|
|
Yesterday's Traditions.
Tomorrow's Vision.
|
19 Convenient Locations
Phone: 1.888.759.2266
|
|
Greetings!
WE ARE PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE...
Our Board of Directors recently appointed Elaine A. Woodland as President, Chief Executive Officer and Director of the corporation and the bank.
Ms. Woodland has previously served as the Treasurer of the corporation and Chief Operating Officer of the bank since 2014. She had been appointed as the interim President and Chief Executive Officer of the corporation and the bank in April 2018.
Woodland has served the banking industry for 37 years starting as a teller with First National Bank of Berwick.
In her previous position of Chief Operating Officer, she directed several areas of the Bank including the Retail Banking Division, Deposit Operations, Human Resources, IT, Marketing, Training and Professional Development and Facilities. Before being COO Elaine held the position of Director of Lending where she led Commercial, Consumer and Residential Mortgage divisions, as well as Loan Operations.
Elaine currently resides in Berwick with her husband Chip and is actively involved in the community holding several board positions.
Speaking on behalf of the Board of Directors, Robert A. Bull, Chairman of the Board stated, "we reviewed the corporation’s recent performance and Ms. Woodland’s contributions to that performance and believe that she is the most qualified candidate to deliver the best results for our corporation and shareholders. Ms. Woodland has served the corporation and bank in many roles over the years including most recently as interim President and Chief Executive Officer. we are pleased that Elaine will bring her unique set of skills and extensive experience to this role, and she has already made a significant positive impact in her time as interim President and Chief Executive Officer.”
Congratulations Elaine!
|
|
BE PREPARED FOR THE HOLIDAYS
|
|
FALL IS THE RIGHT TIME TO REVIEW YOUR FINANCES AND BUDGET BEFORE THE WINTER HOLIDAYS
|
|
September 22nd was the last official day of summer. Along with the changing leaves and weather, your finances also typically go through seasonal changes too. But you still have ample time to prepare your budget for big expenses and get organized before you head into the most expensive shopping season of the year.
In order to help local families manage the end-of-year debt caused by holiday spending, we offer the following tips to help you get through the season with your wallet intact.
START YOUR HOLIDAY SAVINGS FUND NOW
If you have not started to set money aside for the winter holidays, now is the time to get started. You may have just seven to nine paychecks left before the season starts, depending on your pay cycles and what holidays you celebrate. You can absorb the cost of increased expenses in November and December by setting aside money from each paycheck now. Using your savings, instead of relying on high interest rate credit cards to cover those expenses will help to tighten up your budget for the next few months so that you can set aside some extra cash specifically for those holiday shopping sprees.
SET UP A HOLIDAY BUDGET
There’s no better time than now to set up your holiday budget. This gives you time to coordinate menus for big meals, map out a full gift list, and make plans for how to cut costs this year. Write down the name of everyone you plan to give gifts to—from your nearest and dearest and your in-laws, to your mail carrier. Then, put a dollar figure next to each name. Setting price limits helps you keep your holiday budget on track. Make sure when setting up your budget that you include as many costs as possible. This includes gifts, decorations, food and beverages, shipping charges, and postage for holiday cards. Any charge that does not fall within your regular household budget should be included on your holiday budget. The little extras can throw your entire budget off track if you are not careful. Creating a list and planning your budget for the coming weeks makes it easier to make adjustments as needed once December arrives.
START YOUR HOLIDAY GIFT HUNT
We all know that the sale to beat all sales — Black Friday — comes on the heels of Thanksgiving. However, do not forget about the little guys: Columbus Day and Veterans Day usually mean smaller but still significant discounts. Expect sales on appliances, cookware, clothing and electronics during these times. One of the surest ways to overspend is to wait until the last minute and buy all your gifts in a rush. Not only are you more likely to overspend, but it also makes an already stressful time of the year even more so. Taking advantage of early discounts will help beat the winter rush and get you started on your holiday shopping.
