Blogs

What you need to know regarding ATM Skimming Devices As a reminder that fraud comes in all forms, skimming devices are a constant threat and due diligence needs to be used when paying with your debit and credit cards. A skimming device is a piece of equipment fraudsters attach over card readers at ATMs, self-service payment kiosks at gas pumps, or other point of sale equipment. While the customer tries to make a valid transaction, the debit card or credit card pass through a second card reader (the skimming device) that illegally captures the card number. Criminals also obtain PINs by...

Increase Your Savings With These Simple Tips If you have a limited income, it can seem difficult to put aside money. However, by reducing certain expenses and changing your purchasing habits, you can save money over time. Cook at Home Eating out can cost you a decent amount of money. As such, cooking more meals at home is a simple way to save. Going from eating out every single day to eating at home can save you over $40 to $50 per week. To maximize your savings have a plan for your meals each week. If you know exactly what you need to purchase before going into a grocery store, you can avoid...

Just like with a car, it’s a good idea to perform some annual maintenance on your retirement plan. Here’s a five-point inspection guide to help you continue to get good mileage out of your plan and ensure it stays reliable on your trip to retirement. 1. Review Your Retirement Saving Goals It’s challenging to predict your retirement needs, particularly if you’re in your 20s or 30s. But financial planners generally recommend replacing about 75% of preretirement income. Even if your retirement is decades away, you should use a retirement calculator at least once a year to estimate whether you’re...

Deposit Your Next Check With Your Phone Making a deposit with your phone is an easy process and will save you a trip to the bank. But, if you have never done this before it may be a bit intimidating. At Arizona Bank & Trust, a division of HTLF Bank, we want to make this process as easy as possible for you - it's as simple as sign, tap, snap, deposit: Sign: Sign and endorse check with “For Mobile Deposit Only.” Tap: Tap “Deposit Check” in the app, enter the check amount and then select your account Snap: Snap a picture of the front and back of your check Deposit: Confirm the details, hit submit and you’re done! We are in...

Use This Powerful Financial Tool with Care Do automatic payments make sense for your finances? Setting up regular withdrawals for your bills and subscriptions can make life significantly more convenient, but it can also come with some downsides. Keep these pros and cons in mind as you consider whether to integrate automatic payments into your everyday life. Types of Automatic Payments Typically, automatic payments are made using one of two methods. With the first method, you can authorize your financial institution to automatically withdraw money from your account and send it as a payment each...