Money Matters Blog

Whether you’re currently a college student or have graduated and are ready to tackle your debt, there’s no better time than now to start paying off your loans. It’s not an easy job, but the feeling of being debt-free is unlike any other. Keep reading to learn the five steps to take towards getting rid of your student loans. 

No matter how small the amount of added...

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Entering parenthood can be one of the most exciting – and scary – times in life. The financial aspect of raising children is just one small piece to the parenting puzzle, but it’s an important piece. We’re here to help you make smart money choices you might not have thought to make. 

Budgeting for two is completely different than budgeting for a family of three. The list of supplies needed for...

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Whether you’ve had children who have already headed off to college or this is your first child to take that step, these financial tips are a great refresher for everyone. College students are notorious for living off of very little money, but there are ways to change that. Going into college with a financial plan will help your child avoid worrying about money while in school and can lower the amount of debt he or she might have in the future.  

Tom Maxwell, Vice President and former longtime President of Farmers & Merchants Bank & Trust, is the latest recipient of the Marinette School District’s monthly Community Propel Award. Mr. Maxwell accepted the award to a first-ever standing ovation at the Marinette School Board meeting on Tuesday, June 16. Mr. Maxwell and Farmers & Merchants Bank & Trust were recognized for their sponsorship of the Hi-Q program, the oldest continuing academic quiz competition in the United States, as well...

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Farmers & Merchants Bank & Trust recently donated $20,000 to ten area community organizations. The funds were the proceeds of a COVID-19 Relief Grant from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago which was made available to its member institutions to support nonprofit organizations in their local communities.

Recipients of the donations include:

Online safety is a much bigger problem than most people realize. It’s estimated that seniors lose a total of about $30 billion every year because of online scams. We want to prevent that from happening, and we bet you do, too. We’ve put together some of the easiest ways for seniors to be safe online. 

Be careful when making online purchases. Hackers and scammers can make websites look pretty convincing and trustworthy on the outside. Here are some steps...

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You’ve heard big banks advertise their services all over the world, but many consumers don’t realize all of the benefits that come with banking local. When it comes to customer service, banking fees and community impact, banking local is the smart choice, and we’ll tell you why. 

Because local banks have less customers than your average megabank, employees have the chance to form deeper relationships with the people they serve. They...

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Are you thinking about taking the big step of becoming a homeowner? Purchasing your first house is a significant and exciting change, but it can be easy to get caught up in the excitement and forget about certain costs. If you want to make sure you have all of your financial bases covered before owning a house, keep reading!

The cost of maintaining a lawn is one people often underestimate. Whether you hire someone to keep your lawn looking fresh or decide to do it...

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Parenting isn’t easy, and we are here to help you in whatever ways we can. Keep reading to learn 5 simple and important things to teach your kids about money!

The easiest way to encourage your kids to save money is by getting them a piggy bank. Most kids find that adding money to their piggy bank is rewarding. Encourage them to add money to their piggy bank as they earn it, and then bring to the bank when it’s full to deposit. Did you know that...

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Spring cleaning doesn’t just have to be about your house - sometimes your finances need a good dusting, too! We’ve put together some great and simple ways to clean up your finances and start fresh with your spending habits!

Paperwork from your finances can pile up quickly. Now’s a great time to file through those old papers, make digital copies in a safe place and put the originals in the shredder. Not only will this declutter your office...

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