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Blog

Protecting Key Info in The Wake of Data Breeches

Yahoo had two data breaches in 2016. If you have a Yahoo account and your info was compromised, you may be more susceptible to scams not only through online methods but also fraudulent phone calls. Be sure you know who you’re talking to, and don’t give out sensitive information over the phone. Also, we recommend that you take the following steps regarding your Yahoo account:

  • Get rid of all the folders, and then delete your Yahoo account.
  • Consider opening a Gmail account instead.
  • If you have used your Yahoo password on other sites, change the password and security questions on those accounts.
  • If you used a mobile phone number in association with your Yahoo account and you still use that phone number, lookout for text scams (SMS).
Categories
Blog

Does Your Business Use These Social Media Basics?

Everybody’s social. Whether it’s your grandma or the biggest celebrity, social media connects us all. So, when it comes to marketing, social media is a must-have. But how do you make your business voice stand out?

Figuring out your promos may take time. The good news is figuring out what not to do is a little easier.

Don’t be inconsistent.
Staying consistent with voice, style and, of course, handles, across all platforms is a big step in the right direction. No matter where you’re posting, give your followers a streamlined style.,

Don’t waste time on what doesn’t work.
Research your target audience. Where do they hang out? If they spend most of their time on Facebook, don’t invest in a heavy Twitter presence. Go where they are, and speak their language.

Don’t get too fancy.
Social media is really all about connecting customers with your product. It’s easy to make it too complicated or commercial. Social media works best when companies keep it simple and listen to customers when it comes to creating content.

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General News

Pinnacle Bank Team

The past four weeks have been a reminder that it’s good to be flexible! In that short time, Pinnacle Bank has continued to work to protect employees and customers by serving through Drive Thru windows and Pinny, our Interactive Teller Machine. We also offered customers the opportunity for loan relief by deferring payments for four months. Pinnacle Bank now has 1,036 customers with one less economic issue to worry about because of this program.

Pinnacle Bank is also proud to be part of the national effort to bolster small businesses. As a community bank, we know how hard our customers work to make their businesses a success, and current events have been tough on companies. Our entire lending and operational team worked tirelessly on the SBA Paycheck Protection Program. The team’s efforts resulted in over $87,300,000 – allowing businesses to pay 11,845 employees! And now, we will wait to see if there is more funding, and we will be prepared if the opportunity arises.

Finding alternative ways of safely serving customers, providing loan relief and optimizing the federal government’s Paycheck Protection Program are just a few of the ways it’s a pleasure to be a community bank. To Pinnacle Bank, it’s our job to work hard to meet our communities’ needs. Recent events have made the financial world a whirlwind, but when our head hits the pillow at night, we are happy to have done everything we can to assist our customers.

Thank you for allowing us to be there for you.
Your Pinnacle Bank Team

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Blog

Five Easy Ways to Manage Your Business Remotely

More and more Americans are managing their businesses remotely – whether from home or while traveling. And more recently, it’s been the way many companies have stayed relevant during mandated stay-at-home or shelter-in-place orders.

If you’ve just started managing your business remotely, or you’re ready to take the plunge on a more consistent basis, consider these five critical tips for ultimate success.

Tip #1: Communicate, communicate, communicate.

Communication is an essential element of managing your business remotely – and you can never do too much of it. The more you communicate with your employees and customers, the more successful you’ll be. Set up a communication platform all employees can use, such as Zoom or Skype for video calls, or Trello or Microsoft Teams for project management. Be consistent using these platforms and provide training to employees who may need a little extra assistance.

But having the right communication tools available is just the first step. If you have employees, you need to keep the lines of communication open. Encourage questions and provide answers where you can. Talk often by having regular staff meetings and one-on-one sessions with those you manage.

If you don’t have employees, stay connected with regular status update meetings with your clients – or you can set up a project management tool to help your clients see progress, ask questions and chat with you. Whatever works best for you and your clients is what you should implement – but you need to do something to encourage regular and consistent dialog.

