http://www.firstfarmers.com/about/news-archiveRSS News feed for First Farmers State Banken-usCopyright (C) http://www.firstfarmers.comIt's that time of year again. The first installment of property taxes are now due. You can pay your property taxes at any of First Farmers 3 banking locations. We accept tax payments for McLean and Tazewell Counties, but please be sure you present your tax bill with your payment. Pay now to avoid a late fee! If you would like to pay both installments now, we will gladly accept both, but be advised that we will not accept any late payments. Any payments paid after the due date need to be sent directly to the appropriate Treasurer's Office Any specific questions regarding your bill should be directed to the applicable Treasurer's Office: MCLEAN COUNTY TREASURERRebecca C. McNeil, Treasurer115 E. Washington St., Room M101Bloomington, IL 61701(309) 888-5180 TAZEWELL COUNTY TREASURERMary Burress, Treasurer11 S. Fourth St., Suite 308McKenzie BuildingPekin, IL 61554(309) 477-2284 http://www.firstfarmers.com/about/news-archive/article/2013/5/first-installment-of-property-taxes-are-dueMon, 06 May 2013 17:35:49 -0500http://www.firstfarmers.com/about/news-archive/article/2013/5/first-installment-of-property-taxes-are-dueFirst Farmers State Bank extends its best wishes to all 2013 college graduates! You've worked hard to earn your diploma, and we hope you'll be using your degree soon. As you begin your career, consider developing a plan to invest for your future. Contact Brock Westbrook, Financial Advisor at First Farmers State Bank Investment Services, to discuss how to begin your investment journey. Retirement probably seems like an eternity away, but it will be here before you know it, and it's never too early to begin planning for it! http://www.firstfarmers.com/about/news-archive/article/2013/5/congratulations-graduatesMon, 06 May 2013 17:20:23 -0500http://www.firstfarmers.com/about/news-archive/article/2013/5/congratulations-graduatesYou're not just another number at First Farmers. We are employee owned and customer focused, and we succeed only when YOU succeed. Whether you need a checking account, mortgage or investment services, or assistance after you open an account, you can expect our staff to serve you with excellence. If you're ready for a change, contact us today at any of our 3 Central Illinois locations! http://www.firstfarmers.com/about/news-archive/article/2013/5/super-service-awaitsMon, 06 May 2013 16:30:52 -0500http://www.firstfarmers.com/about/news-archive/article/2013/5/super-service-awaitsApril 20-27, 2013Various locations inBloomington-Normal Whether you're looking to purchase your first home, would like information on estate planning, or are seeking help on any number of financial topics in between, Money Smart Week likely has something just for you! Money Smart Week is a financial literacy initiative created by the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago in 2002, and free educational seminars on a multitude of topics are available! To see what options are available in Bloomington-Normal -- or to learn more about Money Smart Week -- visit http://www.moneysmartweek.org/. If a seminar requires an RSVP, information will be provided online. http://www.firstfarmers.com/about/news-archive/article/2013/2/money-smart-weekThu, 28 Feb 2013 16:40:37 -0600http://www.firstfarmers.com/about/news-archive/article/2013/2/money-smart-weekThe next time you renew your vehicle's registration, please be aware that the form's design has changed, and the size is also different. An example of the new form is pictured here. http://www.firstfarmers.com/about/news-archive/article/2013/1/new-illinois-vehicle-registration-renewal-formThu, 31 Jan 2013 11:30:53 -0600http://www.firstfarmers.com/about/news-archive/article/2013/1/new-illinois-vehicle-registration-renewal-form It is tax season and criminals are seizing the opportunity for scams. Do not become the next victim.  Scammers leverage every means at their disposal to separate you from your money, your identity, or anything else of value they can get. They may offer seemingly legitimate “tax services” designed to steal your identity and your tax refund, sometimes with the lure of bigger write-offs or refunds. Scams may include mocked-up websites and tax forms that look like they belong to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to trick you into providing your personal information.  Scam artists can prey on users by promising refunds that are fraudulent, a scam the IRS says has been rampant in previous years. In these scams, notices are posted on bulletin boards, in libraries, and at other community sites people visit either in person or online.  