Tag Archives: Salt Creek Banking Center

Introducing New Popmoney® Features

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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

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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!

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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

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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

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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

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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!

Heartbleed Bug Does Not Impact VCNB Online Banking

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In the news as of late, the Heartbleed Bug has caused concern to many of our customers. While it is important to learn about the many facets of this particular vulnerability, we want you to rest assured that The Vinton County National Bank is aware and monitoring the Heartbleed Bug as it pertains to customer information.

heartbleedPlease rest assured that our Online Banking Applications are not vulnerable to the Heartbleed Bug. However, it is recommended that you change your online banking password. Reason being, consumers have a tendency to use the same password among many websites, some of those susceptible to an attack.

To change your password, please log-in to your online banking and click the options tab. As a reminder, please do not ever change your password via a link in an email or give out your online banking credentials over the phone or via text message. It is the policy of VCNB to never solicit your online banking password, social security number or account numbers via telephone, text or email.

As a service to our customers, we strongly recommend you stay abreast of the situation with the Heartbleed Bug. Please change your passwords on those sites they feel have been effected. It is always a good rule of thumb to change your passwords frequently and to avoid using a password more than once.

Talk To Your Teens About Money

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Last week we talked about teaching young children about saving and managing money. It tends to be easy when they’re little because you can just tell a young child that saving money is important and that they must do it. But what about your teenagers? They are still kids but are nearing adulthood and all the financial decisions that come with it.

Here are five topics to start with!

Talk About Credit – Teach your kids the difference between good credit and bad credit. Talk to them about the difference between borrowing responsibly to buy a house and spending wildly with a credit card. They will soon be bombarded with offers for shiny new credit cards with enticing offers. Talk to them about how to use credit cards wisely – spend only what they can really afford, pay off the balance every month and pay on time.

Teach teens to use technology for banking, monitoring their credit score and even budgeting!

Teach teens to use technology for banking, monitoring their credit score and even budgeting!

Budgeting – Does your teen have an after school job or an allowance? Talk to them about how to budget those funds and plan for the future. Are they saving for college or for a new car? Are they blowing all their money on new music and fast food? Help them set up a budget for their money by identifying their expenses and savings needs. Then list their income and help them prioritize how to spend and save that income.

Daily Tasks – Involve your teens in household tasks that involve financial decision making. Teach them how to write a check and how to balance a checkbook. Show them around your online bank account, let them schedule your bills through Online Bill Pay and talk about the expensive damage caused by late payments. Take them grocery shopping and explain why you buy the cereal that’s on sale and why you typically buy ground beef instead of steak. Teach them the basic daily skills they will need to survive adulthood.

Pay Yourself First – Talk to them about saving money and why it’s important. Teach them to make it a priority to save a little bit from their allowance or their paycheck every single week. “Pay yourself first” is a powerful mantra that will make saving automatic. Just ten percent can add up quickly and can build a nice nest egg for emergencies, a down payment for a car or living expenses for their college years.

Credit Scores – Talk to your teens about the correlation between a credit score and spending habits. Talk to them about how their credit score will impact their borrowing ability in the future. Carrying an excessive credit card balance and paying bills late now and then may not seem like a big deal to a teenager. But these behaviors will affect their borrowing ability, determine future loan rates, affect their ability to rent an apartment or insure a car and ultimately affect the affordability of these things they need and want as adults. Reinforce the idea that paying bills on time, paying off credit cards every month and making good financial decisions will increase their credit score.

 

VCNB Releases Website Redesign

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Have you visited our website recently? VCNB recently unveiled some changes to www.vintoncountybank.com that we hope you will find useful.

“While our website was packed with good information, we wanted to update the website to have a more modern appearance and to make it easier to navigate,” said VCNB Marketing Specialist Justine Fyffe. “There are less pages on our new site. This will help users find the information they are looking for without having to navigate between multiple pages,” she said.

For example, the Personal Accounts page provides information on VCNB products including checking and savings accounts, personal loans, credit cards, gift cards and IRAs. Drop down boxes provide easy to read product comparisons. Many of these accounts can be opened online.

A chat button on the homepage allows any customer or potential customer to chat with bank representatives in our Customer Service, New Accounts and Loans Departments.

Other new features include a Learning Center which features training demos and links to helpful financial articles. “We also started a Kid’s Page that features our new mascot, Saver Squirrel. This page provides safe links to educational puzzles and activities for kids,” Fyffe explained.

A Google map link to all VCNB branch and ATM locations makes it easy to find our 13 banking centers. Links to the VCNB blog, Linkedin and Facebook accounts make it easy for customers to find and follow VCNB through their favorite social media.

“We are very excited about our website’s new look. We hope that customers will like the changes and that they find the website easy to navigate,” Fyffe said.

Check out the new look at www.vintoncountybank.com and be sure to comment here and tell us what you think!