Blogs

Cowen's Corner-Mortgage Market Update: Plot Twists and a Choppy Week for Mortgage Rates

Aug 24, 2026

Greetings from Casa de Cowen. Let me talk to ya! (LA Knight / wrestling reference 😊) Let’s start by saying I don’t really dig scary movies. I don’t like horror or thrillers. Not interested.Full Story

Cowen's Corner-Mortgage Market Update: The Right Answer and a Better Week for Rates

Aug 17, 2026

Greetings from Casa de Cowen. Had to play the lottery today. The sky fell, and I needed to take advantage of it.Full Story

Cowen's Corner-Mortgage Market Update: Fishing Frustrations and a Better Week for Rates

Aug 10, 2026

Greetings from Casa de Cowen. Just when you think it can’t get worse…Full Story

Alice Frazier: The Lasting Community Bank Legacy

Aug 06, 2026

Community banks stand the test of time. As a community bank with a long history of serving our neighbors, we know that longevity isn’t measured simply in years. It’s built through trusted relationships, a commitment to our communities, and putting people first every day.Full Story

Cowen's Corner-Mortgage Market Update: Fishing Defeats and Another Choppy Week for Rates

Aug 03, 2026

Greetings from Casa de Cowen. So much to choose from this week! Let’s start with the beating I took fishing with the boy.Full Story

Cowen's Corner-Mortgage Market Update: A Cowen Trip to Boston and a Tough Week for Rates

Jul 27, 2026

Greetings from Casa de Cowen. I will do my best to keep this story short, but it is epic and such a Cowen story. I had a conference in Boston last weekend. Fly up Sunday, back Tuesday morning. I was super excited because it included Coke Deck tickets at Fenway for Monday night’s game. Fenway and the Red Sox were a bucket-list opportunity, and they were on an epic 12+ game winning streak.Full Story

Cowen's Corner-Mortgage Market Update: Classic Albums, a New Teammate, and a Roller Coaster Week for Rates

Jul 20, 2026

Greetings from Casa de Cowen. Had a great conversation Thursday evening that I wanted to share. My cousin, who is 10 years younger than I am, and I were in Charlottesville Thursday night taking young Brendan out for dinner. Naturally, the conversation turned to music.Full Story

Cowen's Corner-Mortgage Market Update: One Hungry Dog and a Week of Market Volatility

Jul 13, 2026

Greetings from Casa de Cowen. I have made this public service announcement before, but given the events of last Thursday night, it is worth repeating. Never, and I mean never, decide that having a German Shorthaired Pointer, or GSP for short, is a good idea.Full Story

Cowen's Corner-Mortgage Market Update: Mulch, Mayhem, and Mortgage Rates Moving Lower

Jun 29, 2026

Greetings from Casa de Cowen. Dangerously close to finishing my 10 yards of mulch. I would say I have about two yards left, and that should be soon. I have been mentally preparing for this moment for a couple of days, making sure I do not get sidetracked. We will see how that goes.Full Story

Cowen's Corner-Mortgage Market Update: Family Time, Fishing, and a Rocky Week for Rates

Jun 22, 2026

Greetings from Casa de Cowen. Believe it or not, there was not much crazy happening in my house this past week. Hurricane Brendan came home Wednesday night after working a two-day camp for young players at the UVA baseball facility. His days consisted of 6:00 a.m. wake-ups, physical therapy, camp all day, and then lifting afterward. The point is, he was exhausted when he rolled in.Full Story

Cowen's Corner-Mortgage Market Update: Cars, Coffee, and a Better Week for Rates

Jun 15, 2026

Greetings from Casa de Cowen. I was a tad late Saturday morning. A friend and neighbor owns a 1955 Porsche Spyder, think James Dean, and I joined him at Katie’s Cars and Coffee in Great Falls.Full Story

Cowen's Corner-Mortgage Market Update: Mulch Mountains and Market Volatility

Jun 08, 2026

Greetings from Casa de Cowen. Can I say for the record that 10 yards of mulch is a whole lot of mulch? I am simply too cheap to pay someone to do it for me. I stewed on the decision for a couple of months and finally pulled the trigger. I have been moving it in the evenings this past week and, quite frankly, I feel like I have been run over by a truck.Full Story

Alice Frazier: Redefining Succession as Legacy

Jun 02, 2026

Instead of thinking about succession planning as a chore, let’s look at it in the context of the legacies we’re leaving.Full Story

