blog

A limited time home buyers assistance program is available!

Looking to buy a home? The Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines' Home$tart assistance program offers a $7,500 grant for down payment and closing costs to qualifying home buyers and is available at Marion County Bank.  Here is Diane Roose, Vice President and Mortgage Loan Officer to tell you about it:

Contact Diane for more information at:

641-628-2191

[email protected]

800 Main Street, Pella

Why update your mobile device’s operating system?

Simply put, operating system updates whether big or small are important. Much like changing the oil in your car, brushing your teeth daily or going to a doctor for annual checkups, updates are necessary. Phones, tablets and the software they house require regular updates to ensure they continue to run safely and efficiently.

In addition, the Marion County Bank app requires that your phone be running on newer operating systems to work properly.  Starting June 25, 2017, users of the Marion County Bank app may receive a connection error message if their device’s operating system is out of date. 

If you receive the connection error message, simply update your device’s operating system using the steps below.

Updating an Android Phone or Tablet's Operating System:

To get the best performance and features from your Android smartphone or tablet you should make sure you're always running the very latest software available for it, not just in terms of apps but also the Android operating system. Here's how to update Android on your smartphone or tablet.

1. Navigate to the Setting menu
2. Scroll down the Settings menu and click on About Phone About Tablet. If you have a tabbed settings menu then this will appear in the general section.
3. The menu can vary from device to device but click the Software Update Software Info.
4. Your phone or tablet will now search for an available update. If you are taken to another menu, select the Software Update check button or similar.
5. If an update is available your device then you will be asked whether you wish to install it. If you select yes then the system will download and install the new software and reboot.

Note: You device may require a Wi-Fi connection to search for an update. We also recommend downloading the software over Wi-Fi because the file size can be large.

Updating an Apple Phone or Tablet's Operating System:

To get the best performance and features from your Apple smartphone or tablet you should make sure you're always running the very latest software available for it, not just in terms of apps but also the Apple operating system. Here's how to update your Apple Operating System on your smartphone or tablet.

1. Navigate to the Setting menu
2. Scroll down the Settings menu and click on General.
3. Tap Software Update. It will be listed here if a software update is available.
4. Tap Download and Install.  If a message asks to temporarily remove apps because your device needs more space for the update, tap Continue or Cancel.  Later, the apps will be reinstalled if they were previously removed.
5. To update now, tap Install.  Or you can tap Later and select Install Tonight or Remind me Later.
6. If asked, enter your passcode.

Note: You device may require a Wi-Fi connection to search for an update. We also recommend downloading the software over Wi-Fi because the file size can be large.

Congrats to Gina on 5 Years of Service!

Congratulations to Gina Sietstra on 5 years of service to Marion County Bank. We appreciate her kind spirit and dedication and look forward to many more milestone anniversaries!

Protecting the Elderly from Financial Abuse

You, or someone you know, could become the victim of a growing crime in America — financial abuse of older Americans.  Seniors are increasingly becoming targets for financial abuse.  As people over 50 years old control over 70 percent of the nation's wealth, fraudsters are using new tactics to take advantage of retiring baby boomers and the growing number of older Americans. Senior financial abuse is estimated to have cost victims at least $2.9 billion last year alone.

What Is Elder Financial Abuse?

It’s a crime that deprives older adults of their resources and ultimately their independence. Anyone who sees signs of theft, fraud, misuse of a person’s assets or credit, or use of undue influence to gain control of an older person’s money or property should be on the alert. Those are signs of possible exploitation.  Older Americans that may have disabilities or rely on others for help can be susceptible to scams and other fraud.   Advances in technology can also make it difficult for seniors to know who to trust and what's safe.

Despite these threats, taking simple steps to safeguard personal information and being aware of warning signs can protect aging men and women from financial abuse.

Tips for Seniors:

What should you do to protect yourself?

• Plan ahead to protect your assets and to ensure your wishes are followed.  Talk to someone at your financial institution, an attorney, or financial advisor about the best options for you.
• Shred receipts, bank statements and unused credit card offers before throwing them away.
• Carefully choose a trustworthy person to act as your agent in all estate-planning matters.
• Never give personal information, including Social Security Number, account number or other financial information to anyone over the phone unless you initiated the call and the other party is trusted.
• Never pay a fee or taxes to collect sweepstakes or lottery “winnings.”
• Never rush into a financial decision.  Ask for details in writing and get a second opinion.  
• Consult with a financial advisor or attorney before signing any document you don’t understand.
• Get to know your banker and build a relationship with the people who handle your finances. They can look out for any suspicious activity related to your account.
• Pay with checks and credit cards instead of cash to keep a paper trail.
• Feel free to say “no.” After all, it’s your money.
• You have the right not to be threatened or intimidated. If you think someone close to you is trying to take control of your finances, call your local Adult Protective Services or tell someone at your bank.
• Trust your instincts. Exploiters and abusers often are very skilled. They can be charming and forceful in their effort to convince you to give up control of your finances. Don’t be fooled—if something doesn’t feel right, it may not be right. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

What should you do if you are a victim of financial abuse?

• Talk to a trusted family member who has your best interests at heart.
• Talk to your attorney or an officer at your bank.
• Contact your local police for help.

Information provided by the American Bankers Association.