ICBA and CFSB Provide Tips for Preventing Elder Financial Abuse

June 15 is World Elder Abuse Awareness Day

Washington, D.C. (June 13, 2014)–June 15 is World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, the Independent Community Bankers of America® (ICBA),  Community Financial Services Bank (CFSB), the Senior Housing Crime Prevention Foundation (SHCPF) and the nation’s more than 6,500 community banks are providing tips for preventing the disturbing trend of elder financial abuse.

“Community bankers nationwide serve a vital role in protecting members of our communities, including the elderly who are all too often targets of financial abuse,” said ICBA Chairman John H. Buhrmaster, president and CEO of 1st National Bank of Scotia, N.Y. “It’s important for all Americans to be aware of this very real issue and learn about ways to help prevent elder financial abuse from happening to themselves or their loved ones. If you have questions or concerns about the safety and security of your finances, you should speak to your local community banker right away.”

ICBA, CFSB and SHCPF offer the following suggestions on ways to prevent elder financial abuse:

·         Secure all of your valuables in a bank safety deposit box. These valuables can include your Social Security card, passports, credit card account numbers, will and other legal documents, financial statements and medical records.

·         Do not give financial information to callers that contact you and claim to be from established organizations such as your bank or credit card companies, especially if they ask you to wire funds or send them private information. If you are concerned about your bank account, contact your local community bank directly.

·         Check your bank accounts and bill statements carefully. You can check them online so you can zoom in easily in case you need to make the statement larger for easier reading. If you notice unauthorized charges, alert your bank immediately.

·         Do not give your personal information, such as bank account numbers or PINs, to anyone in a phone call, letter, email, fax or in a text message.

·         Have enough money set aside to support yourself and your immediate family for at least six months in case of an emergency. Your local community banker can help create a financial roadmap for you and your family.

“Elder financial abuse is a rapidly growing problem in our country, so we produced the Preventing Elder Financial Abuse Video Toolkit because we are dedicated to providing educational resources to help our nation’s seniors and their family members on ways to protect themselves against financial exploitation,” said Peter Gwaltney, chairman, president and CEO of the Senior Housing Crime Prevention Foundation. “We are encouraging every banker to spread the word on ways to prevent elder financial abuse and exploitation to every senior citizen and their families.”

For more information about the Senior Housing Crime Prevention Foundation, visit www.SHCPFoundation.org. To order the Preventing Elder Financial Abuse Video Toolkit, visit SHCPF’s website. To learn more about community banks and services they offer, visit www.icba.org.

About The Senior Housing Crime Prevention Foundation (SHCPF)
The Foundation serves as a way for banks to earn CRA credit in the form of CRA-qualified loans, investments or grants through the operation of the nationally acclaimed Senior Crimestopper’s program. Funded exclusively by the banking industry, this program provides safe, secure and improved quality of life living environments in low and moderate income senior housing facilities, HUD communities and our nation’s Veterans homes. Banks enjoy guaranteed CRA credit, no administrative burden, installation of a turn-key program, and positive public relations exposure in their communities.

Not only does the Foundation impact the lives of the elderly, we also impact the community outside of the long-term care industry through the CRA-qualified securities we purchase on behalf of our bank partners. As March 31, 2014 the community impact has reached approximately $134 Million which goes to provide affordable home mortgages for low-to-moderate income families, affordable healthcare services, small business development providing job creation, as well as other economic development projects.

Senior Crimestoppers is a multi-faceted program that protects the elderly from theft, abuse, neglect and financial exploitation, and is administered by the Foundation who is endorsed by the ICBA, the ABA, and bankers associations in 38 states.  For more information about the Foundation, visit www.SHCPFoundation.org or call 877-232-0859. For more information about the program, visit www.SeniorCrimestoppers.com or call 800-529-9096.

ICBA and CFSB Support Small Businesses

Just one of the many ways community banks build more economically sustainable communities

 

Community banks help America build more economically sustainable communities by lending to local small businesses, said the Independent Community Bankers of America ® (ICBA), Community Financial Services Bank (CFSB) and thousands of its community bank members that are celebrating ICBA Community Banking Month this month. Community banks help local economies thrive by helping to put local deposits back to work in their communities through loans to local residents and small businesses. In fact, small business lending has always been cornerstone to the community bank business.

“Community banks serve a vital role in maintaining the lending flow to fellow small businesses in their neighborhoods. Often when other banks won’t lend, it’s the community banks that step up and help Main Street succeed,” said ICBA Chairman John H. Buhrmaster, president of 1st National Bank of Scotia, N.Y. “Community banks are small businesses too, which puts them at a huge advantage because they can relate with the challenges and needs small businesses face better than anyone else in the marketplace—helping their small business customers through good times and bad”

Community banks are the primary source of lending for small businesses and farms. For their size, community banks are prolific small business lenders—providing a substantial number of small business loans across the country, including Small Business Administration (SBA) loans. In fact, even though they comprise just 20 percent of banking industry assets, community banks with less than $10 billion in assets make nearly 60 percent of small businesses loans to small businesses.

