Category Archives: Products and Services

Call, Click Or Come In!

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How do you define easy? Here at VCNB we work hard to make it easy for you to get your new mortgage loan. We know that not everyone can come to the bank and that you still need to get your mortgage loan application started and the process underway.

That’s why our mortgage lenders are happy to do business however you like to do business. Want to come inside and sit down with a lender? Do you prefer to do things online? Does a phone call simply fit better with your schedule?

Whatever your choice – call, click or come in and our mortgage lenders will be happy to help!

Call 1.800.542.5004, click on VCNBfamily.com or visit your neighborhood Vinton County National Bank to get started. Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender.

Three Ways Online Bill Pay Can Help You

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VCNB Online Bill Pay can save you time, money and hassle!

VCNB Online Bill Pay was designed to save you time and make your life better. If you haven’t tried it, we have three good reasons why you should!

  1. Stay organized by scheduling all your bills to pay from one place! Set up email reminders when a bill is due so you never miss a payment. If you receive eBills through our Online Bill Pay, you can even receive notification when the bill arrives. Need to know if a bill has paid or how much you paid last month? Search your bill history by company name, status or date to get your answers.
  2. Feel good knowing it’s the cheapest and the safest way to pay. There’s no need to buy checks or stamps when you can send money electronically. This means there’s no worry that your money will get lost in the mail or land in the wrong hands.
  3. Automate your bills or take control of your scheduling – whatever way works best for you! Automatic payments are great for bills that stay the same each month like a car payment or insurance. You can also log in and schedule each payment individually.

Please remember that accounts registered for Bill Pay that do not make at least one payment during the calendar month will be assessed a $3 fee. Want to learn more? Click here for details or log into your account through Online Banking or VCNB Mobile to get started.

Three Steps To Managing A Credit Card

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A credit card can be a useful tool when managed mindfully. Setting and following ground rules is a powerful first step to success.

Whether you have your first credit card or have gotten yourself into trouble with several, it’s never too soon or too late to learn good credit card management habits.  Here are some rules to live by.

Know Your Why

If you haven’t already done so, now is the time to set some ground rules for yourself. First, you need to decide why you have a credit card.

Some cards offer incentives for using them. For example, the Visa® Platinum Card at VCNB offers UChoose® Rewards Points for every purchase. These points can be redeemed for incentives like gift cards, cash back and travel. Many of our customers use this card for much of their spending and then pay off the balance when it’s due.

Some credit card holders keep their cards for emergencies. If the fridge dies or you have a medical issue, a card to help you past this bump in the road offers peace of mind. Others use their card only for building credit or for specific kinds of purchases like hotels when they travel or just at the gas pump.

This is a personal decision for you to make and there’s no wrong answer.

Keep Your Debt In Check

We caution customers against allowing debt to accumulate. In fact, we encourage customers to never charge more than they can afford to pay off in a month and to actually pay off that balance monthly. Even a small balance left unattended can accumulate large interest charges and snowball into a massive sum over time. In fact, making the minimum payment on even a few hundred dollars could be costly: added interest could amount to hundreds of dollars over a period of years before the debt is paid off.

Make A Plan For To Pay Off Debt

If you have credit card debt, we recommend making a plan to pay it off as quickly as possible.

For most people, the first step toward paying off debit is making a realistic budget. Click here to read about the basics of building a good budget.  If your budget is tight and you think you don’t have extra money for paying off that debt, click here for some practical ways to cut expenses.

Finally, avoid accumulating more debt while trying to pay off the old. It may be a challenge but you’ll never see a zero balance if you keep charging what you can’t afford. For more on this topic, visit our partners at Nerd Wallet who have a repayment calculator and tips to help you.

What Do Our Lenders Wish Customers Knew About Home Loans?

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Building or buying a home can be stressful. There are countless decisions to be made and processes to follow that customers typically don’t experience often. That’s why it’s important to have an experienced banker who can show you the way. We asked some of our experienced lenders what they want customers to know prior to financing a home.

Mortgage Loan Officer Brooke Adams works at our Ross County Banking Center in Chillicothe where she provides borrowers with a checklist of items she will need to start their loan application.

She pointed out that there are many moving parts and pieces of any mortgage or construction loan process at the bank as well as through other individuals including appraisers, surveyors and the title company. Working within their individual timelines can create some challenges. “Each person involved in the many steps of the process have the same goal  –  to help the person close on their loan. However, in this big mortgage boom, we all have to be patient with turn-around times.”

Chad Meadows, a Mortgage Loan Officer at our Friendly Banking Center in Lancaster spoke specifically about the effort involved in building a home. “It’s always a pleasure to help customers realize their dream of building a home which will probably be their largest investment within their lifetime,” he said.

He suggests that customers speak with a lender prior to meeting with a builder to insure they are setting realistic financial expectations. “Realizing this dream and making it a reality requires coanstant communications between the homeowner, builder and lender. The continuity of this team is paramount for a successful project. It is most helpful to speak with a lender prior to meeting with the builder to accomplish realistic financial goals from the start.”

He elaborated on why this is important. “Items such as property taxes, insurance and monthly mortgage payments are a necessity to set realistic expectations for their dream home. This also helps the builder to save time and resources to effectively initiate the project on the right path. Accomplishing these few objectives in the beginning along with the team communicating consistently will make for a smooth and effortless construction project.”

