Tag Archives: Bremen Banking Center

Backyard Fun For All

Posted on by
1

Summer vacation will be here soon. With it will come a chorus of exclamations from your kids – they are bored. What will they do for fun today?

For some families, time or money won’t allow for a vacation this year. Fortunately, there is a lot of fun to be had in your own back yard if you just go looking for it!

Here are some ideas to get you started.

Take a Hike – Look to community and state parks for trails filled with trees, wildflowers and wildlife. Here you will find recreation and pretty scenery.

Visit a Farmer’s Market – Most communities have them and you never know what you’ll find. Help your kids learn where their food comes from while supporting local farmers.

Take a Picnic – Whether it’s at a scenic park or in your own backyard, family picnics are fun! Dining al fresco is especially fun if you pack a Frisbee or some other outdoor game.

Pick Your Own – Seek out a pick your own patch of fruits or vegetables. Pick your own berry patches are especially popular.

Take a Bike Ride – Dust off your bikes and go for a little ride. Everyone will have fun and it’s great exercise!

Hang Around – Spend an afternoon at the school or community playground. What’s more fun than monkey bars and swings?

Look for “Discount Days” – A lot of museums, parks and other attractions offer discount tickets or even free admission certain days of the week. Check out their website or call to see if there are any offers available.

Plan a Movie Night – Too hot to go outside? Prepare a few snacks and watch your child’s favorite movie!

Schedule a Photo Shoot – Give your kids some props and let them ham it up for your camera! They will have fun playing around and you’ll have some great pictures to remember the day.

Family fun doesn’t have to be expensive or far from home. Look around your neighborhood and see what’s available and appropriate for your family. Look to your local Chamber of Commerce or Visitors’ Center for guidance as well.

 

Talk To Us Without Talking To Us

Posted on by
Reply

Have you ever had a question for the bank but couldn’t pick up the phone to call? Or maybe you just didn’t feel like talking to someone at that time?

Now VCNB offers Online Chat for our customers. This free service is available from the website. With the click of a button, you can talk with a real person about nearly any topic imaginable, and without saying a word.

Here are a few reasons we think you will love Online Chat! hand on keyboard

  1. It’s a Real Person – Our representatives live in our communities, will tell you their name and will take a genuine interest in solving your problems or answering your questions.
  2. Immediate Gratification – You can ask a question and receive an answer quickly during regular bank hours.
  3. It’s Easy – It couldn’t be easier to reach out and get an answer. Just click the “Chat Online” button on our homepage to get started. You will be asked to enter a name and type in a verification code before you can start typing a conversation.
  4. It’s a Multitasking Dream – We know your time is valuable. So you can shop online, eat lunch or watch tv while you are chatting with us. We’ll never know that you are eating Fruit Loops in front of the tv!
  5. You Don’t Have To Talk – Take care of your important business and get the answers to your questions without uttering a word out loud. Nosy co-workers won’t know your business anymore!

At VCNB we think it’s important to keep up with the times and to provide our customers with choices. If you wish to speak to a live person on the phone, we welcome you to call. In fact, we look forward to talking with you. But if you can’t or don’t wish to call, we hope you will find Online Chat a good option.

Have you tried it? Leave us a note in the comments section and let us know how it went!

 

 

Rev Up Your Road Trip With A New Account At VCNB

Posted on by
Reply

300x300 Telegram online VCNBAre you thinking about opening a new checking account? Now may be the time. We are currently offering a $150 bonus for anyone who opens a Checking My Way account online.

Why open a Checking My Way Account? Besides the fact we are offering you a bonus to open, this account is flexible and offers you choices to help make it your own.

With Checking My Way, there is no minimum balance required and there are no fees for electronic statements. If you would like to have a paper statement mailed to you each month, the cost is $3 per month without check images and $5 per month with check images.

All VCNB accounts provide customers with free Online Banking, Bill Pay and Mobile Banking, allowing access while at home or on the go. Mobile Deposit will give you the option of depositing a check by taking a picture of it with your mobile phone.

We think this account has many great options and may be a good fit for you. Right now we are offering an online special for Checking My Way. Through our Rev Up Your Summer Road Trip special, if you open a Checking My Way Account online you will receive $100. Sign up for direct deposit and receive an additional $50.

Some limitations apply and a one hundred dollar deposit is required at account opening. To learn more, see the rules pictured below or click on this link to get started.

