Sydney Franzen, Ag/Commercial Lender at First Security Bank, has successfully completed the 2018 Iowa Bankers Association’s Commercial Lending School held October 1-5 in Ankeny.

The First Security Bank & Trust Board of Directors and President/CEO Kurt Herbrechtsmeyer are pleased to announce that Erika DeBruyn has joined the First Security team in Charles City.

The First Security Bank & Trust Board of Directors and President/CEO Kurt Herbrechtsmeyer are pleased to announce the promotion of Evelyn Schroeder to Assistant Vice President.

Over the last several months, the First Security Bank & Trust Board of Directors and President/CEO Kurt Herbrechtsmeyer have announced the promotions of Kimberley Coates, Katie Menken, and Lyndsay Clark.

Fake checks drive many types of scams – like those involving phony prize wins, fake jobs, mystery shoppers, online classified ad sales, and others.

To you, the card you carry isn’t just a piece of plastic. It’s lunch with your best friend, the perfect gift found after a diligent online search, or a quick stop for gas on the way home. To fraudsters, it’s a chance to steal your information and use your account for their own purposes.

The First Security Bank & Trust Board of Directors and President/CEO Kurt Herbrechtsmeyer are pleased to announce that Rhonda Troester and Carly Demro have joined the First Security team in Charles City.

First Security Bank recently donated $750 to the Meservey Public Library. The funds were put toward their 50^th anniversary celebration and their 2^nd annual carnival. The free event is an opportunity for Meservey and surrounding area to enjoy community and fun activities ranging from inflatable rides and petting zoos to face painting and magician shows.

First Security recently donated $2,000 to the Rockwell Lions Club’s fundraiser for their annual Truck and Tractor Pull. The pull, which was part of the National Tractor Pullers Association 2018 Grand National Championship series, was held July 5-7. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Rockwell community.

The First Security Bank & Trust Board of Directors and President/CEO Kurt Herbrechtsmeyer are pleased to announce that Caitlin Golle has joined the First Security office in Charles City as a Video Banker. In this role, she will operate some of the latest technology offered in banking, Interactive Teller Machines. Via video chat, she will hold a face-to-face conversation with customers while assisting them with deposits, withdrawals, account transfers, loan payments, and more.

First Security Bank & Trust employees, Kris Wegner, Sydney Franzen, Josh Dodd, and Eric Miller have successfully completed the 2018 Ag Credit School in Ames, Iowa.

After a banking career of more than 33 years, Beth Wilson, Vice President/Retail Lender, plans to retire.

The First Security Bank & Trust Board of Directors and President/CEO Kurt Herbrechtsmeyer are pleased to announce that Vicky Rowe has joined the First Security Service Center. From the First Security office in Charles City, Rowe will provide customers with a one-stop customer service experience. She will aid in many areas which include providing information about deposit and loan accounts, debit cards, online banking, and safety deposit box opening and access. She will also work on fraud situations and account reconciliation.

The First Security Bank & Trust Board of Directors and President/CEO Kurt Herbrechtsmeyer are pleased to announce that Bre Knowles has joined First Security.

The First Security Bank & Trust Board of Directors and President/CEO Kurt Herbrechtsmeyer are pleased to announce that Julie Versluis has joined First Security as Vice President and Trust Officer.

The First Security Bank & Trust Board of Directors and President/CEO Kurt Herbrechtsmeyer are pleased to announce that Chei Hanig has joined the First Security team in Hampton.

First Security recently donated $2,500 to Mission Thornton, Inc. Their goal is to raise $24,000 to replace Thornton’s current welcome sign with an LED electronic message board.

Conserving energy. Reducing landfills and pollution. Protecting the environment.  Chances are, you already know the impact that recycling can have on sustaining our planet. What you may not know, however, is the impact recycling can have in your home – and in your budget.

What do you want in life? A new car? Your own home? A great college education for your children?

For many people, knowing a tax refund is on the way can be a big relief, an exciting treat, or both. And the sooner the refund arrives the better.

Kurt Herbrechtsmeyer, Iowa View contributor 

How can an industry that claims to be “not-for-profit” keep billions in profits each year tax free?

Credit unions are now a $1.3 trillion industry, and reported $9.7 billion in tax-free profits in 2016. Three-fourths of those profits were in credit unions with more than $1 billion in assets. 

The First Security Bank & Trust Board of Directors and President/CEO Kurt Herbrechtsmeyer are pleased to announce that Suzie Ross and Carla Winterink joined the First Security Service Center.

Banks are national leaders in preserving the security of customer data. The industry dedicates hundreds of millions of dollars annually to data security, and adheres to strict regulatory and network requirements. The banking industry’s first priority is to protect consumers and make them whole.

Whether your retirement unfolds as a beautiful dream or a scary nightmare depends largely on the financial decisions you make today. But if retirement planning is brand-new to you, you're not alone.

Black Friday sales save you money, but just how far will your dollars go?

We crunched the numbers to find out. Here are some of the ways you could spend your Black Friday budget this November 24 (but keep in mind that many deals begin on November 23, Thanksgiving Day).

Bobbi Spainhower, Investment Sales Assistant at First Security, recently received the Life Underwriter Training Council Fellow^SM (LUTCF^®) designation.

Companies of all sizes are being targeted by criminals through business email compromise scams. 

First Security was excited to welcome Charles City area educators back for the start of the 2017-2018 school year by serving them breakfast on Tuesday, August 22. Nearly 300 teachers and staff gathered in the new middle school commons for breakfast, allowing them to catch up with one another before the start of the new school year.

As the back-to-school season is upon us, many of today’s younger consumers are likely gearing up to spend money, yet among U.S. adults ages 18 to 34, just over half are paying their bills on time. Furthermore, 44% of high school students report that they don’t know what a credit score measures, according to a study conducted by the Consumer Federation of America.

Managing finances can be complicated for small-business owners, especially when such a business is first getting started. Many entrepreneurs skip the important step of opening a business bank account, and instead use personal accounts to manage their business expenses. Opening a business account at First Security can have many advantages.