Tag Archives: VCNB Financial Family

Lending A Helping Paw

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Humane Society Autumn with donation

Hocking Hills Banking Center Manager Autumn Warthman poses with some items the bank recently donated to the Hocking County Humane Society.

Last month we asked VCNB employees to submit pictures of their pets to be posted on our Facebook page for Love Your Pet Day. We learned that many of our employees are devoted pet parents who love to talk pets. That started a conversation at our Hocking Hills Banking Center about an organization in Hocking County that could use a helping hand and we decided to get involved.

Branch Manager Autumn Warthman explained that the Hocking County Humane Society is in constant need of donations and that her staff wanted to call attention to the need. “Two of our employees have adopted dogs from the Humane Society and three of them volunteer there,” Warthman said. “Grace, Tammy and Julie all volunteer there every week and they know the need better than anyone.”

The Humane Society accepts only abused and neglected animals and takes practically any kind of animal that needs rescue. Right now they are home to dogs, cats, bunnies, goats and horses. They do not accept strays or surrendered animals.

Operated locally by a volunteer staff, this non-profit organization accepts donations of time, money and supplies. Warthman said the bank recently donated a carload of food and supplies and is inviting customers to donate items as well. She said they will have a donation area inside the bank from now through June. “If they want to make a donation, no matter how big or small, they can just bring it into the bank and we’ll deliver it to the Humane Society.

“Most of our employees are animal lovers and we feel compelled to help the Humane Society help these neglected and abused animals. It’s heartbreaking when you think about it. The Humane Society does a great job helping every animal they can but their resources are stretched thin. It’s expensive to keep them all fed and under roof and we just want to help,” Warthman said.

Donations will be accepted during regular bank business hours through the end of June. Bank staff will regularly deliver donations to the Humane Society. To learn more about the Humane Society or to get involved, call them at 740.380.9109 or visit 36960 Hocking Dr., Logan.

See below for a list of items the Humane Society needs at this time.

Hocking County Humane Society Donation List

 

How to Get Out From Under Student Loans

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If you’re a recent college graduate who took out student loans, you likely owe about $35,000. As eye-popping as that average debt figure is, you’re certainly not the only one wondering how you’ll possibly get out from under your loans. As with any difficult assignment, though, research and a well-thought-out plan will help you tackle even the most challenging of debt situations.

Making use of the following strategies will help you dig your way out of student debt. Here’s a look at where to get started.

Know what you owe

First things first: Figure out what your monthly payments should be. To do that, use one of a handful of repayment calculators. These tools let you plug in the total amount that you owe along with your loans’ interest rates and term lengths. You’ll get a better sense of how much you should be paying each month if you want to take care of your debt within a certain amount of time.

Adjust your monthly budget accordingly

Knowing how much money you’ll need to put toward eliminating your student debt each month will help you adjust your budget. That may mean making tough decisions like cutting back on nonessential expenses.

Remember: Every extra dollar you put toward your debt reduces the total amount of interest you’ll end up paying over the life of your loan, so it’s well worth the effort.

Consider automatic payments

To ensure that you make your monthly payments on time, set up automatic deductions from your checking account. The way it works is easy: Your student loan servicer simply subtracts what you owe from your account whenever your payment is due. Your lender may even offer you a discount if you choose this option, which can be much more convenient than writing and sending a check every month. Just be sure that there’s enough money in your checking account so that you aren’t hit with overdraft fees.

Switch up your repayment plan

If you’re still struggling to put money toward your student debt, consider changing your repayment plan on federal loans, which you can do whenever you want. You may, for example, opt to switch from standard repayments —which have you contributing a set amount each month over a period of about 10 years — to graduated repayment, which is when your payments start out lower and increase over time.

Extended repayments, on the other hand, give you additional time to pay back your loans, sometimes up to 25 years, if your debt is more than $30,000 and you meet certain other requirements. Other plans, aimed at borrowers whose federal student loan debt is high relative to their income and family size, are income-based. If you qualify, the payments you owe are based on how much you earn every year. Although any of these plans can ease your monthly payment, you’ll end up paying more for your loan over time than you would if you had stuck with the standard 10-year plan.

