News

Holiday Gift Buying: Tips to Avoid Debt

The holiday season is a time for joy and generosity, but it can also be a period of financial strain. The temptation to splurge on extravagant gifts can lead to unexpected debt. Here are some savvy strategies to keep your finances in check while still spreading holiday cheer:

Don't Let Cybercriminals Swipe Your Savings

Lock Down Your Financial Accounts

Emily was having a typical busy Tuesday. She grabbed her morning coffee, glanced at her phone, and noticed a text from her bank: "Did you make this transaction? Reply YES or NO." She frowned. She hadn't made any purchases yet that day. Maybe it was just a glitch.

Download Danger: How to Outwit Malicious Mobile Apps

One lazy Sunday while on social media, Sarah stumbled upon an ad for a new photo editing app, 'PiksPerfect.' Intrigued by its stunning filters, she downloaded it without hesitation. At first, the app worked great, but soon her phone became sluggish, and random ads began popping up. A few days later, Sarah received a call from her bank about suspicious transactions totaling thousands of dollars. In a panic, she checked her bank app and found her savings nearly wiped out. After reporting the fr

Budgeting 101 for College Students

With my youngest son in college, I appreciated Karen Ramola’s article last month with financial tips and tools for parents and their college students. It is a good reminder your community banker can be a resource for more than your everyday banking transactions.

Phantom Voices: Defend Against Voice Cloning Attacks

Margaret, a retired teacher, enjoyed her peaceful mornings in her small suburban home. One day as she was enjoying her morning coffee, she received a frantic call from her grandson, Jacob, who was away at college. His voice was filled with panic as he explained that he had been in a car accident and needed money urgently to pay for the damages and avoid legal trouble. If he did not get the money right away, he could end up in jail. The voice on the other end was unmistakably Jacob's - Margaret's

Managing and Monitoring College Students’ Finances from Afar

College is a time for kids to spread their wings and gain independence. Meanwhile, parents struggle to balance kids’ desire for autonomy with the potential pitfalls if they unknowingly taking that freedom a bit too far.

Guard Your Heart (and Wallet) Against Romance Scams

Sarah was a kind, intelligent accountant nearing retirement. Widowed for several years, she felt a pang of loneliness that online dating profiles promised to soothe. Scrolling through pictures, she stumbled upon David, a charming architect supposedly working abroad. Their messages blossomed into daily conversations. David showered Sarah with compliments, his words painting a picture of a soulmate yearning for connection. Weeks turned into months, filled with virtual dates and shared dreams. Sara

Text Messaging Attacks: A Smishing Saga

Mark was perplexed by the text message, a package delivery notification from Amazon - "Delivery attempt missed! Click the link now to reschedule or your package will be returned." Mark could not remember ordering anything online recently, but to be honest, he ordered so many things online it was easy to forget. Not wanting to miss any packages, he clicked the link, and a page loaded asking for his contact information "to ensure proper rescheduling." The message seemed a bit odd, but Mark figured

Going on Vacation? Simple Steps to Make it Cypersecure

The summer season is upon us, and soon millions of people will be traveling all over the world. If you are going on vacation, here are some travel tips to help keep you cyber savvy and safe.

Top Three Ways Cyber Attackers Target You

Social engineering attacks, in which adversaries trick people into doing something they shouldn’t, are one of the most common methods that cyber attackers use to target people. The concept has been used by con artists and scammers for thousands of years. What is new is that the Internet makes it very easy for a cyber-criminal anywhere in the world to pretend to be anyone they want and target anyone they want. Below are the three most common types of social engineering methods that cyber attacker

Identity Theft: Preventing, Detecting, and Responding

In today's digital age, your personal information is more valuable than ever. Unfortunately, this also makes it a prime target for identity theft. Understanding this threat, detecting it, and knowing how to protect yourself are essential elements in safeguarding your online digital life.

Messaging Do's and Don'ts

Messaging serves as a primary mode of communication in both our personal and professional lives. However, quite often we can be our own worst enemy when it comes to text messaging safely and securely. Learn the most common mistakes people make and how you can avoid them in your day-to-day lives.

QR Codes

Have you ever wondered what those squares of dots or bars called "QR codes" are all about? You most likely have seen them posted on websites, printed on posters, used as mobile tickets, or on restaurant tables. How do these work, and are there risks you should be worried about? Let's find out.

The Power of the Passphrase

Are you tired of constantly creating complex passwords? Frustrated with having to remember and type all those characters, symbols and numbers? Well, we have a solution for you: the ever-powerful passphrase!

I'm Hacked, Now What?

The internet can be overwhelming, with new technologies changing all the time. No matter how safe you try to be, sooner or later you may be unfortunate enough to get hacked. The sooner you detect something bad has happened, and the faster you respond, the more you can minimize the impact. Below are signs that you may be hacked and if so, suggestions to resolve it.

The Power of Updating

Cyber attackers are constantly looking for and finding new vulnerabilities in the software you use every day. A vulnerability is a mistake or weakness in how software was developed. This software may run your laptop, the mobile apps on your smartphone, or perhaps even the software in your thermostat. Cyber attackers take advantage of and exploit these software vulnerabilities, allowing them to remotely break into systems, including the ones you use. At the same time, the vendors who create the d

Online Security for Kids

Our kids' lives are online today more than ever, from socializing with friends and gaming, to online learning and education. So how can we help our kids make the most of online technology, safely and securely?

The Power of Password Managers

Like most people, you likely find creating, managing, and remembering all your different passwords a daunting task. It seems like every website has different password rules and many require additional security measures such as security questions. Wouldn’t it be great if there was a single solution to take care of all your password problems? There is. It’s called a password manager.

Stop Those Phone Call Scams

David was busy watching his favorite streaming series when he got a phone call from a number he did not recognize. The area code was the same as his, so he assumed it was someone local and answered the phone. Right away David was asked to confirm his full name. The caller then stated that he was from the police department and that a warrant had been issued for David’s arrest. David’s taxes were outstanding and if they were not paid in the next 24 hours, the police would have to arrest him. David

College Parents: Don’t Leave Money on the Table!

My daughter Kayla will be starting her second year at the University of St. Thomas in September. With her first year under her belt, our family knows what to budget – and borrow – to pay for her college.