Bank News & Financial Literacy

No, it’s not some new discipline fad for parents. Neither is it a way to slow your overly energetic children down to a manageable level. It’s really an act of compassion that could save your entire family a great deal of time, money, and aggravation. Read on.

September is National Preparedness Month, and it's the perfect time to plan ahead. Preparedness isn't about worry—it's about confidence and protecting what you've built. Here are practical steps to strengthen your finances, your home, and your business this month.

Sending your child off to college is a proud milestone—but it comes with real responsibilities. Among the most important? Making sure they're financially prepared for what lies ahead. From managing day-to-day expenses to building healthy money habits, setting your college student up for financial success starts before they ever step foot on campus.

At FNC Bank, we pride ourselves on listening to our customers and continuously striving to enhance your banking experience. In response to your valuable feedback, we’re excited to introduce our new contactless debit cards. This innovative feature is designed to make your transactions faster, safer, and more convenient than ever before.

FNC Bank’s School Supply Drive held in July was a remarkable success! We received almost 800 donated items to support local students – far above our goal of 500. Thanks to the generosity and support of our customers, employees, and community members, we were able to come together to help students start the school year prepared and ready to learn.

Over the course of their lives, older generations, particularly the "Baby Boomers”, have built up a remarkable amount of wealth. Experts call what's coming next "the great wealth transfer." By the year 2048, an estimated $124 trillion in assets will pass from one generation to the next. That shift has already begun, and it will only pick up speed in the years ahead.

Last month was Elder Abuse Month, a time our community came together to spotlight a serious issue: fraud targeting older adults. While June has passed, the lessons stay just as urgent. Scammers grow more clever every year, but with a little knowledge and teamwork, we can keep our seniors safe, confident, and connected.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) recently issued a notice to consumers warning those who store money in popular payment apps like Venmo, PayPal, or Cash App that their funds may not be safe if these apps lack federal deposit insurance coverage. Payment apps, also called peer-to-peer or P2P apps, have grown in popularity and make it easy for consumers to purchase items from retailers, pay back a friend for dinner, and even tip street performers. In fact, the Pew Research Center says more than three-quarters of adults in the United States use a P2P app, and the CFPB estimates $893 billion in transactions were made on these apps last year alone.

Meet Cole Rutledge, Cash Management Specialist — a new role created specifically to help our business and municipal clients manage their finances with greater ease and confidence. Cole is here to support your organization with a full range of treasury services, including ACH processing, wire transfers, remote deposit capture, positive pay fraud prevention, and merchant services. The goal is straightforward: help your business improve cash flow, reduce risk, and simplify day-to-day financial operations.

Your home is more than just a place to live; it’s a space that should grow and change with you—especially here in Wisconsin, where the changing seasons and lifestyle call for versatility and comfort. Over time, your needs evolve, and your home might need an update to keep up. A home remodel is an excellent way to refresh your living space, making it more functional, comfortable, and valuable. Whether you're considering a small update or a major renovation, the benefits can be transformative.

As a business owner, you're always looking for the next opportunity to grow. Whether it's expanding your team, launching a new product, or simply navigating the day-to-day costs of running a company, having access to capital is crucial. This is where a commercial loan can be a powerful tool, providing the fuel you need to turn your ambitions into reality.

Perhaps it’s a Wisconsin commercial property that aligns perfectly with your long-term vision. Or maybe it’s new equipment that could double your production capacity. It could even be a contract that demands more inventory than you’re currently able to manage.

Presenting a vision of what the future might look like has been an obsession for creative minds in science, literature, and popular culture for centuries. In recent years, an endless string of movies has been produced by Hollywood depicting various forms of the apocalypse, whether in the form of a natural disaster, an alien invasion, worldwide epidemic, or just about anything else you can imagine. My personal favorite is the classic “The Terminator”. In the highly unlikely event you haven’t seen it, the plot centers on the premise that an artificial intelligence (AI) system named Skynet becomes “self-aware” and on its own initiates a nuclear holocaust.

In April, FNC Bank President, Tom Mews, celebrated his 25-year anniversary with the bank. The Board of Directors congratulated Tom on this monumental achievement thanking him for his loyalty and significant contributions over the years. Tom's steady leadership and dedication over the past 25 years have made a lasting impact on our staff and the communities we serve.

FNC Bank hosted a Diaper Drive in March, and we are happy to share that we collected a total of 3,529 diapers and wipes at our branches and online store. For the second year in a row, we’ve exceeded our goal of collecting 3,500 items – thanks to you, our wonderful customers, employees, and community members.

For the past few years, many potential homebuyers have found themselves in a holding pattern. You might have watched from the sidelines as interest rates fluctuated and inventory vanished, wondering when the right moment to jump in would finally arrive. If you have been waiting for the clouds to part, we have good news: the forecast for 2026 looks significantly brighter.

Every business looks for opportunities to streamline the way it does business, whether that be reviewing its product options, examining how its staff works, or re-evaluating how it connects with its customers. Manufacturing firms which engineer and refine highly technical products depend on having the latest and greatest equipment so they can produce state-of-the-art products for business consumers who demand nothing but the very best for their own enterprises.

Your credit score is one of the most important numbers in your financial life. It can affect your ability to get a loan, secure the best interest rates, and even influence job opportunities. Despite its importance, credit is often misunderstood—leading to myths that can hurt your financial wellness.

On February 3rd, FNC Bank proudly hosted our 4th Annual FNC Bank Reality Fair at Osceola School District, welcoming Juniors from both Osceola and St. Croix Falls High Schools. This interactive event gave students a hands-on experience of managing real-world finances.

As temperatures drop, heating bills tend to rise. With a few smart adjustments, you can lower energy use and save throughout the winter months. This article covers simple habits and low-cost projects to keep your home cozy without breaking the bank.