Private lenders typically have stricter policies, but it’s still worth checking to see whether there’s any way to adjust your repayment plan with them.

Final word

If you’re a teacher or a public servant, you may qualify for student loan forgiveness. Otherwise, your last resort may be opting for forbearance, which means you can stop or reduce payments for a month or two. However, because interest continues to accrue, this course of action is better avoided.

With all that said, what you definitely don’t want to do is default on your loans. When you do that, the entire unpaid balance of your loan is due immediately, and you also lose the right to defer or change your repayment plan.

Breaking down the repayment process into smaller steps will make your student debt feel less overwhelming. Although it may take several years to wipe it out completely, a carefully crafted plan will set you up for success down the road.

© Copyright 2016 NerdWallet, Inc. All Rights Reserved

Ask A Lender: What Is A HELOC?

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We introduced a new HELOC special earlier this week and it occurred to us that while bankers like to talk in abbreviations, everyone may not know about a HELOC and what it means. So we asked Cassie Stout to help us out and explain a HELOC. Cassie is the Manager of the Ross County Banking Center on E. Main Street in Chillicothe. As a Retail Banker, she is able to address all of a customer’s needs including help with loans and deposits. She has been with us since 2006 and is a popular fixture at our Ross Main Office.

Cassie Stout

Cassie Stout

Here’s what she had to say:

What is a HELOC?
HELOC stands for Home Equity Line of Credit and is a way to turn the equity in your home into cash.

Why would someone want or need a HELOC?
HELOCs are great for home improvement projects like kitchen and bath renovations, a new garage, or really any upgrade. A HELOC is also good to have if you need cash out for debt consolidation or to fund big life expenses like college or special occasions.

What are the costs related to a HELOC at VCNB?
We offer HELOCs with little to no upfront (closing) costs, and also waive the annual fee for the first year! After that, the annual fee is just $50*.

Why should someone apply for a HELOC at VCNB?
VCNB HELOCs are a great deal for many reasons. The application process is easy, plus we have great rates and low fees.

What do you wish customers knew about a HELOC that they don’t think to ask?
When you open a HELOC with us, you get great payment flexibility for a full fifteen years. That means you can pay just your interest or pay off more at any time. This is a good setup for my borrowers because they can use their HELOC for their initial purpose (like home renovations), but can then have the security of an available credit line for many years to come.

Learn about our current special at our website!

*A Home Equity Line of Credit in an amount over 100,000 will require title insurance and survey fees to be paid.

Small Business Spotlight: Great Escapes Travel

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Being a small business owner is a tough job. That’s why we spotlight a different business each month to help you learn about unique businesses in your own back yard.

In the age of self service and online travel booking sites, many Americans may not think to consult a travel agency for their next vacation. However, there’s one travel agent in Logan who says business is thriving and that her services are as needed today as ever. Great Escapes Travel owner Tracey Adams is a 33-year veteran of the business who says above-and-beyond customer service keeps clients coming back trip after trip.

“Even though people can book online, you would be surprised to know how many people feel more comfortable booking a trip with me,” Adams said. “I can take someone’s vacation savings and turn it into the trip of their dreams. Even if they vacation every year, I want them to come home feeling like it was a once-in-a-lifetime thing.”

ParisFrom Disney trips and Caribbean cruises to international journeys to far flung places, Adams can send a client anywhere in the world they want to go. The real value though is that she provides not just the standard flight, room and car rental, she plans and sees to every step of their journey. “From the minute they leave their home until they return, I take care of everything. Flights, transfers, cancellations, online check-in, hotels, cars, research. You name it and I do it because I want to make it as easy and convenient as possible for my client,” she explained. “It’s a service that my clients have grown to expect. Not every agency will do all that but I think personal service is important.”

The demographic of her client base is broad, including people of all ages and backgrounds. She cites stories of trips she has planned for both young and old, families, couples, friends and singles as well as travelers from all backgrounds. She said that most of her clients are repeat customers, making it easier to recommend destinations and activities because she is familiar with their likes and dislikes.