Terms and Conditions for Rev Up Your Road Trip UPDATED May 13

 

Introducing New Popmoney® Features

Posted on by
Reply

Print

Every time we think our Popmoney ® personal payment service can’t get any better….it does. All along we thought it was pretty great that you can send money to a person with only their email address or mobile phone number with Popmoney at VCNB.

Now you can also request funds from someone!

Say your roommate owes you for their half of the rent. You can enter his email address and send a note along with the request for funds. If you are out with friends and splitting the dinner bill, you can use just their mobile phone numbers to ask for their share of the bill.

When they send the funds, the money will be deposited in your checking or savings account, saving them from writing a check or handing over cash and you from making a trip to the bank.

It is incredibly easy to do from your computer or mobile device.

– From the Popmoney® window of Online Banking, click on “Request Money.”

– If it is someone who is already in your contacts list, just select them from the list. If it’s a new person, add their name along with either their mobile phone number or email address.

– Enter a fixed amount or leave the amount open so they can decide how much to send.

– State a purpose for the request

– Select the savings or checking account where you want the money to be deposited.

– Click next to review your request before hitting submit.

The recipient will be notified via text or email that they have funds waiting to be retrieved. They will follow a link, enter their bank account information and the funds will be deposited.

Please note that if the person answers the request and sends you money, there is a .75 per transaction fee deducted from the amount they send to you. In other words, if you request $20.00, only $19.25 will actually be deposited to your account.

The other big change released just this month is that you can now make same day payments. For a $9.95 fee, money can be sent and received on the same day. As always, you can make a regular payment for a .50 cent per transaction fee.

Want to learn more about Popmoney? Check out this post or visit our website.   Standard text message and data rates apply.

Cost Cutting Tuesday – Plan Your Purchases

Posted on by
Reply

When was the last time you bought something you didn’t plan to purchase? If you’re like most Americans it probably wasn’t that long ago. Candy bars at the gas station, a sweater at the mall and the new gadget everyone is talking about top the list of unplanned purchases for a lot of people.

Mental math and reasoning acrobatics usually accompany these purchases with excuses like you deserve it, you work hard, or you can get credit card points and pay it off later.

But these impulse buys can add up quickly regardless of your budget or your savings goals. Unfortunately, it can be hard to stop these leaks. Here are a few ideas to get you started.

Curb Impulse Shopping – Use the 30 Day Rule to slow down your impulse buys. Do you really need new curtains for your bedroom or do you just want them today? Will you still want those curtains in a month? Make a list of all those things you desire – from the $30 curtains to the $400 gaming system and give it a month. If you still want the item and have the money, go for it! A lot of times you will find that you either will change your mind or forget all about it! Sale freeimages

Remove Temptation – It is really easy to buy things online when your payment information is stored in your account. With a few mindless clicks you can drop items in your basket and easily have them shipped to your door. If you have to retrieve your credit card and type the information each time you want to buy, you will be more conscious of your actions.

Write a List (and stick to it) – Going shopping without a list is a dangerous game when you are trying to curb impulse buys. Whether it’s for groceries, back to school clothes or a home remodeling project, a list will give you purpose and will help you acquire the things you really want. With a list, you are on a mission to find what you need. Without it, odds are better that you will pick up every sale item in your path and go home without whatever you went for in the first place.

Research All Purchases – You need a printer for your home but you don’t know what kind. Inkjet or laser? Will you be printing pictures or just documents? You think you’ll just wing it and buy whatever looks good in the store. After a few uses you realize the quality isn’t what you were hoping for and the ink is extremely expensive. Avoid situations like this by doing a little research before you buy. Talk to people you trust, read consumer reviews online and read product information so that you can make an informed decision. You may discover that the new phone you wanted has a lot of bugs and you are better off with what you have. And it’s better to buy the right thing once than to be dissatisfied with the wrong buy.

Shop Around – While you’re researching, shop around for a good price. Newspaper circulars, online ads and online shopping can help you determine who has the best price. Depending on the purchase, this could save you a few dollars or a several hundred dollars!

Prequalify Online To Be Entered In Our Drawing!

Posted on by
Reply

red bow

We are excited about a contest we have going right now and hope you will be too. From now through May 30, if you prequalify for a home loan online you will be entered to win a $50 MasterCard Gift Card from VCNB.

The prequalification application is easy to complete online and is the first step toward VCNB helping you finance the home of your dreams.

