Banknotes

By: Ben Swanson – Business Banker

While I assume that most people probably understand the functions that a bank performs, they may be less informed as to how the institution performs those functions – and lesser informed, still, as to how a community bank differs (in products, services, philosophy) from larger national and regional counterparts. By first exploring the general banking model, I hope to provide insight into what sets community banks apart.

By: Dawn Mullarney – Trust Officer and Trust Marketing Specialist

Have you ever wondered how many documents are necessary to have a well-crafted estate plan? The short answer is often: “more than you think.” However, there is NOT a “one-size-fits-all” approach. Following is a list of the important documents commonly used in estate planning.

By: Bruce Whiting – Security Officer

Every parent's primary concern is the safety and well-being of their child. In today's high-tech world, though, it can often be easier keeping kids out of physical danger than digital. The following article – by Lisa Lake, of the Federal Trade Commission – offers tips for parents on what they should tell their children, to keep them from being exploited online.

By: Brent Landrum – Personal Banking Specialist

Fraud is everywhere, and debit cards are a prime target for unsavory characters seeking to take advantage of unsuspecting consumers. Banks work hard to ensure that their customers are safeguarded by dedicating departmental time and resources to recognizing and addressing unwanted/unauthorized transactions.

Let’s look take a look at how fraud is caught, what happens when it occurs, and the measures that State Bank of Cross Plains takes to keep customers safe and secure.

By: Dan Savage – Senior Vice President and Senior Trust Officer

A great reputation breeds success in every dimension of life, including business. Your business reputation has five elements:

• Reputation of company
• Reputation of product
• Reputation of service delivery
• Reputation of who you do business with, and
• Your personal reputation

By: Desiree Wood – Retail Services Manager

Life has a way of throwing you curveballs when you're least expecting them. How you're able to overcome unforeseen challenges largely depends on your ability to plan ahead, and a byproduct of that forethought is often financial stability. A home equity line of credit (HELOC) can provide you peace of mind both for planned projects and future unexpected expenses.

By: Jeff Supple, Vice President & Trust Officer

For many small- to medium-sized businesses, the owner's single largest investment is the business itself. The retirement plan is to live off the sale of his or her life’s work.

By: Paul Brooks, Assistant Vice President – Mortgage Loan Officer

With the weather finally starting to cooperate and spring just around the corner, the 2019 housing market is beginning to heat up in earnest. Loan applications for newly constructed properties accelerated going into this year’s peak home-buying season, contrasting with the weakness seen at this time in 2018. Year-over-year new-home purchase applications for March were up 7%; compared to the previous month, they increased 19%.

By: Jordon Geiger, Vice President and Trust Officer

I was doing some spring cleaning in my office recently, and came across a stack of periodicals from 2009/10 that, in stark terms, painted a picture of the business environment in Wisconsin at the time.

By: Stanley Koopmans, Senior Vice President – Commercial Banker

When it comes to your company’s operating line of credit (LOC), Goldilocks had the right idea.

Rather than trying to get approved for the largest possible LOC your business may qualify for, it’s much better to evaluate your expectations for the year, and attempt to match your credit line as closely as possible to your anticipated needs. This approach also helps cover the scenario where your current LOC won’t be adequate to support projected growth.

Not too big. Not too small. It’s time to make sure your current LOC is a perfect fit.