Renting an apartment, applying for a vehicle loan, or even setting up utilities may require something many college students haven’t yet considered: a credit history. Between opening bank accounts, paying bills, using payment apps, and making everyday purchases, students begin developing habits that can affect their financial future for years to come. One important lesson…
Starting college brings new opportunities, new responsibilities, and unfortunately, new risks. Between searching for housing, applying for financial aid, looking for jobs, and managing money on their own for the first time, college students can become attractive targets for scammers. Criminals often focus on situations where people are making important decisions quickly or sharing personal…
For many young adults, college is about much more than earning a degree. It’s also a time to learn skills that can last a lifetime, including money management. Whether it’s paying bills, sticking to a budget, monitoring accounts, or making day-to-day spending decisions, the habits students develop during college often follow them long after graduation.…
Financial literacy is often described as understanding how money works. But knowing financial terms is only one part of it. Financial literacy also means knowing what questions to ask, understanding the options in front of you, and feeling prepared to make decisions that fit your situation. Those skills can help when you’re building a budget,…
Mortgage rates tend to get a lot of attention when people start thinking about buying a home. A rate can affect your monthly payment, which can affect what feels realistic in your budget. But affordability is bigger than one number. Buying a home also means considering your savings, maintenance costs, taxes, insurance, income, and your…
Every local business starts with someone willing to take a chance. Before a storefront opens, a service company lands its first customer; a farm operation plants that first seed, or a growing business adds capacity. There is always a person or family behind the scenes making big decisions. They are investing time, money, energy, and…
Artificial intelligence (AI) is quickly becoming part of everyday life. People are using AI tools to draft emails, create shopping lists, plan vacations, compare products, and even get answers to financial questions. While these tools can save time and provide helpful information, it’s important to understand both their benefits and their limitations. AI can be…
Building an emergency fund is one of the simplest ways to create financial stability. It gives you a cushion when life throws something unexpected your way, so you are not forced to rely on credit cards or take on new debt. In our recent KWLM Ask the Expert segment, Mandy Fleming, Market Manager at Heritage…
If you’ve ever wondered, “Do I actually qualify for a mortgage?” you’re not alone. During a recent Ask the Expert segment on KWLM, Jared Williamson, Mortgage Loan Originator at Heritage Bank, shared insight into the most common questions and misconceptions he hears from homebuyers across our area. The truth is that many people assume they’re…
Buying a home comes with a lot of moving parts, and your mortgage rate is one of the most important. A mortgage rate lock helps bring some stability to that process. In simple terms, a mortgage rate lock lets you secure an interest rate for a set period of time while your loan is being…
Tom Geiger passes the CEO role to Bob Mathiasen [Spicer, MN / Sioux Falls, SD] — Heritage Bank, N.A. announced today that Robert W. Mathiasen has been appointed Chief Executive Officer, effective April 1, 2026. Mathiasen, who has served as Chief Operating Officer, succeeds Tom Geiger, who will step away from day-to-day management and continue…
Please pay close attention to this notice if you have a loan at Heritage Bank NA with an Escrow Account….. Our loans with escrow accounts are analyzed once per year to make sure we have sufficient funds to pay taxes and insurance throughout the year. This affects customer payments starting with the July mortgage payment. …
Normally by mid-April, midwest farmers have either begun spring fieldwork, or are within days of the beginning of the planting season for the year. However, 2018 seems to be the “Winter that never ends,” as another major snowstorm hit Minnesota and surrounding States this past weekend. Temperatures have been extremely cold during the first half…
As people start heading off to vacations in different places, there are a few things everyone should remember when it comes to keeping your spending money safe on vacation. Click “Manage Cards” on our Digital Banking and that provides the ability to turn your debit card off and on and actively manage your usage by…
It’s cold outside, winter is here, we’ve wrapped up the Holidays and less people are out and about. Yes, this is all true because we live in the midwest! So how do the winter months affect the housing market and what does that mean for you as a buyer? Have you ever heard this said,…
STOP. THINK. CONNECT. is simple, actionable advice that everyone can follow to stay safer and more secure online. STOP: Before you use the Internet, take time to understand the risks and learn how to spot potential problems. THINK: Take a moment to be certain the path ahead is clear. Watch for warning signs and consider…
The Federal Trade Commission has announced the launch of a new website, IdentityTheft.gov, a resource that makes it easier for victims to report and recover from identity theft. The new website provides an interactive checklist that walks people through the recovery process and helps them understand which recovery steps should be taken upon learning their…
Netflix subscribers beware: There’s a scheme floating around the Internet that you should watch out for. If you’re not careful, you could end up about $400 poorer ane with a stolen identity. — by Alyssa Bereznak, Yahoo Tech March 3, 2014 It works like this: A group of scammers purporting to be Netflix tech support…
Simple measures can protect users from loss of device or identity theft — by Victoria Stunt, CBC News March 5, 2014 Smartphones carry an abundance of private information, enough to compromise bank accounts or pave the way for identity theft. Yet smartphones users often have their devices out in the open, risking theft or having the…
As we look ahead toward the cyberthreats facing us this year, some key challenges will result from the advancements in technology that are becoming part of our daily lives. Ranging from the Internet of Things to online currencies, devices and systems have never been more interconnected. Before we adopt these new technologies, we need to…