Scammers make money from this trick in two ways. First, they collect a fee for helping to “file” for a refund on behalf of their victims. Second, they steal the victim’s identity for further exploitation. The victims are left paying a fee for a fraudulent service, not getting a refund they thought they would, and are potentially in a position to face charges for failing to file a return or for committing fraudulent reporting.  HOW TO RECOGNIZE AN EMAIL TAX SCAM According to the IRS, below are the key ways to recognize an email tax scam. The email: Requests personal and/or financial information, such as name, Social Security number, banking and credit card account numbers, or mother's maiden name, either in the email itself or on a website to which the email links. Includes exciting offers to get you to respond, such as mentioning a tax refund or offering to pay you for participation in an IRS survey. Threatens a consequence for not responding to the email, such as additional taxes or blocked access to your funds. Has incorrect spelling for the IRS or other federal agencies. Uses incorrect grammar or odd phrasing. Discusses “changes to tax laws” and includes a downloadable document (usually in PDF format) that purports to explain the new tax laws. These documents are generated with malware that, once downloaded, may infect your computer. HOW TO AVOID BECOMING A VICTIM To stay safer this tax season, follow these five steps: Secure your computer. If your computer does not have proper security controls, it is vulnerable to access by criminals, who may be able to steal information stored on it. Make sure your computer has the latest security updates installed. Check that your anti-virus and anti-spyware software are running properly and are receiving automatic updates from the vendor. If you have not already done so, install and enable a firewall. Carefully select the websites you visit. Safely searching for tax forms, advice on deductibles, tax preparers, and similar topics requires caution. Know the website. Know the company. Do not visit a website by clicking a link sent in an email, found on someone’s blog, or in an advertisement. The website you land on may look just like the real website, but it may be a well-crafted fake. Do not fall prey to email, web, or social networking scams. Common scams tout tax rebates, offer great deals on tax preparation, or offer a free tax calculator tool. If you did not solicit the information, it is likely a scam. If the email claims to be from the IRS, it is a scam. The IRS will not contact you via email, text messaging, or social networking, nor does it advertise on websites. If the email appears to be from your employer, financial institution, broker, etc. claiming there is an issue with what they reported for you and you need to verify some information, it might be a scam. Do not respond to the email. Contact the entity directly before responding. Never send sensitive information in an email. It may be intercepted and read by criminals. Use strong passwords. Cybercriminals have developed programs that automate the ability to guess your passwords. To protect yourself, passwords must be difficult for others to guess, but at the same time, easy for you to remember. Passwords should have a minimum of nine characters and include uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. Make sure your work passwords are different from your personal passwords. FOR MORE INFORMATION Taxpayer Guide to Identy Theft (www.irs.gov/uac/Taxpayer-Guide-to-Identity-Theft) Tax Scams/Consumer Alerts (www.irs.gov/uac/Tax-Scams-Consumer-Alerts)  IRS Releases the Dirty Dozen Tax Scams for 2012 (www.irs.gov/uac/IRS-Releases-the-Dirty-Dozen-Tax-Scams-for-2012) What's Hot -- IRS (www.irs.gov/uac/What's-Hot) Report Phishing (www.irs.gov/uac/Report-Phishing) Information provided by Multi-State Information Sharing & Analysis Center, a Division of Center for Internet Security. http://www.firstfarmers.com/about/news-archive/article/2013/3/protect-yourself-from-email-tax-scamsMon, 18 Mar 2013 16:20:00 -0500http://www.firstfarmers.com/about/news-archive/article/2013/3/protect-yourself-from-email-tax-scamsCOMMON RISKS FOR SMARTPHONESWe usually do a good job of protecting our computers, but what about smartphones? Careless use can open up users to a lot of risks. Take a moment to consider each of these areas: Loss of device and information theft. Smartphones are small and can easily be lost or stolen. Unauthorized users may access your accounts, address lists, photos, and more to scam, harm, or embarrass you or your friends. They may leverage stored passwords to access your bank and credit card accounts, steal your money, or make credit card charges. They may also gain access to sensitive material. Social engineering. A common mobile threat is social engineering. Whether via text message, image, or application (app) to download, an incoming communication may be an attempt to gain access to your information. A current example