Core Insights - Self-improvement is a priority for many Americans as 2026 approaches, with 42% planning to set New Year's resolutions and expecting to spend an average of $4,700 to achieve their goals [1][3] - Financial resolutions are a major focus, with 55% of those making resolutions committed to budgeting, saving, investing, paying off debt, or building credit [1][5] Spending Patterns - Men plan to spend more than women on resolutions, averaging $5,360 compared to $4,000, with men aged 35-54 being the highest spenders at over $6,000 [3] - The most expensive category of resolutions is personal-life resolutions, with an average budget of $3,047, including $1,251 for travel and $768 for meals and entertainment [4] Gender Differences in Financial Goals - 73% of both men and women prioritize financial goals, but men are more likely to engage in investing (55% vs. 37%), improving credit scores (49% vs. 35%), and contributing to retirement plans (39% vs. 26%) [5][6] - Women are more inclined to reduce spending (65% vs. 55%) and take on additional work (46% vs. 42%) to achieve their financial goals [7] Saving Goals - 81% of Americans are saving with specific goals in mind for 2026, with travel being the most popular goal (40%), followed by purchasing a car (25%) and buying a house (21%) [8] - CIT Bank offers tools for customers to create savings buckets for different goals, enhancing the ability to visualize and connect emotionally with saving [9]

Group 1: Halloween Spending Trends - Nearly 79% of U.S. adults plan to celebrate Halloween in 2025, with an average spending of $420 per household [1][2] - Young Americans, particularly Gen Z (93%) and Millennials (87%), show the highest intent to celebrate, with spending averaging $622 for Gen Z households [3][4] - Households with children plan to spend an average of $652 on Halloween, significantly more than the $215 planned by those without children [5] Group 2: Costume and Candy Expenditures - Adults celebrating Halloween expect to spend an average of $58 on their own costumes and $87 on family costumes, with 33% planning to buy pet costumes averaging $22 [6][7] - Half of the adults celebrating Halloween plan to purchase pet costumes, spending an average of $50, which is more than double the national average [7] Group 3: Budgeting and Savings Recommendations - A majority of Halloween participants (57%) are willing to buy candy in bulk to save money, while only 24% would consider switching to less expensive candy [8] - Creating a dedicated fund for holiday expenses is recommended to manage spending effectively, with suggestions to use high-yield savings accounts for better financial planning [9][10]

Group 1: Vacation Savings Trends - A significant portion of Americans prioritize saving for vacations, with 33% indicating travel as their primary savings goal, surpassing savings for emergencies (30%), car purchases (26%), and home repairs (24%) [2][3] - The tradition of summer vacations remains strong, with 47% of all Americans planning to take a vacation this year, and this figure rises to 54% for Gen Z and 56% for Millennials [3][4] Group 2: Spending Patterns Among Younger Generations - Younger Americans, particularly Millennials and Gen Z, are not only more likely to plan vacations but also intend to spend more, with 41% of Millennials and 35% of Gen Z planning international travel compared to 26% of Gen X and 21% of Boomers [4] - A notable percentage of younger travelers plan to spend $5,000 or more on their trips, with 48% of Millennials and 44% of Gen Z indicating such spending [5] Group 3: Savings Strategies - Establishing a dedicated high-yield savings account can facilitate vacation savings, with suggestions for setting up recurring transfers to enhance savings [6][7] - CIT Bank offers high-yield savings accounts that can help individuals grow their vacation funds more effectively, with interest rates up to 10 times the national average [7]

Core Insights - CIT Bank, a division of First Citizens Bank, operates exclusively online and offers a range of personal and commercial banking products, being ranked among the top 10 online banks for 2025 [1] Product Overview - **Platinum Savings Account**: Offers 0.25% APY for balances under $5,000 and 3.85% APY for balances of $5,000 or more, with a minimum opening deposit of $100 and no monthly fees [1][2] - **Savings Connect Account**: Provides a 3.75% APY with a minimum opening deposit of $100, interest compounded daily and credited monthly [3] - **Savings Builder Account**: Offers up to 1% APY with a minimum balance of $25,000 or a $100 monthly deposit, with daily compounding interest [4] - **eChecking Account**: Requires a minimum deposit of $100, earning 0.10% APY for balances under $25,000 and 0.25% APY for balances of $25,000 and over, with no monthly fees [5] - **Money Market Account**: Offers a 1.55% APY with a minimum opening deposit of $100 and no monthly fees [6] - **Certificates of Deposit (CDs)**: Includes various types such as Term CDs with terms from six months to five years, No-penalty CDs, Jumbo CDs with a minimum deposit of $100,000, and RampUp CDs with terms from 1 to 4 years [7][8] Customer Service and Mobile Banking - CIT Bank provides 24/7 customer service via secure email or automated telephone, with live representatives available during specific hours [12] - The CIT Bank mobile app, rated 4.7 stars, allows customers to manage accounts, check balances, and transfer funds [13] Fees and Competitive Advantages - CIT Bank does not charge monthly maintenance fees and offers competitive interest rates, with some accounts reaching up to 3.85% APY [14] - Customers can receive up to $30 in ATM fee reimbursements per month [14] Social and Environmental Impact - CIT Bank is committed to social and environmental goals, including planting over 100,000 trees in partnership with One Tree Planted and reducing its carbon footprint through partnerships with Carbonfund.org [15][16]