Cowen's Corner-Mortgage Market Update: Baseball Regionals and a Better Week for Rates

Jun 01, 2026

Greetings from Casa de Cowen. The kids have been home for a little over a week, and they are already tired of eating chicken. I get it. It can get boring, and since I am the chef of the house, I tend to fall into routines with recipes. That said, it is mi casa, and I have offered multiple times to let either of them jump in and cook. Strangely, there have been no takers. You cannot have it both ways.​Full Story

Cowen's Corner-Mortgage Market Update: Charlotte Traffic and a Market Driven by Headlines

May 26, 2026

Greetings from Casa de Cowen. Had a good, quick trip to Charlotte midweek for the ACC Baseball Tournament. A couple of observations. Traffic in that city during rush hour is unfathomable. Atlanta is close, but wow. It was brutal. Generally, I have a pretty good sense of direction, but it still took me a while to get around, which certainly did not help.Full Story

Cowen's Corner-Mortgage Market Update: Back on I-81 and Watching Rates Move Higher

May 18, 2026

Greetings from Blacksburg. It occurred to me on the drive down last Friday that I had not traveled I-81 since Brendan transferred to Virginia. I am not going to lie, I did not miss that trip, and I do not think I will be making it very often. Two hours is much better than four hours, and Route 29 beats I-81 every single time. Full Story

Cowen's Corner-Mortgage Market Update: Burpees, Buyer Conversations, and a Market Full of Surprises

May 12, 2026

Greetings from Casa de Cowen. Ten years ago this past weekend, I made the regrettable decision to do one burpee for every year I had been alive, with the goal of finishing in 10 minutes or less. I do not remember what random city I was in with Brendan for baseball, but I do remember having an adult beverage last Friday night and getting bullied into doing it.Full Story

7 Points When Buying or Selling a Business

May 12, 2026

This Small Business Month, Potomac Bank is proud to continue sharing practical insights and real-world perspectives for current and future business owners across our communities.Full Story

Alice P. Frazier: Turning Fraud on its Head

May 08, 2026

The more we work together and share [about fraud], the more we know and the better positioned we all will be to combat what emerges next. When it comes to fraud, what I worry about most is what we don’t know. Each day, there’s a new method of attack, and we must train ourselves and our teams to not only watch for it but to proactively combat it. Full Story

Cowen's Corner-Mortgage Market Update: Playoff Hockey and a Market Driven by Headlines

May 03, 2026

Greetings from Casa de Cowen. I have mentioned this before. I grew up in upstate New York, and my parents ruined my hockey career when I was 13 by moving me to Florida. There was no hockey in Florida back then.Full Story

Cowen's Corner-Mortgage Market Update: A Full House and a Quiet Week for Rates

Apr 27, 2026

Greetings from Casa de Cowen. My heart is full and the chaos is real. Both kids were home for the weekend. Brendan did not travel to Pittsburgh with the team, so he is home, and Madison and Pete had a show at Morven Park last Sunday, so she came home as well. You do not realize how relaxing empty nesting is until they come back.Full Story

Cowen's Corner-Mortgage Market Update: You Get What You Pay For and a Better Week for Rates

Apr 13, 2026

Greetings from Casa de Cowen. In another edition of “you get what you pay for,” we decided this year to have someone cut our yard. There are better ways to spend our time. That said, I like a green, thick, weed-free lawn, so I still pay attention to how it is maintained.Full Story

Cowen's Corner-Mortgage Market Update: A Flat Tire Lesson and a Market Watching Inflation

Apr 06, 2026

Greetings from Casa de Cowen. I have known this for some time, but it became official last Friday. In many ways, I have failed as a parent. Not sure how it happened, but it is true. I got up last Friday and had a great walk with the dogs in the woods. Saw a bald eagle, and the woods are turning green quickly. Then came the dreaded 8:00 a.m. text from the boy, a picture of a flat tire on his car.​Full Story

Cowen's Corner-Mortgage Market Update: Cold Games in Boston and Conversations on ARMs

Mar 30, 2026

Greetings from Boston. I mentioned a few weeks back that I had finally come to terms with the fact that Brendan is closer to the end of his baseball career than the beginning, so I should enjoy the journey a little more. I am trying, but this weekend is testing me. Game-time temperature at Boston College last Friday was 44 degrees. Saturday, for a 2:00 p.m. start, it is 36. Brutal. Just brutal.​Full Story

