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Back-to-school season is an exciting time for students, parents, and educators, but it's also one of the busiest times of the year for scammers. As families shop for school supplies, pay activity fees, search for student housing, and apply for financial aid, cybercriminals look for opportunities to steal money, personal information, and account credentials.

Written by Mark Hostutler - Editor, American Community Journals From Veterinary School to Business Ownership When Dr. Nick Pope met his future wife, Dr. Elizabeth Pope, they were both students at the Oklahoma State University College of Veterinary Medicine and traveling down the same career path. Despite their passion for animals and shared dreams of becoming veterinarians, however, it was never their intention to one day work together.

Written by Mark Hostutler - Editor, American Community Journals A Strategic Acquisition Creates New Opportunities ‍ For decades, SSH's name has been associated with some of Philadelphia's most recognizable commercial properties, including 123 South Broad Street, the historic Center City tower known to movie fans as the fictional Duke & Duke headquarters in the classic film Trading Places. Today, the focus is on what's next.

Planning a summer getaway should be exciting, not stressful. But while you're focused on booking flights, packing bags, and planning activities, fraudsters may be looking for opportunities to target travelers who are away from their normal routines.

Written by Mark Hostutler - Editor, American Community Journals Building a successful business takes more than just vision—it requires the right financial partner. For entrepreneur Nancy Glass, founder of Glass Entertainment Group, Firstrust Bank has played a critical role in supporting her growth from startup to one of the top multimedia production companies in the world.

Scammers are becoming more sophisticated—and one of the most common tactics used today is imposter scams. In a recent real-life incident, a Firstrust customer received a phone call from someone claiming to be a law enforcement officer. The caller said the customer had missed a court date and now faced legal action. To resolve the issue, the customer was instructed to send funds via wire transfer.

Acquiring an existing business can be a powerful growth strategy, whether you’re entering a new market, expanding operations, or transitioning ownership. SBA loans are frequently used to support business acquisitions because of their flexible structures and favorable terms. However, acquisition financing introduces complexities that require careful planning and experienced guidance. Learn more about how SBA loans from Firstrust Bank support business growth.

Running a small business takes passion, dedication, and time—but managing invoices, accepting payments, and tracking cash flow shouldn’t slow you down. In honor of Small Business Month, Firstrust Bank is honored to support local entrepreneurs with tools that make everyday business banking easier. One of those tools is Autobooks, an all-in-one invoicing and payment solution built directly into Firstrust online and mobile banking.

Written by Mark Hostutler - Editor, American Community Journals A Bucks County Business Built on Craftsmanship and Growth For Steve and Kristi Ferrari, the owners of Bucks County-based Works in Stone, growth didn’t arrive all at once. It built gradually, project by project, stone by stone. Then, it suddenly accelerated.