General

Holiday spending can easily spin out of control, so don't let 'Ho! Ho! Ho!' turn into 'Owe! Owe! Owe!' While it can feel great to give, it’s important to know what you can afford so you’re not stuck paying for this year’s gifts – and the interest charges – well into next year. So how can you keep from overspending? Set a budget and stick to it. Keep all your normal expenses in mind – such as food, utilities, other regular monthly payments

Building a good credit history and maintaining a high credit score can open doors to higher credit limits and lower interest rates. Following up after “Get Smart About Credit” Day in October, Iowa State Bank is helping to raise awareness about what pitfalls to avoid on your credit journey. “A strong credit score can make buying a car, a house and anything else that requires a loan more affordable,” said Nathan Wedel, Loan Officer. “It’s critical that consumers

Every day, thousands of people fall victim to fraudulent emails, texts and calls from scammers pretending to be their bank. And in this time of expanded use of online and mobile banking, the problem is only growing worse. In fact, the Federal Trade Commission’s report on fraud estimates that American consumers lost a staggering $5.8 billion to phishing scams and other fraud in 2021—an increase of more than 70 percent over 2020. It’s time to put scammers in their place. Online

The new year is an ideal time to set new goals, as many vow to become more physically fit or get organized. The new year is also a great time to asses your finances, gain control and stick to a new budget or saving plan. Taking control of your personal finances will allow you to save and prepare for unexpected expenses. Follow the tips below to get started.   Get Organized  Consider treating yourself to a post-holiday gift of a financial organization system. Alphabetized

It's the beginning of everyone’s favorite part of the year: tax season, or as we like to think of it, refund season! Tax season can be stressful, but did you know that nearly 80% of people who file a return will receive a tax refund check? Yes. You read that correctly. Uncle Sam has refunded an average of $3,120 over the past few years. If you’re eagerly awaiting that big payday like most Americans, you’ll want to receive your reimbursement ASAP. Below we’ve outlined

Whatever you’re doing on the web—reading email, shopping, banking, or anything else—a new browser will allow your experience to be safer, faster, and much more enjoyable. To provide you the most effective and secure online access to Iowa State Bank accounts and services, we strongly recommend that you use or upgrade to the latest version of software supported by Iowa State Bank. Effective August 21, 2020, Iowa State Bank’s website will not support outdated internet browsers. How

Unfortunately, fraudsters are finding ways to take advantage of fears related to the coronavirus. Learn about the common scams and what you can do to protect yourself.  Common Scams Phishing and supply scams: Scammers impersonate health organizations and businesses to gather personal and financial information or sell fake test kits, supplies, vaccines or cures for COVID-19. Stimulus check or economic relief scams: There are reports that the government will help to ease the economic

What is a “Digital Wallet” and what does “Tokenization” mean? With mobile phones in widespread use, the payments industry is gearing up for  a future beyond card plastic as consumer adoption of mobile-device payments steadily increases.  As Iowa State Bank gets closer to adopting digital payments for our debit and credit cards, here is an introduction about digital wallets and the technology used with them called “Tokenization”. What is a digital

With the large number of national advertisements coming across your screen for getting approved for a mortgage, it may be tempting to just click and start entering your information to get a mortgage. Before you take the plunge with a large, national mortgage lender, let’s look at the top 10 reasons to get your mortgage locally at a home town bank, like Iowa State Bank! Easy Application - You can apply online, by phone, or if you prefer, meet one on one with an experienced lender that will

Purchasing a home is one of the biggest financial purchases you will make in your lifetime. At Iowa State Bank we want to take the confusion, frustration, and worry out of the mortgage process. It is always helpful to meet and talk with one of our experienced mortgage lenders, but here are some helpful hints while you get started on the process! Get prequalified! One of the first things your Realtor will ask you is if you have been pre-qualified to purchase a home. We recommend that you do this