Blog

How2 Spot a Deep Fake Voice Scam

05/01/2025

It’s no secret that AI (artificial intelligence) is growing in its capabilities. Change is happening faster than ever, and it can be hard to keep up. However, scammers are taking advantage of this quickly evolving technology to trick you out of your hard-earned money.

How2 Protect Yourself From Check Cooking Scams

02/03/2025

In recent years, scammers have been taking advantage of those that still use checks, stealing them out of the mail and washing them with chemicals to fill in new names and amounts for their benefit. However, like with other scams, fraudsters don’t just stop there. They have new and improved ways to steal your money without a ton of effort. This year, be on the lookout for check cooking scams. Continue reading to learn more.

How2 Spot Scam Phone Calls

12/02/2024

Scammers are trickier than ever, however, a lot of them are still using the old tried and true scam tactics to get you to give up your personal information. Scammers will try to reach you in as many ways as possible, including your phone. The more you answer the calls of scammers, the more likely they are to call you. Scammers can even manipulate Caller ID through something called spoofing to make you think it’s a local number or the number of someone you know when it’s really not.

Keep reading for more information on spotting scam calls.

How2 Manage Your Charitable Donations

11/01/2024

This holiday season, it’s no secret that money is tight for a lot of Americans. Many will be struggling to figure out how to make ends meet for their holiday celebrations and many more will find themselves visiting food pantries and other charitable organizations for a little help. If you’re struggling this holiday season but still want to make an impact in others’ lives through charitable donations, etc., don’t give up just yet. There are plenty of ways to help nonprofits in your area without emptying your bank account as well. Keep reading for some tips on how to manage your charitable donations and stay on budget this year.

How2 Prepare Taking Over Your Aging Parents’ Finances

09/03/2024

Talking about finances with your parents can leave you feeling extremely uncomfortable. However, as your parents age, it is important to know what their plans are and have your own plans in place should they suddenly be unable to take care of themselves and their finances. By having these conversations now, you can avoid potentially awkward or tense situations with other family members, along with the confusion and headaches from trying to pull together all of their financial information. Follow these tips to make sure you’re not hit with any financial surprises down the road.

How2 Host a Summer BBQ on a Budget

07/01/2024

Summer is a time for fun, whether that’s vacations, trips to the beach or pool, and BBQs. With all these opportunities for fun, it’s easy to overspend. As we gear up for the 4^th of July and other summer parties, we want to help you save some of your hard-earned money for even more fun before the kids go back to school and fall is in full swing. Keep reading for more budget-friendly tips you can use for your next BBQ.

How2 Set Up a Power of Attorney

05/01/2024

May is Mental Health Month, and here at the bank, we know that financial problems are one of the biggest sources of stress and mental health problems across America. We want to be part of the solution through our financial literacy programs and blogs just like these. If you’ve been struggling with your finances due to a mental illness or have recently been diagnosed with a mental illness, it may be time to evaluate where your finances stand and how you can secure your assets in case of a mental health related emergency or mental decline.

How To Identify and Avoid Check Fraud

04/02/2024

In today's digital world, it's hard to imagine that scammers are using checks to steal hundreds of thousands of dollars each year. However, it's true! In recent years, there's been an increase in reported check fraud, upwards of 680,000 cases per year. And that's just the reported cases. 

Learning How to Save in Any Situation

02/01/2024

We celebrate America Saves Week every year here at Availa Bank, and while it’s officially celebrated in April, we’d like to give you a few pointers to get you on the right foot a little earlier. Keep reading for more information on how to save for all of life’s circumstances.

How 2 Avoid Becoming a Victim of Phishing Scams at Work

01/02/2024

As you all know, scammers will stop at nothing to gain your personal information, including when you’re at work. Many businesses have plans in place to deter scammers from trying to trick their employees, but scammers are constantly finding new ways to get around security controls.

Continue reading to see if you’ve experienced some of these phishing attempts at your business.