Learning Center

Fraud and Security   /  Safe Practices for Businesses

Fraudsters pose extreme threats to our clients if we fail to know who we are working with and ensure they have the authority to provide instructions for payments or alter account information. We strongly recommend that our clients perform similar due diligence. Money sent by wire transfer is highly unlikely to be recovered. Working together, we can protect you from phony requests.

Personal Finance   /  Managing Your Money

For the cardholder who can pay off the total balance each month or the savvy shopper who pays equal installments on a zero-APR promotional offer, the benefits of using a credit card could be worth it. But for anyone leaving a balance on a higher-APR card for longer than one or two 30-day cycles, the interest charges can really add up, and the balance can take much longer to pay off.

Articles   /  Finance and Money Matters

Running a small business is a labor of love, but at some point most owners realize they need to free up time – both for themselves and their employees – for activities that lead to growth. If your small business has reached this point, consider our tips for improvement.

Personal Finance   /  Home Ownership

When the housing supply is tight and interest rates are on the rise, you might just choose to just stay put and enlarge or enhance your existing home until the market is more favorable. While renovations can be planned, the longer you stay in your home, the greater the chance that a significant home-related expense will pop up unexpectedly. When paying cash is not an option, consider tapping into the equity you've built in your home.

Fraud and Security   /  Safe Online Practices for Consumers

Mobile payment apps like Venmo, Cash App and Zelle make it easy to send money virtually between friends and family. Just download the app, set up a free account, connect it to your bank account or debit card, and voila! You can pay your babysitter, reimburse a friend for picking up groceries or chip in for a group birthday gift. Easy, right? Yes, as long as you treat it like cash, because there are no strings attached. "Cash" sent through a mobile payment app can’t easily be retrieved or refunded if you send it to the wrong person or don’t receive what you paid for.

Personal Finance   /  Managing Your Money

Technology promises to make your life easier, and sometimes it does. But what we’re after isn’t the latest app or online feature. What we’re really chasing is something that’s simple and saves us time and effort. When it comes to banking technology, these are the features you should focus on: the ones that actually make things easy.

Articles   /  Finance and Money Matters

There are more ways to take payments than ever. If your small business is still primarily taking payments by cash or check, use this guidance to make the shift to card and electronic receivables.

Articles   /  Finance and Money Matters

There’s a new federal rule requiring more than 32 million small businesses across the United States to register and file with a bureau of the U.S. Treasury Department called the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN). The Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) database collects information about who ultimately owns and controls each reporting company. We've answered some frequently asked questions about this development that's been in the works for several years.