This is the last in the series about going green. To quickly recap the services and products we’ve covered so far that can help you go green and bring along added convenience are eStatements, Internet Banking, and Bill Pay. To conclude the series we are going to take a look at debit cards.

Some of you may be thinking, a plastic card is going green, hummm. Well yes, with that one plastic card you can eliminate having to write numerous paper checks. So that one plastic card could go towards saving some trees which are great for us and the environment.

The debit cards are very handy to have. You don’t have to carry you entire checkbook with you or a bunch of cash, just one little card that fits nicely in your wallet or purse. You can even use your card at the ATM and for online purchases. So that little card works hard for both the environment and you.

So we’ve looked at eStatements and Internet Banking and have found that they can help us go green and give us some added convenience. This week we are going to take a look at another service the bank offers to it’s customers than can do the same.

Bill Pay is a great way of going green and best of all it’s FREE. If you’ve ever used Bill Pay before there is no question that it is convenient. How would like to be able to pay all of your bills from start to finish in under 5 minuets? Well that can be done with Bill Pay. Plus it will save you money from having to buy stamps to mail out your payments.

Bill Pay is also good for the environment since it can reduce the number of paper checks you have to write, envelopes used to mail your payments, and reduce the number of trips you have to take to the post office for stamps and to mail your payments out.

With Bill Pay it’s a win-win, for both you and the environment!
 

Well last week we talked about how eStatements could help you go green and this week we're going to take a look at Internet Banking.

What could be more convenient than your banking information when you want it wherever you want it? Well that’s what you get with Internet Banking and best of all it’s a FREE service that is provided to all of our customers. So needless to say the deal couldn’t get much better than that.

Well not only is Internet Banking a great deal and extremely convenient, but it can also help you go green as well. If you need to transfer some funds and you have Internet Banking (and have filled out all the proper forms to enable transfer capabilities) there is no need to have to jump in your car and run down to the bank to move the money. You can simply log into Internet Banking in the comfort of your own home and move the money yourself with a few simple clicks. There is also another really big feature within Internet Banking that can help you go green but I’m going to save that one for next week.
 

Going green, AKA being environmentally friendly, has become increasingly popular over the past few years. I think people in general want to be green and help preserve what we have but often times people are not willing to sacrifice convenience to do so. We understand that and that’s why we’ve made investments into products and services that can allow our customers to go green with increased convenience. In this series we’ll cover four different ways that we can help you go green while making your life more convenient.

One of the banks more recent offerings has been eStatements. With eStatements, you receive an email letting you know that your statement is ready to be retrieved from a secure website. This can cut down on the use of paper not to mention reducing emissions from vehicles in delivering your statement through the mail. With eStatements you also get your statement faster than you would get it through the mail. Something that I’ve personally used this service for is to keep all of my statements electronically grouped by year, after all, the filing cabinet will only hold so much.

You can find out more information on our site about eStatements, or feel free to call or come by any of our offices. Don’t forget to tell us you want to sign up for eStatements the next time your in!
 

For those that have been keeping up with the recent developments in the banking industry, amongst the other programs, proposals, & provisions and you are aware of the expansion of FDIC coverage from $100,000 to $250,000, an attempt to bolster confidence in the banking system.  The original plan for the coverage expansion was set to expire at the end of 2009.  While there are definitely signs that the economy is on the mend, the decision was made to extend this enhanced coverage until the end of 2013.  On January 1, 2014, the FDIC limit will be restored to its $100,000 limit per depositor for all account categories except for IRAs and other certain retirement accounts which will remain at $250,000 per depositor.  This should help further ease worries about the stability of the overall financial system.  And as always, if you have any questions about FDIC coverage or anything else concerning the soundness and stability of your financial institution, please don’t hesitate to ask!  We’re here to help.
 

Are you looking for an easy way to compare accounts and see which one is right for you?  Well, here at PBK Bank, we have gone an extra step to try and make that as easy as possible. 

While you are on our website simply click on Banking Services, then click on Checking Accounts, and finally click on Account Comparison Matrix.  If everything is working properly you should see a screen that has our PBK Bank logo at the top with “Checking Accounts Comparison Matrix” below it.

You will find in the first row, the name of account we offer.  In the following rows you’ll be able to find and compare details of limitations, benefits, and charges that pertain to each account.

With all of this information in front of you, it should make it easier to actually see what account will benefit your needs the best.  It is a very useful tool and if you still have questions, please feel free to call one of our customer service representatives and we will be glad to assist you further.  As always, we thank you for banking with PBK Bank.

Note: We also have Account Comparisons for our Savings Accounts and Business Accounts.
 

