JACKSONVILLE, Ark. — Eclipse day is almost here, and you've probably secured your glasses, hotels and a spot to take in the views on April 8.
However, have you considered your financial plans when officials project hundreds of thousands of people to come to central Arkansas?
"There's no guarantee that cell service will work," said Roger Sundermeier, vice president and chief brand officer of First Arkansas Bank and Trust. "Internet connectivity may be slower [and] lagging, and so if you don't have that digital point of sale transactions you've always had, you'll have to revert to a cash business. You'll also need that cash on hand to make change for customers."
Sundermeier said stopping by the bank before thousands of people make their way to Arkansas could help avoid problems in the future.
"Just like you're being told to go grocery shopping early and stock up," Sundermeier said. "Come in, get your change orders to stock up on cash now in anticipation of what could happen."
Arkansas is located in the path of totality, and so are 21 different First Arkansas Bank and Trust branches. Sundermeier said that's why they're preparing for the big day to provide financial advice to consumers about the problems they could possibly run into.
"All these banks operate on the same networks, and if a network connection is down, maybe at the main location or one of the locations close to you, it may affect and impact other locations around you," Sundermeier said. "I think it's just important to follow best practices and have some extra cash on hand."
Several banks, like First Arkansas Bank and Trust, will be closed on April 8 due to the congestion caused by high traffic. Still, Sundermeier said not to worry, as they're extending their operation hours on the Saturday before and offering more information online.
"It's kind of a once-in-a-lifetime thing for people," Sundermeier said. "We want to be able to take advantage of it, but also make good financial decisions for people and be available for them as much as possible."