Tip #2: Create a comfortable work environment.

Are you working at your kitchen table, or do you have a dedicated space for a home office? Do you prefer to work at the local café where things are a little livelier?  Whatever you decide, it needs to be a place where you can focus and limit distractions during your workday. Consider some of the following as you find just the right location:

  • How good is the Wi-Fi?
  • Are there distractions (including snacks and food)?
  • Is the location private, where you can discuss personal matters with clients or employees?
  • How noisy is your intended office area?
  • You may have to experiment a little to see what works best for you. If you do encounter distractions while working, switch things up – maybe hide your snacks or shut the office door for a while.

Tip #3: Stick to a schedule.

One of the most significant benefits of working remotely is the ability to create your own hours – and you don’t have to commute. However, you must create and maintain a schedule every day. Use time management tools to help you prioritize, and build in breaks and exercise to your daily plan. When you consistently work during certain hours, employees and clients will start to learn when you’re available, which will help you balance your home and work life.

Additionally, set clear expectations every day, with fixed deadlines for tasks. Follow up regularly with your team to create accountability. That way, you’re motivating yourself to stay focused on your priorities as well as others.

Tip #4: Have a reliable back-up plan.

Things are going to happen when you’re working from home. For example, what will you do if the power goes out? Because a reliable internet connection is essential to working remotely, figure out how you’ll adjust now so you’re prepared for the unexpected. Maybe you can work at your local public library or a coffee shop near your home. You should also invest in a Wi-Fi hotspot to use wherever you may roam – this can be a particularly great option when you’re on the road.

Tip #5: Maintain a strong online and mobile presence.

No matter the type of business you run remotely, you need a robust online presence, so potential customers know who you are and what your company can do for them. Keep your website updated and relevant and be an active social media user. Share your latest promotions via email, or build business through webinars. And most importantly, don’t stop working on leads because you’re working remotely. If you can’t meet face-to-face with a potential client, set up a Zoom call to walk him or her through your product offerings. With so many online and mobile tools, you may be able to do more in your day because you’re now taking away the travel time.

Following these tips will help you successfully manage your business remotely. But, as with most things in life, experience is the best teacher. The more you practice, the better off you’ll be. Remember, you don’t have to plan every single step ahead of time – just set up some guidelines and get to work.

Categories
Blog

What are Your Business Lending Options?

3-Blog Post ImageWhether you’ve been in business for a few months or many years, access to funds is vital for your growth and sustainability. To that end, you may need to get a loan to help. But, which type of loan is the best fit for your business?

To answer this question, take a look at your lending options to determine how they fit into your financial plan. Consider how much cash you need, how quickly you can repay your loan, and whether you can provide collateral.  Here are five common types of business loans and how each may help your business:

Term Loan

A term loan is an excellent option if you need to purchase an asset (for a specific amount) that will help increase your revenue over time. Typically, you’ll apply for a particular amount with a fixed term. You can then predict your monthly payment and manage your monthly cash flow. Plus, a term loan usually carries a lower rate than an unsecured line of credit (such as a business line of credit or business credit card).

Business Credit Cards

A business credit card may be the quickest way to fund your short-term financing needs. Once you’re approved, you can use your card to conveniently pay for things you may need (up to your credit limit). And you only pay interest on what you spend. Plus, your lender will review your account regularly to see if you’re eligible for a credit limit increase. You may also have access to rewards programs associated with your card – accumulating points for travel or future purchases, getting cash back, or other benefits. Just be aware of the terms and conditions related to any business credit card you apply for, such as an annual fee.

Business Line of Credit

Using a business line of credit can give you the money you need when you need it. In most instances, you’ll use a business line of credit for short-term expenses, such as inventory or payroll.  Once approved, you’ll receive a specified credit limit, and you’ll pay interest only on the amount you use. Plus, once you repay the amount used, it will be available for you to use in the future. Just note that the interest rate for a business line of credit is typically higher than the interest rate on a term loan.

