With the weather warming up you may start daydreaming about upcoming vacations. No matter your destination here are some tips we think are most helpful for saving up for future getaways.

Plan Ahead

Planning a trip takes work, especially if you want to maximize how far your money will take you. One of the foundations of a successful trip is to plan ahead no matter where you are going. 

Here are some of our most frequently asked questions when it comes to the State Bank of Bement's Online and Mobile Banking platforms. 

 1. What tools can help me protect my finances?

One tool is the lock card feature on the State Bank of Bement mobile and online platforms. If you believe that someone is making fraudulent purchases on your card this feature can provide you with peace of mind by preventing any new charges while allowing direct deposits and recurring charges to continue.

What it is and how to manage it for financial success. 

A credit score is a prediction of your credit behavior, such as how likely you are to pay a loan back on time, based on information from your credit reports. 

Frequently Asked Questions- January

Here are our answers to the 3 questions we've been asked most frequently this month.

I am buying a home, do I need to make a down payment and if so, how much?

Depending on what program(s) you qualify for a down payment* may not be required. By putting a down payment* on a home you lower your monthly payment and improve your initial equity. 

Use these tips to help you plan for this year, and the years ahead

According to a recent survey, 77% of Americans feel anxious about their financial situation. The same survey also found that the largest sources of financial anxiety for Americans came from “not having enough money to retire (68%), keeping up with the cost of living (56%) and managing debt levels (45%).” 

How Local Banks Support Their Communities

In 1781 the first chartered bank of the United States was founded. The Bank of North America served as a robust declaration of independence and set the stage for independent community-minded banks to follow.

On December 11th we will be upgrading both our online and mobile banking services to the Banno platform. This upgrade will not be disruptive; in fact you may not even notice!

Below are some FAQs regarding the new platform and the process of changing over. For any further questions please call 217-678-2311.  

3 Tips for Preventing Check Fraud

Here's how to spot common tactics and protect yourself. 

Check Fraud is on the rise.

According to a recent report from the U.S. Department of the Treasury, check fraud has increased nationwide by 385% since the pandemic.

As tactics become more sophisticated, recognizing the warning signs of check fraud is increasingly crucial to safeguarding your finances and personal information.

In this article, we will:

Don't miss it!  Daro Coffee Co. will be visiting our Cerro Gordo, Monticello and Bement locations soon! Make sure to stop by next week for a delicious morning pick-me-up and kickstart your day!

*7-9 a.m. at all locations*

Full Schedule

Cerro Gordo: October 7th

Monticello: October 8th

Bement: October 9th