“By driving local economies and creating local jobs through lending to small businesses and residents, community banks help build more sustainable communities,” Buhrmaster said. “Community banks are an integral part of our nation’s financial system, and they will continue to serve their communities well into the future—making their communities a better place for all residents.”

There are almost 7,000 community banks, including commercial banks, thrifts, stock and mutual savings institutions, with more than 50,000 locations throughout the United States. Assets may range from less than $10 million to $10 billion or more. Community banks constitute 96.8 percent of all banks.

To follow the conversation on ICBA Community Banking Month, follow the hashtag #BankLocally on Twitter. To learn more about community banks, visit www.icba.org while further information about CFSB can be viewed at www.yourlifeyourbank.com.

ICBA and CFSB Kicks Off Community Banking Month

Community banks build economically sustainable communities by lending locally

Washington, D.C. (April 1, 2014)—The Independent Community Bankers of America® (ICBA) and Community Financial Services Bank (CFSB) today kick off ICBA Community Banking Month—a month full of community pride for local residents, small businesses and the community banks that proudly serve them. Throughout the month, ICBA and CFSB will encourage consumers and small businesses who are interested in building more economically sustainable communities to check out what their community bank has to offer.

“Community banks help local families achieve financial stability while also driving small business lending in their communities—keeping America’s communities economically healthy and vibrant,” said ICBA Chairman John H. Buhrmaster, president of 1st National Bank of Scotia, N.Y.  “Throughout April, ICBA, our members and our state and regional partners will celebrate the unique and vital role that community banks serve in their communities, while educating consumers and small business owners about the benefits of banking locally with their community bank.”

Community banks are relationship lenders that thrive when their customers and communities do the same. Taking care of customers and looking out for the best interest of local communities is the community banking business model.

There are almost 7,000 community banks, including commercial banks, thrifts, stock and mutual savings institutions, with more than 50,000 locations throughout the United States. Assets may range from less than $10 million to $10 billion or more. Community banks constitute 96.8 percent of all banks.

“CFSB has thrived since 1890 thanks to our loyal and valued customers who believe in the community banking business model,” said Betsy Flynn, CFSB President/CEO.  “The future for community banking is bright, and I encourage everyone to Go Local and realize the difference that a community bank can make in their lives now and for years to come.”  

To follow the conversation on ICBA Community Banking Month, follow the hashtag #BankLocally on Twitter. To learn more about community banks, visit www.icba.org while further information about CFSB can be viewed at www.yourlifeyourbank.com.

ICBA Encourages Americans to Save During “America Saves” Week

Community banks can help consumers create savings plans, build nest eggs

 

Washington, D.C. (Feb. 24, 2014)—The Independent Community Bankers of America ® (ICBA) and Community Financial Services Bank (CFSB) is proud to add community bankers’ voices to organizations nationwide that are encouraging Americans to save as part of America Saves Week, Feb. 24 – March 1, 2014. This nationwide campaign, which began in 2007, features a broad coalition of nonprofit, corporate and government organizations that are committed to raising awareness of the importance of creating savings funds, building emergency funds and assessing savings plans.

“It’s never too late to develop good saving habits to achieve financial stability,” Bill Loving, ICBA chairman and president and CEO of Pendleton Community Bank in Franklin, W.Va., said. “By participating in America Saves Week, the nation’s nearly 7,000 community banks are raising awareness of the importance of savings plans and offering tips on how consumers can reach their savings goals.”

America Saves Week is an annual opportunity to help promote positive savings behavior and for consumers to assemble their own savings plans. Learn more about why saving is so important and how to get started on building a nest egg at www.americasavesweek.org.

“Community banks are there to help local residents plan for their financial present and future every day of the year,” Terry Jorde, ICBA senior executive vice president and chief of staff, said. “Beginning to save can be intimidating, but no contribution is too small. With the help of your local community bank, creating and maintaining savings funds should be one less thing you need to worry about.”

ICBA and CFSB offers the following tips to help Americans get started on their personal savings:

Set a goal: People are more successful when they have certain goals in mind, so create and share a savings goal with your family and friends. Start small—even saving your loose change can get you somewhere. Aim to start a path toward building an emergency fund of savings with six to nine months of living expenses.

Make a plan: By creating a spending plan, list your expenses and compare them to your income. The plan will help prioritize what are necessities and wants for the month. Attempt to use your credit cards more efficiently, too. Doing that can help ensure that you will not take on too much debt and can minimize interest charges.