Cowen's Corner-Mortgage Market Update: March Memories and a Shift in the Market

Mar 23, 2026

Good Morning from Casa de Cowen. It felt good to be home for a Friday baseball game and I got a little nostalgic about this time of year. I am about to date myself, but bear with me. My wife and I started dating in the fall of 1997. The MCI Center, now Capital One Arena, had just opened and that spring, spring of 1998, the first round of March Madness was held there. A few, or maybe more than a few, of my college buddies and I got tickets. This region played Thursday and Saturday.Full Story

Cowen's Corner-Mortgage Market Update: A Late Night at Home and a Choppy Market

Mar 16, 2026

Greetings from Casa de Cowen. The blessing and the curse of young Cowen being in Charlottesville at UVA is real. The blessing is that I was able to go down and back this past Friday. I watched them drub Virginia Tech pitching, which made my heart warm after last year, dropped off some food, bought him a meal, and was back home by 10:30 p.m.Full Story

Cowen's Corner-Mortgage Market Update: Baseball in Chapel Hill and a Tough Week for Rates

Mar 09, 2026

Greetings from Chapel Hill. It occurred to me recently that we are likely closer to the end than the beginning of Brendan’s baseball career. Given how much travel has been part of our lives for so many years, I have decided I need to enjoy it a little more and make sure I visit places I have not been before.Full Story

Cowen's Corner-Mortgage Market Update: Vacation Lessons and a Market in a Tight Range

Mar 02, 2026

I mentioned last week that we were in Florida taking a little time off and that folks down there drive in the left lane like it is their job. Well, I found out something else that was interesting.Full Story

Cowen's Corner-Mortgage Market Update: Left Lane Lessons and a Steady Rate Environment

Feb 23, 2026

Greetings from Florida. Chasing the boy down to Central Florida for a weekend set. We stayed a couple of days at a world-class equestrian resort and are now spending a few days at your typical beach “resort.” The kids in the room next door decided to host a pizza party around midnight last night. That was awesome. Once I wake up, it is hard for me to go back to sleep. Full Story

Cowen's Corner-Mortgage Market Update: Opening Day Lessons and Rates at Recent Lows

Feb 17, 2026

Greetings from Charlottesville. Opening Day was last Friday, and it was a typical outing for me. It is a running joke in my house and among my circle of friends. I am seldom properly dressed. I am generally cold and miserable. But yesterday took it to another level. Full Story

Cowen's Corner-Mortgage Market Update: Cold Mornings and Watching the Market

Feb 09, 2026

Greetings from Casa de Cowen. The sky is falling, the world is coming to an end, the cosmic canopy is disintegrating. I Googled a thesaurus for “the sky is falling,” just in case. Yet, the Cowen dogs wanted no part of a walk this past Saturday morning. Even these two, who have been walked in hurricanes and thunderstorms, tapped out today. The cold and wind were a hard no. Full Story

Cowen's Corner-Mortgage Market Update: Empty Nest and an Unsettled Market

Jan 26, 2026

The Cowens were full-on empty nesting this past week, and it was kind of nice. Some good friends invited us to a comedy show the other night, so we got a little dressed up, enjoyed dinner and a couple of drinks, caught the show, and stayed up past 9:00 p.m. In fact, it was pushing midnight, which is unheard of in my house.Full Story

Cowen's Corner-Mortgage Market Update: Cold Walks, Good Television, and a Steady Market

Jan 26, 2026

Good Morning from Frigid Leesburg, Virginia. The dogs, as usual, simply do not care about the cold and still require a walk. I love the dogs, don’t get me wrong, but some days it feels like staying inside should be an option. Full Story

Cowen's Corner-Mortgage Market Update: Time Flies at Casa de Cowen and Notes From the Market

Jan 19, 2026

Time flies. Twenty-two years ago this past Sunday, my first-born, Madison “Monk” Cowen, was born. A year ago today, Cin and I were heading to Arlington to have breakfast with some friends, and her first contraction happened on that trip.Full Story

Cowen's Corner-Mortgage Market Update: From College Chaos to Market Moves

Jan 12, 2026

Serious question. Who had Indiana boat-racing Oregon the other night? I could not believe what I was watching. Should be a good matchup for the natty. I will be rooting for Miami, not because I am a fan of The U, but because we are an ACC family. We will see, but Indiana sure has looked good.Full Story

