September, 2026 Newsletter
2026 | September-Financial Awareness
What’s Inside This Month…
We’re here for you in the best and worst of times. Financial preparedness isn’t just about emergencies. It’s about peace of mind. Do you have an emergency fund? Know where your important documents are? Talked to your family about your financial plan? September is National Preparedness Month, and Banner Capital Bank can help you get ready for whatever comes next.
Read more below about how Banner Capital Bank has the tools to assist you, and keep your finances safe from scammers.
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Financial Preparedness
It’s easy to start building your family financial safety net. Banner Capital Bank offers ways to build your savings accounts with automatic transfers of $25, $50 (or any amount you choose) per paycheck. Small but consistent savings adds up over time. It is advisable to have 3-6 months savings for essential expenses available.
Know what your monthly essential expenses are, your debt obligations and best of all, review your savings progress!
You can rest knowing that your funds are all secure with an FDIC insured bank like Banner Capital Bank.
Protect what you’ve built. Take some time to review your homeowners, auto, life and disability insurance with your insurance professional.
Be sure to keep your beneficiary information current, organized & accessible and review at least annually. These documents can include: Life Insurance policies, Certificates of Deposit, IRA /401k beneficiaries, and Pay on Death designations that you are the owner of. Many families have a discussion around the dinner table about avoiding fraud and what they have learned about avoiding scammers.
Secure essential documents such as insurance policies, property deeds, and medical powers of attorney in a waterproof and fireproof container or digitally on a secure platform. In addition, make a list of your bank accounts and where they are located in the event they are needed. Make sure spouses/trusted family members know where this list is.
Keep your contact information current with Banner Capital Bank so that you can be reached when needed.
Maintain an up-to-date inventory of personal and household valuables and use photo or video to document their value and determine replacement costs.
Financial preparedness doesn’t require a financial planner. It starts with knowing where you stand, having a plan for the unexpected, and knowing your bank is here to help.
Here’s how we can help:
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- Set up a savings or money-market account
- Set up automatic savings transfers
- Discuss deposit options
- Review loan obligations
- Set up online/mobile banking alerts
- Help you recognize and prevent fraud
- Provide information about credit and responsible borrowing
- Connect you with appropriate outside professionals when you need specialized financial advice
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Be Financially Prepared about Scams
Learn the Signs. Stop the Scams.
Fraud can appear in many forms, but certain warning signs show up again and again. These red flag warnings can give you peace of mind:
Creating urgency or panic to manipulate your fears or emotions
Using high pressure threats such as arrest, legal action, or fines
Asking for sensitive information like passwords, bank details, PINs, Social Security numbers, or remote access
Forming an unexpected online relationship—especially if the person is a stranger
Requesting unusual payment methods such as gift cards, cryptocurrency, prepaid cards, payment apps, large cash amounts, or wire transfers
Coaching you to lie about why you’re withdrawing or sending money
Promising big prizes or huge returns with little or no risk
Using unusual grammar or awkward phrasing, or showing inconsistencies in language
What to Do??
Arm yourself with knowledge. Every click matters in the battlefield of online security.
YOUR RED FLAG RESPONSE PLAN
STOP COMMUNICATION IMMEDIATELY
End all contact with the suspected scammer. They may attempt to use pressure or scare tactics to make you second-guess yourself. Cut off communication.
DO NOT SEND ANY MONEY OR PERSONAL INFORMATION
Never transfer funds, cryptocurrency, gift cards, or share personal or financial details with someone you don’t know. If you have started a transfer of funds, stop immediately.
TALK TO A TRUSTED PERSON
If you’re feeling vulnerable or overwhelmed, turn to a trusted person who can support you. It’s normal to feel shame and guilt, but you’re not alone.
NOTIFY YOUR BANNER CAPITAL BANK BRANCH RIGHT AWAY
Contact your financial institution to inform them of the suspected scam. They can help secure your accounts and advise you on next steps. The best course of action is to visit your Banner Capital Bank branch in person, in case any of your devices were compromised.
REPORT THE INCIDENT
If you’ve fallen victim, report the scam to local law enforcement, your bank, and any relevant authorities.
SECURE YOUR ACCOUNTS AND DEVICES
It is important to make sure any malicious spyware, or malware has been removed from your devices. Run a malware scan. Talk to a local IT professional if you are unsure of how to clean your device. Once your device is secured, change your passwords and enable additional security measures.
MONITOR YOUR CREDIT REPORT
Continue to regularly check your credit report in the following days and weeks. Every individual of legal age is allowed 1 free credit report annually. Learn more by contacting your local branch for assistance.
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Recipe of the Month
Perfect Apple Pie
Picking the Right Apples for Pie
If you’ve had a lot of sub-par apple pies, it comes down to the right apple. Many types of apples just do not make a good pie on their own.
