News for YOU! is a free, monthly newsletter provided by KS StateBank that offers tips and other information to help you make wise financial choices. Please feel free to sign up now to receive new editions of our newsletters each month, as well as other updates. You can also subscribe to our business newsletter, News for YOU! Business Edition.
February 2026
The tax filing season is just around the corner and if you’re expecting a federal refund this year, here’s some important information about how to receive it quickly and securely as well as a reminder to stay up to date on important new information for the upcoming filing season.
If Eligible, Get Free Tax-Preparation Assistance
You may qualify for free tax preparation assistance through IRS programs like Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE). These two programs can also help you identify tax credits you may be eligible for, like the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), that can increase the amount of your refund. A credit is an amount you subtract from the tax you owe. This can lower your tax payment or increase your refund. Some credits are refundable — they can give you money back even if you don't owe any tax. A deduction is an amount you subtract from your income when you file so you don’t pay tax on it. By lowering your income, you may be able to lower your tax.
Low-to-moderate income workers with children may be eligible to claim the EITC if certain qualifying rules apply to them. You may qualify for the EITC even if you can't claim children as dependents on your tax return. If you're unsure if you qualify for the EITC, or other credits and deductions, use the EITC Assistant.
Not Eligible for VITA or TCE Programs? Choose a Trusted Tax Preparer
When searching for a reputable tax preparer, ask for their Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN), a list of references, and any fees they want to charge you. If anyone promises large refunds, claims special insider knowledge of tax credits or rebates, contacts you at home or calls you unsolicited by phone, that may be a sign of a scam. The IRS has information on their website to help you choose a tax professional and learn how to prepare to file your taxes.
Choose Direct Deposit into a Bank Account for a Quick Refund
Direct deposit is now the primary way the IRS sends refunds. It’s faster and more secure than sending tax refunds using paper checks, which are being phased out under IRS guidance. Plan on getting your refund electronically within 10-21 days after the IRS accepts your return when you e-file and choose direct deposit. You can also split your refund into up to three bank accounts. Don’t have a bank account? Consider opening one to receive your refund, help track your spending, and pay bills online. If you have a deposit account with an FDIC-insured bank, you are insured for at least $250,000.
Tax Refunds on Prepaid Cards The IRS can direct deposit refunds onto reloadable prepaid cards, but doing so may come with fees and conditions. Make sure you understand how to load money onto the card, what charges may apply, and how to protect your Personal Identification Number (PIN), and the card itself, to avoid any unauthorized charges. When setting up a prepaid card to receive a deposit, you might be asked to validate personal information like your Social Security number and date of birth to activate or register the prepaid card. Treat your prepaid card like cash. If it gets lost or stolen, you might have to pay a replacement fee or incur risks associated with unauthorized charges. The FDIC offers information that can help you understand if the money on your prepaid card is FDIC-insured.
Track Your Refund
Tracking your refund has never been easier. Visit IRS Where’s My Refund? or download the IRS2Go app to check your refund status which is updated frequently. Make sure you have your Social Security number, filing status and refund amount ready.
Protect Your Tax Refund from Scammers
The IRS will not initiate any contact with you to ask for your personal or financial information by phone, email, text, or through social media. Scammers will often impersonate IRS agents to obtain your Social Security number and bank account numbers, and use that information to steal your money. The FTC cautions consumers to be wary of phone calls or texts warning you of bad consequences if you don’t act immediately. Examples include messages encouraging you to click on a link or to provide payment with a gift card, prepaid card, wire transfer, or cryptocurrency. In cases like these, it’s often best to pause, as it’s probably a scam. Call the IRS right away at 800-908-4490 or visit the IRS website. You can also report it to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, or by calling 800-366-4484.
Money Smart Ways to Use Your Refund
You can use a tax refund to build savings, pay down high-interest credit card debt, or make an extra mortgage payment on the principal. Learn more about how Starting Small Can Lead to Big Savings.