What are some reasons a traveler might find a travel agent like Adams helpful? The list is long, she says. One important reason relates to experience and knowledge. “Either by research or by first hand experience I am familiar with your destination. I’ve been doing this for 33 years so I can tell you what to see and what to avoid. I know when you’re actually getting a good deal and what you need to do before you leave,” she said. She went on to discuss how so many international travelers aren’t sure about how to get a passport, what inoculations they might need or what to pack. “I do all the research and I take care of you.  I can look after you if a flight is cancelled and be there for you every step of the way.

When considering her favorite destinations, she mentioned Disney because there are so many customizable options and because it is incredibly popular with people of all ages. Her absolute favorite trip though is Alaska. “It’s the most amazing place I’ve ever seen in my life. The people are so nice and the air is clean. The ice, the whales, the eagles are amazing in person,” she gushed.

Another favorite is the Caribbean where she not only sends countless clients every year but where she leads an annual trip. This year’s seven day Carnival Western Caribbean trip will be Oct. 1 through Oct. 8 and bookings are still available. Ports of call for this trip include Costa Maya, Isla Roatan, Belize and Cozumel. “This is a huge group from Logan and the surrounding area and we have a blast,” she said with a laugh. “Cruises are great for families and for people who aren’t sure they really want to travel. Men especially are the hardest to get on a cruise but they’re the first to come back and book another because they have the best time.”

To learn more about Great Escapes Travel and how they can help you plan your next trip, call 740.385.1999 and follow them on Facebook. They are located at 60 N. Mulberry St. in Logan.

See below for a few more pictures from Great Escapes Travel!

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Love Your Pet Day

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It’s Love Your Pet Day and we wanted to show off some pets from the VCNB Family! If you can handle the cuteness, we encourage you to scroll through and admire pictures of pets submitted by our employees. You will note that we have a lot of traditional pets and a few that aren’t so traditional! Enjoy!

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Getting Married? Combining Finances 101

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So you’re getting married. You have the church, a dress and a caterer. You know everything there is to know about your partner and you are in love. But do you know their credit score or how much they owe on student loans? This person you are about to marry may have a squeaky clean financial record or could be hiding a deep dark secret like bankruptcy or a fistful of maxed out credit cards.

Once you are married, your individual finances will also be united. Have you discussed what this really means for your relationship?  Every couple handles money matters differently so you need to consider how you will do it. It’s a good idea to have “The Talk” before you tie the knot but it’s never too late.

Rest assured, this will be the least romantic conversation of your relationship and that’s ok. Throughout your relationship you will find life is better when you have open communication about money. Here are some things to think about to get you started:

Combine or remain separate?
First consider how you will keep your money. The options are to have a joint account, individual accounts or some combination of the two. Most financial experts advise at least having a joint household account.  If you are keeping separate accounts, discuss who will pay each bill or how much you each will contribute to a joint account.

Agree on money tools
Will you use checks or only a debit card? Will you both have access to your online banking? Who will create the budget and be responsible for paying the bills? Discuss your preferences and reach a mutual agreement. Will you keep the credit cards you have or use just one joint card?

Yours, mine and ours 
Dump the “mine and yours” mentality. Ideally, assets (and liabilities) are shared and there is some balance in spending. If one spouse makes a lot and spends lavishly, it will wear on the relationship if the other partner is pinching pennies.

Create goals and a plan
What are your goals? Are you planning to buy a home in five years or have a baby soon? Maybe you want to take a vacation or pay off debt. If nothing else, you need an emergency fund. Put those goals on paper and develop a savings plan.

Be Flexible
Something will go wrong. We promise. There will be emergency purchases and your partner will make a bad decision or two. Agree to work together and make it work. Consult each other before major purchases and communicate as much as possible to avoid meltdowns.

Money is a major cause of arguments in most relationships. We wish you the best as you take this important step together and hope our advice will help you create a good financial foundation for your life together!

 

 

 

Making Change With Change

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Could you spare a quarter today? How about tomorrow? Most of us wouldn’t miss a quarter every day but it could have a life-changing effect for one local non-profit organization. Shepherd’s House is in dire need of a larger, more efficient shelter and is asking people to help them save for a shelter with just 25 cents a day.