Cowen's Corner-Mortgage Market Update: Starting the New Year at Casa de Cowen

Jan 05, 2026

Greetings from Casa de Cowen and Happy New Year. Cin and I were chatting yesterday. Don’t take this the wrong way, but it is time for the kids to go back to school. Shoes. Laundry. Lights left on everywhere. It is time to get back into a routine. Full Story

Cowen's Corner-Mortgage Market Update: Life at Home and Notes From the Mortgage Market

Dec 22, 2025

Both kids are home, and the zoo is back in full swing. On Wednesday, I cleaned the kitchen three, maybe four times. I guess we didn’t teach our kids how to do their own dishes. Parent fail.Full Story

Cowen's Corner-Mortgage Market Update: From Charlottesville to the Market With a Notable Addition

Dec 15, 2025

Young Cowen is about to hit his exam load, so it felt like he needed a good meal and a pep talk. Add to that the fact that his mother did all his laundry just a few weeks ago, and yet, as expected, most of it was on the floor of his room. Dirty, not dirty, who knows.Full Story

Cowen's Corner-Mortgage Market Update: Pre-FOMC Week and a Question of Modern Etiquette

Dec 08, 2025

So, I have a question this week more so than a story about the chaos that surrounds my life. I finally went to get a haircut on Thursday. My move is generally to wait and wait until I can’t take it anymore, and this cycle was no different. I made my appointment and went in at 4:30 p.m.Full Story

Cowen's Corner-Mortgage Market Update: Thanksgiving and Conforming Loan Limits

Dec 02, 2025

Hope you and your family had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday. We’ve been lucky enough to have Brendan’s girlfriend and her 15-ish-week-old German Shorthaired Pointer, Hank, staying with us. Hank is a disaster, in the most predictable GSP-puppy way. If he’s awake (which is most of the time), he’s into something. The blessing in all of this is the reminder of just how much work puppies are, so when Cindy has another “great idea,” I can shut that down pretty quickly.Full Story

Navigating Financial Transitions: Supporting Our Federal Workforce Community in 2025

Nov 25, 2025

While the federal government shutdown is officially behind us, the financial implications will be felt by our clients for quite some time. At Potomac Bank Trust & Wealth, our client base is deeply rooted in federal service. Whether you've chosen an early retirement package or endured a job loss or extended furlough, we want to offer helpful guidance to help you meet the moment—and meet your obligations—during this challenging time.Full Story

Facing Widowhood: Finding the Financial and Emotional Resources to Forge Ahead

Nov 19, 2025

Five years ago, my colleague Vicky’s life changed overnight when her husband received a terminal cancer diagnosis. The family quickly realized that the financial plans they had made, assuming they'd have years ahead of them, would need to be reconsidered entirely.Full Story

Facing Widowhood Part Two: Navigating the Financial Path Forward After Loss

Nov 19, 2025

In the weeks and months following the loss of a spouse, grief doesn't follow a timeline. Neither do the financial decisions that demand your attention. My colleague Vicky, whose story we shared in part one of this blog series earlier in the month, remembers those early days as a fog of paperwork, phone calls, and decisions that felt impossible to make while mourning. Full Story

Are You Prepared for Life's Curveballs? Take Our Estate Planning Quiz!

Oct 23, 2025

October is National Financial Planning Month, which also includes Estate Planning. At BCT Wealth Advisors, we see this as the perfect time to ask yourself an important question: Am I truly prepared for the unexpected? Estate planning isn't just about assets and paperwork; it's about protecting the people you love and making sure your wishes are honored when it matters most. Yet it's also one of those tasks many of us put off, thinking we have more time or that it doesn't apply to us yet.Full Story

Why You Should Consider a Roth Conversion and What to Watch Out For

Sep 25, 2025

When it comes to retirement planning, minimizing taxes is just as important as maximizing returns. One tax-smart strategy worth considering — especially in today’s relatively low tax environment — is the Roth conversion.Full Story

401(k) to IRA Rollovers: Win-Wins for Every Personality Type

Sep 10, 2025

Life transitions come with countless decisions, and few feel as overwhelming as determining what to do with your 401(k) when you leave a job. Whether you're starting a new career chapter, retiring, or simply seeking more control over your retirement savings, rolling your 401(k) into an Individual Retirement Account (IRA) offers fantastic advantages that can enhance your financial future.Full Story

