Memorial Day is just one week away. What does it mean to you?

Memorial Day is the official start of summer, a holiday from work, a chance to relax and grill out.

But, most importantly, it's an opportunity to stop and reflect upon the many blessings we have in this country. It's a time to pause and say a silent thank you to those who have sacrificed their lives to preserve our way of life.

Will you be remembering a relative or a friend who made the ultimate sacrifice? Will you be thinking of the many who, throughout the years, have selflessly given their lives on behalf of America?

Will you be wearing some red, white and blue that day, displaying the flag, or decorating your home? Will you be teaching your children the meaning of the day and then involving them in a little fun like trimming out their ...

With summer right around the corner, are you planning a vacation outside the United States? Have you already booked that European cruise you've had your eye on?

With a fully-loaded checklist that includes everything from scheduling time off from work, to making travel preparations, to tackling a mountain-high pile of laundry and packing, the last thing you want to worry about is how much cash you'll need to have with you on your trip.

While it's always a good idea to take along a certain amount of cash while traveling, it's far safer and more convenient to travel with your bank debit card.

A First Reliance Bank debit card helps you simplify your international travel. Here's how:

1) It's accepted anywhere outside of the U.S. that accepts VISA cards. Rather than entering your PIN, you'll simply be asked to sign a sales slip.

2) It can be used at network ...

Mother's Day is just around the corner, and we want to celebrate all of you Moms who give so much each day.

Talk about multi-tasking superheroes!

On any given day, you probably find yourself serving as the family's chauffeur, designated shopper, recreational coordinator, meal planner, chef and much, much more.

Many Moms today also serve as chief financial officers, responsible for juggling the family's budget, keeping the bank account balanced, ensuring the bills are paid, and teaching the kids in the household how to be responsible with money.

Citibank recently surveyed their customers about Moms and money.

About 35% said their Mom serves as the family's CFO, and 38% said they turn to Mom for input on financial matters. That's about 5% more than turn to Dad for such advice. The survey also revealed that people engage Mom in conversations about money and finances nearly as often as they ...