Shepherd’s House is a domestic violence and sexual assault shelter and advocacy center in Vinton County. The organization began helping clients in 1999, initially offering advocacy services and growing to include an emergency shelter.

Shepherd's House Quarter Challenge 2016

Shepherd’s House Board Member Tami Case-Collins is pictured with Jane Nickels, Branch Manger of our McArthur Office.

Statistics say that one in four women will experience domestic violence in her lifetime. More than three million children will witness domestic violence in their homes this year.  Surprisingly, one in seven men will be a victim of abuse. So while the shelter is available only to women and children, Shepherd’s House provides non-shelter assistance to men as well. Sands said the shock waves caused by this violence will echo far beyond the household of an abuser.

“These victims are our neighbors, our sisters and daughters. They’re our mothers. You wouldn’t believe the amount of elderly who are abused by grown children. Victims are many times the bullies who are hurting your children. They’re kids who often grow up to be abusers and they’re in the pool of people your children will be choosing friends and spouses from. You may not know it but domestic violence affects us all,” she warned.

Shepherd’s House has binders filled with the names of hundreds of known abusers in Vinton County – men, women and juveniles – a testament to the need for a larger shelter and more services in this community.

When a victim comes in, the staff works to assess their needs and offer whatever services are necessary “We give them time to calm down and realize what’s happened so they can make decisions. We guide them through the system and explain the services available to them. We explain legal terms and sit with them in the courtroom. We help them with emergency plans and talk to them about staying safe. We offer peer support in a safe, judgment free zone,” Sands explained. “The judicial system isn’t always fair in the eyes of the victims and we have to make it as least traumatic as possible for the client.”

While cozy and welcoming on the inside, the current shelter is simply too small to meet the demand. With cramped office space and small living quarters for just one family at a time, the organization needs a larger home to grow in.

“Our dream is to never have to turn someone away because of space. Our dream is to have enough employees to not have staff overworked and exhausted. The dream is to someday have transitional housing units for domestic violence victims so that they can have a few months to get on their feet. But right now the need is to just have three or four bedrooms with space for a little office,” Sands concluded.

Sands pointed out that this fundraiser is a great project for families with children. “I know a year is a long time but if people would teach their kids to help others, to every day spend five seconds thinking about someone else, that habit becomes an asset. These children will grow up to be more caring adults and their contribution will mean the world to us,” she said.

She admits that there is still a stigma associated with domestic violence. “People think that it can’t be that bad or she would leave. They think if she really wanted out she would just go. They think it’s not their business. But it isn’t that easy. You have no idea how hard it is, how devastating it is until you’re in that kind of danger. If you’ve never had someone threaten you or your children or even your family pet, you just don’t know how hard it is to escape,” she lamented.

Once victims do escape, they face an uphill battle with the logistics of daily life including employment, child care, acquiring the things they need, often with little or no credit of their own. They typically face the most basic struggle of simply keeping their children safe from their abuser and a roof over their heads, according to Sands. “It’s hard to believe but for some, it seems better to stay than to leave. That’s how little hope they have.”

When we heard about the quarter challenge, many of us here at VCNB felt compelled to help. That’s why we have placed large jars in the lunchrooms of our two McArthur offices, inviting employees to drop in a quarter a day or whatever they can spare. To kick off the campaign, the bank donated $365, the equivalent of four people doing the quarter challenge.

Sands said that they have already received donations from a few individuals who are skipping the quarter challenge and giving the equivalent now. Either way is fine with Sands and the organization’s Board of Directors. Checks for Shepherd’s House can be sent to P.O. Box 550, McArthur, Ohio 45651.

Follow Shepherd’s House on Facebook  or join in the Quarter Challenge.

 

Dream Field Gets Big Boost From Franklin County Banking Center

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From left are Grove City Branch Service Manager Shayne Applegarth, Head of Retail – EVP Denise Fauber, Branch Manager Sue Ross, Commercial Lender – VP Jeff Guminey, President Ron Collins, Grove City Little League Board Treasurer Jack Widner, GCLL VP Jimmie Harris, Buddy Ball Board Treasurer Lynn Stitzlein and Buddy Ball Board President Michael DiBlasi.

