Monthly Archives: August 2017

Insights from Dave

In the past several years we have all experienced the economic consequences of poor banking decisions. We have also experienced its personal tragedies which are the direct results from some very large, complex financial organizations using toxic real estate related products that incented fraud, as well as to over 2.6 million “fake” accounts opened to achieve flawed compensation goals. Should we shoot all the bankers? I’m afraid that those of us whose careers have been in the community banking world would like to make a clear distinction before we take such drastic action.

There is a very real difference in banking institutions. It can be broken down into two business models.  First, is the large, complex banks who view their customers as simply transactions. Everything is based on price and maximizing returns from the bank’s perspective only. They desire a high volume moving through their “distribution network” as quickly and as efficiently as possible. Therefore, they have very little involvement with their customers and provide minimal assistance. Second, is the smaller, community focused banks whose primary objective is to build relationships. Since they reside in the communities they serve, everyone at that bank has a stake in the economic prosperity of the area. They need and want to personalize their financial solutions and thoroughly get to know their customers. The impact of decisions on their neighbors, friends and the local community holds them accountable.

Why is this important? Because community banks that hold to the relationship model do not defraud their customers. In fact, they are the true engines of growth in the United States. In the past year, community banks extended financing to 76% of all of the small business applications made to them while large, transaction based banks fulfilled only 58%. Small businesses drive employment in our country. Community banks which control less than 20% of the banking systems assets, provided more than half of all of the small business loans in this country in 2016, and they did this with 75% of the customers reporting being very satisfied with their overall contact and experience.

Our economy and financial system does not need the concentration of 50% of banking assets and deposits in the hands of just 6 banks who are not committed to any local area or their customers. We need the diversification of 7,000 community banks spread across the country who are relationship based and customer focused.

– Dave Eastburn, Chairman of the Board

 

The DO’s and DON’TS of Using Credit Cards

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Using a credit card is a great stepping stone to help boost your personal credit history. By proactively managing your ongoing finances, you can showcase to potential lenders that you know how to fulfill your repayment promises. What many people don’t know, is that simply having a credit card does not automatically indicate an increase in your credit score. To help you succeed with your credit, Iowa State Bank has put together our most commonly asked do’s and don’ts of using credit cards.

DO: Pay your balance in FULL every month or every two weeks.

DON’T: Keep a balance even if the interest rate is low

While keeping a balance less than 30 percent won’t drastically harm your credit score, it’s always better to be safe than sorry. We recommend never spending more than you can pay off each and every month. By keeping yourself to this standard you can make certain to never become a victim of expensive credit card debt.

DO: Choose a card that will compliment your lifestyle.

DON’T: Pick your credit card based of mail or TV offers.

There are countless websites and app centered around helping you find the ideal credit card. Instead of signing up for a credit card through the mail, start perusing sites like NerdWallet to discover which card fits not only your spending but your rewards preferences too! Before you start applying, remember to only apply for a credit card if you need one If you plan on using more than one, wait six months or more before applying for a new line of credit. This will help to keep your credit score on track and assist in preventing any unwanted dips.

DO: Use reward points to save money.

DON’T: Spend more just to get additional points.

While some credit card options certainly do offer some great sign-on rewards, remember that added debt and expenses are never worth the hike in points. The money you manage is yours, and it’s real! While the points are truly a great perk, never let them outweigh the tangible money you currently have in your individual accounts. If you allow this to happen you may find yourself with a mountain of debt, the equivalent of half the vacation you can no longer afford to take.

DO: Have more than one card when you can pay them all off on time.

DON’T: Cancel a credit card without researching its history.

There are certain cards that boast the best rewards when utilized for specific industries, and others that can add extra perks for those all-encompassing purchases. To make the most of these various benefits, we recommend using multiple credit cards for your household’s purchases, only once you’ve maintained a zero balance on one for more than six months. If you feel confident in managing multiple credit cards, you’ll find great advantages of using the rewards behind the various programs and their associated bonus structures.  However, if you close a card, always check and see if that card holds your longest history of a credit line. Should that be the case, you may not want to cancel it, as it could create a slight dip in your credit score.

Did you know Iowa State Bank offers credit cards too? If you’re looking to boost your credit, or want to begin building your history with a local institution, our dedicated staff would love to help you get started. Simply stop by your nearest location, and we’ll help find the perfect fit for you and your spending.

