Coastal Community Bank

🛡️🔒 Protect Your Business & Customers from Cyber Threats! 🔒🛡️ Time to boost your defenses and help your customers stay safe. Ensuring your business and customers are shielded from cyber and fraud threats is a must all year round. 🚨 Did You Know? In 2023, there were 2,365 cyberattacks affecting a whopping 343 million victims. Email remains the #1 malware delivery route. Don't let your business be a statistic! ⚠️ Quick Tips to Mitigate Risks: - NEVER share account numbers, PINs, or passwords if asked. - Avoid clicking on links in messages; go directly to the organization’s website. - Use unique, complex passwords for each account. - Sign out after accessing accounts on shared devices. - Check URLs carefully to avoid copycat sites. - Contact customer service via mobile apps, not phone numbers in messages. - Confirm bank details over the phone, not via email. Stay Informed, Stay Protected! Criminals use urgency to their advantage. Always “pump the brakes” on hasty requests for personal info or money transfers. Plan Ahead! In case of a data breach, know the steps to take. Notification within 30 days is required in Washington State. Be prepared to inform your customers promptly and accurately. Empower Your Team & Customers: Encourage a culture of vigilance. Educate your staff and customers about common cyber threats and best practices. Together, we can reduce risks and protect what's important! Stay safe, stay informed, and let’s make the digital world a safer place for everyone! 🌐💪 Learn more in our blog, https://lnkd.in/gUAQj8hp #Cybersecurity #FraudPrevention #SmallBusiness #StaySafeOnline

Small to mid-sized businesses agree - managing multiple accounts is a pain. If you can relate - it might be time to schedule a demo to learn more about our online sub-accounting tool here --> https://lnkd.in/gnJ-8h9i It is free to Coastal customers and can help with: Bulk imports Digital opening & closing of subaccounts Beneficiary access Interest configurations Splitting interest Automated statements Reporting Industries that love the tool: Property managers Schools Booster clubs 1031 exchanges Municipalities Law firms Real-estate offices Insurance companies Advertising agencies Nursing homes Landlords HOAs Coastal is Member FDIC. #subaccounting #accounting #business #smallbusiness #onlinebanking

Thinking about buying a business? A seasoned broker along with an experienced lender can be a solid one-two punch - ensuring you get the most out of any acquisition. Brokers bring extensive industry knowledge and can help you navigate the complexities of buying a business. A broker can help with: • Identify potential issues: Brokers know the common financial and operational pitfalls in your target industry. • Specialize in specific sectors: Whether it’s restaurants, downtown businesses, or industrial companies, finding a broker with the right expertise is crucial. • Provide unbiased advice: A good broker will candidly communicate the pros and cons of a deal, ensuring you don’t overpay. Talk with your bank and find a lender that can help you navigate the complexities of buying a business. About 99% of business purchases use SBA financing. Lenders can help with: • SBA 7(a) Loans: Available for up to $5 million with terms up to 25 years, these loans are ideal for business acquisitions. • Express Loans: For quicker deals, SBA Express Loans offer up to $500,000 with fast approval times. • Collateral Requirements: SBA loans must be fully collateralized, often including a lien on personal property. Having a knowledgeable broker and an experienced lender can save you from hidden surprises and ensure a smooth path to financing. They help define the business’s worth, secure the necessary capital, and guide you through the nuances of the deal. For a deeper dive into how brokers and lenders can make your business acquisition a success, read our latest blog --> https://lnkd.in/gHVVqHF4 #BusinessAcquisition #Entrepreneurship #SmallBusiness #Brokers #Lenders #SBA #BusinessTips #Business #Mergers #Acquisition

The devastation Hurricane Helene caused is beyond comprehension. With the help of the United Way, we have set up a fund to support our Coastal staff, customers, and neighbors with immediate and long-term needs. Consider a donation to help with volunteer mobilization and to ensure their community has the resources necessary to recover from this catastrophic weather event. Donate here --> https://lnkd.in/eCcsgCiP #hurricane #hurricanerelief #hurricanehelene #giveback #hurricanedonation #nonprofit #disasterrelief

