IncredibleBank Blog

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Homeowner 101: 8 Smart Tips for New Homeowners

Homeownership is a big responsibility. Do these 8 things to make it easier and more satisfying.

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The Bank Of The Future

The speed of change will touch all aspects of our business—especially the customer experience. Living in the Internet era, change is happening so quickly that we often don’t realize what change is taking place, or that our expectations are even changing. 

Financing A New Business?

Tips on how to prepare a finance request for the best outcome. If you’re starting, growing or restructuring your business, you may need financing. Preparation is a key to success.  

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The Importance Of An Incredible Customer Experience

A kind gesture, a follow up phone call, holding the door open for a customer… River Valley Bank takes the customer experience very seriously, promoting a positive and memorable encounter with every interaction. 

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Credit Card Offers Saturate the Market.

When thinking about getting a personal credit card there really is only one important question to ask yourself:  What are my financial needs?

Start Something Incredible: RMM Solutions

They’re extraordinarily knowledgeable about technology; about trends; about business; about people; and about the future. Meet RMM Solutions, a Wisconsin based IT company with an impressive upward growth plan and a keen eye on the future of technology. Their growth plan is spearheaded by Rimon Moses, RMM Solutions’ CEO, and a huge proponent of making certain technology is blended with ample doses of humanity. And he should know. The once small IT company has grown into a statewide presence with more than 70 employees.


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Protecting Your Business From Payment Fraud

For most municipalities, electronic payment systems result in great efficiencies. Unfortunately, these efficiencies set the table for a payment fraud smorgasbord.

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Business Fraud & Phishing On The Rise

Identity theft, fraud, phishing and cyber crimes are growing in frequency and scale. We need to be proactive at protecting our personal data.

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Community Banker...or Developer—What's In A Name?

Bankers grow our communities by helping businesses create jobs. Without start-up capital or funding for day-to-day operations, very few businesses would ever get off the ground—not to mention hire employees. 

Mobile Wallet—Why Should I Make the Switch?

A mobile wallet transaction is a more secure payment method than an actual card transaction! Here’s why using mobile wallet is a fast and safe way to make a payment. 

Todd Nagel, President & CEO, IncredibleBank

9/29/19

The Road To Financial Health Interview: Todd Nagel

President & CEO, IncredibleBank

In our fourth edition of The Road to Financial Health: The Interview, we sit down with Todd Nagel, President and CEO of IncredibleBank, to discuss the name change, how it impacts our customers, and what you can expect from the bank going forward.
 

P2P Fraud: Everyone Needs To Be Aware

Peer to Peer payments, also known as person to person, are transactions that can be used for anything from paying rent to splitting the bill at dinner. 

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10/28/19

The Road To Financial Health Interview With Brad Mason

Business/Specialty Lender, IncredibleBank
 
In our fifth edition of The Road to Financial Health: The Interview, we sit down with Brad Mason, National Lender, to discuss good debt versus bad debt, motor coach lending (one of Brad’s specialties), and how he survives the winters in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.


Start Something Incredible: Revi Design

Revi Design, and that’s short for REVITALIZE, was founded in Wausau, WI in February of 2010 by Dave Sether, a Milwaukee transplant. By his own admission, that was a tough month in a tough year to start a landscape design firm specializing in everything from design/build and excavation to snow removal and irrigation. But none of that was a deterrent to Dave and his team who conquered not only the elements but the aftershock of the Great Recession. And conquer they did. Growing the company from 10 employees to nearly 100, revi Design has now become one of the area’s largest landscape design companies with their sights set on further expansion with the help of IncredibleBank.


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How To Choose The Right Credit Card

With all of the options available to you, it's hard to decide which credit card is best for you. In this article we provide the process to take for choosing your card.

Start Something Incredible: Fashion Villa

Fashion Villa owners Kerry MacDonald and Trish Volm pay it forward because they know that at any time a business’s income can change faster than the latest hairstyles. The pandemic reminded them of that. But as owners of Fashion Villa, the ever-popular place for hairstyling and fashionable accessories, they’ve continued to build something incredible, even in the toughest of times.

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3/27/20

IncredibleBank Delivers An SBA Loan To A San Francisco Digital Pharmacy

The timing was critical as COVID-19 has been extremely devastating to the San Francisco community, and California public health officials have ordered all residents to stay at home. TIN Rx has become a much-needed respite for people who can’t physically travel to a pharmacy.

Read About TIN Rx

Start Something Incredible: Reindl Printing

Rick and Lynne Reindl were on to something big when they founded Reindl Printing in 1979. From a storefront with a few hundred square feet to an advanced 70,000 square foot facility, the Reindl’s pressed on as the presses grew larger.