New Information for the 2026 Tax Season
Check updated IRS guidance on adjustments to federal taxes, deductions, and credits like the Earned Income Tax Credit. Visit the IRS website for the most up-to-date information for the upcoming tax season. Also, you should understand your rights as a taxpayer and know how to protect them.
If you are getting a tax refund this year, remember to take steps to keep your refund safe, know the refund options available to you, and consider different ways to make your money work harder for you.
This article was provided by FDIC Consumer News.
We all have things in life we’d like to improve. Maybe it’s to eat better, exercise more, or simply to carve out more downtime in our busy lives. For many of us, there’s another part of our lives we’d like to improve: managing our money better.
It’s easy to fall into financial habits that can get us off course, such as spending outside our budgets, not saving consistently, or avoiding our finances altogether. But there’s actually a smart financial strategy that can help with that: Managing money with intention. Managing money with intention means making financial choices that align with your goals and values, rather than decisions driven by pressure, fear, or the desire to keep up with others.
Sound interesting? Let’s look at five ways to help you manage your money more intentionally.
Determine your goals. We all know we need money. What’s not as clear to many of us, though, is why we need it.
Yes, money pays for everyday expenses, such as housing, transportation, and groceries. But it also helps us achieve our personal goals, whether that’s owning a home, traveling, retiring comfortably, or simply feeling more secure.
Take time to identify both your short-term and long-term goals. When you understand what you’re working toward, your financial decisions will become clearer and more meaningful.
Allocate your spending to support those goals. One of the most powerful and important steps in managing money intentionally is creating a monthly budget.
Start by listing your regular expenses. Then, intentionally build your goals into that budget. If long-term security matters to you, prioritize saving for retirement or building general savings. If buying a home is your goal, allocate money toward a down payment.
Your budget shouldn’t just track where your money goes; it should direct your money where you want it to go.
Keep yourself honest. Setting goals and a budget is a great start, but the key is getting actual results. Each month, take a close look at your spending and savings to see how you did. Did your spending reflect what matters most to you? Did you save for your goals, or did you spend money on other things?
If things didn’t go as you planned, adjust and try again.
Spend wisely. Spending money has never been easier, which is not necessarily a good thing. Automatic subscriptions, digital wallets, and one-click purchases can quietly strain your budget without you even realizing it.
Review your subscriptions regularly and ask yourself whether they truly add value to your life and align with your goals. If they don’t, consider canceling them. Also, before making a purchase, stop and ask: Do I really need this? That new smartphone might be tempting, but does it support your goals, or make them more out of reach?
Pay yourself first. Managing money intentionally means taking care of yourself both now and in the future. Building an emergency fund can help protect you when unexpected expenses arise. One of the easiest ways to grow savings is to save automatically through direct deposit or recurring transfers from checking to savings.
Money is meant to support and enhance your life, not stress you out. When you manage it with intention, you’ll have more clarity, reduce financial anxiety, and give yourself the freedom to focus on what matters most – to you.
Presidents Day
All KS StateBank locations will be closed on Monday, February 16 in observance of Presidents Day. We will reopen during regular hours on Tuesday, February 17.
January 2026
It’s a fresh new year and a new opportunity to take charge of your life, including your financial life. From paying bills and managing everyday expenses to saving for emergencies and the things that matter to you, January is the perfect time to focus on your finances and put yourself in a position to succeed.
Here are some steps to help you get started.
Review your budget. Having a budget is essential to covering your monthly bills, building savings, and planning for your short- and long-term goals. If you don’t have a budget, here’s how to create one:
- Start by reviewing your monthly expenses, such as your housing payment, utility bills, car payments, groceries, gas, and other recurring costs.
- Don’t forget to review discretionary spending, like dining out, entertainment, streaming services, and gym memberships.
- Review your monthly income.
- Determine how much you can save for emergencies and planned goals.
- Subtract your expenses and savings from your income to see where you stand.
