`Wheaton Bandit' in 12th bank heist

NAPERVILLE -- A man dubbed the "Wheaton Bandit" wanted in 11 bank robberies in the western suburbs is apparently responsible for a 12th, a robbery Monday evening at the Harris Bank, 507 S. Washington St., Naperville, the FBI said Tuesday.

The FBI is hoping that a previously offered $25,000 in rewards for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the robber may produce leads in the case. Anyone with information on the robberies is asked to call the FBI's office in Lisle at 630-505-5755.

The FBI is offering a $20,000 reward, and West Suburban Bancorp is offering a $5,000 reward, an FBI spokeswoman said.

Seven of the robberies occurred in Wheaton; other locations included Glen Ellyn and Winfield, the spokeswoman said.

The robber has worn a ski mask covering his face but is believed to have blue eyes and is described as a white male between 25 and 35 years old, between 6-feet and 6-feet-4-inches tall with a medium build.

What are people saying about mortgages today:

Rates on 30-year mortgages edged down last week to a seven-month low. Mortgage-giant Freddie Mac reported Thursday that 30-year, fixed-rate mortgages fell to 6.3 percent, down slightly from 6.31 percent two weeks ago. It put rates at the lowest level since they were at 6.24 percent the first week of March.

Bank of Hawaii, Central Pacific Bank, Territorial Savings Bank and Wells Fargo Home Mortgages all cut their 30-year mortgage rates to 5.75 percent this week.

Most people think of a mortgage as a means to an end. After all, you buy a house, not a home loan. But a mortgage is much more than the path to homeownership. It is a financial instrument that must be managed, just like any other financial investment.