Salt Creek Banking Center Senior Retail Lender Doug DeLong said that there is never a perfect time to take the leap but that there are practical reasons that make this the right time. “I would tell customers that now’s the time to do it! Rates have literally never been lower. With the costs of construction materials pretty high right now, the customer can more than make up for it with the extremely low interest rates.”

Still not sure if you’re ready to take the first step toward buying or building your next home?  Our lenders will be happy to answer your questions. “It is pure joy at the end of the day to watch a borrower achieve the dream of owning a home or buy that next home to grow their family.” Adams said.

Contact our Customer Service team at 1.800.542.5004 or contact a lender close to you!  

Bank Outside The Branch

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VCNB was encouraging customers to bank outside the branch long before the pandemic caused people to seek safer ways to handle errands.

We know your time is valuable and we know you can’t always bank during regular business hours. We also want you to do businesses with us in a way that’s convenient and safe. For many, that means using technology on their phone or computer to bank wherever they may be. For some, that means popping by the drive-thru or an ATM to make a deposit or get cash.

Here’s a refresher course on options we offer for banking outside the branch.

Direct Deposit – Payroll, social security and unemployment checks can all be received by direct deposit. Instead of driving to the bank, direct deposit users simply wait for their money to appear in their account on the day they are owed.

VCNB Mobile – You may not realize it but you have the power of a bank lobby in your pocket. Download VCNB Mobile from the app store on your mobile device and do much of your banking from wherever you are. Just log in to your account to transfer funds, pay bills, check balances, and open new accounts. You can also deposit a check using Mobile Deposit. With Mobile Deposit, use the camera on your mobile device to send a photograph of the front and back of your endorsed check. If the check is endorsed properly and the deposit is made correctly, you will receive immediate credit for up to $1,000 per day.

Website – Much like the mobile app, use the website to open accounts, apply for a loan, check balances, pay bills, view statements, set account alerts and more!

ATM – Most VCNB branch ATMs have been upgraded to accept image deposits. The last upgrade is expected to be completed at our East Main Street Lancaster location by December 12.  Receive immediate credit for up to $500 in cash and check deposits per day at the ATM. The remainder of the balance will be processed and credit will be given the next business day if deposited before 2 p.m. and the second business day if deposited after 2 p.m.

MoneyPass®  – VCNB customers can access a network of over 32,000 surcharge-free ATMs across the nation. Visit www.MoneyPass.com to find a MoneyPass ATM near you!

Of course, we also have a great Customer Service Team waiting to help you via phone and the staff at your local branch will be happy to see you in-person by appointment, to help you via the drive-thru or to chat on the phone or via email!

What’s your favorite way to bank outside the branch? Leave us a note in the comments!

 

Earn Rewards Points With A Visa Platinum Credit Card

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Earlier this month we told you about Rewards Checking and how so many of our customers are accessing uChoose Rewards®. These rewards points can be redeemed for cashback to your checking account, gift cards, experiences, and other things simply by doing regular debit card spending and banking.

Today we’re going to talk about our Visa® Platinum Credit Card and how it can be used for earning rewards as well!

Here for You BadgeOur points savvy customers will tell you that having both the credit card and the checking account linked to the same uChoose Rewards account allows them to accumulate points more quickly. That’s because credit card customers earn one point for every dollar spent on purchases.

To earn points, you must register your card with the uChoose site. If you have both Rewards Checking and a Visa Platinum Credit Card through VCNB, be sure to link those cards to the same uChoose account to watch your points accumulate more quickly.

Click here for terms, rates and other important details about the Visa Platinum Credit Card. Note that customers who hold only the credit card are not eligible for cash back but can still receive all the other rewards including gift cards, movie passes, travel and merchandise. Receive 1,000 bonus points when opening a new Visa Platinum Credit Card account.

Contact your local banker or visit any of our branches to apply for a credit card or to learn more about uChoose Rewards and the Visa Platinum Credit Card.

 

Reward Yourself With Rewards Checking At VCNB

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If you use your debit card a lot and don’t have VCNB Rewards Checking, you are missing out on an opportunity to earn rewards for everyday purchases and other banking activities. This includes cash back, gift cards, travel credits and all sorts of merchandise.

How does Rewards Checking work? It’s simple!

With Rewards Checking you will receive UChoose Rewards® Points for every PIN and Signature based purchase you make with your debit card. You will receive one point for every $3 spent as well as 200 bonus points for 21 or more purchases.

Additional points are also offered for using Online Bill Pay, Direct Deposit and Automatic VCNB Loan Payments. Receive 500 bonus points annually for the life of the card and 1,000 bonus points for opening a new savings account. Use a Visa® Platinum Favor Credit Card to earn one point for every dollar spent.

You do have to sign up for a UChoose Rewards account and link your debit card and credit card to that account to begin earning points and to later redeem all those points for those great rewards you deserve!

There is a $7 monthly fee for this account that will be refunded if you either use your debit card for at least fifteen or more transactions a month or keep a combined balance of $5,000 or more in all of your VCNB accounts.

We know you work hard for your money. Why not put your VCNB account to work for you?

Existing customers can ask their personal banker to easily switch from their current account to a VCNB Rewards Checking. New customers can open a Rewards Checking account online, on VCNB Mobile or in their neighborhood VCNB branch. Get full details by visiting us online.