Not all community banks are owned the same way. Here’s how mutual and stock ownership structures affect the loan terms, fees, and long-term stability …
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Credit Unions & Community Banks
Dealer Financing vs. a Local Bank Loan: What Really Costs More When You Buy a Tractor
Captive finance arms like John Deere Financial and Case IH Credit make buying equipment fast, but that convenience can carry a different …
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Credit Unions & Community Banks
Payday Alternative Loans: How Federal Credit Unions Undercut High-Cost Rural Lenders
When the tractor breaks down or the propane tank runs low before payday, a federal credit union’s Payday Alternative Loan can cost …
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Credit Unions & Community Banks
Co-Signing for a Grandchild’s Truck or Trade School Loan: What Rural Grandparents Need to Know Before They Sign
When the closest lender is the credit union where everybody knows your name, co-signing for a grandkid’s first big loan feels like …
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Credit Unions & Community Banks
Courtesy Pay and Overdraft Lines: How Small Community Banks Handle a Short Account Differently Than the Big Banks
When your account runs short and the nearest branch is a half-tank of gas away, the way your bank handles overdrafts can …
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Credit Unions & Community Banks
Farm Succession Without a City Trust Attorney: What Small-Town Bank Trust Departments Can and Can’t Do
Passing land and equipment to the next generation usually means a trust conversation, but the nearest trust attorney might be two counties …
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Credit Unions & Community Banks
What a CDFI Designation Actually Means for Your Local Credit Union’s Lending
Some rural credit unions carry a federal CDFI certification most members have never heard of. It can mean extra grant dollars, more …
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Credit Unions & Community Banks
Your Vote, Your Credit Union: How Member Board Elections Actually Work in Rural Co-ops
Every credit union member has a vote in who runs the place, but most rural members never use it. Here’s how board …
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Credit Unions & Community Banks
Starting From Scratch: How a Town Without a Bank Can Organize and Charter Its Own Credit Union
When the last bank pulls out and no one’s coming back, some small towns have gone a different route: building their own …
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Credit Unions & Community Banks
Character Loans: How Small-Town Bankers Still Weigh Reputation Alongside Credit Scores
Long before FICO scores, small-town bankers lent on reputation. That practice hasn’t disappeared entirely — here’s how ‘character’ still factors into local …
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Credit Unions & Community Banks
Building Credit From Zero in a Small Town: How Rural Teens and Young Adults Start a Credit History Without a Bank Branch Nearby
Getting a first credit card or car loan is hard enough for any young adult, but it’s harder when there’s no local …
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Credit Unions & Community Banks
Power of Attorney From Two Hundred Miles Away: Managing an Aging Parent’s Finances in a Rural County
When Mom or Dad still lives on the home place but you moved to town for work, handling their banking and bills …
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