Financial Education

Over the years, the schemes attackers employ to commit bank fraud have morphed and shifted, from the common occurrence of forgery to credit and debit card skimmers to cyber crime in the modern day. But one aspect of bank fraud hasn’t changed: It can leave devastating effects on a person, their family and their financial plans.

Bank fraud and cyber crime are broad terms, but they encompass the use of fraudulent means - offline and online - to obtain money, assets,...

Financial literacy is important to Peoples Bank. And every branch puts deep thought and effort into financial literacy programs and education throughout its communities. In Greene County, the Peoples Bank staff in Jefferson has been highly active in local schools.

Last fall, the Jefferson Peoples Bank branch introduced the Giant Piggy Bank program with Greene County schools. Giant Piggy Bank allows students to save money through Peoples Bank and become student bankers themselves, gaining...

About two-thirds (66 percent) of Americans have paid a bank fee in the last five years, according to a 2018 study from Ipsos, a market research and public affairs company. That study includes one-time costs like ATM fees, overdraft protection and more. When it comes to ongoing fees, the American Bankers Association says most Americans don’t incur any costs.

What group are you in? If you’re paying bank fees, you don’t have to be. There are ways to steer clear.

According...

Going through a divorce is never easy. Even when it’s an amicable parting, there are still many steps to take and parts to figure out. Finances are perhaps on the biggest component to work through, particularly with your bank accounts and loans.  

Here are some actions to consider with your bank, after taking the advice of a well-trained lawyer, when going through a divorce.

Separate your bank accounts

The first step you should take is...

Home buying can be a tough and nerve-racking task. You can scour listings and for-sale signs for hours in any number of neighborhoods without finding a house that fits just right.

Building your own home can be a great alternative, and there are a variety of benefits to new home ownership. One of the biggest reasons is customization. When you build a home, you can work with a builder to create a space that perfectly suits your needs and wants.

A new house also makes some long-term...

Estate planning can be a scary topic to discuss. After all, it’s tough to talk about what happens to your possessions after you’re gone. But it is an essential part financial planning — to make sure your loved ones are taken care of in your absence.

It’s a complex process as well, with a variety of taxes and classifications to factor into each decision. Before jumping into action to start your planning, understanding key steps and components is essential in the...

Credit cards can be a wonderful tool — if used wisely. In addition to the many points and rewards associated with today’s countless card options, credit cards can also be a key ingredient in building up and maintaining a healthy credit score.

But what comes with the good is the potential bad.

Credit cards can be a tempting way to spend lots of money — more than some people can afford. Pair overspending with high interest rates, and that spells trouble. According...

Peoples Bank’s Giant Piggy Bank program has been steadily growing since it was implemented in west-central Iowa in the middle of 2018. The program, which aims to teach students how to properly manage and save money, is serving Crossroads Park Elementary in West Des Moines, Greene County schools and Adair-Casey/Guthrie Center schools.

Here’s how the program works: Each of the participating schools designates a Giant Piggy Bank day — usually once per week — when...

Welcome to 2019, where concocting elaborate New Year’s resolutions seems commonplace. Resolutions are great motivating tools, but they don’t have to be huge, complicated schemes. They can be as simple as becoming more healthy or financially responsible.

We want to help you maximize the upcoming 12 months. Here are three simple ways you can improve your finances.

Create a comprehensive budget

Any financial goal you have needs to start here....

Operating a business isn’t easy. Whether you’re running a small, growing business or your company has been around for two decades, you’ll likely be in search of cash or assistance at some point.

That’s where business loans can come in handy. Owners have needs for a variety of things, whether it be new equipment, real estate or a company car. Loans can also help fill gaps in seasonal cash flows.

Loans are a regular part of business life, but for some...