Banknotes

By: Dennis Haefer, Vice President – Commercial Banker

We’ve all heard the saying, “It takes money to make money.” Small business owners, solo practitioners, and budding entrepreneurs may feel the pinch of this statement more than most when trying to grow their companies to the next level.

By: Jeff Collins, Vice President and Trust Officer

If you follow national news, you may have heard of the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act. Although yet to clear the Senate, the proposed legislation has seen broad, bipartisan support in the House of Representatives.  

By: Cindy Mack, Assistant Vice President – Mortgage Loan Officer

Divorce is difficult for so many reasons. To avoid making it harder than it has to be on your finances, it helps to understand the way mortgages are handled as you divide assets.

Whether you are thinking about keeping your current home to provide stability or considering a move to get a fresh start, there are things you should know to make the process easier.

By: Jordon Geiger, Vice President and Trust Officer

In every conversation I have with a client, I ask, “What do you need help with?” Sometimes, perhaps not surprisingly, the answers have nothing to do business wealth management. In fact, one of the most common responses involves attracting and retaining quality employees, especially skilled or specialized workers. 

By: Diana Bunnow, Treasury Management Operations Representative

State Bank of Cross Plains’ personal online banking system has many useful tools and features – you can access your accounts 24 hours a day, 7 days a week; transfer funds between your accounts; pay bills right from your home or mobile device; and so much more! We want it to be easy for you to navigate our website, so here are some tips that will help you gain confidence along your way to becoming a master of online banking.

By: Jeff Ellestad, Treasury Management Sales Officer

For business owners, keeping company finances separate from personal ones is a smart decision. However, for small business owners in particular, that can be easier said than done. If you find yourself using your personal credit card to cover business purchases, you’re certainly not alone – in reality, more than 65% of all SMB owners use credit cards on a regular basis, and less than 50% of those cards are in the company’s name. Here are some of the key advantages that enterprise cards hold over their personal counterparts.

By: Jason Laufenberg, BSA Officer

As we enter the holiday season, now is a good time to remember that fraud never takes a vacation. It is important for you to remain vigilant, amidst the holiday festivities, to avoid becoming a victim. The following article from the Federal Trade Commission – "10 Things You Can Do to Avoid Fraud" – offers some actionable advice to help you prevent schemers from putting a damper on your good cheer.

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

For some relationship managers, customer service is nothing more than “lip” service. For others, it involves a deep commitment to delivering “legendary” customer experiences. 

By: Alyssa Chance, Vice President & Trust Officer

Congratulations! Your estate plan is set, your beneficiaries are named ... you’re done, right? Not so fast. In the oft-quoted words of the Greek philosopher, Heraclitus: “Change is the only constant in life.”

If you’ve had a big life change, it is a good time to review your estate planning documents, to ensure your plan continues to reflect your wishes. It also makes sense to review life insurance or investment accounts where a list of beneficiaries has been made. Here are a few life events that could trigger a review of your documents.

By: Stanley Koopmans, Senior Vice President – Commercial Banker

Traditional commercial loans typically offer a fixed interest rate for 3 to 5 years, with the need to renew the loan and establish a new interest rate at maturity. However, a valid concern in our current low-interest environment is that interest rates will be substantially higher when the loan matures.