Blogs

The weather outside? Frightful. The halls? Decked. The sleigh bells? Ringing. But check your list twice as fraudsters are out in full force this holiday season! As your financial partner, our team is committed to help safeguard your information because what is important to you, is important to us. We have gathered some tips to help you protect yourself from the common scams and schemes. Practice Safe Online Shopping Scammers can effortlessly create fake websites, or replicate existing ones, to deceive customers. Their goal is to collect personal information and credit or debit card details or...

Financial health helps you leverage skills and opportunities to harness new monetary advantages. Maintaining complete visibility of your finances is the best way to reach them. Let’s dive into why financial wellness is so important—and how you can improve your monetary health today. If you want to be physically healthy, you have to work towards it. You must eat right, exercise regularly, and communicate with your doctor. You could easily say the same about financial health and wellness. Financial health helps you leverage skills and opportunities to harness new monetary advantages...

Gear up for the season with our holiday budgeting tips! Maximize your festive cheer while staying on track with your financial plans. While it’s better to give than receive, you can take charge of your expenses this season with effective holiday budgeting tips. Understanding Our Spending Intentions Before we get into our budgeting tips, it’s important to understand why you might be tempted to buy more this holiday season. Stress can be a key factor in overspending and is sometimes more stressful than the holidays. You might also feel social pressure to buy certain in-demand items. Or a flash...

Every year, vulnerable Americans suffer losses of over $28 billion due to financial exploitation, as reported 1 by the AARP. Shockingly, only a quarter of all frauds against the elderly are reported to law enforcement. At First Bank & Trust, a division of HTLF Bank, we are dedicated to safeguarding our vulnerable customers, and we are here to help you recognize and understand the signs of financial exploitation or abuse. Take steps to help protect yourself or your loved ones from these devastating crimes by educating yourself on these crucial matters. According to the Department of Justice’s definition of financial...

Click here to view an important note before clicking on links within the video. Join host Emily Stevens, Senior Marketing Professional at HTLF, in a thought-provoking conversation with Tracy Swaim, Fraud Risk Manager, and John Fick, Fraud Director at HTLF. This conversation involves the intricacies of Fraud Awareness and Imposter Fraud, shedding light on vital strategies for financial security. They'll discuss what today’s Imposter Fraud looks like and what to do when it comes to protecting your finances. Stay ahead of potential fraud by tuning in to this episode and gain a deeper...