Helping Small Businesses Grow – A Community Banker’s Story
As a community banker I am trained to listen carefully to neighbors, friends, relatives, and contacts wherever I go, for an opportunity to help. Help can come in many forms – lending a hand with yard work, helping someone repair their car, preparing a meal for a family in need, or a million other ways. […]
Protecting Yourself Against Identity Theft
Each year, identity theft continues to be one of the fastest growing crimes in the United States. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), over 800,000 ID theft reports were filed in 2023. Over half of those reports related to credit card or bank fraud. NDBT recommends following these tips to keep your information – […]
Making Intelligent Financial Business Decisions
It seems everyone is talking about the economy these days. During the recent holidays, I had family members ask me where I thought interest rates were headed in 2024. Earlier in 2023, it was all about inflation. Who knows what the hot topic will be this year. In general, I try not to set firm […]
Empowering Communities: The Merits of Community Banking
When I was young, the dream of owning my first car ignited a sense of ambition within me. My father encouraged me to start my journey with a simple act – open a savings account at my local community bank, Security State Bank in Lubbock, Texas. Fueled by this determination and commitment, I deposited my […]
Hispanic Heritage Month – Homeownership
Every year, Hispanic Heritage Month celebrates the many contributions and achievements the Hispanic and Latino communities have contributed to the United States. It allows us to reflect on our culture, family, values, and our successes as a people. It is also used as an avenue to think about the ways our community can continue to […]
The Home Buyers’ Process: Preparing to Buy
September is National Mortgage Professionals Month* You may be buying a home for the first time, or it has been a while since you have gone through the experience. Either way, you may not be completely clear on the current home-buying process, so let us set the correct expectations and transparency for the home buying […]
The Home Buyers’ Process: Why Prequalify?
September is National Mortgage Professionals Month* The first step you should take before even looking at homes is to get prequalified with a mortgage lender. It will help you, as a buyer, better understand your target home price range and what that will mean for your monthly and overall budget. In addition, your realtor will […]
What is a CD and How Can it Benefit Me?
Financial Literacy – CD’s Explained Have you ever wondered what a CD is? For some of you who might remember, we’re not referring to the musical compact disc, which has mostly been replaced by streaming media. A Certificate of Deposit (CD), in bank terms, is a savings tool that allows you to typically earn a […]
Elder Fraud Abuse Prevention
World Elder Abuse Awareness Day FactoidRoughly 20 percent of older Americans fall prey to financial exploitation losing on average $120,000, or a collective $3 billion every year, according to a study from the AARP Public Policy Institute. Be on the Lookout for Elder Financial Abuse Scams It’s an all too unfortunate reality that older adults […]
Staying Engaged With Your Bank
Best Practices to Keep Your Accounts Active You did your research. You learned about FDIC insurance. You found a bank that meets your needs, and you decide to open an account. Next, you meet with your banker, complete the account paperwork, and make an initial deposit. All is going to plan until one day you […]