To get started on your application or to read rules, visit www.vintoncountybank.com. Complete rules are also listed below. No purchase necessary to win.

04-14 Official Contest Rules for Pre-Qualify Giveaway

Teach Kids That Saving Is Fun

Posted on by
Reply

All April long we are celebrating Teach Children To Save Month by visiting local schools and talking with kids about saving money. We have written about tips for helping your small kids save money and teaching your older kids life skills they will need through adulthood.

Today we want to talk about ways to make saving fun.

Savings Thermometer – Draw a giant thermometer on paper, cardboard or poster board and write a savings goal at the top. Hang it somewhere visible and color the thermometer each week to reflect how much they have saved. Goals can be big or small. Just remember to reward your child with a small treat when they reach their goal.

piggy bank - brightBank on the Fun – Move over little pig. Banks come in a variety of fun themes. If your little one loves Batman, give him a Batman bank and encourage him to help Batman save the day by saving money! There also is a wide array of electronic banks that sort and count bank contents that might appeal to older kids.

Round Up – When your child spends money, encourage him or her to round up to the nearest dollar and save the change. So if their bill comes to $4.47, have them save the extra .53 cents.

Collect the States – Help your child learn about geography and save money by saving the state quarters. There is a quarter for every state so encourage your child to tuck at least one of each into their bank. Post a map of the country next to their bank so they can mark the states they have and plan for the states they need.

Set Family Goals – Set savings goals for your children and agree to a family treat when everyone hits their goals. A movie night or ice cream for everyone could be enough motivation for everyone to work toward their goals.

Remember there is no need to count and roll all that change! Several of our locations have a machine that will count their change for free. We also have minor accounts that require no minimum balance. See a New Accounts Officer in any of our thirteen locations to open one today!

Protect Yourself From Scammers

Posted on by
Reply

Most people will be approached by a scammer at some time in their life. We warn children about “stranger danger” and to not take candy from or go with someone they don’t know. Yet many adults are quick to trust a stranger who contacts them with claims that a debit card has been compromised or that a small investment will earn them great returns.

At VCNB we will never contact you by phone, email or text and ask for personal financial information. If someone claiming to be from VCNB asks for your PIN, social security number or other personal information, do not give it to them.

And remember –

–  If it sounds too good to be true it usually is.

–  Get rich schemes only make the scammers rich. You will pay dearly. Never send money to someone you don’t know. If you are contacted electronically by a person you do know and they ask for money, verify that it is really your friend before reaching out to them electronically.

–  Check your bank and credit card statements for transactions you don’t recognize and notify the bank if there is something out of place.

–  Most of all, protect your personal information like it is your child. Never provide your account information, PIN, social security number or other personal data to an unknown source. Keep your cards in a safe place and don’t keep a written copy of your PIN or your account passwords with the card.

There are people out there who work hard at taking advantage of others. Be careful not to fall victim to their schemes. For more information click here for tips from USA.gov.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shred Days Set For Spring

Posted on by
Reply

Some of our banking centers will offer Shred Days this Spring. This free service is meant to help our customers safely dispose of important documents that shouldn’t fall into the wrong hands.

Many people don’t realize that throwing a piece of paper into the trash could jeopardize their identity and their future. That is because there is no way of knowing what happens to a bag of trash once it leaves the home and documents with personal information could make them a prime candidate for identity theft.

One way to safeguard yourprivacy is to shred paper and plastic documents with information you don’t want someone else to access. That is why we offer Shred Days!

Documents you definitely want to shred include anything with a signature, account number, social security number, legal information or medical information.

Examples might include:

– Credit card offersStack of Files and Papers

– Tax information

– Old photo Ids

– ATM and credit card receipts

– Statements and bills for credit cards, utilities and medical treatments.

– Bank statements and cancelled checks.

– Check stubs

– Investment statements

– Other important personal documents

 

2014 Spring Shred Days will be held:

April 26   –   Salt Creek Banking Center   –    9 a.m. to noon

May 3   –   Canal Banking Center    –   10 a.m. to noon

June 7   –    Bremen Banking Center – Lancaster West Fair   –   10 a.m. to noon.

 

Shred Days for other offices will be planned for fall. We will gladly take up to five boxes per customer at each event. The box limit exists to prevent long lines and to ensure that we do not exceed truck limitations. We look forward to seeing you at Shred Days this year!