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Free Credit Freezes

Learn about how you can get a free credit freeze on your account, the pros and cons of activating a credit freeze, and a helpful reminder to discuss identity theft with family members.

How Can I Prepare My Business To Apply For A Loan During The Pandemic? 

If you are one of the thousands of businesses in America impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, you are likely focused on adapting your business model or some manner of a recovery plan that will help you reestablish yourself, get you back to business, and out of the red. 

Create A COVID Recovery-Focused Business Plan



Surgical Associates Started Something Incredible

Surgical Associates, headquartered in Wausau, WI, is a multi-disciplinary team of 16 surgeons and more than 70 highly trained staff that operate in central and northern Wisconsin and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. 

Listen to Dr. Ben Herdrich, of Surgical Associates, S.C., explain the balance, the challenges, the desire to plan, but the reality of planning, all the while opening a “big-city” MedSpa in a central Wisconsin town of 38,000 people. 

Their Story


1/21/21

Women in Fintech: An Interview With Kathy Strasser

Chief Operating Officer
Chief Information Offices
IncredibleBank

Charlotte Burgess of Finovate interviewed Kathy Strasser about her experiences in and thoughts on the fintech industry today.

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3/1/21

Red Flags and Red Herrings

How to Thwart Phishing Attacks and Cyber Strikes
 Hackers, bad actors and cyber criminals are all around us; in fact, they’re making our business and personal lives miserable. The good news is there are precautions and preventative measures we can take to minimize this risk of their horrible actions.
 

5 Reasons To Open A Business Credit Card

Easily separate your expenses, save money while you earn, and set payment controls are just a few of the reasons you should open an IncredibleBank business credit card.


How To Avoid Account Takeover Fraud

Learn how you can be proactive to protect yourself against fraud attacks, and how to react when you are targeted by fraudsters.

Start Something Incredible: Stengl Marine

In 1978, Jim and Chris started Stengl Marine in the small summer enclave of Minocqua. Later, their son Bill, became the skipper and helped transform the boat storage company to a sales and service organization serving more than 600 customers in Wisconsin’s Northwoods.

Together, they grew the business and set a course for success. We can help you set the right course, too. And together, we'll help you grow successfully. 


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Start Something Incredible: Sunburst Shutters

Ever go shopping for something, only to be disappointed by your options? That’s what happened to Ron Swapp in the 1970s when he was searching for window shutters. But rather than settling for one of the existing options, he decided to make his own.
 
And he never looked back. He started Sunburst Shutters & Window Fashions out of his garage, and it has now grown to over 80 locations.
 
Now run by Swapp’s nephew, Dix Jarman, Sunburst has proven it has staying (and growing) power, focused on product innovation, environmental sustainability, and their Made in America commitment.
 

Buying a Home With Low Income

Don't let your dream of home-ownership stay a dream. There are programs available for first-time home buyers, no and low down-payments, and more.
 

7 Benefits of Mobile Banking

Mobile banking usage keeps hitting all-time highs nationwide, and with good reason. We’re all placing a lot more value on our own time, and if we can do our banking from home – or better yet, from anywhere – a trip to the branch just doesn’t seem worth it.
 
If you haven’t downloaded your mobile banking app(Opens in a new Window), here are a few of the biggest benefits.
 

Start Something Incredible: Kocourek Automotive

Keith Kocourek got started at age 16 by washing cars at a local dealership, where his love for cars began. Now, he owns dealerships representing many of the most well-known auto brands around.
 
Learn more about how Keith remains driven (pun very much intended) to continue to grow his companies – and how IncredibleBank has helped him do it.
 

Medicare 101 Webinar

Presented by Tom Shanley, Senior Med Benefits
Medicare is complicated. If you or a loved one is Medicare-eligible, you probably have questions. We partnered with Tom Shanley of Senior Med Benefits(Opens in a new Window) to answer some of the most frequently asked Medicare questions.
 

How to Switch Banks

So you want to switch banks.

Okay, okay, let’s be honest, you probably don’t want to. But whether you feel compelled to because your current bank isn’t cutting it, or your new bank has something great to offer, switching banks can feel overwhelming.

Well – we’re here with your guide to switching banks to help you feel confident as you make the move.

 

Cybersecurity Tips to Follow

Dwight was right – identity theft is not a joke (though Jim dressing up as Dwight(Opens in a new Window) sure is entertaining). And it’s only on the rise – according to a recent GIACT report(Opens in a new Window), losses from identity theft increased by 42% between 2019 and 2020, and they’re forecasted to continue to rise.

 

Start Something Incredible: Casa Amigos

Opening a new restaurant always carries a bit of risk. But opening one in the middle of a worldwide pandemic? Now that takes some real courage.

