Have You Tried Rewards Checking?

Posted on August 23, 2016 by vcnbfamily

We have been amazed at the customer response to our new VCNB Rewards Checking account. When we introduced this account to customers last year, we knew we had something special but we weren’t expecting such an incredible response. Months later, we continue to hear from customers about how much they love this account and we are simply delighted. After all, community banks are about providing personal service to customers and providing them with the banking tools they need and want.

If you haven’t tried Rewards Checking, it’s exactly what it sounds like: a checking account that rewards you for your regular banking habits. You receive points for spending money with your debit card, for using direct deposit and Online Bill Pay, among other things. We even give you points to get you started when you open the account.

Those points can be used to receive cash back and gift cards for major retailers and restaurants. You can also use those points for travel expenses, merchandise and experiences like concert tickets.

We are thrilled to offer this account and to reward our customers for their loyalty.

If you have signed up for Rewards Checking, we have a reminder for you: Be sure to register your debit card with the UChoose Rewards® website so that you can begin earning and spending all those points! Registering is very simple and can be done by clicking here.

Once you’re registered, take a look for special offers under the “Earn Points” tab. Here you will find point earning opportunities that are only good online as well as some special opportunities that must be activated to learn. You can also browse all the great things you can redeem your points for under the “Redeem Points” tab.

Learn more about Rewards Checking by visiting our website.

We sometimes offer bonus rewards points so pay attention for those offers as well!

Pack An Extra Form Of Payment

Posted on July 5, 2016 by vcnbfamily

If you’re planning a vacation this summer, you’re probably eager to pack your bags and hit the road. But before you go, there’s one more thing to pack – one or two extra forms of payment.

We know that you love your plastic and we swipe our debit and credit cards more today than ever before. After all, it’s quick and easy, it’s safer than carrying a lot of cash and, if you’re a VCNB customer using Rewards Checking or our Platinum Visa© Card, you earn UChoose® Rewards Points on purchases.

Print Unfortunately, plastic is not always foolproof. While most businesses accept credit and debit cards, some mom and pop establishments, festivals and farmer’s markets are not equipped to do so. Also, technology is imperfect and occasionally even major retailers experience a hiccup that prevents them from accepting cards.

Also, with the increased use in debit and credit card usage has come an increase in the amount of fraudulent activity related to cards. That’s why we have a great Fraud Department here at VCNB to monitor your activity round the clock. If we see something that is clearly fraudulent or that looks suspicious, we will place restrictions on your card and then give you a call to confirm that you are actually making those purchases. This is meant to protect you and your money but can sometimes cause an inconvenience for the customer.

We occasionally have customers who are on vacation, spending outside their regular pattern of activity, who will be flagged by the Fraud Department. If you can confirm that it’s really you spending your money, the restrictions will be released and you can go about your vacation. If it’s not you, we will shut down your card to prevent future fraudulent activity and take actions to get you a new card. If that’s the case, you will need another way to pay.

There are many options for a second or third form of payment. If you plan to pay primarily with debit, take along a credit card and some cash too. If your primary payment is going to be credit, a second credit or debit card and some cash might come in handy.

Here at VCNB, we offer credit cards as well as a Reloadable Travel Card. You can use it to make purchases anywhere worldwide that Mastercard© is accepted. It costs $5.99 to purchase but we are waving this fee through the end of July. The Travel Card and other reloadable/gift cards are available in any VCNB branch. Click here to learn more.

And, of course, cash is still accepted almost everywhere.

By the way, if you’re planning to travel, take a minute and give us a call. If we know you’re out of state or out of the country, you’ll be less likely to experience a disruption in service. Also be sure to give us your mobile phone number. If our Fraud Department does need to reach you, you don’t want them calling your home when your card is being rejected in a restaurant far from home.

Summer of Peace, Love and Points

Posted on June 2, 2016 by vcnbfamily

Peace, Love & Points - FBBC (Nauman Digital)

Peace, Love and Points will be the theme at VCNB this summer! From now through August 31, you can earn up to 20,000 Bonus Points with a Rewards Checking and a Platinum Credit Card at VCNB. Many of our offices are having fun with this sixties theme, playing music and breaking out their tie dye!

