Monthly Archives: September 2014

Identity Theft: What You Need to Know and Warning Signs

The dangers of identity theft and how to spot it

While terrifying, identity theft is nearly completely preventable when the right steps are taken.


With today’s technology and social media trends, a lot of your information is out there for anyone to see, which can be dangerous. But there are steps you can take to protect yourself and lower the financial impact of fraud. At Raccoon Valley Bank, we understand the seriousness of identity theft threats, and we want to keep you informed on what you can do, since identity theft is usually discovered by the consumer first. Read on to find out how to protect yourself and your hard-earned money.
 
Watch and monitor your accounts
Use Raccoon Valley’s online and mobile banking tools to monitor your accounts daily, or at least weekly.  Always review statements right when you get them.
 
Use eStatements and online banking
eStatements will come sooner than mail, so you can detect fraud sooner.  See how to sign up for eStatements here. Not only will you be protecting yourself, you are also helping the environment.
 
Follow up when you use Online Bill Pay
Online Bill Pay makes sending your monthly payments easy, but you still need to follow up with each vendor to ensure they received your payment. The system is secured using industry-standard encryption, but it never hurts to double-check.
 
Know the warning signs
If any of these things happen, you should contact your bank right away.

  • Denied credit. Check your credit report if you are denied credit or are offered unfavorable credit terms for strange reasons.
  • Unsolicited credit cards. Make sure you question any credit cards you receive that you didn’t apply for. Call the company right away to be safe.
  • Collection calls for things you didn’t buy. Be extremely careful of this because there are many different types of fraudulent calls happening.
  • Missing bills or statements. Alert Raccoon Valley Bank if something expected doesn’t show up in the mail or on your email account.
  • Unexpected charges.

 
These things might seem like obvious signs, but people often ignore them or don’t address them right away because they assume they are mistakes, not identity theft.
 
Check your credit report
You get one free look at your credit report every year from each of the three major credit reporting bureaus, Experian, TransUnion and Equifax. Keep up to date with your credit report and contact the credit bureaus to dispute something on the report or freeze your credit if you believe your identity has been stolen.
 
Raccoon Valley Bank wants you to understand possible threats to your money and how to spot them immediately. The sooner you can respond to identity theft, the less financial impact it will have and the less time spent dealing with it. At Raccoon Valley Bank, we take pride in keeping your accounts secure, but with today’s cyber-criminals, you can never be too cautious. Take these steps to stay on top of your accounts and protect yourself.

Getaway for the Weekend across the Great State of Iowa

Easy weekend getaway trips in the state of Iowa

Going for a getaway doesn’t mean you have to go far!


Raccoon Valley Bank is proud to have several locations that serve Central Iowa and surrounding areas. The best part about being in this area of the state is that we can head to any corner of Iowa for a weekend getaway.
 
Sometimes it is nice to get away for the weekend, so we have put together a list of options for you to choose from when deciding where to go this fall. Whether you wish to stay close by heading to Des Moines or head east towards the Mississippi, the options are endless when exploring the state of Iowa.
 
Getaway for the weekend, Iowa style:
 
The Great Mississippi River
Whether you want to stop in Dubuque or Davenport, no matter where you are on the river, it is a sight to see. Roughly three hours away and featuring many scenic overlooks of the river, the eastern boarder of Iowa is worth visiting.
 
Lake Okoboji
Looking for some boating fun? Take the family or a trip for two and head north to Lake Okoboji for a weekend of fun. This hidden gem of Iowa is exciting because you can see the historic town or spend all of your time on or near the water. The lake is only three hours away, so start planning.
 
Amana Colonies
Looking for a day trip? The Amana Colonies are a great option for history and delicious food. Rich in German history, September is ideal for hitting the highway towards the Amanas before the crowds gather for Oktoberfest the first weekend in October.
 
Head to Des Moines
The state’s capital has so much to offer from history to shopping. Take the kids to the zoo or spend a day visiting downtown. The night life is plentiful and the food will keep you coming back. Located only miles from us, we love visiting the Des Moines area.
 
Wherever you choose to go this fall, we hope you stick around Iowa and explore our home state. Just be sure to let us know if you are going to be gone longer than a weekend so we don’t mistake any debit card transactions at your destinations for fraudulent charges.
 
We hope you have a terrific trip!

Raccoon Valley Skills Academy: How Secure is your Password?

Password security is paramount to your financial security

“abc123” or “password” are not considered secure passwords, so it’s time to update!


As part of the Raccoon Valley Bank Skills Academy, we’re touching on keeping your accounts secure with a strong password. You can save and deposit as much money as you want, but without the proper protection, it could all be for nothing.
Technology has made banking services easier to access from your smart phone, home computer, laptop and tablet. With this ease of use, it’s important to remember that along with the convenience comes the need for additional security measures.
Raccoon Valley Bank offers a variety of online services: online banking, mobile banking, and business banking.  For all of these services, we stress the importance of password security and making your password different than other accounts, like Facebook. There are measures you can take to keep your banking secure through basic password best practices.
Ways to make passwords for your online banking secure:

  • Change your password often. Consider changing your password every month. Set a goal to change your password the same time each month. It will get you into a good habit of keeping your online banking information and sensitive information secure.
  • Make your password at least eight characters because shorter passwords are easier to crack. The longer, the better because long passwords are more complicated to crack. Always have at least one upper case letter, lower case, number and symbol to make it more secure.
  • Do not use the same password for various accounts. It may be easier to remember only one password for your Facebook, online banking, and email. However, you should never use the same password because if a hacker finds one, they have access to every other account you have.
  • Do not share your password. Sharing banking passwords can cause trouble if the other person forgets to log out and it is a hassle if they make transactions you did not approve. It is best that only you access your account information.
  • Avoid accessing accounts on unsecure networks. It is best practice to not use hotel or airport Wi-Fi or public computers to look at banking information. Hackers can access your information from these types of networks more easily because they are not secured.

Raccoon Valley Bank encourages you to use our online banking services, but we want you to do so in the most secure manner possible.  A few small steps can help prevent your sensitive account information from falling in the hands of a criminal.

Shop Local at the Farmers Market

Get delicious produce while supporting local growers at the farmers market!

Get delicious produce while supporting local growers at the farmers market!


Shopping local can put money back into the community and the pockets of our neighbors. There is nothing better than giving back to the community and bettering your health as well. There are many local farmers markets and we are proud to support all local business efforts and the work of farmers in the area.
The best thing about the farmers market is that you can find all you are looking for in one stop. We want you to enjoy the fun of the farmers market and reap the benefits that the fresh and local foods have to offer. From fresh sweet corn to beautiful plants, the farmers market is the place to go for anything you could imagine because no two weeks are alike.
Why you should shop your local farmer’s markets:

  • Creation of more local jobs.
  • Shopping local keeps the money in your neighborhoods and helps fund local projects.
  • Shopping local can grow the local economy and create a sustainable community.
  • Strong communities are built by shopping local.

Why you should support local farmers:

  • Less packaging is involved, so the environment benefits greatly.
  • The farmers get to know the local community and they can give you tips on how to cook the produce.
  • Local food is more nutritious and goes from farm to your table more quickly.
  • Helping farmers today ensures farmers of the future can sustain produce.

Shopping a local farmers market allows you to eat healthier and support the local economy, making them a win-win for everyone! The farmers markets around the area go through October. From the Adel Farmers Market to the Perry Farmers Market, visit both for all of your produce needs.
There are many benefits of farmers markets from healthy options to growing the local economy. Shop local when it comes to groceries, and bank local at Raccoon Valley Bank for your banking and lending needs!

We're Centered Around You