Pack the Pack: Fighting Childhood Hunger, Fueling Hope

Aug 13, 2025

Back-to-school season is approaching, and for many local families, the pressures amount to much more than checking off school supply lists. This time around, it’s about making sure every child starts the school year strong. That strength begins with the community coming together. Once again, we’re leading the charge through our Pack the ’Pack campaign, a key initiative of The BCTCares Foundation.Full Story

6 Ways to Create a Financial Safety Net

Aug 04, 2025

Would you struggle to pay for a major car repair or cover your deductible on a homeowners insurance claim? If so, you’re not alone. An estimated 42% of Americans don’t have an emergency fund, and 40% couldn’t cover a $1,000 emergency expense with cash or savings.* But in a time of economic uncertainty and rising prices, how can you find enough money to create the savings you need?Full Story

Cowen's Corner-Mortgage Market Update: Nesting Mode and Big Week Ahead for Rates

Jul 28, 2025

It was quiet this past week here. The drama was muted for a change. Opal didn’t roll in anything foul and require a bath. Wilson hunted quietly from his perch on the back of the living room couch.Full Story

Cowen's Corner - Mortgage Market Update: Cape Cod Surprises and Market Stability

Jul 21, 2025

Greetings from Cape Cod! There is so much I could say about this week. But here is a PSA for you. The next time you complain about traffic in the DC metro area, drive to / through NYC.Full Story

Cowen's Corner-Mortgage Market Update: College Rent Chaos Meets Mortgage Wins

Jul 14, 2025

I realized last week that I might be in the wrong business. I should own apartment complexes in college towns, like Blacksburg. Brendan has to move off campus this fall, so we signed a lease that starts August 1. But when you really dig into the lease, the move-in date is listed as August 22.Full Story

Financial Fitness Boot Camp by BCT Wealth Advisors

Jul 11, 2025

If we’re being honest, we know that regular check-ins on your financial health are about as thrilling as a high-intensity workout after an extended vacation (held bright and early on a Monday morning). To ease the pain of this process, BCT Wealth Advisors is taking on the heavy lifting. These boot camp-inspired tips will help you build the financial muscle to manage anything that comes your way. Full Story

Cowen's Corner-Mortgage Market Update: What Do Turtles & Rates Have in Common?

Jun 30, 2025

So much I could lead with this week. Opal rolled in more crap, and this time it was on my watch. Wilson found more than 10 turtles on our hike in the woods yesterday. Young Cowen had his first action of the summer last night, but the highlight was that more than 10 players and coaches got tossed from the game. It was more like a hockey game than a baseball game.Full Story

Letting Go with Purpose - A Guide to Meaningful Decluttering

Jun 25, 2025

Letting go is never easy, especially when it involves the belongings of someone you love. Whether you are downsizing to simplify your life, helping your aging parents prepare for the future, or settling a family member's estate, the process of deciding what to keep and leave behind can feel overwhelming.​Full Story

Cowen's Corner-Mortgage Market Update: Non-QM Loans, Fed Uncertainty, and a Stinky Situation

Jun 23, 2025

As I sat down this morning, I was excited to finally get back into a routine. The dust has settled with the kids, and one is back at the house. Then Cin and the dogs returned from a hike in the woods. She wanted to get them out early before the heat kicked in.Full Story

Cowen's Corner-Mortgage Market Update: How Can Young Buyers Afford Today's Homes?

Jun 16, 2025

This week was surprisingly dull at the house. Madison was dog sitting for a horse / barn friend, so she wasn’t around much. The boy is on a fishing heater after his workouts, so it was kind of quiet and nice. Was dangerously close to the empty nesting feel. Not going to lie, we like it. I know nobody is watching ( except me ) but I do want to point out that the Stanley Cup finals between Florida and Edmonton is must watch TV. Four of the best hockey players in the world are in this series.Full Story

Preventing Elder Abuse

Jun 13, 2025

There is a startling rise in elder abuse, also known as older person abuse, in the United States. The rise is not only attributable to the escalation of the Baby Boom generation entering retirement, it's also proportionally on the rise.Full Story