Saving for Tuition 18 Years in Advance

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After you get to see those little eyes open, it’s like a whole new world has unfolded before you. When you’re elbows deep in changing diapers, cleaning up whoopsies, and trying to sleep more than four hours a night, the last thing on your mind is college savings. At Iowa State Bank we understand the chaos which ensues with each new addition to your family. To help you prepare for this upcoming transition, we’d like to help you find the best educational savings account for your little bundle of joy before he or she arrives!

There are two primary types of accounts when it comes to saving for your child’s ongoing education. Similar to retirement savings accounts, both of these options do require various stipulations when it comes to distributing the saved funds. Here we’ll show you the pro’s and con’s to each option, to help you better determine which option will suit you and your needs best.

The Coverdell Savings Account: This account option utilizes after tax dollars, which means there are no taxes on distributions when the funds used for education. The account does have a nationwide $2,000 a year contribution limit, in addition to various income restrictions. While you and your spouse may manage and contribute to the fund, once the child turns eighteen, he or she will own the account and all the funds within it.  However, once the child is of age, he or she may only use the funds for education related expenses without incurring an additional distribution tax.

The 529 Savings Account: This account option also utilizes after tax dollars, which again indicates no future taxes on distributions if the funds are used for education. The account does not have income limitations, however, each state stipulates their own yearly contribution limit, typically ranging from $100,000 to $350,000 per year.  For this account type, the physical savings account, and the funds within it remain yours, only designated toward a specific beneficiary (which you can change up to once per year.)

Let’s compare the two when looking at national average college costs across the U.S.

If you choose to save using the Coverdell account option, suppose you save $2,000 per year for eighteen years, yielding a total of $36,000 of total out-of-pocket contributions. Add in the compound interest of those eighteen years, and you’ll find yourself with approximately $80,983 in total educational savings. Fun Fact: The national average for a year of in-state public college in the U.S. is $20,090 or $80,360 for a four-year degree.

Alternatively, if you choose to save with a 529 account, you can save more than $2,000 per year, say $3,500 per year instead. Multiply those contributions by eighteen years, and you’ll have $63,000 in total out-of-pocket contributions. After calculating your compound interest into the equation, you’ve grown up to $141,562 in total educational savings. Fun Fact: The national average for a year of any college in the U.S. is $35,370, or $141,480 for a four-year degree.

As you can see, both of these accounts allow you to make much more through the benefit of time and compound interest. Just like your retirement savings, the sooner you start contributing, the more interest you can earn. While the Coverdell allows you to give the account to your child, the 529 shows better savings opportunities, allowing you to maximize your potential interest.

If you’d like to learn how you can start saving for your upcoming chick-a-doo, stop by and speak with one of our dedicated personal bankers at Iowa State Bank today! We’d love to help your family continue to grow!

Eat This Not That

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Like many Generation X’ers, we grew into adulthood alongside this viral diet book, which showcased the epitome of dieting in the late 2000’s. Now a decade or two later, there are still some relevant tips and tricks we’re excited to share here. See how Iowa State Bank can help you switch up your spending, by eating THIS instead of THAT, to put some extra bang in your buck.