Equipment Financing

You may be able to find financing specifically designed for larger equipment purchases, such as machinery, delivery trucks, refrigeration units, among others. Depending on the lender, equipment financing varies – you’ll find term loans, lines of credit, or a hybrid of both. Typically, equipment financing doesn’t require a down payment and offers more flexible terms than a traditional business loan. Another option may also be equipment leasing, which has become more prevalent in recent years. You can lease instead of buy, giving you the flexibility to upgrade when necessary (among other benefits).

SBA Loans

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) offers many different loan programs if you don’t meet conventional lending requirements. Most of these programs are designed to help start-up businesses or those with expansion plans that include buying equipment or real estate, or you may find an option to help refinance debt. Because the government guarantees them, most SBA loans don’t require a down payment and have more extended repayment options available than conventional loans. But SBA loans take a little longer to get, so you’ll need to plan accordingly.

Take the time to consider the reasons why you need a business loan. Then, find the loan that best meets your needs. Learn more about the business loans available at Pinnacle Bank here.

learnmore

 

 

If you recently experienced a hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we can help. Give us a call at 877-759-7939 to discuss your options.

Categories
Blog

Seven Ways to Maximize Your Website’s Customer Experience

Is your website attracting the customers you want? Are you generating leads regularly and turning those leads into sales? With thousands and thousands of websites vying for your customers’ business, how can you make sure the right people notice your site at the right time?

Take a look at these helpful tips:

Tip #1: Your Website Should Look Professional.

As the saying goes, you can only make a first impression once. Take care that your website is making the impression you want. Does it represent your brand the way you desire? Is it easy to navigate? It’s important to note that you don’t have to spend a lot of money to update your website. There are many free turnkey website development tools available online where you can create something amazing – even if you have limited time or website knowledge.

Tip #2: Keep Your Content Fresh and Relevant.

Don’t leave content on your site for too long (repeat visitors will notice). Add relevant and timely content regularly, such as educational articles or blog posts, and promotional information or specials on products and services. Be sure to mix up your content – you want to be seen as an expert, but you also want to entice people to use your products and services. For example, if you offer bookkeeping services, you can post an article about how to prepare for taxes, and then follow up with a special discount for referrals. Fresh and relevant content isn’t just attractive to customers; it’s also appealing to search engines, which can improve your search ranking.

Tip #3: Make It Easy to Contact You.

Your website probably includes your address, phone number and email. But providing this information doesn’t necessarily drive in business. It’s essential to give your customers (and potential customers) easy ways can reach out to you, such as a simple contact form, live chat, a chatbot that answers questions 24/7 and online ordering.

Tip #4: Use Call-to-action Options on Every Page.

The easier you make it for customers to act, the more likely they will. When you place a call-to-action option on every page of your website, you instill urgency with your customers and get them to do what you want them to do. Consider using buttons or links that state things like “Act Now,” “Limited Time Only,” “Call Us,” “Shop Now,” and more.

Tip #5: Provide Easy-to-use Online Payment Options.

Invest in an enjoyable shopping experience for your customers by providing diverse payment options, such as debit or credit cards and other payment services (e.g., PayPal, Google Pay, or Apple Pay). Again, the easier you make it for your customers to buy products or services from you, the more likely they will.

Tip #6: Be Transparent with Your Security Measures.

Many people today are concerned about buying things online with a credit or debit card. Be sure you have the appropriate technology in place and let your customers know about it. You may want to put Security Site certificates in prominent places on your site, as well as design a page that addresses how your business handles personal financial information.

Tip #7: Integrate your Social Media Platforms.

Link every social media platform to your website – and vice versa. The more “retweets” and “likes” you can get will drive traffic to your website and potentially rank you higher among search engines. You should also consider marketing in different ways within your social platforms, even if you’re sending customers to the same website page.

While this is not an exhaustive list, it will get you headed in the right direction. Focus on a few things to change to get started – don’t try to fix everything in one day. If you need assistance, talk to a marketing professional for guidance.

