5 Strategies for Keeping the Dream Alive
Mark Phillips
Let’s talk about those fabulous personal and business goals you set a few weeks ago in honor of the new…
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Community Matters – Mario Flores
Bank Iowa
Bank Iowa team members donate more than 12,000 hours to community service each year. Here’s loan officer, Mario Flores, and… Read More >GET UPDATES to make your money smarter! Subscribe Me
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How Fiscally Responsible Are You (on the Company’s Dime)?
Mark Phillips
Inspired to become even better stewards of our money, my wife and I took on the One-Day-No-Spend challenge. If you’re…
Help Your Bank Help You
Bank Iowa
We invest heavily and proactively in both physical and cybersecurity measures that safeguard our clients’ financial information. We take the…
Good Lookin’ Out: The Value of Taking a Break from Sales
Mark Phillips
When was the last time you recommended something to a client? If you’re in sales, I’m guessing you’ve already done…
When That Job Sounds too Good to be True
Bank Iowa
Good jobs aren’t easy to come by, even more so at a time of record unemployment in Iowa. But what…
Evolving Workplace Policy for the Gig Economy
Mark Phillips
The gig economy is growing three times faster than the total U.S. working population. If that growth keeps up, roughly…
Cybercriminals Know How to Hook Your Firm’s Whales
Bank Iowa
When it comes to targets for online scams, there are a lot of “phish” in the sea. And, some cybercriminals…
Know your mortgage options
Todd Smith
When it comes to buying a home, you may think that your only option is a 30-year, fixed rate mortgage…
Closing the deal: Don’t let these 4 surprises happen to you at closing
Bank Iowa
You’ve found your dream home, and you’ve been approved for your loan. But before you get the keys, you have…
9 factors that are more important than your mortgage rate
Todd Smith
Locking in a low interest rate for your home mortgage is great, but it’s not the most important thing to…
Psst… They Want to Steal More Than Your Heart
Bank Iowa
The Internet is a marketplace for all things, and love is no exception. Those looking for a romantic connection have…
Great Bosses Slow Down, Build Communities
Mark Phillips
If part of your job is managing people, you probably feel compelled to keep getting better at it. One of…
Sharing Your PIN: Just Don’t Do It
Bank Iowa
The scenario begins innocently: you’re too sick or tired to leave the house – or perhaps you’re just feeling especially…
Wire Fraud and How to Avoid It
Bank Iowa
Those who thought they could never fall victim to a wire fraud scheme are awakening to a new reality: it…
Making the Mid-Year Review More Reward than Work
Mark Phillips
Because our best laid plans often go awry, the mid-year business review is not only a good idea, it’s an…
What is Two-Factor Authentication and Should I Use it?
Bank Iowa
Just as you lock doors and windows to protect valuables, safeguarding your digital data is an important deterrent to criminals.…
5 Reasons Healthy Team Members Lead to Healthier Companies
Mark Phillips
Employers are devoting an increasing amount of attention to the health of their employees, and for good reason. Here are…
Don’t Be Held Ransom: Keep Malware Off Your Devices
Bank Iowa
Hostage crimes have gone digital. A well-known form of malware, ransomware is a cybercrime in which the perpetrator holds a…
Public Enemies: How to Stay Safe on Public WiFi
Bank Iowa
When was the last time you logged into a secure online account while sipping a latte at your favorite coffee…
When You Give All Your Money to Thieves and Still End Up in Jail
Bank Iowa
What if it was possible to go to prison for up to 30 years for being the victim of bank…
Don’t Take the Bait: How to Avoid a Phishing Scam
Bank Iowa
As a reminder, if Bank Iowa contacts you, we will never ask for your full card or account number, PIN…
5 Things Everyone Should Know About Cybercrime
Bank Iowa
There aren’t too many things more frightening than cybercrime. It comes in many forms, including identity theft, financial fraud, stalking,…
Here’s How to Travel Without Financial Worry
Bank Iowa
Nothing puts a damper – and added stress – on a relaxing vacation like experiencing financial issues or becoming the…
5 Ways to Stay Safe Shopping for the Holidays Online
Bank Iowa
Last year, some 81 million Americans spent about $6.6 billion on Cyber Monday alone. And if there’s one thing we know about…
Hacked Email: How to Prevent, Detect and Respond
Bank Iowa
Securing our financial accounts is of utmost importance. Yet, many of the precautions we take to make sure hackers can’t…
Strength in Numbers… and Letters and Characters: How to Create a Strong Password
Bank Iowa
After an unprecedented number of data breaches the past few years, one thing remains clear: People need stronger passwords. At…
Don’t Be Scammed
Bank Iowa
Have you ever received a phone call from the IRS stating you owe large amounts of money in taxes? What…
Smartphone Security
Bank Iowa
Mobile devices are quickly becoming our most used – and valued – possessions. In fact, Flurry Analytics reports the average U.S.…
Tech Support or Fraud Alert?