consists of a text message that comes from an unknown number telling you that if you click on the link provided, you will have access to thousands of free ringtones. If this sounds too good to be true, that is because it is. The link is a malicious link. Clicking on it will compromise the security of your smartphone. TMI (too much information). Guidelines for protecting privacy, safety, and reputation when sharing via computers also apply when sharing via smartphones. Public Wi-Fi. Smartphones are susceptible to malware and hacking when leveraging unsecured public networks. Bluetooth® and near field communications (NFC). Bluetooth is a wireless network technology that uses short-wave radio transmissions to transmit voice and data. NFC allows for smartphones to communicate with each other by simply touching (“bumping”) another smartphone, or being in close proximity to another smartphone with NFC capabilities or an NFC device. Risks with using NFC and Bluetooth include eavesdropping, through which the cybercriminal can intercept your personal data. NFC also has the risk of transferring viruses or other malware from one NFC-enabled device to another. SIMPLE STEPS TO PROTECT YOUR SMARTPHONE Update the operating system. Smartphones are computing devices that need to be updated. Updates often provide you with enhanced functionality and enriched features, as well as fixes to critical security vulnerabilities. Your smartphone manufacturer should notify you whenever an update is available. Use of security software is a must. As the smartphone market is increasing, so too is the amount of malware designed to attack smartphones. The software security solutions that are available for desktops and laptops are not as widely available for smartphones. A key protection is to use mobile security software and keep it up to date. Many of these programs can also locate a missing or stolen smartphone, back up your data, and even remotely wipe all data from the smartphone if it is reported stolen. Password-protect your device. Enable strong password protection on your device and include a timeout that requires authentication after a period of inactivity. Secure the smartphone with a unique password – not the default one it came with. Do not share your password with others. Think before you click, download, forward, or open. Before responding, registering, downloading, or providing information, get the facts. No matter how tempting the text, image, or application is, if the download is not from a legitimate app store or the site of a trusted company, do not engage with the message. Understand the terms of use. Some applications claim extensive rights to accessing and leveraging your personal information. If the app requires more access to your account or device than is needed to run the service, do not continue. In addition, be aware that terms can change over time. Review your terms of use often. Be cautious with public Wi-Fi. Many smartphone users use free Wi-Fi hotspots to access data and keep their smartphone plan costs down. There are numerous threats associated with Wi-Fi hotspots. To be safe, avoid logging into accounts, especially financial accounts, when using public wireless networks. Disable Bluetooth and NFC capabilities when not in use. Capabilities such as Bluetooth and NFC can provide ease and convenience in using your smartphone. They can also provide an easy way for a nearby, unauthorized user to gain access to your data. Turn these features off when they are not required. Enable encryption. Enabling encryption on your smartphone is one of the best ways to safeguard information stored on the device, thwarting unauthorized access. Securely dispose of your device. With the constant changes and upgrades in the smartphone market, many are upgrading their devices on a regular basis. It is important that you wipe the information from your smartphone before disposal. Additionally, make sure any secure digital (SD) cards are removed and erased. If you are not redeploying the subscriber identity module (SIM) card to another device, then make sure your personal information stored on the SIM card is erased or destroyed. For additional information, please consult these resources: About.com – 14 Ways to Find a Stolen or Lost iPhone: http://ipod.about.com/od/iphonetroubleshooting/tp/14-Ways-To-Find-A-Lost-Or-Stolen-Iphone.htm FTC – How to Dispose Your Mobile Device Securely:http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0200-disposing-your-mobile-device University of Northern Colorado:http://www.unco.edu/cybersecurity/students/mobile.html US-CERT – Cyber Threats to Mobile Phones:http://www.us-cert.gov/reading_room/cyber_threats_to_mobile_phones.pdf Sophos – Android Tool:http://www.sophos.com/androidsecurity Microsoft – Secure Your Smartphone:http://www.microsoft.com/security/online-privacy/mobile-phone-safety.aspx