  1. EAT Dried Beans NOT Canned Beans: While many Americans are used canned beans as a pantry staple, you can save more than 50 percent when you take the time to cook with dried beans instead. According to the Bean Institute, dried beans typically run about $0.15 per serving, with canned store brands bean coming in at $0.34 per serving, and your national brand of canned beans costing approximately $0.48 per serving. Additionally, if you cook your beans in a stock you can add additional flavor to your dish for only pennies per serving.
  2. EAT Bulk Sized Snacks NOT Pre-packaged Portions: When trying to pack a child’s lunch, or meal prepping for yourself, it can be easy to turn to those pre-packed time savers. However, if you’re looking to lessen your grocery spending for the month, we recommend buying your family’s go-to snacks in bulk. Great retailers such as Sam’s Club, Costco, and Amazon offer great bulk pricing to help your household reduce their monthly expenses.
  3. BUY Store Brand NOT Name Brand: Speaking of name brand, forget your brand loyalty and seek out the options that truly stretch your dollar the farthest. Great pantry staples like canned tomatoes, sugar, flour, stock, etc are consistently less costly than their national brand counterparts. Enjoy those extra dollars somewhere else in your budget, and see how much you can save off your grocery bill using this simple switch.
  4. EAT Bread & Butter Roast NOT Flank Steak: Although these two cuts come from differents parts of the cow, they do offer very similar tastes. The bread and butter roast runs typically a few dollar less, but is still just as tender and buttery when sliced thin. Both options offer a great beef taste, however, when shopping for the entire family, this bread and butter alternative could save you several dollars per person!
  5. EAT Ground Pork NOT Ground Beef: Many people are familiar with ground pork when it comes to meatballs or brats, however, did you know you can supplement ground pork for beef in many other recipes? Something as simple as Hamburger Helper can be used just as easily with this more affordable alternative. If you purchase the ground pork unseasoned you can ensure it only has the flavors you and your family want, compared to its spicy Italian sausage counterpart.
  6. EAT Frozen Pizza NOT Delivery Pizza: Often you can find a frozen pizza at your local discount grocer for approximately $3.33 each. However, if you choose to purchase from a national chain you could be paying as much as $10.99 for a medium pizza depending on your brand. An added benefit of frozen pizzas is the sales cycle of many chains. If you wait until this frozen entree goes on sale you could snag them for as little as $2.50 each or less!
  7. EAT Frozen Fruits and Vegetables NOT Canned Fruits and Vegetables: Not only do these frigid foods save you money but calories too! While the canned items can offer more convenience, they typically contain syrup or oil to help keep the produce fresh. Avoid these extra calories and costs by purchasing the frozen option instead.
  8. EAT Whole Chicken NOT Rotisserie Chicken: This change-up is purely time-related. You can cut the cost of your meal in half or more by taking the time to roast your own whole chicken at home instead of purchasing one which has already been prepared. While you may need additional ingredients such as olive oil, herbs, and spices, they come at a fraction of the cost and can be used for countless other dishes in your kitchen. Not to mention you can make your own stock with the scraps!

We love cooking, and we can’t wait to hear how these tips and tricks can help your family succeed! Be sure to share your favorite success stories and recipes on Iowa State Bank’s Facebook page. We’d love to see which hacks have helped your household the most.

Money Advice Gone Wrong

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Sometimes the best intentions can lend themselves to producing the worst results. While many friends and family members may offer quick solutions to your financial anguish, often times, the best education, is understanding those lessons first hand. At Iowa State Bank we’d like to showcase several of the most common pieces of advice we hear, and what you can do to remedy these particular miscommunications.

Bad Advice #1: You have to go to college to get a decent job.

While a college degree does open additional doors, it is not required for many well-paying jobs available around the nation. Social figures like Mike Rowe, have made it their personal mission to spread the message that you can earn a living without having to sink into debt. Whether you’re interested in IT, manufacturing, grocery management, or other skilled work, you can find numerous positions through technical training or management programs, and avoid the majority of debt most four year college students incur.

Bad Advice #2: Having debt is okay if you pay your minimum payments.

While it is important to make installments on your loans or debts, eliminating them all together should be the desired end goal. Did you know that when credit reporting companies review your credit score, there are five factors considered? The two most important factors are your payment history and your debt to income ratio. If your monthly debt payments require more than 43 percent of your income, that may raise a flag to any future potential lenders.

Bad Advice #3: To build your credit score you need to purchase everything on your credit card.

While it certainly helps to have a long and healthy track record associated with your credit card usage; having an on time payment history is far more important. This payment history represents the largest factor of your credit score, which the reporting bureaus track. By never spending more than you have, you can make certain you are able to pay your bill in full each and every month. This action may have the potential to help foster growth for your credit score.

Bad Advice #4: Retirement savings can wait.

Contrary to what many young adults think, right now is the most important time to start saving for retirement. While later in life you might have more disposable income to save, you’ll also have less time before you need those funds. Once compound interest enters any equation, time becomes the most valuable commodity for growing your wealth. For instance, if you saved the Roth IRA maximum of $5,500/year starting at age 25, you’d have $1.17 Million by the time you’re 65. Who wouldn’t want to capitalize on those kinds of savings?

We think you can tackle any piece of advice with a few grains of salt. If you’re curious what your next financial move should be, stop by Iowa State Bank and speak to one of our dedicated personal bankers. Our team of financial experts is here to help you and your family succeed; get started today!