The Small Business Owner's Guide to Exit Planning

Jun 11, 2025

If you’re a small business owner, have you given much thought to your “endgame”?Full Story

Cowen's Corner-Mortgage Market Update: One Step Forward, One Step Back

Jun 09, 2025

Greetings from me Casa: As noted a few weeks back, the kids + one are back from school. Its great having them home, my / our routine is a disaster, and it’s a fight to relax after a long day even for a minute. But here is the thing that is taking its toll. If there was a Hall of Fame or a Guiness Book of World Records for leaving lights on in the house or leaving random feet apparel throughout the house, my family would be in one, the other or both.Full Story

Introducing: Cowen's Corner - Mortgage Market Update

Jun 04, 2025

By way of introduction, I'm Steve Cowen and I'll be writing Cowen’s Corner, a weekly blog for local mortgage brokers, realtors, and others interested in mortgage and economic trends that may affect the week’s housing sales activity. It will normally drop on Mondays. I also throw in a little of my (crazy) family life that includes Virginia Tech baseball, horse competitions, dogs, and my wife reminding me who’s boss. Many readers appreciate my tribe’s adventures as much as the market updates.Full Story

Raising Your Parents

May 25, 2025

It feels like just yesterday when our parents taught us to tie our shoes, watched us toss our caps at graduation, or helped us move into our first homes, and into the unknowns of adult life.Full Story

Real-Life Adventures in Estate Planning - Part 2

May 11, 2025

From Grief to Guidance: Building the Financial Village Women NeedFull Story

Real-Life Adventures in Estate Planning: Part 1

Apr 25, 2025

The future is unknowable but estate planning is a way to protect your legacy and provide for those you love. Our next two blogs will share client stories, one highlighting effective planning and another offering a valuable lesson, both of which illustrate the importance of planning ahead.Full Story

Essential Planning: Five Steps to Simplify Your Life

Apr 11, 2025

In this installment of our BCT blogosphere, BCT Wealth Advisors offers straightforward, proven solutions to help you ease the burdens on your loved ones and beneficiaries when its time to deal with the inevitable. Full Story

The Power of Reinvesting in Our Community

Apr 07, 2025

Reinvesting in your community sounds great, but how does one really put that into action? If you’ve ever wondered if it matters where you deposit your hard-earned money, be assured that it does. Full Story

Wealth Wisdom for Women

Mar 25, 2025

This edition of our Blog comes from our BCT Wealth Advisors team and is inspired by recent news regarding the upcoming transfer of wealth from Baby Boomers to their beneficiaries. Women benefit significantly!​Full Story

Are You Ready for Retirement? Key Questions to Ask.

Mar 11, 2025

The widespread discussion of deferred resignation and early retirement within our region’s households underscores the need for careful future planning. Ideally, feeling ready to retire and being ready to retire should go hand in hand, but the reality can be more complicated. Whether you’re thinking about retirement from any industry or simply pausing between career opportunities, Potomac Bank Trust and Wealth cares about what comes next for you and your family. Full Story

Catching Up with Melanie Canby, Callar Scholarship Recipient

Feb 25, 2025

A heartfelt commitment to building community defines everything we do at BCT Wealth Advisors. That’s why we manage scholarships to help community members advance their personal and professional goals. Every scholarship donor makes a profound difference in the lives of community members—full-time students and working professionals among them. Full Story

February Check-In: Are You Making Progress on Your 2025 Goals?

Feb 10, 2025

We kicked off 2025 with fresh motivation and new goals, but now that February is here, are you staying on track? While we can’t organize that pesky hall closet or finish that house project for you, we can help you reach your 2025 finance goals. According to our BCT Wealth Advisors team, here are three simple things that you can do now to elevate your financial wellness journey in 2025:Full Story

BCT's Alice Frazier Represents Community Banks at House Committee on Small Business

Feb 06, 2025

CHARLES TOWN, WV, February 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ (OTC:PTBS) Yesterday at the first House Small Business Committee hearing of the 119th Congress, Alice P. Frazier, President and CEO of BCT-Bank of Charles, spoke on behalf of the Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) today calling on lawmakers to advance regulatory and tax relief that will further enhance lending to the nation’s small businesses. Full Story

