dinners, and local shopping, life moves fast in November and December. Thankfully, CCB’s online banking and mobile app make it easy to check balances, move money, and review transactions anytime – whether you’re home, at a holiday craft fair, or on a quick town-trip.

And because the season is also prime time for scams and cyber threats, we place extra focus on security. Our team provides resources so you know what to watch for – from phishing emails to unfamiliar apps to shady links. At CCB, we believe protecting your finances is part of what it means for us when we say “Where Community Counts.”

5. Grow Local: Make Your Holiday Count for Your Neighborhood

Here’s something special: when you shop locally, support a community event, or join a hometown holiday celebration, you’re doing more than buying or gifting – you’re investing in our region. At CCB, we’re proud to back local businesses, sponsor hometown events, and be part of the fabric of this place. When our community thrives, so do our customers.

Here’s how you can join in:

  • Choose a local merchant for a gift or festive meal: keep the dollars circulating in our counties.
  • Attend a community holiday event (parade, tree lighting, craft fair) and bring a friend or family member.
  • Consider rounding up a little extra for your local charity.
  • Bank with CCB: when you bank locally, decisions are made locally, and your bank is in the neighborhood, not just online.

6. Reach Out – We’re Here to Help

No matter where you are in your planning – just getting started, mid-way through, or looking ahead to post-holiday wrap-up – our CCB team is ready. Sit down with us or give us a call. We’re happy to go through your goals, explore account options, or just bounce ideas. Because at CCB, you’re not just a customer – you’re a neighbor.

This holiday season, let your financial confidence match your holiday spirit. Let your budget reflect your values. Let your banking reflect your community. And let your choices bring joy – to you, your loved ones, and the place we all call home.

From all of us at CCB: Thank you for being part of our community. Wishing you a season of peace, purpose, and celebration as we enter the holiday season.

Grow Local with CCB. Where Community Counts.