START BAKING, AND GET CRAFTY
Another great way to prep for the holidays and save money is to give homemade gifts, which are often the most thoughtful and treasured. These gifts might not work for everyone on your list, but they are good options for some. Get your creative juices flowing now and work on projects in the coming weeks. By doing a little each day you will not have much to worry about by the time December rolls around. Consider photos for grandparents or cookies for your kids’ teachers.
GET REAL WITH THE FAMILY
If last year’s spending got out of control, now is a good time to sit down and establish some financial guidelines. Although watching children open gifts is priceless, the
cost to purchase the gifts can be overwhelming. Parents should set boundaries on how much to spend on each child. By doing so, you will stay within budget and resist the temptation to keep buying. Get creative by buying gifts the whole family can enjoy together such as games, movie tickets, or plan a fun day out.
IF YOU DO PLAN TO USE A CREDIT CARD, ZERO OUT YOUR BALANCES FIRST
Many major credit issuers offer specialized rewards for holiday spending. The lure of these reward programs is meant to incentivize you to use those accounts for holiday expenses. There is nothing wrong with using credit cards to earn those incentives, but you need to make sure you get the most out of them.
If you plan to use reward credit cards during the holiday season, you need to zero out those balances now. Otherwise, applied monthly interest charges will quickly offset any rewards you earn. However, if you start a billing cycle at zero then pay off holiday purchases at the end of each month, you can use reward credit cards interest-free.
MAKE TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS NOW
Booking tickets in advance generally means lower prices. It also means you have time to shop several travel comparison sites. So, start booking your flights and hotel accommodations early. Here are some tips for finding the best prices on flights and hotels:
FLIGHTS:
- Look for flights that go to smaller airports, rather than the main large airport
for each metropolitan area
- Check the website of the airport to see what discount airlines are available
- If possible, be flexible with departure dates and times
HOTELS:
- If you find a hotel on a comparison site, call the hotel directly to see if they have special rates or discounts that are not advertised
- Also, check to see if they participate in any reward programs that offer incentives
or miles
- Consider alternative accommodations, such as campsites, RV parks or home swaps
HAPPY PLANNING!
|
|
Crisp fall days are meant for comfort food. We asked
our employees to share some of their favorite fall recipes with you. Warm up on crisp autumn days with
their favorite soup, chili and dessert!
|
|
FREE CREDIT REPORT FREEZES ARE HERE
|
|
Free credit report freezes and year-long
fraud alerts are here, thanks to a new federal law. Here’s what you should know.
|
|
A provision of a new Federal law requiring credit reporting agencies to freeze consumer credit reports at no charge took effect Friday. These security or credit freezes restrict access to credit files to reduce identity theft.
A new blog post from the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection outlines how consumers can contact the major credit bureaus to request a freeze, which must be granted within one business day. Additionally, consumers may place year-long fraud alerts, which tell businesses to check with customers before opening an account.
|
|
Berwick Relay for Life - June 15, 2018
Keystone Cancer Kickers
|
THANK YOU to all of our employees, friends and family for their hard work and dedication that made our 2018 Keystone Cancer Kickers Relay for Life participation a HUGE success. We were able to donate $3,837.00 to the American Cancer Society from our weekend stand, yearlong fundraising activities and a generous donation from our corporate office.
|
|
Plymouth Kielbasa Fest August 10 & 11, 2018
|
We were very proud to be one of the main sponsors for the Plymouth Kielbasa Fest again this year. We always enjoy seeing so many of our friends, family and customers at this great yearly event. To those of you who donated a $1 to play Plinko, THANK YOU! We were able to raise $300 for the Plymouth Ambulance
Association. (PCAA) is a 911 Emergency only, Advanced Life Support, Paramedic Ambulance Service serving
eleven municipalities and over 110,000 permanent residents
. They have
four busy stations
in Montgomery County, PA.
|
|
Stroudsburg 2018 Stroudfest - September 1st, 2018
|
What A Great Day! Thank you to everyone who stopped by our table and donated $1 to play Plinko. We were able to raise $254.00 for Family Promise of Monroe County. This non-profit organization
provides safe shelter, meals, and support services for homeless families with children and we are so happy to be able to support them.
|
|
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW TO
PROTECT YOURSELF!
|
|
Secure Your Financial Future
You can look to First Keystone Community Bank for a full range of money management and retirement programs for you and your family.