And Ya-Ya Guitierrez? She’s got plenty of it.

Renting vs. Buying a Home

Which is better? The short answer is like that passive-aggressive relationship status on Facebook – it’s complicated.
 

Small Business Saturday

Small Business Saturday began in 2010, and has since grown into a movement focused on the benefits of spending your dollars at small businesses.
 

Giving Tuesday

Started in 2012, Giving Tuesday is all about…well…giving. It’s about donating time, money, goods, or even your voice, toward a cause that is meaningful to you in your community.
 
Preparing to Buy a Home on a Budget

If you’re thinking about buying a home on a budget, here are some steps to make sure you’re as prepared as you can be when the time comes to apply for your loan.

How to Open a Checking Account

Looking to open a new checking account? Here’s what you’ll need to have, know, and do!

How to Get a Small Business Loan

Whether you're an existing business owner with years under your belt or an entrepreneur getting your start-up off the ground, you may have a need for a small business loan.

While every loan will be a little different, here are some of the things you'll need.

Budgeting Tips for Homeowners

We spend our entire youth hoping to be adults – and now that we are, we realize #adulting consists of constantly cleaning the kitchen, grocery shopping, and budgeting.

Once you’re a homeowner, your budget becomes even more important. Here are a few tips for setting and sticking to your budget as a homeowner.

Top New Year's Resolutions - and How to Budget for Them

It’s that time of year. You’re setting goals and are ultra-motivated to achieve them in the new year.

And part of planning is considering the financial cost of achieving that new goal.

Here are a few of the most common New Year’s Resolutions and how to ensure they fit in your budget.

New Year's Resolution: Build Your Savings

‘Tis the season…for goal setting!

Exercising more, eating better, losing weight, and saving money round out the list(Opens in a new Window) of the most common New Year’s Resolutions, and are likely to remain the most common in years to come.

Whatever the rest of your goals are, if building your savings is one of them, here are some ways to stick to your resolution.

9 Ways to Save Money

As you set your New Year’s Resolutions (or just regular goals, if you aren’t into the whole resolution thing), we have a few financial goals for you to keep in mind.

A woman on a ladder wearing latex gloves cleans windows.Don't Just Spring Clean Your House – Spring Clean Your Home Loan!

Here are a few ways you can potentially save money on your monthly payments, speed up the time it takes to pay your loan off, and reduce the amount you spend on interest over the life of your loan.

A woman talks to two men as they look at paperwork.Can You Benefit from the Homeowner Assistance Fund?

If you have been financially impacted by COVID-19, you may be eligible for assistance through the Homeowner Assistance Fund.

A young couple high fives on the floor of a kitchen surrounded by moving boxes.Are You Ready to Buy?

You’ve thought about it. Every time you pay your rent. Every time you get the urge to paint the walls of your apartment. Every time you attend your friends’ housewarming parties.

But are you ready to buy a home?

If you’re not sure what to do to determine if you’re ready, read on. We’ll help you think through the various aspects of determining if you’re ready to buy a home!


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Is Surcharging a Disservice to Merchants?

Surcharging sounds so easy and appealing, but did you know that sales tax must be collected on surcharges in many states? Did you know there are major ramifications for your customers? Those are just two of the many surcharging implications merchants need to consider before jumping on board.

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A man sitting on the floor looking at his phone, holding a credit card, and wearing headphones.

How to Improve Your Credit Score

Whether you’re buying a home or simply applying for a credit card, your credit score can make a major impact on the cost you’ll pay to acquire that product.

The higher your score, the lower your interest rate … and vice versa. And, of course, if your score is too low, you may not qualify for credit products at all.

So, if you currently have a bad credit score, how can you repair your credit?

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Man looking at laptop with hands together against his mouth

Common Misconceptions about Business Bank Fraud

As bankers, we want to educate our customers about different types of fraud, and we often hear some misconceptions about fraud from business owners. So, we’re here to answer the question…

What to Expect From the Mortgage Process

Let’s break the mortgage process down into eight essential steps to ensure you sail through smoothly.

How Do Construction Loans Work?

Considering building your next home? Here's what you need to know about construction loans.

How to Use your Tax Refund to Help Buy a Home

For many, the thought of buying a home is daunting. From down payments to debt-to-income ratios, the financial hurdles can feel insurmountable. But as tax season is upon us, it’s a good time to consider how your tax refund can help you buy your home.

How Much House Can I Afford?

Homeownership comes with many benefits, but it’s important to be aware of the potential risks too. By planning wisely, you can purchase a wonderful home that fits your means.

Homeowner 101: 8 Smart Tips for New Homeowners

Homeownership is a big responsibility. Do these 8 things to make it easier and more satisfying.