Credit Card Debt

The average credit card debt is $28,000.  The average number of cards per person is 2.2the average utilization is about 30%.   The age group carrying the highest average balance per card and the highest number of cards is the baby boomers (ages of 47-to 65 yrs.), many of whom are both sending kids to college and caring for elderly parents.  More later......

Smart Phones

Predictably, there are more urban mobile banking users (64% in cities versus 60% in suburbs and 43% of rural dwellers.  58% of Americans have a smartphone and the highest use is by those under age 39.  Further, almost 50% of people between ages 50 and 64 are smartphone users.

Technology Change

Another amazing technological change over a short time is the use of broadband in homes.  When the Pew Internet Project began studying this in 2000 only 3% of homes had broadband, and now 70% of homes have broadband and internet use is above 80%, regardless of whether one is an urban or rural dweller.

Mobile Technology

You may wonder how many people still try to avoid omnipresent technology these days.  The Pew Internet Project found in Jan. 2014 that 90% of American adults have a cell phone and only 14% do not use the internet at all.  This really is astounding considering that in 1995, 86% of the population did not use the internet.  More to come......

Dane Day Trips

In 1996 the Capital Times did a series of articles on Dane County Day Trips.  These trips take you to places in Dane County you don't even know exists.  If you'd like a copy of the five trips, e-mail me at rgorsuch@oakbankonline.com.

Beauty of Nature

Occasionally one has an experience that reminds them to be aware of your surroundings.  I had one such experience the other day when an Oriole flew unto and landed on the railing of my deck.  It proceeded to go to the patio table that had a little puddle of rainwater on it and took a drink.  What beauty!

State of the Economy

Oak Bank had its annual Shareholders' Meeting last night.  A highlight of the meeting was a talk by the economist for Legacy Private Trust, a firm we have partnered with for trust and related services.  Paul Kasriel who has an impressive background with the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago and Northern Trust Co of Chicago as an economist feels we will see significant growth in our economy over the balance of this year.  In addition to his outlook, it also appears the U. S. Government is backing off some of its stringent mortgage lending rules passed down after the home loan bubble burst.  Good news for the housing industry and the economy.

Small Business & Jobs

Often overlooked when discussing economic conditions is the impact small business has on the number of jobs being created.  Small firms with less than 500 employees accounted for 63% of the net new private-sector jobs created between 1993 and mid-2013.  What's more, small businesses make up 99.7% of U.S. employer firms and 48.5% of private-sector employment.  Clearly small businesses are important to our economy and the community banks that largely serve them.

Your Branch is your Phone

The use of mobile devices is increasing at a pace that is impacting business sales like nothing before!  This includes banking.  Eventually, it's inevitable that more consumers will turn to mobile and new merchants will come up to speed.  20 years from now I envision banks looking entirely different than we know them today.

50 years

It is not often someone spends 50 years in a profession and is starting on their second 50!  But that's me.  Doubt if I will complete the next 50, but who is counting?  I could talk for hours about how banking used to be and how it is today.  But with all the changes interest rates today are actually lower than when I started in banking in 1964. 

Elite We Are!

Bo Ryan never ceases to amaze me.  I knew after watching Baylor play last Sunday, and listening to everyone comment about how tough Baylor would be for Wisconsin, that Bo would see it as a challenge.  And he met the challenge!  Someone who has been around as long as he has needs that special challenge once in a while to keep the fun in what they're doing!

Madness!

Well, my possibility of winning the billion dollars by getting all 64 games in NCAA tourney correct ended yesterday!  The wins of No. Dakota State; Dayton and Harvard took my money away!

Savings VS Debt

A recent bankrate.com report shows that nearly 50% of Americans have more credit card debt than emergency savings.  What's more, Americans' comfort levels with their savings have fallen to their lowest point in a year.

Ethics

As we see the corruption that exists in big government, it is refreshing to be led in this state by one who, in my opinion, exemplifies courage and ethics like not often seen.

Happy States

I saw a results of a recent study on what states in the U.S.A. have the happiest people and which the unhappiest.  Surprisingly, the top 5 happiest states are all in the north;   No. Dakota, So. Dakota, Nebraska lead the list for the happiest.  West Virginia is the most unhappy state, followed by Mississippi and Alabama.  Wisconsin was not in the top 10.

Business Cheerleader

We like to think of ourselves as a cheerleader for small business.  Beyond providing loans and business banking products, we also have an important role to play as a sounding board and trusted advisor.  We think being an effective cheerleader is not waving pompoms, shouting morale-boosting chants into megaphones, or flying 15 feet in the air.  Instead we try to focus on being a good friend to small business owners.  We try to tailor our offerings to our clients and perform a supporting role with gusto and a high level of enthusiasm.  Rah, rah, rah......

American TV

The small business community has been rocked by the news of American TV's closing.  Here is a Madison-based business that has been around for 30 years closing shop.  Just down the road a 50 plus year business, Johannsen's closed not that long ago.  While all the talk is about the future plight of small business, I can tell you that small business is alive and well.  There are thousands of small business in Wisconsin thriving and who have a bright future.  So don't despair, quality personal service and products is still here!

Why Do You Leave

Research indicates there are two leading reasons people leave their preferred banking institution:

1.  An increase in a fee or fees;
2.  Poor customer service.

Any change we make in fees we feel is necessary and justified.  Those of you on the receiving end of these fees should call us anytime you feel a fee is not understood by you or justified.  And it goes without saying that we always encourage input on our client service level.

Student Loans

Student loans and the repayment of student loans is a real problem in our economy.  It seems those who own up to their commitment to repay the loans are being penalized by those who do not repay.  The rates on the loans to those who are paying keeps going up to offset the losses of those who do not.  I think getting these loans is too easy.  Another example of government taking over what had been a rather successful program and turning it into a mess.

Markets

A little correction in the stock market is taking place.  Was due.