Decatur, IN. — First Bank of Berne is proud to support county government and community leadership by sponsoring the Adams County host gift for the upcoming Association of Indiana Counties (AIC) Fall Conference.

In the Midwest, May is go-time. Planters are rolling, days are long, and the window to get things done feels tight. This is the stretch where momentum takes shape—and it’s not something you find later in the season. It’s built right now, pass by pass, decision by decision. The goal isn’t perfection. It’s staying on pace and in control.

By this point in the year, most businesses have found their pace. The early goals have turned into day-to-day activity. Sales cycles are underway. Expenses are showing up in real time. And what looked clear at the start of the year has now taken shape in a more practical way. It’s a productive stretch—but it’s also a revealing one.

Fraud attempts don’t usually start with something obvious. They often begin with a message that feels routine, something that looks like a standard alert or a simple question about your account. But within moments, the situation can feel urgent, even unsettling. That reaction is exactly what these scams are designed to create.

This time of year, there is a way of filling up quickly. Schedules shift. Activities pick up. And before long, it’s not just your calendar that’s full, it’s everything happening around it. Expenses start coming in at different times. A few irregular costs show up. And some payments begin to rely on memory more than routine. That’s usually when things start to feel just a little harder to manage.

The middle of any home project is where things can start to feel less predictable.

Maybe you’re remodeling, building, or navigating a move. Early decisions have been made, things are in motion, and progress is happening—but not always in a straight line.