- If your expenses exceed your income, look for ways to reduce spending or increase income (e.g., a part-time job or side hustle).
- Review your budget every month and adjust as needed.
Tackle debt. Carrying extra credit card debt from the holidays or from overspending throughout the year? With today’s high interest rates, that debt can be costly and hold you back from reaching other financial goals.
- Review all your debt, including balances and interest rates.
- Focus on paying off high-interest debt first.
- Build debt payments into your budget.
- Put credit cards on ice while you work on paying them down.
- Consider transferring high-interest balances to a lower-interest credit card if it makes sense for you.
Build your savings. Savings equals security. It helps you handle unexpected expenses like car repairs, home maintenance, or medical bills and makes it easier to reach your goals, like buying a home or paying for college.
- Set up automatic transfers from checking to savings
- Increase your savings when you get a raise or bonus.
- Save tax refunds or other windfalls instead of spending them.
- As balances grow, consider a high-yield savings account or a certificate of deposit (CD).
- Check your credit score to know where you stand.
- Keep balances low.
- Pay every bill on time, every time.
- Avoid closing older credit accounts, since the length of your credit history matters.
- Be selective about applying for new credit.
You’ve got this!
There’s no time like the present to build the financial life you deserve. Follow these steps, and you’ll be well on your way.
The search is over! After scouring multiple online listings and spending countless Sunday afternoons at open houses, you've found the perfect home. There's one important step you need to take before you can make it yours – negotiating the winning offer.
Yes, that.
Negotiating can be a stressful and nerve-wracking process, especially when there may be multiple buyers looking to make your dream home theirs. But, there are some steps you can take to make your offer stand out:
Yes, that.
Negotiating can be a stressful and nerve-wracking process, especially when there may be multiple buyers looking to make your dream home theirs. But, there are some steps you can take to make your offer stand out:
- Learn about the seller. Your agent may be able to learn more about the seller’s motivations and timeline. Having this information could help both you and the seller by allowing you to tailor your offer to meet their needs and help you gain advantage in negotiations.
- Get pre-qualified. Sellers want to know a lot about you, too, most notably that you can afford their home. Having a pre-qualification from a reputable lender will show them that you are a serious buyer in a good financial position. Before you submit your offer, get pre-qualified with a reputable lender and include the pre-qualification with your offer.
- Be flexible. There are other areas of negotiation that go beyond price, including timing. A seller may, for example, need to close earlier in order to get the funds they need to buy another home. In that case, moving up the closing date could get you a negotiating edge.
- Use an experienced real estate professional. A good real estate agent can help you determine what the home is worth and write the best offer to help you beat out the competition.
- Put your best offer first. Before you make an offer, determine the maximum amount you are willing to spend. If you believe the house is worth it or if there will be multiple offers, make that your best offer. One thing you never want to do is exceed your budget to win the home. A mortgage that's too high will make you fall out of love with the home quickly.
- Avoid contingencies. Simple offers are often winning offers. One way to simplify yours is to avoid contingencies, such as making the purchase of the home contingent upon the sale of a property you own. Also, buyers will sometimes waive standard contingencies, such as the appraisal or the inspection. If you do waive an inspection, understand the risks involved. You could also waive the financing contingency. If you decide to go that route, be certain that you will qualify for the loan, since failure to get financing could result in losing your deposit.
- Raise your down payment. Another way to gain an advantage is to put more money down on the home. This will reduce the amount of the mortgage you will need, which can help you if the appraisal comes in lower than expected.
- Write a personal note. Though finances are usually the deciding factor in home negotiations, it never hurts to make a personal appeal, particularly if all offers are equal. Include a personal note with your offer that tells the sellers about you and what their home means to you. Again, knowing about the seller can give you an advantage.
Contact Penny Alonso or visit our Personal Lending Solutions page to learn more and apply for a home loan.
Penny Alonso
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
Our offices will be closed on Monday, January 19 in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. We will reopen during regular hours on Tuesday, January 20.
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