Bank News & Financial Literacy

International Fraud Awareness Week is a global event held every November with the purpose to raise awareness of fraud. Fraud, defined as intentionally deceiving someone for unlawful gain, is a widespread issue that continues to grow more sophisticated each year. By enhancing our understanding and awareness, we can effectively safeguard ourselves and our communities from falling victim to fraudulent activities.

International Fraud Awareness Week is a global event held every November with the purpose to raise awareness of fraud. Fraud, defined as intentionally deceiving someone for unlawful gain, is a widespread issue that continues to grow more sophisticated each year. By enhancing our understanding and awareness, we can effectively safeguard ourselves and our communities from falling victim to fraudulent activities.

You probably haven’t heard enough about polls at this point, so let’s talk about them. Ok, sarcasm aside, a discussion about their value is fair game. In the political arena, I always find it entertaining to hear those who are leading in the polls talk about how the numbers prove that the candidate’s message is hitting home. At the same time the candidates who are running behind will say they don’t put much stock in polls and that they are often wrong in the end. Both viewpoints have support from election results throughout history.

Get Smart About Credit Day, observed annually on October 17th, serves as a reminder for us to learn about the importance of responsible credit management. By understanding concepts such as credit scores, interest rates, and debt management strategies, you can make informed decisions when it comes to borrowing money and managing your finances.

Despite the fact that check use has declined by 25%, reports of check fraud have soared. In fact, they’ve nearly doubled since 2021. Criminals are becoming more sophisticated and finding new ways to steal your financial information to gain access to and take off with your money. FNC Bank is committed to helping our customers use checks safely.

Don’t worry, the misleadingly negative title is only to catch your eye—I believe it’s known as “click bait” in modern digital terminology. Here comes the positivity…

In today's increasingly digital landscape, understanding and prioritizing cybersecurity has become essential. October marks Cybersecurity Month, a time to reflect on the importance of protecting your online presence and taking proactive steps to safeguard your personal and professional data.

Readers' Choice Best of the Valley is a tribute to the area's best—including Arts & Entertainment, Eating & Drinking, Health & Fitness, Local, Services, Shopping, and Sports & Recreation—as voted on by readers of The Sun publications.

Planning for retirement isn't just about saving money—it's about ensuring the lifestyle you envision for your golden years.

When it comes to buying a home, timing can be everything. While spring and summer are often seen as the peak seasons for real estate activity, savvy buyers know that fall can offer unique opportunities that are hard to find during other times of the year. Here’s why fall might just be the ideal season to find your dream home.

It’s September, and another summer has flown by, to the dismay of kids everywhere. Grown-ups will miss summer too, but some of them view the start of the school year as the beginning of better living through AI—yes, that’s right—Adult Independence.

September is National Preparedness Month—a reminder of the importance of being prepared for emergencies. Whether it’s natural disasters, power outages, or unexpected events, taking time to plan ahead can make all the difference. But let’s not forget to also prepare for unforeseen financial emergencies. One of the best ways to do this is to set up an emergency fund.

A quick guide to understanding Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) Reporting

A new law enables financial institutions to offer a vulnerable adult the opportunity to submit and update a list of persons who are authorized to be contacted by the financial institution when it reasonably suspects the customer may be a victim of financial exploitation.

Thanks to our amazing community, we've exceeded our goal and collected a total of 538 school supply items for local students in need. Each notebook, pencil, and backpack will make a difference in a child's education.

While technology brings new innovations and changes to how society operates every day, some long-standing practices remain essential, such as using the U.S. Postal Service for mailing. Many businesses and consumers still rely on postal mail to send payments via written checks and convey other confidential information. Although this method has been a standard for decades, it makes individuals susceptible to a type of fraud known as check washing.

"Pig butchering" is a scam named in reference to the practice of fattening a pig before slaughter. It is a type of confidence and investment fraud in which the victim is gradually lured into making increasing monetary contributions, generally in the form of cryptocurrency, to a seemingly sound investment before the scammer disappears with the contributed monies.

As many of you are aware, our New Richmond branch is undergoing a major remodel, the biggest since 1987. Our primary goal is to bring all of our New Richmond staff, along with everything we offer, into one space for the convenience of our customers. Along with that, it is crucial that we modernize to meet the needs of new generations. Underlying all of this is the commitment to remain an anchor resident of downtown New Richmond, which we believe is an important factor in the necessary revitalization of this wonderful city’s main street.

I’ve always maintained that we here in the Upper Midwest have a climate advantage over the rest of the country. Sure, winters (apart from this year) are usually too cold, sometimes too snowy, and always too long. Even so, most of us enjoy enough winter activities to make it quite tolerable. But there is a lesser-known advantage to living here, which I find to be very powerful.

We are honored to have organized our second annual FNC Bank Reality Fair, held on May 14th at Osceola High School for the Junior classes from both Osceola and St. Croix Falls High Schools. Building on the success of last year's event with Osceola students, we extended the opportunity to St. Croix Falls students to have an even stronger impact.