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Blog

How to Build a High-Performance Team

The success of your team is critical to the overall survival of your business. Sure, you can achieve goals here and there with some dysfunction on your team, but if you want to accomplish your vision (and beyond), you must create a high-performing team.

Managing successful, high-performing teams requires diplomacy, skill and genuine care for each employee at your company. Follow these tips to help you get started:

Resolve Conflict Quickly.

Whenever you have more than one person working together, there’s going to be conflict – it’s just how life is. So what can you do to make sure it doesn’t fester and cause havoc for your team? Address disputes as they arise, which means you may need to mediate discussions between employees to ensure there’s a positive outcome. Doing so will show employees you value differences, but you don’t want these differences to get in the way of productivity.

Encourage Employee Development.

Make the necessary investment in the education and training of your employees. Your goal should be to raise new leaders, not spend your day micromanaging your employees. If possible, consider offering education assistance and paying for ongoing training. You may also consider forming committees or assigning leadership roles for projects. The more you empower your employees, the more productive and happy they’ll be over time.

Communicate, Communicate, Communicate.

Every member of your team wants to know what’s going on, whether the news is good, bad or ugly.  Hold regular staff meetings (in person or via conference call) to keep employees updated on new procedures, special promotions, updated trends in the industry, and more. Be consistent with these meetings, so everyone knows about and expects them to occur—post updates on an employee-only space (such as a Facebook page for employees only). Additionally, encourage your employees to communicate with each other and find ways to help them collaborate effectively.  For example, if they’re working on projects together, ask them to update each other regularly using a spreadsheet or other project management software.

Set Realistic Goals.

Employees can help you establish feasible goals to help motivate daily productivity. Some goals may include increasing new customers or boosting sales by a certain percentage. The more involved your employees are in the development of these goals, the more likely they’ll work to achieve them. Make sure the goals you set are SMART goals – specific, measurable, achievable, reasonable and timely. Measure the progress of goal completion and communicate the results regularly to encourage achievement.

Recognize Your Employees.

Everyone likes to feel needed and important. Recognize your employees when they accomplish goals, whether as a whole or individually. You can provide both monetary and non-monetary awards based on an employee’s achievement. Make the recognition a big deal (because it is) – send out a congratulatory email, throw a party, give them a bonus or promotion, or find some other way to acknowledge an accomplishment. You may also want to recognize employees who accomplish things outside of work – which means you need to get to know them. For example, let everyone know Joe just accomplished his goal of running a marathon. This type of acknowledgment builds camaraderie and allows the employees to get to know each other better. Additionally, on a more fundamental level, you should greet your employees every day and thank them for their efforts before they leave to go home.

Above all else, you must be optimistic and enthusiastic about your business. If you’re excited, it will be contagious. You’ll find that as you implement the suggestions above and lead by example, your employees will enjoy being at work and their productivity will increase as well.

Categories
Blog Business Fraud & Security

Fraud Alert: What You Need to Know

Criminals Take Advantage of Every Situation and Our Health Crisis is No Exception.

Recently, the cybercriminal group, FIN7, known for targeting US businesses through phishing emails, deployed an additional tactic of mailing USB devices via the United States Postal Service (USPS). The mailed packages sometimes include items like teddy bears or gift cards to employees of target companies working in the Human Resources (HR), Information Technology (IT), or Executive Management (EM) roles. The enclosed USB device is a commercially available tool known as a “BadUSB” or “Bad Beetle USB” device. After the USB device is plugged into a target system, the USB device automatically injects a series of keystrokes in order to download and execute a unique malware payload commonly known as the GRIFFON malware, which is also a payload observed in several variations of FIN7 phishing emails.

Please do not plug an unknown USB device into any computer system. And always be wary of packages coming from someone unknown to you or of a package coming from someone that seems out of the normal routine. Call to verify before inserting anything in your computer system.