http://www.firstfarmers.com/about/news-archive/article/2013/3/protect-your-smartphoneWed, 13 Mar 2013 14:25:23 -0500http://www.firstfarmers.com/about/news-archive/article/2013/3/protect-your-smartphoneAre you a saver? Or a saver wannabe? We've all heard the advice that we should pay ourselves first, but that's sometimes pretty hard to do -- cars break down, kids get sick, roofs need repair... Basically, life happens. America Saves Week is a national campaign to promote good savings behavior and provide individuals the opportunity to assess their own savings status. But it's also been proven that putting away even a few dollars out of each paycheck starts to add up quickly. Maybe you can't put away 10%, but how about 5%? Maybe just 3%? If you have to, start small and gradually increase the amount you save. First Farmers State Bank can help you get started. Contact a Personal Banker at any of our three Central Illinois locations -- Bloomington, Minier and Delavan. We're focused on your success! http://www.firstfarmers.com/about/news-archive/article/2013/2/america-saves-weekMon, 25 Feb 2013 15:30:57 -0600http://www.firstfarmers.com/about/news-archive/article/2013/2/america-saves-weekFarmers, if you are debating whether to purchase crop insurance or if you are contemplating changes to your existing policy, don't forget that you have until MARCH 15, 2013 to finalize it. If you have questions, please contact Crop Insurance Specialists Joe Conroy or Matt Allen. You can also reach Joe by phone at 309.392.2623 and Matt at 309.244.9277. They will be glad to visit with you and discuss your personal situation to determine the policy that best suits your needs. http://www.firstfarmers.com/about/news-archive/article/2013/2/crop-insurance-sign-up-deadline-quickly-approachingWed, 20 Feb 2013 09:55:48 -0600http://www.firstfarmers.com/about/news-archive/article/2013/2/crop-insurance-sign-up-deadline-quickly-approachingIf you receive federal benefits by check (including, but not limited to, Social Security, Supplemental Security Income, VA Compensation and Pension) and have not yet enrolled in the U.S. Treasury’s GoDirect program, you must do so by March 1, 2013. GoDirect is an electronic delivery program for paying federal benefits and is said to streamline the payment process and reduce costs. Missing the deadline will very likely delay the receipt of your benefits after the March date. If you have already signed up, there is nothing more for you to do. But if you have not yet enrolled, First Farmers State Bank will gladly help you complete the enrollment process. We do not wish to see anyone experience a delay in the receipt of their benefits. The days of paper checks for federal benefits are numbered, and the Treasury will require all recipients to receive their benefits electronically via the GoDirect program. You can choose to have your monthly benefits paid to you via direct deposit into a bank account or to your own Direct Express® Debit MasterCard®. If you prefer a bank account, information from your current benefit check will be required, and we would be happy to establish an account for you. So, before you cash or deposit your next check, just call us and ask for one of our Personal Bankers. They will set everything up for you using information on your current paper check. Be advised that it can take one to two payment cycles in order for this to take effect, so contact First Farmers today to limit potential delays in receiving your benefits after the March 1, 2013 deadline. You can read more information about the new GoDirect program at www.godirect.gov. http://www.firstfarmers.com/about/news-archive/article/2013/1/federal-benefit-payments-going-all-electronicWed, 02 Jan 2013 11:30:46 -0600http://www.firstfarmers.com/about/news-archive/article/2013/1/federal-benefit-payments-going-all-electronicJoslyn Green (right), First Farmers Personal Banker in Delavan, presents a check to Charles Ostrom to benefit the ESDA. Small things can make a difference. Donations of food and money by customers and employees of First Farmers State Bank have helped local food pantries this past holiday season. Each First Farmers bank location designated a food pantry to receive donations they collected, and items were accepted at the bank from mid-November until mid-December. Donations collected in Delavan were donated to the Emergency Services and Disaster Agency (ESDA). The Minier branch selected the Minier Food Pantry, and the Bloomington branch chose to donate to the Clare House Food Pantry in Bloomington. The bank held two jeans day fundraisers in November and December and invited customers to participate if they wanted. Thank you to the kindness and generosity of the employees and customers who contributed money and food items to this worthy cause. Your kindness helped us help