Here’s what Peace, Love and Points means for you:

Customers who qualify for a Visa© Platinum Credit Card may receive a bonus of 10,000 UChoose Rewards® Points. With our Platinum Credit Card, customers can receive bonus points for using it to make regular purchases. Those points can be redeemed for gift cards, travel, experiences and merchandise.

Customers who open a new Rewards Checking account or switch an existing VCNB account to Rewards Checking will be eligible to receive a bonus of 5,000 points. Customers who opt for self-service and open a Rewards Checking account online will be eligible to receive a bonus of 10,000 points.

To receive a Rewards Checking bonus, the customer must activate a debit card and register it through UChooseRewards.com within sixty days of account opening to receive the bonus. New accounts must be funded with a minimum $100 deposit within 30 days of account opening. Click here to read the full terms and conditions for this promotion.

Click here to open your Rewards Checking account online or stop by any of our seventeen offices to apply for a Platinum Card or to open a Rewards Checking with one of our friendly, experienced staff.

Open A New Account In Five Easy Steps!

Posted on April 8, 2016 by vcnbfamily

VCNB has made some big changes to how customers open accounts on our website. We are pleased to say that the online account opening process has been streamlined to just five easy steps!

It’s easier and quicker so you can open that new account and be on your way without a hassle.

We also have introduced a new promotion for Rewards Checking for folks who open online or in any of our seventeen branch locations. Customers who qualify for a Platinum Visa® card in any of our locations will receive a bonus through this promotion as well.

If you aren’t familiar with Rewards Checking, this account rewards customers for using bank products including their debit card for purchases. Points can be redeemed for cash back, gift cards, travel, experience tickets, merchandise and more! To read all about Rewards Checking including the ways you can earn points, account terms and more, click here to visit our website.

Combining Rewards Checking with a VCNB Platinum Visa provides more ways to earn even more points!

Want to learn more about our current offer? Click here.

Visit us online to get started with opening your new Rewards Checking or other VCNB account in just five easy steps!!!

Get 2,016 Bonus Points With Rewards Checking!

Posted on January 2, 2016 by vcnbfamily

2016 Points We wanted to ring in the New Year right with a new promotion for our Rewards Checking account. Now through February 29, folks who open a new Rewards Checking account online will receive 2016 UChoose® Rewards.

Rewards Checking rewards customers for using bank products including their debit card for purchases. Points can be redeemed for cash back, gift cards, travel, experience tickets, merchandise and more! To read all about Rewards Checking including the ways you can earn points, account terms and more, click here to visit our website.

To qualify for the 2016 bonus, a $100.00 minimum deposit must be made into the eligible checking account, and a debit card must be activated and registered through UChooseRewards.com within 60 days of opening account to receive the bonus. Points will be awarded within 30 days of meeting criteria. Limit two bonuses per household.

Click here to read full offer details.

Visit us online to get started with opening your new Rewards Checking or other VCNB account!!!

Think Outside The (Gift) Box

Posted on November 12, 2015 by vcnbfamily

Some of the best gifts don’t fit in a bag or a box. Consider giving loved ones experiences, home repairs or other things they will appreciate but that don’t come from the mall!

We’ve been talking a lot about Christmas lately. Holiday shopping with your VCNB Rewards Checking and Platinum Visa® card and how to save with a Christmas Club have been at the top of our minds. But the truth is, a lot of us here at VCNB have been discussing gift giving as well. More to the point, we are all worried and asking the same question. What on Earth are we going to buy our loved ones?

It’s a wonderful problem to have but it seems like everyone we know already owns too much stuff. So many parents complain because their kids have too many toys and nowhere to put more. Adults often don’t need or want very much either.

While we want to give our loved ones a special holiday, we often waste money on the wrong things.

Make no mistake: we don’t advocate skipping Christmas or gift giving. However, if you’re in the position that we just described, buying stuff for the sake of buying stuff, this may be a good time to reconsider your habits and think outside the (gift) box.

