Technology is always changing. To keep clients and employees satisfied, businesses need to strike a balance between staying up-to-date without constantly changing the way business is done. At Heartland Trust Company, we are always looking for ways to improve our technological footprint while keeping your information secure.

In 2018, we transitioned to new trust accounting software. Our entire team took on hours of extra training to learn the new software before the conversion. So far, the transition has been very successful. Our clients have access to a secure, user-friendly, and robust program with many new and exciting features. Our staff has new tools to streamline processes and serve you better.

Data breaches seem to be inevitable these days. When they happen, your personal and financial information can be compromised leaving you feeling vulnerable. While you can’t control the manner in which your personal data is safeguarded by others, you can make it more difficult for criminals to use your personal information to cause you harm.

Most companies must first view your credit report prior to extending credit. With that in mind, freezing your credit may be one of the easiest ways to protect yourself against identity theft. By putting a freeze on your credit, you restrict access to your personal information thereby preventing thieves from opening new accounts in your name.

If you stopped by Heartland Trust Company this summer, you probably saw our mess. Our office underwent a full remodel, adding new carpet, paint, building updates, and several new offices to accommodate our growing staff. Half of the building was done at a time, leaving space at a premium at times. We pulled through and everything was done in about 12 weeks.

Our mission statement is clear and simple: “to provide a lifelong commitment to the well-being of those we serve.” Living out the spirit of that mission is more complex.

As a trust company, we offer guidance whether you are saving for retirement, living in retirement, or needing to follow a document after a triggering event occurs. That said, we know that each person has his or her own definition of well-being. We carefully listen to make sure we understand your definition.

We wanted to follow up on some information you may have received earlier this summer.

If you have a trust, agency, IRA, or investment account with Heartland Trust Company, you have the ability to access your account online. AccuNet, the vendor we use to establish this online account, has upgraded its website. In July, an email was sent prompting you to log into your account through the new site. This email is legitimate.

In that email, you were provided a link that takes you to the login page and instructions on how to access your account information.

You may not mind a robocall if it provides a helpful announcement from your child’s school or an appointment reminder from a doctor’s office. But sadly, criminals often use robocalls to collect consumers’ personal information and/or conduct various scams. Newer “spoofing” technology displays fake numbers to make it look as though calls are local, rather than coming from overseas. This can trick more people into answering the phone.

Robocalls have been illegal since 2009 (unless the telemarketer has the consumer’s prior consent). In mid-2017, federal agencies announced they are ramping up enforcement by fining violators and encouraging blocking technologies. What should you do if you want to help put an end to this nuisance?

Ole bravely took the news
From his old M.D..
The doctor hemmed & hawed a bit,
Then said, “Just look at me.
I’ve been your friend these many years
And this is what I see.

In a world that is becoming faster all the time, there is a tendency to lose a sense of connection or personal interaction.

For example, the personal banking industry makes it easy for us to forgo a visit to the bank to make a deposit or withdrawal, pay a bill, or sign a document. We hear in professional sports, “it was a business decision, nothing personal.”

People often say the one constant in our lives is change. This has certainly been true in the financial industry. It’s hard to keep track of who’s who and who’s where. What is the bank or insurance company’s new name? Which broker is with which firm, and in which office are they located?

This leads to the big question: How can their clients receive the personal attention they deserve?

Just a reminder: As our organization continues to grow, we are still the original Heartland Trust Company. We are still independent, still locally owned, and still headquartered in Fargo. We set our own policies, make our own decisions, and answer our own phones. All of our employees live in, participate in, and support our local communities.

In an effort to stay engaged with those we serve, we are excited to launch our new company newsletter. We hope we can provide some insightful information to simplify your life, whether you’re tapping into your IRA accounts, administering a 401(k) plan, being named the beneficiary of a trust, or thinking about how to pass on the farmland to your kids.

The years have passed quickly but it is always fun for me to take a look back. In 1990, we opened our doors with two people; today we have grown to a staff of 20. The staff has evolved into areas of specialty that include investments, charitable planning, retirement planning, tax management, 401(k) administration, real estate management, and, of course, trust administration. Today our business is divided into three categories: wealth management (IRAs and investment accounts), trust administration, and 401(k) administration.