Our Fam

 

April Anniversaries




Happy Work-A-Versary Kristy! We appreciate all you do!
 

Ashley Deuth 10 Year Anniversary




Celebrating a decade of dedication! This year marks Ashley’s 10-year anniversary at Solutions Bank. We’re so thankful for all the behind-the-scenes work she does to keep everything running smoothly. Click here to read more about Ashley's journey!
 

The ONE Conference




Investing in our people helps us better serve our customers and communities. Last month, members of our team attended the Illinois Bankers Association The ONE Conference. They joined sessions that help build their knowledge and expertise. Opportunities like this help ensure our staff have the tools, insights, and support they need to build successful careers while delivering the best possible banking experience to our customers and the communities we serve.
 

Solutions Summit 2026




Thank you to everyone who made last month’s 2026 Solutions Summit a success! We loved hosting a room full of curious, forward‑thinking professionals ready to embrace AI responsibly. Chad Knutson of SBS CyberSecurity shared powerful insights on practical, ethical AI use, and attendees explored hands‑on tools to bring new ideas back to their businesses.
 

Jean for a Cause




Our Poplar Grove branch was proud to present this quarter’s Jeans for a Cause donation to The Oscar Mike Foundation. This incredible organization empowers injured veterans through adaptive sports, community, and opportunities that support physical and mental well‑being. We’re honored to support their mission and the impact they make right here in our region.
 

Fraud Alert - The Gift Card Scam




This trending scam is costing people hundreds. Scammers call, email, or text pretending to be from a real company or even your bank, then tell you to pay for something with gift cards. 

Here’s how it works: scammers tell you to buy gift cards, then say the codes don’t work and push you to buy more. Before you know it, you’ve spent hundreds of dollars—money they instantly steal.

Remember: No legitimate business or bank will ever ask for gift cards as payment.

Visit solutions.bank/security-center to learn more about common scams and how to protect yourself. Knowledge is power.
 

Fraud Edu: Secrets = Red Flags




Scammers often pose as friends or family in trouble, then pressure you to stay quiet. Phrases like “Don’t tell anyone” are meant to isolate you and keep you from telling anyone what’s happening. Always verify by calling your loved one directly at a trusted number. Head to solutions.bank/security-center to learn more about common scams and how to protect yourself.
 

Simplify Your Business & Build Customer Loyalty with Clover


As a business owner, your time is best spent serving customers, not juggling payment systems. Solutions Bank works with Clover® to deliver a simple, reliable platform that brings payments, daily operations, and customer engagement together in one place.

Clover helps simplify day‑to‑day operations by combining fast, secure payment processing with easy‑to‑use business tools. From quick checkouts and multiple payment options to intuitive reporting, Clover is designed to help your business run more smoothly and efficiently, so you can focus on what matters most: your customers.

One of Clover’s standout features is its built‑in loyalty program options, which make keeping customers engaged easier than ever. With customizable rewards and customer tracking tools, Clover helps you encourage repeat visits and stronger relationships—because loyal customers don’t just come back, they spend more.

When you choose Clover through Solutions Bank, you’re not just getting advanced technology—you’re gaining a local partner. Our team takes the time to review your current merchant statements, identify unnecessary fees, and explain where your processing dollars are really going. From there, we show you how Clover’s flexible tools can simplify your operations while enhancing the customer experience.

Clover is more than a card processing system; it’s a scalable business platform built to grow with you. And with Solutions Bank, you’ll have local expertise and personalized support every step of the way.

Interested in simplifying your payment processing and creating a better experience for your customers? Visit www.solutions.bank/clover to learn more. 

 

Estate Planning Seminar




Join us for this FREE seminar on April 21st in Durand!

Questions covered include:
  •  Should I have a will or living trust?
  •  What is a living trust?
  •  What is probate?
  •  Do I need a power of attorney?
  •  Should I make lifetime gifts?
  •  What makes up my estate?
  •  How will I pay for nursing home care?
  • Will Federal or Illinois Estate taxes affect me?

Reservations are required. To reserve your spot, call (815) 235-1212 or (800) 373-4109 or visit pkbrs@plager-law.com.
 

Financial Literacy Month: The 50/30/20 Budget Rule


April is Financial Literacy Month, and today we’re highlighting a budgeting method that’s simple, realistic, and easy to stick to. Budgeting doesn’t have to mean tracking every penny. If traditional budgets feel overwhelming, the 50/30/20 rule offers a stress-free way to manage your money with flexibility.

Learn how to structure your income, adapt the rule to real-life expenses, and create savings habits that stick. Click here to read the full post to learn more, and keep any eye on our social media throughout the month for more financial literacy tips, tools, and resources.
 

Retirement: Things to Do In Your 60's

If you are in your 60s and are thinking about retirement it’s all about planning and saving … and the sooner, the better. Planning helps you take a realistic look at a possible retirement age and what you’ll need to do to make that happen. Saving is what gets you to the finish line with enough money to help cover your post-work expenses.

When planning, you need to look at your potential retirement income sources, such as:

  • Funds from your retirement account, such as a 401(k) or 403(b).
  • Roth or traditional IRAs.
  • Social Security.
  • And any company pension you might have coming to you.

You’ll want to review your estimated retirement needs. What kind of expenses do you expect in retirement: Travel? Hobbies? Entertainment? Will you still be making house or car payments? Do you have regular medical expenses?

Now think about what age you want to retire at and then run your projected income and expenses through an online retirement calculator. Is your goal realistic based on your projected income and expenses?

After doing a retirement reality check, you might find that you don’t have enough money to meet your goals. But you can work on changing that. While you might need to work longer than you had hoped, this is the time to be saving as much money as possible.

If you can, contribute as much as you can to your work retirement plan. Maximum and catch-up personal contribution limits can change annually. To see current limits, go to irs.gov and search for 'retirement plan contribution limits'. Consider contributing funds to an IRA, and maxing that out each year. People over 50 can make catch-up contributions to these as well.

Try to pay off as many debts as possible so when the time comes to retire you won’t have big expenses such as a mortgage or long car payment. If your savings potential is limited, some experts recommend considering selling your home and buying something less expensive. You might even consider working part time once you retire, just to keep some income flowing in. And it might be wise to wait a few extra years before you start taking your Social Security money because the longer you wait, the more you’ll get each month. This helpful estimator will give you an idea what your payment will be, based on at what age you begin taking Social Security: www.ssa.gov/estimator/.

Be sure to keep your medical expenses in mind, too, thinking about your fixed costs as well as unexpected expenses. Experts advise making sure you are covered by medical insurance until you are eligible for Medicare, and some recommend considering taking out long-term care insurance once you hit your 60s to help cover the expenses extended care can bring.

And once you officially retire, you’ll need to be careful about not overspending with the money you have. It’s not uncommon to be retired at least 20 years or more.
So get serious about planning so you can reach the goal you set.
 

Upcoming Holiday Closures

Monday, May 25, 2026: Closed - Memorial Day
Friday, June 19, 2026: Closed - Juneteenth

As always, 24/7 banking is available anytime, anywhere through our mobile app, online banking, and ATM’s. solutions.bank.