Since its inception in 1867, The Vinton County National Bank has stood tall as a community-centered organization, serving local communities by providing personalized loan and deposit services to individuals and local businesses. Now with 17 locations in seven Central and Southern Ohio counties, community service and financial donations in the areas where we live and work continue to be an important part of our bank culture.

In 2015, after adding the Franklin County Banking Center in Grove City to our financial family, an opportunity was presented to us to contribute to a project near and dear to the heart of many Grove City residents.  The Grove City Little League’s Project Dream Field, as it was being called, had been underway for a several years and was beginning to enter the home stretch.

The project’s goal?  The development of an accessible field to provide opportunities for children with disabilities to play baseball, regardless of their abilities.  After researching the Little League’s efforts and their proposed plan, VCNB was proud to present the Little League with a $3,000 donation toward the Dream Field earlier this month.  Grove City Little League Executive Board Member Jack Widner recently agreed to talk to us in depth about the project and shared some exciting news about the grand opening.

Tell me about the objective of the Dream Field project. 
In 2012, the Mayor of Grove City came to a group of Grove City citizens and asked them to resurrect the Grove City Little League.  The group of men, some of who played in the previously-disbanded league’s first games in the 1950’s, were happy to get involved in bringing Little League back to Grove City.  After they were able get to the league back up and running in 2013, the GCLL Board of Directors heard about a previous effort to bring a miracle field to Grove City.  That plan never came to fruition, so they decided they would like to try and make it happen.  The Board met with the City of Grove City, who pledged to help fund the project if the GCLL Board could raise $252,000.

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Little League Board Treasurer Jack Widner updates Grove City Branch Manager Sue Ross on the fundraising process.

How many children do you think this will benefit in the Grove City area?  Is your aim beyond this area?
A new baseball group has formed out of the creation of the Dream Field: “Buddy Ball at Grove City Dream Field.”  The Buddy Ball baseball group will be in charge of putting together a league for children to be able to play baseball at the field.  They initially thought they would have six to seven teams of children with different needs.  However, since word has gotten out about the new field, we have received requests from teams as far away as Jackson, Ohio and London, Ohio to host games at the Dream Field.  It’s hard to tell exactly how many children will be served by the field – but we expect to draw children from a big chunk of Central Ohio and Southern Ohio.

I know a similar program in Dublin has been helpful in this project.  Did you model this off of another project specifically or was it a combination of various influences?
It was a combination of things that led us to develop this project.  We did talk to the organizers of the Dublin field, who were very helpful, and found out that they are serving over 47 zip codes and are having difficulty keeping up with the demand for the field.  There are 219 of these fields in the United States, and we thought the success of that particular field showed us there is certainly a demand for this here.

Tell us why you’re so passionate about the project and who is working on it with you.
When the Board of Directors had fulfilled its mission of bringing back Little League to Grove City, we were looking for a way that we could continue to give back to our community.  Once we saw the need, and the response the community had to our efforts, we knew we had to see this through.  Each of the Board members is looking forward to driving by that field and seeing children of all abilities able to enjoy the game of baseball.

It seems the community has really been on board with this – how much of your goal have you been able to raise and how were you able to do so?
Once word got out about the Board’s efforts to bring this project to fruition, the community was very supportive.  We had Girl Scouts, Cheerleaders and various service groups help raise money for the field.  The Grove City Community Club has been extremely generous to the Dream Field. Three gentlemen generously included Dream Field contributions in their obituaries:  Coach Ernie Plank, Dick Robinson, and Jim O’Connor.  One very successful fundraiser was hosted by Planks in Downtown Grove City which brought in around $5,800.  Most of the community’s fundraising efforts came in smaller amounts – but every penny counted in helping us reach and then surpass our goal.  Mount Carmel, the Mirolo Foundation, and the Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Class were very supportive.  Because of support from the community, we have raised over $550,000, all private funds!