In the interest of keeping gifts useful and cutting down on clutter, consider giving experiences rather than things. A zoo or YMCA membership, sports or concert tickets, movie passes, a manicure or a spa day will make the recipient think fondly of you while they’re having fun.

Experience gifts are especially great for families. Rather than buy individual gifts for every person, consider sending the entire family out for an experience together. Other great family gifts might include board games, movies or a gift card for their favorite restaurant.

For young adults who are on their own for the first time, there’s an endless list of things they need or want for their apartment or new house. Consider buying them cookware, bedding, furniture or decorative items to help make their new living space feel more like home.

That elderly person who already has everything is often difficult to shop for. Instead of buying them a thing, give the gift of your time. Take them some home baked cookies with a gift card or voucher for you to take them out to lunch or have them over for a home cooked meal.

There is also a place for practical gifts that save the recipient time or money. Hire someone to deep clean their home, clear their gutters or replace their leaky kitchen faucet. Everyone appreciates a little help around the house!

Gift baskets can also be a practical gift that is presented in such a nice way that it doesn’t seem so practical. A gift basket of their favorite foods would be thoughtful and practical. Note cards, stationery and stamps would be helpful to a shut-in while a colander filled with ingredients for a nice pasta dinner may be welcomed by a busy family.

If all else fails, consider a gift in their name to their favorite charity. There are tons of good causes that would value your donation, no matter how big or small.

One other thing: we recently saw something on social media that sounded really interesting. For those who want to really trim down Christmas for their kids, buy your child something they need, something to wear, something to play with and something to read. It’s a way to still have fun and open some gifts without spending a lot or accumulating too much.

Tell us in the comments below: What are your favorite go to gifts for the most challenging people on your gift list?

Leverage holiday shopping to earn UChoose® Rewards Points

Posted on November 10, 2015 by vcnbfamily

Ready or not, here it comes. The holiday season is just about here. A lot of retailers are already decorated and getting started on early sales. We always feel a little guilty about discussing Christmas before Thanksgiving but we feel a duty to help our customers prepare for this very expensive season before it arrives. After all, if you wait until December to save money and plan for Christmas, it will be too late.

Today we’re talking about how our Rewards customers can leverage more points during the holiday season. Our customers who are earning UChoose® Rewards Points with their Platinum Visa® card or Rewards Checking can earn points redeemable for gift cards, cash back and items each time they swipe these cards.

Platinum Visa customers will earn one point for every dollar they spend while Rewards Checking customers will earn one point for every three dollars when they swipe their card. Since Christmas is such an expensive time of the year, this is a great time to watch those rewards points add up.

Think about all the money you spend during the holidays. Most folks spend far more than they think when they add up all the extra things they do and buy between Thanksgiving and New Years. All that money you spend on making the holiday merry and bright could add up to something nice for you after the holiday!

Our friends at Nerd Wallet did extensive research last year and determined the average cost of Christmas spending per American city. In Columbus, the average family of four was expected to spend an average of $842.76. That’s for presents, food, holiday cards, decorations – the whole Christmas shebang. Click here to read the whole study.

Contact your local office to apply for a VCNB Platinum Visa card.* Also, if you are interested in opening a new Rewards Checking account or converting an existing checking account to this type of account, you can open in-office or online. At this time, we are even offering a promotion that offers bonus points to get you started. Learn more here.

*Credit restrictions apply.

Retailer Specials Increase Points Earning Potential

Posted on October 20, 2015 by vcnbfamily

So you have a Rewards Checking and a VCNB Platinum Visa® Card and are eager to earn UChoose® Rewards Points. Did you know there are special point earning opportunities on the UChoose® website?

Many vendors have special offers that must be activated from your UChoose online account. These points are in addition to the points you will earn for simply swiping when you spend. Here are just a few:

Kohls – Earn two points per $1 at Kohl’s on purchases of $25 or more (maximum 10,000 points). Offer valid through 10/31/2015. Points cannot be earned when purchasing gift cards. Points are added to your account within 30 days of the date of purchase.

Papa John’s – Earn five points per $1 at Papa John’s on purchases of $25 or more (maximum 10,000 points). Offer valid through 10/31/2015. Points cannot be earned when purchasing gift cards. Points are added to your account within 60 days of the date of purchase.