A Personal Approach
There's no one-size-fits-all investment plan; your situation, goals, and needs are unique. At First Keystone our focus is on your life and priorities.
We start by asking questions and listening to you, in an effort to fully understand your investment needs. Only then can our professional guidance empower you to make informed financial decisions.
How We Can Help You
Trust Services & Estate Settlement
Acting as your trustee allows us to take on broader responsibilities that can benefit you now and continue to help your family in the future, from asset distribution, to more complex estate plans and trusts. Avoiding mistakes and pitfalls now can help relieve stress on your loved ones later. By working with our financial consultants, you can help set the stage for settling your estate with ease.
Types of Trusts
Personal Trust-Revocable or Irrevocable
Trust Under Will
Grantor Trusts
Charitable Trusts
Estate Services
Executor of your Will
Trustee of your Trust
Retirement Planning
Build a financial plan that fits your retirement expectations. Maybe you plan to fish all day…sleep ‘til noon…travel the world…or one of a myriad of other retirement activities. Let us help you make your retirement dreams a reality. Work with our experienced consultants to help you secure your future financial comfort.
Options to Consider:
Individual Retirement Plans (IRA)
Investment Advisory Accounts
Custodial Accounts
Power of Attorney
Successful financial planning starts with getting to know the person, their feelings toward investing, and their financial situation.
We work hard to develop a relationship with our customers to guide them in developing a financial plan that will give them peace of mind.
We pledge to use our expertise and insight to help you achieve and maintain your personal financial goals.
MEET OUR TEAM THAT IS READY TO HELP YOU!
|
|
IT'S THE DREADED "B' WORD
|
|
Unfortunately, the word
budget
has gotten a bad rap.
Many people view a budget as a straitjacket that will keep them from doing what they want. But that couldn’t be further from the truth! A budget doesn’t limit your freedom, it gives you freedom!
Nothing will make your paycheck go further than setting and sticking to a monthly budget. Budgeting means you're spending with a purpose before the month begins. A budget is simply a means of making sure your money is working for you.
It allows you to see how much you are earning and allocate it towards the things that are most important to you. If you can keep your bigger goals in mind, everyday budgeting becomes easier
If you are wondering whether to buy something, ask yourself if that money would be better spent towards your big goal. Put a visual reminder in your wallet to keep you on task-like a photo of a sandy beach or a new car. Viewing your budget in terms of what it will allow you to accomplish, not the things it won't allow you to buy, can revolutionize your spending.
|
|
EVENT CALENDAR
.
DATES TO REMEMBER
|
|
November
Greater Columbia County Area
Friday November 23rd, 2018, 10:30am
Santa Parade- Front Street, Berwick
Pocono Area
Now until November 19th, 2018
Girls on the Run Shoe Collection Drive
|
|
Thursday November 22nd, 2018
From all of us at First Keystone Community Bank
|
|
December
Greater Columbia County Area
Saturday December 1st, 4:00 - 8:00pm
Winterfest Downtown Berwick
Friday December 7th, 4:00pm - Saturday December 8th, 7:00pm
Victorian Candlelight Christmas Tours
Pocono Area
Monday December 17, 7:00pm
Trinity Centennial Band Holiday Concert to Benefit
The Salvation Army, Stroudsburg High School Auditorium
Sponsored by FIrst Keystone Community Bank
|
|
|
What is your favorite Fall activity?
|
|
|
|
WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!
|
|
YOUR OPINION MATTERS!
We would appreciate if you could
take a few minutes to fill out our survey.
|
Thank you in advance for your feedback
|
|
111 W. Front Street | Berwick, PA 18603 |
Toll Free: (888) 759-2266
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
