Protect Your Business From Check Fraud
Whether you are a small business or serve thousands of customers a day, taking steps to fight check fraud is vital to keeping your organization safe. The Treasurer’s Guide to AR Payment Optimization estimates that 40% of all business-to-business (B2B) payments in the United States are made via check. As long as payments continue to […]
Consumer Check Fraud Safety
Over the past few years, check fraud has been on the rise, with an uptick in cases more recently. According to the Iowa Bankers Exchange, Suspicious Activity Reports for check fraud increased by 201.2% from 2018 to 2022. Nasdaq’s 2024 Global Financial Crime Report revealed that in 2023 alone, check fraud led to $21 billion […]
Loving Your Aging Family Member Well
Aging is a part of life, but it can be hard to watch your loved ones get older. One way you can walk alongside them is by watching for signs of elderly financial abuse. Elderly financial abuse is a crime that deprives older adults of their resources and independence by taking advantage of their finances […]
Set Yourself Up for Financial Success in 2024
What are your goals for 2024? Do you have a big trip planned? Is one of your kids starting college this year? Are you nearing the age of retirement? There are so many big life moments that need financial backing. Start planning next year’s finances now in order to start off on the right foot. […]
The Gift of Holiday Budgeting
When it comes to the holidays, it can be easy to ignore the planning and budgeting aspect of the giving season. By creating and maintaining a holiday spending budget, shortening your store-bought gift list and using smart shopping tips and tricks, you can make it through the season in the green. Create a holiday budget […]
Spooky Scams and the Ghouls that Run Them
This October is the 20th annual Cybersecurity Awareness Month. As cyberattacks become more common, the first step in keeping yourself safe is remaining vigilant and staying up-to-date on current cybersecurity trends. Being informed on how scammers have been accessing information and infiltrating networks gives you the edge in identifying them. Here are a few scams […]
The Basics of Elderly Financial Exploitation
What is Elderly Financial Exploitation? According to the American Bankers Association, people over the age of 50 control over 70% of the nation’s wealth. Unfortunately, in recent years, scammers have targeted the older population—specifically those aged 60 and above—through various types of fraudulent tactics, also known as elderly financial exploitation. These criminals use tactics such […]
What Do I Need to Shred Anyways
What do i need to shred anyways? Free Shred Day will take place May 20, 2023 from 8 AM – 11 AM at our headquarters – 1601 22nd St. West Des Moines, IA 50266 Better to be safe than sorry is the way to go when it comes to shredding important papers. Wondering what papers are important to bring […]
4 Tips On How To Save
The day will come when you will need to use your savings in order to deal with an emergency. West Bank wants to share some smart ways to increase your savings! According to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, 24% of consumers have no savings set aside for emergencies. Being prepared is one of the most […]
3 Basic Rules of Setting Financial Goals
It is easy to get caught up in the holiday spirit and let your spending habits get a little crazy towards the end of the year. Heading into a new year is the perfect time to set goals. But New Year’s resolutions do not have to be focused on only health and fitness. This is […]