others! http://www.firstfarmers.com/about/news-archive/article/2013/1/helping-us-help-othersWed, 02 Jan 2013 11:20:48 -0600http://www.firstfarmers.com/about/news-archive/article/2013/1/helping-us-help-othersThe last growing season taught us all how important the need is for crop insurance, and First Farmers is pleased to again host a series of informational meetings. Join us for one of three FREE events. All meetings begin at 8:00AM and will run approximately 60-90 minutes. A light breakfast is included. FEBRUARY 1, 2013—DELAVANHarvest Cafe317 Locust St., Delavan ILRSVP by January 28 FEBRUARY 8, 2013—MINIERSt. John's United Church of Christ302 N. Maple Ave., Minier ILRSVP by February 4 FEBRUARY 15, 2013—BLOOMINGTON Parke Hotel and Conference Center1413 Leslie Dr., Bloomington IL (enter thru the Conference Center)RSVP by February 11 A representative from Diversified Services, Inc. will be on hand to discuss the challenges of 2012 and what that could mean for you in 2013. Matt Allen and Joe Conroy—First Farmers State Bank crop insurance specialists—will also be available to discuss specific questions you may have regarding an insurance policy. CONTACT MATT OR JOE TODAY TO SIGN UP! Matt Allenmatta@firstfarmers.com(309)244-9277 Joe Conroyjoec@firstfarmers.com(309)392-2623 http://www.firstfarmers.com/about/news-archive/article/2013/1/2013-crop-insurance-informational-meetingsTue, 01 Jan 2013 21:30:07 -0600http://www.firstfarmers.com/about/news-archive/article/2013/1/2013-crop-insurance-informational-meetingsFirst Farmers Online Banking users will notice a little fresher appearance to the Online Banking program! This includes brightened colors and updated graphics. No changes have been made to site design or its functionality, so your user experience should be the same as before. However, you may notice that the more maroon color you have historically seen is still visible in information tables and text. If you see this old color scheme with the new logos, simply refresh/reload the page, and the colors should update within a few moments.   If you have any other questions regarding this update, please contact Marketing and Sales Manager Dena McDonald at (309) 663-6200 or by email at denam@firstfarmers.com.  http://www.firstfarmers.com/about/news-archive/article/2012/12/online-banking-face-liftThu, 06 Dec 2012 17:30:01 -0600http://www.firstfarmers.com/about/news-archive/article/2012/12/online-banking-face-liftSmall things can make a difference to someone in need this holiday season. Between now and mid-December, bring in non-perishable dry goods, and First Farmers will deliver them to food pantries in our communities! Each branch has designated it's food pantry of choice. Donations will benefit the following: MINIER BRANCH: Minier Food PantryDELAVAN BRANCH:  ESDA (Emergency Service Disaster Agency)BLOOMINGTON BRANCH:  Clare House Food Pantry In addition to food collections, First Farmers employees will have a jeans day fundraiser in November and December to raise money for these food pantries. You are more than welcome to contribute if you would like to take part in this cause. Your donations will be greatly appreciated! http://www.firstfarmers.com/about/news-archive/article/2012/12/help-us-help-others-this-holiday-seasonMon, 03 Dec 2012 12:15:17 -0600http://www.firstfarmers.com/about/news-archive/article/2012/12/help-us-help-others-this-holiday-seasonThe current economy has caused a lot of uncertainty. It's easy to continue down the same comfortable investment road, even when the market keeps creating detours. Whether your portfolio is still struggling to recover previous losses or it just hasn't quite gotten it's traction back, contact Investment Manager Brock Westbrook today at (309) 663-6200 or brockw@firstfarmers.com to schedule a free financial review and get back on the road to financial stability! Securities are not FDIC insured, carry no bank guarantee and may lose value. Securities, Insurance, and Investment Advisory Services are offered through Midwestern Securities Trading Company, LLC. Member FINRA/SIPC. http://www.firstfarmers.com/about/news-archive/article/2012/10/investments-lacking-directionThu, 18 Oct 2012 15:35:20 -0500http://www.firstfarmers.com/about/news-archive/article/2012/10/investments-lacking-directionRegister with the National Do Not Call Registry to reduce the number of telemarketing calls you receive. The registry is managed by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). For more information regarding this registry or to register, contact 1-888-382-1222 (from the telephone number you would like to register). http://www.firstfarmers.com/about/news-archive/article/2012/10/register-with-the-national-do-not-call-registryThu, 18 Oct 2012 15:35:00 -0500http://www.firstfarmers.com/about/news-archive/article/2012/10/register-with-the-national-do-not-call-registry