Educating Your Cardholders on Phishing

Early indications are that fraudsters may be increasing phishing attacks in an effort to exploit the current COVID-19 pandemic. The Risk Office has observed fraudster emails and voice mails sent directly to cardholders asking for personally identifiable information (PII) and impersonating the Financial Institutions (FI), health groups, and federal government agencies.

Additionally, criminals in possession of card details and other forms of PII are spoofing the phone number from financial institutions to fool cardholders into thinking that text messages and phone calls are actually from the fraud department of their financial institution.

It makes a difference when you and your cardholders remain vigilant. If something sounds suspicious, question it. As a reminder to your cardholders, it’s important that they remain diligent in reviewing their accounts daily and quickly report any unauthorized activity.

Please remind your cardholders that there is a lot that they can do to protect their own financial accounts and information in order to avoid compromising their own information. Here are some of the points you can make to help educate your cardholders:

Neither Pinnacle Bank nor the fraud department will ever ask over the phone for PIN, CV2 codes or Expiration Dates.

A text alert warning of suspicious activity on a card will NEVER include:

  • A link to be clicked. Cardholders should never click on a link in a text message that is supposedly from us.
  • Vague reference to a “Merchant” transaction; details should be included
  • Requests for cardholder data such as card numbers, PINs, CV2 Codes, Expiration Date
  • A text alert from us will always be from a 5-digit number and NOT a 10-digit number resembling a phone number.

A VALID notification will provide information about the suspicious transaction and ask the cardholder to reply to the text message with answers such as ‘yes,’ ‘no,’ ‘help,’ or ‘stop.’ 

  • A phone call from one of our Call Center agents will only include a request for the cardholder zip code, and no other personal information, unless the cardholder confirms that a transaction is fraudulent.
  • Only then will the cardholder be transferred to an agent, who will ask questions to confirm the cardholder’s identity before going through the transaction history. If at any point the cardholder is uncertain about questions being asked or the call itself, they should hang up and call us directly.
  • If a call is received by the cardholder claiming to be your Call Center and asking to verify transactions, no information should have to be provided by the cardholder other than their zip code, and a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to the transactions provided.
Categories
Blog

Action Plan for COVID-19

Pinnacle Bank has been in business since 1934. The bank, our communities and our country have weathered a lot

of historical ups and downs including national financial troubles, wars and 9/11

We have all grown stronger each time we face adversity and that will happen again as we overcome this current crisis. Pinnacle Bank is here now and will be in the future.

While we can’t control the events around us, we can control how we respond. Pinnacle Bank is working to keep employees and customers safe while remaining ready to assist you with your financial and banking needs.

Beginning Monday, March 23, 2020, Pinnacle Bank lobbies will close but we are committed to assisting you with all your banking needs.

  • Drive-Thru Windows & Drawers (where available), Monday – Friday, 9 AM – 5 PM. (Commerce 9 AM – 6 PM on Friday.)
  • Pinny Drive Thru Teller, Monday – Friday, 7 AM – 7 PM & Saturday, 8 AM – 2 PM
  • Night Drop available after hours and weekends.
  • If you need to speak with a lender, go to this link for a direct dial number.
  • If you need to access your Safe Deposit Box, please call 877-759-7939 and ask to speak with your branch.
  • If you have general banking questions please call 877-759-7939, 8:00 AM – 5:30 PM

The following options are also available:
Online Banking and Mobile App
These free services allow you to track your accounts, transfer money between accounts, make transfers to your accounts at other financial institutions with external transfers, make mobile deposits, pay bills and control your debit card.

PopMoney
PopMoney is available in Online Banking and the Mobile App as a person-to-person payment service allowing you to send money to someone to pay an expense such as splitting the cost of a meal, paying rent, sending cash as a gift and more.

Telephone Banking
Gather information on personal accounts, transfer money between accounts, order checks and hear bank hours through this 24-hour service. Call 706-213-PHON to access.

