Quishing Scams

Tis the Season for fake QR codes called "Quishing". There has been an uptick in scammers creating fraudulent QR codes, taking unsuspecting people to malicious websites or installing malware/spyware on their device. It is very hard to spot a fake QR Code with the human eye.

How can you tell if a QR code is real?
• A legit QR code is never going to take you to a page that tries to scare you into inputting your personal information. If there are any fear tactics or time constraints, it’s a scam.
• Make sure that you are getting that code from a trusted source.
• If the code doesn’t look like it fits with the background, don’t scan it.
• If you’re at a restaurant or store, double-check with an employee to make sure the business is using the QR code.
• Most new smartphone and mobile device cameras will show you a preview of a code’s URL as you start to scan it. If the URL looks strange, don’t continue.
• Most legit websites URL's start with https://. If it doesn't then don't click on the QR code from the pic on your device.
• Make sure the URL doesn't have any spelling errors. For example Gooogle.com or Googgle.com are not the same as Google.com.

To keep you safe for the Holiday Season be wary of any QR codes via emails, flyers, websites, or while your walking about in the shopping malls.

USDA Announcements

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is announcing the launch of the Distressed Borrowers Assistance Network, read more here...

Local Preschoolers Visit Kinsley Branch

Local preschoolers learning about community helpers stopped by to learn how banks can keep their money safe until they are ready to use it. According to Branch Manager, Brad Venters, they discussed different sizes and shapes of money and enjoyed cookies because "they’re round like coins but taste better." They also talked about needs vs wants and all left with a 50-cent piece to help them start saving for those bigger items on their wants and needs list. They finished off the visit with pictures of “locking” them in the vault. Not all the kids were willing to get locked in.

CryptoCurrency Fraud 

As reported by the FBI, Cryptocurrency fraud losses were up 45% in 2023 which resulted in more than $5.6 billion dollars in losses.  See full Report Here.

The American Bankers Association in working in collaboration with the FBI and other federal agencies, released a new infographic warning consumers about the increasing threat of cryptocurrency investment scams.

Family Code Words

La Crosse School Supply Drive

The LaCrosse Branch would like to thank the community for all of its support during their annual School Supply Drive! With the support of the community and the bank’s match, the USD #395 (LaCrosse) schools received nearly $1,500 worth of supplies to be used by the students during the upcoming school year.

Recent Updates to Online Banking

We are excited to announce a few new enhancements that are available in Online Banking.  Click on each topic below to learn how to use this new functionality.  These functions are not available in the Mobile App at this time.  Should you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to our Customer Service representatives directly.

• Viewing Deposited Items
• Retrieving Tax Forms in Online Banking

Changes to FDIC Insurance Coverage on Trust Accounts

Effective April 1st, 2024, deposit insurance rules regarding revocable and irrevocable trust accounts are changing.  Learn more about how this may affect your deposits at https://www.fdic.gov/resources/deposit-insurance/trust-accounts/ 

#500forGood

Since 2018, FHLBank Topeka has posed the question to member banks, if you had $500 to help your community, what would you do? This year, two Farmers Bank & Trust employee submissions were selected among 52 recipients for $500 gifts to benefit their communities. Pictured below, Lindsay Barton, right, whose submission was selected by FHLBank presents Kylee Graves with a $500 check to the Family Crisis Center. Ms. Graves indicated these funds will be used to purchase a change of clothes and other items for assault victims requiring medical exams as part of the SANE program.

Additionally, Albert Branch Manager, Tim Boxberger’s submission was also selected as a winner. This $500 gift for the City of Albert was used to update City Christmas decorations and dedicate them to the town volunteers on December 8th.

27 Years of Farmers Bank & Trust's
Charity Coffee

This event is hosted to recognize the work done by various local organizations that make our hometown a better place and help support their efforts in the year to come. We would like to thank each and every one of these organizations for all of their hard work.  With this year's contributions, Farmers Bank & Trust has given over $142,000 through this annual event.

Great Bend, KS - September 2023: Farmers Bank & Trust, Great Bend, Kansas has earned a top (5-Star) rating from BauerFinancial, Inc., the Nation’s Premier Bank Rating Firm.

Working together towards common goals and interests has allowed Farmers Bank & Trust to excel under an in-depth, independent analysis of its financial condition and earn this coveted 5-Star rating.

Another Data Breach?

Don't Get Data Breach Fatigue.

Spend a moment thinking about how many entities have your personal identifying information. You likely provided it to them for a legitimate need, like a loan or credit card application or a medical claim. These organizations have data on millions of individuals, and we trust them to maintain the security needed to protect it for us. If you add to the list of companies those that only have your name, email and home address, and credit card information, that’s essentially every website from which you’ve ever made an online purchase.

The list just got a lot longer, and the security of small retail websites is typically more lax than that of large medical or financial ones. Hackers spend their lives searching for a way in, using sophisticated techniques to get through cyber security measures and steal valuable information from entities of all types.

Now, think about the last time you received an email that started something like this: “We are writing to you because of an incident involving access to information…” It probably wasn’t very long ago. We might even receive so many notifications or hear so many news reports regarding breaches that could affect us that we’re becoming apathetic.

“It’s just part of life now,” we might say. Or “It’s a risk of being online in 2023.” However, we can do more than cross our fingers and hope ours isn’t the next information that gets sold to the highest bidder.

To read more click here: Data Breach

IRS Warns Taxpayers of New Scam

The IRS is alerting taxpayers of a new scam involving a mailing directing the individual to send various pieces of sensitive information in order to collect unclaimed tax refund money.

Read more here...

Teach Children to Save

Its never too early to start teaching children about the importance of saving. That was the message Jason Dellett and Tonia Parker conveyed to a group of elementary students in La Crosse when presenting Teach Children to Save activities. Farmers Bank & Trust employees recently visited several local elementary schools and provided them the opportunity to think about their savings goals and decorate a container for saving toward that goal.

Farmers Bank & Trust employees are happy to speak to groups about a variety of financial education topics.  If you are interested in a group presentation, please reach out to your local branch.