Should You Make Extra Mortgage Payments? A Look at the Pros and Cons

Jan 06, 2025

A mortgage comes with one huge benefit: homeownership. But it also comes with a tough reality: paying interest. That can lead to sticker shock when you see how much that interest adds up over the life of your loan. Making extra payments in addition to your monthly mortgage payment could help you save hundreds or thousands of dollars of the life of your loan. But is that always the best financial choice?​Full Story

A Special Message from Alice Frazier for the 2025 New Year

Jan 01, 2025

Happy New Year Friends and Neighbors! New Year’s Day is always a special time for reflection and setting intentions. In the early quiet hours, before the household begins to stir, is my time. Nestled in my cozy corner of the couch, with the fireplace warming the room and the Christmas tree lights twinkling, I sit with my notebook and pen, ready to reflect and set my intentions for the year.Full Story

Avoid Holiday Scams

Dec 01, 2024

As the holiday season approaches, it seems like there are more and more fake shopping sites. The ads on social media show expensive products like electric scooters, designer bags, and other popular toys and gifts at unbelievably low prices. Many of these bogus sites use photos and logos the scammers steal from legitimate businesses, but they won’t send you authentic products. If you’re wondering how to avoid these phony offers, there are a few ways to help you detect them.Full Story

Cybersecurity Awareness Month

Oct 01, 2024

Staying Safe Online is Easier Than You Think! Every day we are more and more connected—whether messaging family and friends, shopping online or ordering supplies for our small businesses. It’s important to take steps to stay safe when using our phones, laptops and smart devices. The Cybersecurity & Infrastruction Security Agency of the United States of America, also known as CISA, provides important information to help. Full Story

Please Verify You Are Human: AI-Assisted Phishing

Aug 26, 2024

It’s no secret that artificial intelligence (AI) has been the talk of the town for the last couple of years. With tech giants like Google and Microsoft investing heavily in their applications, it seems this new technology is here to stay. From students outsourcing their assignments to ChatGPT, to businesses generating marketing material featuring employees with a few too many fingers, AI can be a powerful tool to increase the user’s productivity. Full Story

Stop Prescreened Credit and Insurance Offers

Jul 03, 2024

Do you receive unsolicited credit or insurance offers? Many, if not most, are a result of a "prescreening" of your credit report. Learn how prescreening works and how to opt out.Full Story

Five Beneficial Money Habits you Can Put into Practice Right Now

Jun 21, 2024

When it comes to saving, investing, or getting your finances in order, the process can often feel daunting. You may find yourself waiting for the next big life event or pushing off the process until the next month or the New Year. You might be unsure of where to start, or perhaps you feel like you’re lacking in resources or professional advice.Full Story

PODCAST: Alice Frazier - From Cowgirl to Batman

Jun 17, 2024

PODCAST: Alice Frazier shares life experiences that shaped her pathway from cowgirl to Batman. Nathan Baumeister leads BCT's President and CEO through an in-depth conversation of discovery, challenges, and unexpected opportunities. Full Story

Financial Literacy is Key to Effective Money Management for Teens...and the Whole Family

Jun 17, 2024

Former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan once stated, “Financial education is a process that should begin at an early age and continue throughout life. This cumulative process builds the skills necessary for making critical financial decisions.” Full Story

Tips to Take the Financial Stress out of Travel

Jun 05, 2024

Vacations are meant to be relaxing, but under planning and overspending can lead to financial stressors. Consider the following tips to reduce travel-related anxiety and help you make the most out of your time away—whether journeying across state lines or overseas.Full Story

"Pig Butchering" Crypto Scams a Growing Concern

May 22, 2024

A new form of investment scam has skyrocketed in recent years as criminal syndicates target consumers through online channels. Called “pig butchering,” this new scam is increasingly relevant, including among the consumers and communities that community banks serve.Full Story

Preparing Your Home to Sell This Summer

Mar 07, 2024

Summer is peak season for the housing market, which means competition will be sizzling. If you’re selling this season, strike while the iron (like the weather) is hot by getting your home into tip-top shape before you even list it. How? Follow these tips and make your house the stand-out property of the season.Full Story

2024 New Year's Letter from Alice

Jan 01, 2024

Dear Clients, Friends, and Neighbors, my husband gave our adult children a special pen and journal for Christmas this year. His words of wisdom were, “Be sure to look around and take in those special moments coming to you in 2024. Take time to journal all that you see and feel. Many years from now you will appreciate the opportunity to read your thoughts from back-in-the-day.” Full Story