In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, scammers have wasted no time in turning this situation to their advantage. They've been using AI to generate fake images that play on your emotions, to get you to donate your money to help people who have been affected by the disaster. The scammers are trying to trick you into clicking a link to "donate" to a fake relief effort or to steal your personal information. In either case, their goal is to get you to act impulsively. If you donate money or enter any personal information, it will not help any victims who were impacted by the hurricane. However, it will help the scammers steal your money and your data! Follow these tips to avoid falling victim to a hurricane scam: 🔎 Be wary of AI-generated images. Look for signs that an image might be fake, such as unusual details or inconsistencies. 💸 Make sure that the charity you’re donating to is legitimate. Only donate through the official websites of well-known charitable organizations. 😮 Don't act impulsively. Take time to research before donating or clicking on links, especially in the aftermath of a disaster. #scams #hackers #cybercrime #besafe #hurricanehelene #disaster #alerts

Managing your finances can be stressful. We might have something that can help. Introducing our 'Financial Wellness Assessment' tool! Take a step back and analyze your spending, budgeting, and saving habits. Reflect on your financial management and get personalized recommendations to improve your financial health. - Address your individual financial decisions and goals - Receive actionable tips on where to improve and how to get started - Access a wealth of online resources designed to help you achieve financial freedom Give it a go here : https://lnkd.in/g_zYCwct #FinancialWellness #PersonalFinance #Budgeting #Saving #FinancialFreedom

Cybercriminals are coming after your Microsoft Forms. Microsoft Forms are used to create surveys, quizzes, and other documents. Unfortunately, cybercriminals are using this tool to create forms that contain malicious links. These fake forms can easily fool you into thinking they’re official Microsoft documents because they have convincing titles and use Microsoft icons. In this scam, you receive an email instructing you to urgently change your password, read messages, or look at sensitive work documents. Don't be duped. Use these tips to protect yourself: • Be cautious whenever you receive an urgent request, such as changing your password or viewing sensitive documents. Remember that cybercriminals play on your emotions by forcing you to act quickly. • Before you click a link, always hover your mouse over it. Watch out for spelling mistakes or suspiciously long URLs that can hide a website's true domain. • If you receive a suspected phishing email, follow your organization’s policies for reporting suspicious emails. #scams #cybersecurity #hackers #besafe #emailscams #businesstips #watchout

Managing and sending multiple emails a day while also running your business can take unnecessary time and effort - especially if you have a tool like AI to help you now. When using Chat GPT, Copilot, or other AI writing tools - you will need a solid 'prompt' to get you started. A prompt is an instruction to an AI tool to create an output. Here is a solid example. In this case, for a lawn care business: "You are the owner of a small lawn care business. You provide lawn mowing services to clients throughout the summer. You are sending an email to them in March to confirm they would like to re-enroll in lawn care service in the upcoming months. Provide a subject line and email body with three different CTAs: Keep my service the same, learn about additional services, or discontinue service." The instructional prompt should yield a well-crafted message that you can edit, save, and reuse. For a full breakdown and more information, give our latest AI blog a read under the resources tab at https://lnkd.in/g4rZEbXu #AI #ChatGPT #BusinessTips #SmallBusiness #Business #Email #Writing

Stupid Tax: We’ve All Paid It! Hey, savvy spenders! Ever heard of the stupid tax? It’s that extra cost we pay for making silly mistakes or bad decisions. We’ve all been there, right? Here are some classic examples: Late Fees: Forgot to pay that bill on time? Oops! Parking Tickets: Misread the sign? That’ll cost ya! Impulse Buys: Bought that gadget you didn’t need? Guilty! Subscription Overload: Still paying for that gym membership you never use? Now it’s your turn! Share your funniest or most frustrating stupid tax stories in the comments below. Let’s laugh (or cry) together! #MoneyTips #Budgeting #MoneyMatters #Subsriptions #Overspending #Money #SmartSpending

Hey, foodies! 🥑🍞 In July, the USDA released reports for four different monthly food plans to help you budget for a healthy diet. Each plan outlines the quantities of food and beverages you can buy to prepare healthy meals and snacks at home. - Thrifty Plan - Low-Cost Plan - Moderate-Cost Plan - Liberal Plan Here’s what a Female aged 19-50 spends per month on groceries according to these plans: -Low-Cost Plan: $261.10 -Moderate-Cost Plan: $319.20 -Liberal Plan: $406.80 And for a Male aged 19-50: -Low-Cost Plan: $301.30 -Moderate-Cost Plan: $377.80 -Liberal Plan: $460.10 Check out our Grocery Budget calculator to see how your grocery budget compares. https://lnkd.in/ggFdeuXn #GroceryBudget #MoneyTips #HealthyEating #BudgetFriendly #Budgeting #Foodies #Recipes