Budget Rent A Car – Earn twenty points per $1 at Budget Rent A Car (maximum 10,000 points). Offer valid through 10/31/2015. Points cannot be earned when purchasing gift cards. Points are added to your account within 60 days of the date of purchase.

AMC Theatres – Earn ten points per $1 at AMC Theatres on purchases of $25 or more (maximum 10,000 points). Offer valid through 10/31/2015. Points cannot be earned when purchasing gift cards. Points are added to your account within 60 days of the date of purchase.

When you login to your UChoose account, click on “Earn Points” in the bar on the left. In the drop down menu that appears, click on “Activate” to see the list of current offers. Also, be sure to read the offer details so that you can take full advantage of the offer and don’t forget to click the “Activate” button while you’re at it.

There’s also a heap of offers that don’t require activation. You just automatically receive the points when you make a purchase. Here are a few of those too.

AutoZone.com                        8 Points
BedBath&Beyond.com           4 Points
Cabelas                                  3 Points
DirectTV                                 10500 Points per activation
DisneyStore.com                    5 Points
ElizabethArden.com               5 Points
HomeDepot.com                    3 Points
iTunes                                    6 Points
Kate Spade                            6 Points
LandsEnd.com                       4 Points
Magazines.com                      20 Points
New Balance                          6 Points
NewYork&Co.com                  5 Points
NikeStore.com                        7 Points
Philosophy.com                      5 Points
Walgreens.com                      7 Points

To find the complete list, click on “Earn Points” on the left side of the screen inside your Uchoose account and look for “All Offers” in the drop down menu.

Learn more about Rewards Checking by clicking here.

Get Rewards. Be Like Jim.

Posted on October 14, 2015 by vcnbfamily

Today we’re looking at how an average customer might accumulate UChoose Rewards® Points with Rewards Checking at VCNB. Customers who are using this account say that it has been easy to earn points by simply doing what they already do in terms of spending and banking habits.

See below to meet Jim and learn how he earns points every month. Jim spends with his debit card and Visa® Platinum Card, uses Direct Deposit and other bank products. As a result, Jim sees his UChoose Rewards Point balance increasing steadily.

By signing up for Rewards Checking before December 31, 2015, Jim even receives 5,000 bonus points to kick start his point savings.

Visit http://www.vintoncountybank.com/rewardschecking/ to see full terms and conditions as well as fees associated with Rewards Checking. Click image to enlarge.

Many of our customers and employees use Rewards Checking and have been thrilled with this new account. We encourage you talk to others who have Rewards Checking accounts and read up on the account by clicking here.

At this link you’ll find complete account details including ways to earn points, fees and other information you may find helpful. You can open a new account online or in office. If you are an existing VCNB customer, please contact your local office to have your account type changed.

Increase rewards earning with Visa® Platinum Card

Posted on October 5, 2015 by vcnbfamily

Customers who have signed up for our new Rewards Checking account at VCNB will be pleased to know that their rewards earning potential increases when they also use a VCNB Visa® Platinum card.

We are overwhelmed by the number of customers – both new and old – who have taken advantage of our new Rewards Checking. With Rewards Checking, customers earn UChoose® Rewards Points for their regular banking habits and for their daily spending. Rewards Checking customers who also have a Visa Platinum Credit Card can earn even more points every time they use this credit card.

In fact, customers earn one reward point for every dollar spent in purchases on a Visa Platinum Credit Card. Purchases made with a VCNB Rewards Debit Card earn one point for every three dollars spent.

It is easy to track Rewards Points through a customer account on the UChoose website and redeem them for merchant gift cards, cash back, travel, hotels, movie tickets, merchandise and more. To be most effective, the debit card and credit card should be registered to the same UChoose account so the points will accumulate faster.

Want to learn more about Rewards Checking and a special bonus we are offering now? CLICK HERE for details. Thinking about a Visa Platinum, need help with your UChoose account or have other questions? We would love to hear from you! Contact an Account Representative at your local VCNB office or call Customer Service at 1.800.542.5004. You can also chat with us from our website!

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