Pinny
You can bank with extended hours and not leave your car. If you come to our drive-thru from 7 AM – 7 PM, Mon. – Fri. or 8 AM – 2 PM on Sat., you can touch the screen on the ATM and speak with a live Pinnacle Bank teller. You can withdraw or deposit cash, cash a check, transfer funds, make a loan payment, check your balances and more.

Business Options
Businesses also have additional options with ACH to manage electronic payments, Merchant Capture allowing you to deposit checks from your office and wires that can be sent from your Treasury Management Online Banking account.

Online Account Opening – For Retail Customers, you can open an account online at this link.

Online Loans – You can apply for Personal and Business
Loans online.

Business Online Account Opening – We can open business accounts through DocuSign. Email NewAccounts@PinnacleBank.com or visit your branch. Someone will meet you at the door.

Wire – If you need someone to assist you with sending a wire, please call 877-759-7939 or visit the branch. Someone will meet you at the door.

Call us at 877-759-7939 – Our Call Center is ready to assist you Mon.-Fri., 8 AM – 5:30 PM. We can assist you with your accounts and provide guidance with any products and other bank information.

Categories
General News

COVID 19

It’s Ok. We Are Your Bank and We’re Here for You!

Thank you for being our customer. And because you, our employees and our community are so important to us we want to reassure you of something. We’re here to help you. Everything at Pinnacle Bank is open and working. Everything from our branches, our debit cards, online banking and Pinny are on the job! We hope this assurance will ease some anxiety.

While we can’t control the events around us, we can control how we respond. Pinnacle Bank is working to keep employees and customers safe while remaining ready to assist you. Beginning Monday, March 23, 2020, Pinnacle Bank lobbies will close but we are committed to assisting you with all your banking needs.

  • Drive-Thru Windows & Drawers (where available), Monday – Friday, 9 am – 5 pm. (Commerce 9 am – 6 pm on Friday.)
  • Pinny Drive Thru Teller, Monday – Friday, 7 am – 7 pm & Saturday, 8 am – 2 pm
  • Night Drop available after hours and weekends.
  • If you need to speak with a lender, go to this link for a direct dial number or visit the branch. Someone will meet you at the door.
  • If you need to access your Safe Deposit Box, visit the branch. Someone will meet you at the door.
  • If you have general banking questions please call 877-759-7939, 8:00 am – 5:30 pm

To be of additional assistance here are some reminders of ways to bank without coming into the branch if it eases your mind:

Online Banking and Mobile App – These free services allow you to track your accounts, transfer money between accounts, make transfers to your accounts at other financial institutions with external transfers, make mobile deposits, pay bills and control your debit card.

PopMoney is available in Online Banking and the Mobile App as a person-to-person payment service allowing you to send money to someone to pay an expense such as splitting the cost of a meal, paying rent, sending cash as a gift and more.

Telephone Banking – Gather information on personal accounts, transfer money between accounts, order checks and hear bank hours through this 24-hour service. Call 706-213-PHON to access.

Pinny – You can bank with extended hours and not leave your car. If you come to our drive-thru from 7 am – 7 pm, Mon.-Fri. or 8 am – 2 pm on Sat., you can touch the screen on the ATM and speak with a live Pinnacle Bank teller. You can withdraw or deposit cash, cash a check, transfer funds, make a loan payment, check your balances and more.

Business Options – Businesses also have additional options with ACH to manage electronic payments, Merchant Capture allowing you to deposit checks from your office and wires that can be sent from your Treasury Management Online Banking account.

Call us at 877-759-7939 – Our Call Center is ready to assist you Mon.-Fri., 8 am – 5:30 pm. We can assist you with your accounts and provide guidance with any products and other bank information.

Pinnacle Bank cares about our customers, employees and communities. We will continue to closely monitor the situation and evaluate additional measures to support you. If we need to communicate more information, we will do so through social media, website and other means as deemed necessary.

We encourage everyone to be safe and thank you for being a customer of Pinnacle Bank.