Save automatically: Many employers offer regular payroll deduction, which is one of the best ways to start and keep saving money. Make it a routine to automatically put aside a certain amount of money each paycheck, or ask your community bank to make an automatic transfer from your checking to savings account each month.

For more helpful tips, take a look at the Twitter hashtag #NewYearFinLit, which was used for ICBA’s Twitter chat on New Year’s financial literacy resolutions last month.

To learn more about community banks, visit www.icba.org and follow @ICBA on Twitter. Also log on to www.yourlifeyourbank.com for more on CFSB and search for CFSBank on Facebook and Twitter for further updates and information from the region’s oldest independent community financial institution.

About ICBA

The Independent Community Bankers of America®, the nation’s voice for nearly 7,000 community banks of all sizes and charter types, is dedicated exclusively to representing the interests of the community banking industry and its membership through effective advocacy, best-in-class education and high-quality products and services. For more information, visit www.icba.org.

About CFSB

CFSB is a locally-owned and operated ESOP financial institution with headquarters in Benton, Kentucky.  CFSB has locations throughout Calloway, Marshall and McCracken County in Western Kentucky and employs more than 170 team members. Member FDIC.  For more information, visit www.yourlifeyourbank.com.

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CFSB Goes Red!

CFSB went red today for National Wear Red Day.

We hope this gesture helps people become more aware of this "silent killer." Our thoughts and prayers are with the families out there that have lost loved ones to heart disease.

ICBA and CFSB Provides Tips for Consumers on Data Privacy Day

Cybersecurity, data breach crimes are increasing, and consumers need to be aware of how to protect their information

Washington, D.C. (Jan. 28, 2014)— Today is Data Privacy Day, according to the National Cyber Security Alliance, and given recent consumer data security breaches at a few of the nation’s largest retailers, the Independent Community Bankers of America® (ICBA) and Community Financial Services Bank (CFSB) wants consumers to be alert when it comes to protecting their sensitive financial information and to know  how to be safe online.

Community banks have worked aggressively to protect their customers following recent consumer data breaches. They have been informing customers about community banks’ multiple layers of security protection, monitoring customer accounts for fraudulent activity, reissuing credit and debit cards to consumers as appropriate and educating consumers on how to avoid fraud. If charges you did not make appear on your credit or debit cards, alert your community bank immediately.

“The latest data breaches at retailers such as Target and Neiman Marcus remind us that criminals are looking to capture sensitive consumer financial information and personal data online and in-person,” said Bill Loving, ICBA chairman and president and CEO of Pendleton Community Bank, Franklin, W.Va. “The community banking industry wants consumers to have as much information as possible so they can help protect themselves against these types of attacks.”

ICBA and CFSB provides consumers valuable tips when it comes to taking proactive security measures:

• Be sure to use unique passwords for all financial online accounts. Never share or duplicate usage of your password, account number, PIN or answers to security questions.
• Monitor all of your financial accounts and report any suspicious activity, such as false or multiple charges, to your community bank immediately.
• Do not save credit or debit card, banking account or routing numbers, or other financial information, on your computer, phone or tablet.
• Be vigilant about using a password on mobile devices. Be sure to set your devices to automatically lock after a selected period of time to ensure no one can access your smartphone, tablet or laptop.
• Do not provide your secure financial information over the phone or Internet if you are unsure of who is asking for it. Contact your community bank directly by using the phone number on the back of your debit or credit card, or stop in your bank to speak with someone in person. Remember, your community bank will never contact or text you asking for personal or banking information. Assume any unsolicited text request is fraudulent.
• Be aware of the location of your mobile devices (smartphones, tablets) at all times. Only log on financial websites when you have a secure, safe and trusted Internet connection.

“Contact your community bank immediately if you think any of your financial data has been compromised,” Loving said. “The sooner you alert proper authorities about suspicious activity, the sooner it can be resolved.”

 

For additional information about Data Privacy Day, visit Stay Safe Online’s website at www.staysafeonline.org. For information about community banks, visit www.icba.org. For further information on CFSB, log on to www.yourlifeyourbank.com.

About ICBA

The Independent Community Bankers of America®, the nation’s voice for nearly 7,000 community banks of all sizes and charter types, is dedicated exclusively to representing the interests of the community banking industry and its membership through effective advocacy, best-in-class education and high-quality products and services. For more information, visit www.icba.org.

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About CFSB

CFSB is a locally-owned and operated ESOP financial institution with headquarters in Benton, Kentucky.  CFSB has locations throughout Calloway, Marshall and McCracken County in Western Kentucky and employs more than 170 team members. Member FDIC.  For more information, visit www.yourlifeyourbank.com.

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Our Duck Has a Name

New Year….New Name

That’s right, our duck has a name!

Moby Duck

Thanks to all those who participated in naming our feathered friend.