I understand the Grove City Dream Field Specialty License Plate was created via Senate Bill 159, introduced by State Senator John Hughes and Representative Cheryl Grossman.  The next step is its discussion in the Ohio House of Representatives.  If all goes according to plan, proceeds from this specialty plate will help with the Dream Field upkeep.  What can you tell me?
Yes, that bill is still in the process of being approved.  Once it is, the license plate will cost $25.  $15 dollars will go back to support Buddy Ball and help offset their costs.  We need a minimum of 500 license plates sold each year to keep the program available.

So this whole concept really got going in 2013, correct?
Yes.  After the Board got Little League up and running in 2012, they moved on to bringing a Dream Field to Grove City.

…And you were able to break ground in June of 2015.  That’s a pretty quick turnaround from concept to construction.  How far along are you in construction and when is your expected completion date?
The field is complete and will be ready for play on opening day May 7.  Many items are still being added to the facility, however, such as water misters that were donated by Elks Lodge 37 and a scoreboard that was purchased by the Grove City Community Club.  The parking lot is being completed and the accompanying building with restrooms, changing tables, concessions, storage will be wonderful.  A new shelter house is planned to be built this Summer.

I heard there are plans for a universal playground next to the facility; is this accurate?  Was this always a part of the plan?
Because of the additional money that was raised, we were able to incorporate this into the project.  We expect to break ground on the universal playground this spring, with completion in early fall.

I’ve been keeping up with the Grove City Little League’s updates on the Dream Field’s progress.  Tell our readers where they can keep up with the latest information and how to make a donation if they’d like.
The best place is www.gclittleleague.com or on Facebook on our Grove City Little League page (facebook.com/GroveCityLittleLeague).

Do you have any marketing materials or videos you could share with us for our blog?
There is a great video on our Facebook page and the City of Grove City has been tracking progress of the project.  Karen Fahy in the community affairs division has been taking pictures all along the way of the building of the field along with a lot of the fundraisers we have had.

Well Jack, we certainly appreciate you taking the time to discuss the Dream Field and we look forward to the grand opening on May 7!
Thank you so much!

 

 

Teaching Kids Lifelong Money Lessons

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College Savings Pennies.jpg

We visit local elementary schools every spring for a project called “Teach Children To Save.” This is one of our favorite annual events because it gives us a chance to talk with youngsters and to help mold responsible financial citizens of the future.

It’s funny because these third graders have a pretty firm grasp on the difference between a need and a want as well as the importance of saving money. Inevitably several kids will raise their hands to tell us they are saving money for a car or college. Once we had a little boy tell us he’s saving for a wife “because they’re expensive.” We giggled but love the spirit behind his hard work.

On the other hand, we also talk with high school students and are surprised to learn how few are saving for anything. It’s a tough age, one where the expensive shoes are a necessity rather than a want and where there’s never enough money for all the socializing, gadgetry and new clothes they desire.  It’s hard to talk to older kids about saving money but it’s still something that parents need to do.

The best approach is to start when they’re young and to continue the dialogue as they grow. Even little kids have opportunity to earn money with chores or an allowance. Lots of times there are monetary gifts for holidays too. Begin by teaching them they can have fun with their money while saving a little too.

We once met a teen whose parents set her up with a savings system when she was a toddler:

10%        Tithing
10%        Retirement
10%        Car, college, house (in that order)
70%        Anything she wants

She’s an adult now who was able to buy her first car and contribute to her higher education. She continues with this savings system and has a better head start to retirement than a lot of older adults. She said her parents did not shelter her as a child but talked to her about some household expenses and why they save money.

One financial expert that we read suggested enlisting help from the grandparents. Instead of shopping for things, the grandparents send the kids each a check on their birthday. It’s for $100 plus their age. Everyone understands that it’s for saving, not spending and it has become a fun annual tradition that gives a big boost to the child’s savings account.

Another way to make savings fun for kids is to give them a short term goal for something like a coveted toy. Create a savings chart that helps them follow their progress. Achieving short term progress will encourage them to dig into long term goals as well.

Finally, remember they are still kids. Make them work for it to appreciate the value of a dollar through chores or an after school job. Consider incenting your kids by matching their savings. This will give them a boost while instilling an important life lesson.