ePioneer                                                                                                                                                                                                 FALL 2016
letter A LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT
  
 
Greetings from the Pioneer Bank Team:
In this issue we are very pleased to introduce two new bank employees and to welcome a new Director to our bank board.
 
Michelle (Missy) Kroening joined our bank team in August as our Universal Banker. What that really means is she will often be the first point of contact for customer service, handling account and online banking questions, filling in on the teller line when needed and taking on a lead role in opening new accounts. Michelle and her husband Larry are long-time Ladysmith residents and their three sons attend the Ladysmith schools. Michelle brings a great attitude and strong work ethic to our team and she looks forward to getting to know you better.

 
 
Randy Ptacek joined our lending team in August, just in time to help with the Rusk County Jr. Fair.  Randy will focus on Ag Lending and brings nearly 20 years of Ag credit experience working at local Ag cooperatives. He and his daughters are active in the local 4H program and Randy coaches basketball for the Ladysmith Schools and traveling programs. Randy looks forward to getting out to see our local farmers and we look forward to growing our Ag business with Randy's help.
 
 
 
Dr. Edward (Ed) Krenzelok was elected to our Board of Directors by our shareholders this past April. Our board consists of eight Directors and is responsible to set the policies and direction for our Bank. In 2012 Ed and his wife Nancy returned to Rusk County where he was born and raised. It is interesting to note that Ed has maintained a banking relationship with Pioneer Bank during his years away. Ed brings experience gained through an accomplished career in toxicology and poison control issues. For 30 years he served in a leadership roles as the director of the Pittsburgh Poison Center (well known for the Mr. Yuk poison prevention campaign) and a Professor of Pharmacy and Pediatrics at the University of Pittsburgh. He continues to serve as Professor Emeritus.
 
We welcome Missy, Randy and Ed to our team and we all look forward to the opportunity to serve your banking needs. Thank you for your business.
 
Sincerely,

James E. Loe
President
DID YOU KNOW?


 
Did you know that the average family spends $673 on back to school expenses?
 
How can you stick to your back to school budget?
  • Make a list or use the list provided by your school and stick to it
  • Take an inventory of supplies left over from previous year such as pens, pencils, scissors, and notebooks, etc.
  • Take an inventory of clothes 
    • Basics don't go out of style
    • If new clothes are needed, buy clothes they can grow into
  • Shop smart because sometimes quality outweighs price: examples, backpacks or winter gear
    • During children's growth spurts price outweighs name brands
  • Watch for sales and coupons early
    • Spreading your shopping out over several weeks is easier on the budget, and increases your savings by catching as many sales as possible.
  • Teachable moments with kids about budgeting and price comparing

 

As students move away from home here are some reminders:
  • Create a budget before leaving home
    • Establish what your income will be
    • Subtract all your monthly debts or expenses
    • Monies left over after paying debts is spendable
      • Set aside a portion for an emergency fund
    • Adjust monthly budget according to actual spending
    • Be realistic in your budgeting based on your actual spending
  • Look for student perks
    • Many businesses offer special discounts for students by using your college ID
      • If you don't see notification or are asked if you are a student, take the initiative and ask
    • Renting or purchasing used textbooks and sell any textbooks you don't plan on keeping long-term
    • Take advantage of free or inexpensive entertainment provided by your campus
  • Use credit cards wisely
    • Use regularly but pay the balance in full each month to build student's credit history
    • Never use your credit card if you are able to pay cash that day for your purchase
  • Protect yourself against fraud
    • Keep online banking information secret
    • Monitor your accounts frequently by using:
      • Online bank statements
      • Mobile banking alerts