Bank Iowa
Caller: “Hi. This is [big-name software company]. We’ve detected a virus on your computer.” Do you… A) Listen closely and follow…
BANK SECRECY ACT: HOW BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP RULES AFFECT YOU
Bank Iowa
Due diligence processes where we need them most. As you may have heard, the Bank Secrecy Act has been amended…
TEACHING CHILDREN TO SAVE MONEY
Bank Iowa
It's like training wheels but with cash. It's never too early to start saving for the future, and there are…
SAVING FOR MAJOR PURCHASES
Bank Iowa
Because sometimes being spontaneous is a terrible idea. Saving for a major purchase is a traditional way of setting a…
PROTECTING YOUR IDENTITY
Bank Iowa
Prevent the preventable with these proactive identity theft tips. Each year, nearly 10 million Americans have their personal information stolen,…
GET SMART ABOUT YOUR CREDIT
Bank Iowa
It's like your relationship history with all of your bills. A solid credit history can be one of your most…
HOW TO CREATE A BUDGET
Bank Iowa
It's like a reality check for your money. Take charge of your finances by creating a budget and sticking to…
ONE OF LIFE’S BIGGEST MILESTONES: BUYING A HOME
Bank Iowa
It's like an investment you can live inside. Achieving home ownership is a dream for many, but it isn't for…
The Economic News that Actually Matters to Your Business
Mark Phillips
With so much information from so many different sources flooding into our daily lives, it can be difficult to separate…
5 Ways to Be the World’s Greatest Non-Profit Board Member
Mark Phillips
Not many things feel as good as being asked to join a non-profit board. The idea that a group of…
3 Ways to Invest in Iowa’s Qualified Opportunity Zones
Mark Phillips
When I first learned of the prospects of opportunity zones in Iowa, my imagination went wild. Opportunity zones are low-income…
Give Me One Good Reason to Switch Banks
Mark Phillips
There isn’t a soul on earth, nor in business, who relishes the idea of moving financial institutions. But perhaps it’s…
The 8 Most Essential People to Help Sell Your Business
Mark Phillips
Setting a course for the future of your business is a team sport. While many of the decisions you’ll have…
Get Your Ears in Gear: Three Ways to Listen to Customers
Mark Phillips
Ever Googled yourself and discovered all the people who share your name? I share mine with a Canadian CBS News…
Overcoming 3 Common Fears of Giving
Mark Phillips
The most generous time of the year is just around the corner. With holiday spirits high, corporations and individuals will…
5 Ways to Make Rising Rates Work for You
Mark Phillips
A hike in prices is rarely met with optimism; unless you’re the one profiting from them. As the cost of…
How Much Tech Can Your Money Take?
Mark Phillips
There isn’t a single aspect of our lives that hasn’t been impacted by technology. Largely positive, these changes have made…
Changing Attitudes About Money Will Shape the Future of Cash
Mark Phillips
When I was growing up, a child of the 80s, people who paid with plastic seemed to be in a…
What My Kids Learned about Money from The Tooth Fairy and Some Really Big Pumpkins
Mark Phillips
Last weekend over breakfast, the second of my four sons called out the Tooth Fairy for what he perceived to…