They don’t hold their shape and release too much liquid when cooking, or they lack texture. Or, they are too tart for most taste buds (for example, Granny Smith), or they are too sweet (for example, Empire). That’s why we mix two types of apples. Choose one “sweet” and one “tart” apple for best results. If you can only find one apple type, use a “firm” apple variety, which will hold its shape throughout the cooking process and not get mushy.
Apple Pie Filling Ingredients:
2 pounds large sweet apples (such as Jonagold, Golden Delicious)
1 pound large tart apples (such as Northern Spy, Granny Smith, or Rhode Island Greening)
1 teaspoon lemon juice
3/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 taplespoon cornstarch
Flour (for work surface)
Double-Crust Pastry Dough (see recipe below)
1 large egg, well beaten
1 tablespoon sugar
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 425°F. Peel and core apples, slice them 1/4 inch thick, and put in a bowl. Toss to coat with lemon juice.
Prepare the pie crust dough included below or use a family favorite or a purchased brand from the grocery store.
In a separate bowl, combine sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cornstarch.
Lightly flour your work surface and roll out the larger disk of Double-Crust Pastry Dough into a 12- to 13-inch circle, rolling out from the center and turning the dough as you go. Transfer to a 10-inch pie plate; let extra dough hang over sides.
Place a flat 1-inch layer of apples on the bottom and sprinkle with a layer of sugar mixture. Repeat until you’ve used all apples and sugar.
Roll out the second piece of pie dough and cover the apples with it. Trim excess dough to about 1-inch overhang; tuck edges of top crust under the bottom crust and crimp.
Brush egg over pie surface; sprinkle with sugar. Make decorative cuts to let steam escape. Bake 20 minutes.
Lower oven temperature to 375°F and bake until golden brown, about 25 minutes longer.
Double-Crust Pastry Dough
2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus extra for work surface
2 tablespoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
18 tablespoons (2-1/4 sticks) chilled unsalted butter, cut into small cubes
6 to 8 tablespoons ice water
In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, and salt until well combined.
Sprinkle butter over flour mixture, and use your fingers to work it in (rub your thumb against your fingertips, smearing the butter as you do). Stop when the mixture looks like cornmeal, with some pea-size bits of butter remaining. (Can also use food processor for this step).
Sprinkle 6 tablespoons ice water on top, and stir with a fork until dough begins to come together. If needed, add more ice water, a tablespoon at a time.
Turn out onto a lightly floured surface and knead three times, or just enough to make a cohesive dough—don’t over mix!
Gather into a ball; then divide into two pieces, one slightly larger than the other. Press each piece into a disk and wrap in plastic. Refrigerate 30 minutes.
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Celebrating with our Bank Staff this month!
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National Celebrations/ Bank closing
September 7 – Bank branches closed for Labor Day
September 11 – Patriot Day
September 13 – Grandparents Day
September 19-20 Eager Beaver Days – Beaver City, NE:
September 19 – Banner Capital Bank is sponsoring Bouncy Houses in the city park 10:00 am – 3:00 pm CDT
September 19 – Beaver City Parade – 10:30 am CDT
September 25th – Kimball vs Alma Tailgate (at Kimball) 5:00 MDT; Football game 6:00 MDT
September 26th – Farmers Day Parade, Kimball NE 10:00 MDT
September 26th – Stamford Pork Days, Stamford, NE Parade 10:30 CDT
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September heralds this fact:
Full Harvest Moon
Centuries ago, Anglo-Saxons in Europe called August “Weod Monath” (translating to “weed month” or “grass month”) because it’s the time when weeds and other plants grow fast and furious.
September’s full moon, the Harvest Moon, reaches peak illumination on Saturday, September 26, at 12:49 P.M. EDT.
It is the full moon closest to the September 22 autumnal equinox. What makes the Harvest Moon special is not its appearance but its timing. For 3 to 4 consecutive nights, the moon rises only 25 to 30 minutes later each evening instead of the usual 50 minutes, providing bright moonlight right at sunset for farmers harvesting late-season crops
Quote from the Past:
There are flowers enough in the summertime,
More flowers than I can remember—
But none with the purple, gold, and red
That dye the flowers of September!
–Mary Howitt ( 1799-1888)
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Stay in Touch!
We look forward to sharing our next newsletter with you in May. Stay tuned for some great new and exciting information.
Please remember when we are closed you are able to access your accounts through the online and mobile banking. You are able to send us a message on the Contact Us portion of our website and we will get back to you during normal business hours.
Thank You for Banking With Us
We’re excited about the opportunities this year brings and look forward to continuing to serve you and your community.