West Bank Opens New Office in Owatonna
On January 21, 2025, West Bank opened a new, state-of-the-art building located at 328 Hoffman Drive NW. Expanded banking services at this location include the introduction of a 24-hour walk-up ATM and Interactive Teller Machine. The building’s impressive architecture features a patio with views of the riverfront for special events and gatherings. The West Bank […]
New Year’s Resolutions for Your Finances
The beginning of the year is filled with New Year’s resolutions. This year, why not focus on enhancing your financial well-being? Create a Budget Spending and saving habits can fluctuate over the years. When was the last time you sat down and created a budget? Even if it has only been a year since you […]
Generative AI Being Used to Commit Financial Fraud
On December 3, 2024, the FBI issued a warning on generative artificial intelligence (AI) being used to commit financial fraud. Criminals are using AI-generated text, images, audio, and videos to trick victims into sending money and providing sensitive information. The FBI shared the following tips to help protect yourself from AI-generated fraud: Create a secret […]
Get Ready for 2025 with 5 Online Safety Tips
With the new year right around the corner, you can start 2025 on the right foot by protecting your accounts and personal information with these five key online safety tips. 1. Use Multi-factor authentication (MFA) whenever possible. MFA is an electronic security process that requires more than one method of identity verification to gain access […]
Debit Card Safety This Holiday Season
For a payment method that has been around since the late 1960s, debit cards have remained a trustworthy form of transacting for American consumers. According to the J.D. Power 2024 Debit Card Satisfaction Survey, 72% of customers say they use a debit card at the point of sale, as compared to cash, credit cards, and […]
Jon Hummel Honored by American Bankers Association with 2024 Emerging Leader Award
Jon Hummel, Vice President, Commercial Banker at West Bank was honored by the American Bankers Association as a recipient of the 2024 ABA Emerging Leaders Award. This award recognizes the next generation of bank leaders who are committed to the highest standards of achievement and service to both their industry and their local communities. Hummel […]
Has Elderly Financial Exploitation Taken Place?
Has financial elder abuse taken place? Elderly financial exploitation (EFE) occurs when someone in a position of trust knowingly influences, deceives, coerces, frauds, or extorts control over an elderly individual. To figure out if elderly financial exploitation has occurred, Iowa Legal Aid suggests answering the following questions. 1. Does the exploiter have a position of […]
Barry Cropp and Al Petersen Recognized by Iowa Bankers Association for 50 Years of Service
On September 16, 2024, the Iowa Bankers Association honored Barry Cropp and Al Petersen for their remarkable 50-year careers in banking. Barry currently serves as a front desk receptionist at West Bank’s Headquarters in West Des Moines. Al retired in December 2023 as a Commercial Banker. Throughout both of their long careers in banking, Barry […]
Small Business Cyber Safety
When small businesses fall victim to a cybersecurity attack, the fallout can be devastating. While some small business owners may argue that cyber criminals have bigger fish to fry, they forget that their business can be easier to infiltrate and steal customer data than a larger business with a specific IT department. With fewer resources […]
Beneficial Ownership Information Reporting Reminder
The following is a press release issued by the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) on July 26, 2024, regarding the new reporting requirements for many businesses in the United States. This is solely being provided as an informative resource, as West Bank will not collect or share this information and will not take part in […]