TIPS TO AVOID FRAUD AND SCAMS

Crooks use clever schemes to defraud millions of people every year. They often combine new technology with old tricks to get people to send money or give out personal information. Here are some practical tips to help you stay a step ahead.
  1. Spot imposters. Scammers often pretend to be someone you trust, like a government official, a family member, a charity, or a company you do business with. Don't send money or give out personal information in response to an unexpected request - whether it comes as a text, a phone call, or an email.  
  2. Do online searches. Type a company or product name into your favorite search engine with words like "review," "complaint" or "scam." Or search for a phrase that describes your situation, like "IRS call." You can even search for phone numbers to see if other people have reported them as scams.
  3. Don't believe your caller ID. Technology makes it easy for scammers to fake caller ID information, so the name and number you see aren't always real. If someone calls asking for money or personal information, hang up. If you think the caller might be telling the truth, call back to a number you know is genuine.
  4. Don't pay upfront for a promise. Someone might ask you to pay in advance for things like debt relief, credit and loan offers, mortgage assistance, or a job. They might even say you've won a prize, but first you have to pay taxes or fees. If you do, they will probably take the money and disappear. 
  5. Consider how you pay. Credit cards have significant fraud protection built in, but some payment methods don't. Wiring money through services like Western Union or MoneyGram is risky because it's nearly impossible to get your money back. That's also true for reloadable cards like MoneyPak, Reloadit or Vanilla. Government offices and honest companies won't require you to use these payment methods.
  6. Talk to someone. Before you give up your money or personal information, talk to someone you trust. Con artists want you to make decisions in a hurry. They might even threaten you. Slow down, check out the story, do an online search, consult an expert - or just tell a friend.
  7. Hang up on robocalls. If you answer the phone and hear a recorded sales pitch, hang up and report it to the FTC. These calls are illegal, and often the products are bogus. Don't press 1 to speak to a person or to be taken off the list. That could lead to more calls.
  8. Be skeptical about free trial offers. Some companies use free trials to sign you up for products and bill you every month until you cancel. Before you agree to a free trial, research the company and read the cancellation policy. And always review your monthly statements for charges you don't recognize.
  9. Don't deposit a check and wire money back. By law, banks must make funds from deposited checks available within days, but uncovering a fake check can take weeks. If a check you deposit turns out to be a fake, you're responsible for repaying the bank.
  10. Sign up for free scam alerts from the FTC at ftc.gov/scams. Get the latest tips and advice about scams sent right to your inbox.







events PIONEER BANK: UPCOMING EVENTS & OBSERVANCES
 
We will be closed Monday, September 5, 2016 in observance of Labor Day
 _______________________________________________________________________________

Senior Moment Trip on October 13, 2016

  Teen Idol: The Bobby Vee Story musical
 
&
 
                                      Lunch on Minneapolis Queen Riverboat
 
 
 















RSVP to Ronda by October 3rd at (715)532-5551

________________________________________________________________________________________________


We will be closed Friday, November 11, 2016 in observance of Veterans Day
 

________________________________________________________________________________

Deer Hunting Season
November 19-27, 2015
Good Luck & Be Safe Deer Hunters!!!


_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________



 
We will be closed Thursday, November 24, 2016 in observance of Thanksgiving

 _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 

 

.................................

Main Office

200 Miner Avenue West
P.O. Box 169
Ladysmith, WI 54848

 

715.532.5551

715.532.3728 FAX

 

Monday - Thursday

Lobby  |  8:30 - 4:00

Drive Up  |  8:30 - 5:00


Friday

Lobby  |  8:30 - 4:30

Drive Up  |  8:30 - 5:00

 

Saturday

Drive Up   |  8:30 - 12:00
  

.................................

Branch

400 W 9th Street North 
P.O. Box 169
Ladysmith, WI 54848

 

715.532.9949

715.532.9946 FAX

 

Monday - Friday

10:00 - 6:00


Saturday

8:00 - 1:00



     
  Introducing Remote Deposit Capture Anywhere Anytime
 
Contact us to learn more
 


Pioneer Bank of Wisconsin | 200 W Miner Ave | Ladysmith, WI 54848 | 715.532.5551