It is a lot of responsibility to raise a child.  Aside from the here & now aspect of keeping him/her fed & clothed or keeping them from playing in the street, you have to always keep your eye on their future.  Similar to navigating a ship, it’s not enough to keep the ship from hitting the iceberg, you have to steer the ship to its desired destination; in the case of children, a responsible, well adjusted, and fulfilling adulthood.  One of the key components of this is a good education.

There are several paths to achieving a good education.  Some students, through diligent hard work, are fortunate enough to attend college on scholarship or grant money.  For others, student loans provide a means for attaining a higher education, of which the debt will be paid upon completion.  There is no substitute, however, for preparation.  Whatever your child’s age, there is no better time than right now to begin preparing for his or her future.

PBK Bank is proud to now offer Coverdell Education Savings Accounts, sometimes referred to as an Education IRA.  They are a tax advantaged way to begin saving for your child’s future, and are available to be opened for any child under the age of 18.  Education IRA’s function similarly to a traditional IRA, in terms of contributions, but there are a few key distinctions.  While traditional IRA’s can be used for education expenses, only Educational IRA’s are tax free if the money is used for qualifying educational expenses (please consult your tax consultant on all tax implications).  And, while Education IRA’s are clearly a great way to pay for college, they can also be used for expenses at public, private, or religious elementary schools, vocational schools, and other qualifying postsecondary educational institutions.  Obviously, there is a bit more complexity to Education IRA’s.  This is just a brief overview & some restrictions/exclusions apply.  Please talk to your tax advisor for details.  For more information, go to IRS Publication 970, at www.irs.gov, or stop by one of our offices.
 

Most things in life aren’t for free but here is one that is! Bill Pay is a free service offered by PBK Bank through its Internet Banking. That’s right, it’s not a typo, Bill Pay is FREE! You can pay virtually anyone anywhere. That’s right you can pay your electric bill, phone bill, car payment, and even the neighbor kid who mows your lawn. Depending on who you are paying we’ll either send them an electronic payment or we’ll send a check to them at no additional cost to you.

Bill Pay is much faster than paying your bills by hand and time is money. Not to mention, no more licking the stamps or envelopes; that should be reason enough to give Bill Pay a try. You will also save money by not having to buy stamps and Bill Pay is statistically safer than by paying your bills through the mail.

Trust me I was hesitant at first myself. I wasn’t sure if I was quite ready to pay my bills online; but after using it for a few times I would not go back to the old way. I’ve talked to a lot of our Bill Pay users and most if not all have the same feelings. Once you try it you won’t go back. Hey what do you have to lose; after all it’s FREE!

(There is a charge for the Expedited Funds portion of Bill Pay but it is clearly labeled and the fees are also displayed. Expedited Funds is an extra add on and not necessary to use Bill Pay.)
 

As some of you have noticed we’ve recently changed the look of Bill Pay. It still functions as it always has with the exception of moving back the cutoff time for Bill Pay payments to 9:30 PM CT which gives you even more time to edit and cancel payments.

The new landing page and layout is designed to give you a better snap shot of recent activity, simplified process of adding a payee and simplified the bill paying experience. We’ve also tried to consolidate the most commonly used services to the landing page so they’re easier to find and you’ve got everything at your command.

There have also been several improvements with onscreen assistance. If you have e-bills that are due and not yet paid you get a notification that will highlight this and bring that to your attention. Other updates are that you can search for a payee in your list and you can also filter your list of payees that show.

We’ve also made some pretty significant changes with new Bill Pay users in mind. For new Bill Pay users our screens have been simplified and better represent the benefits of using Bill Pay. Such examples are that you can pay both business and individuals and control when your payment is sent. The first time you enter Bill Pay it will also guide you through the steps to add payees and how to pay them.

So if you’ve been waiting to sign up for Bill Pay, don’t delay any longer, now’s the time to sign up and start using this FREE service!
 

With all of the wireless devices we use today chances are you either have or have used a wireless network before. Some times these wireless networks are referred to as WI-FI, which has become synonyms with wireless internet. Don’t get me wrong I love a the freedom WI-FI gives you but there are things you should be doing to keep your wireless networks at home safe along with your files and information. Here are few tips from onguardonline.gov on things you can do to protect your wireless network. This list is no way meant to be all inclusive.

1. Most wireless routers have a mechanism called identifier broadcasting. Turn it off so your computer won't send a signal to any device in the vicinity announcing its presence.

2. You should turn off your wireless network when you know you won't use it.

3. Use encryption to scramble communications over the network.  WiFi Protected Access (WPA) is stronger than Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP).

4. Use anti-virus and anti-spyware software, and a firewall. For ex: AVG, Norton, Macafee

5. Change your router's pre-set password for administration to something only you know. The longer the password, the tougher it is to crack.

6. Change the identifier on your router from the default so a hacker can't use the manufacturer's default identifier to try to access your network.

7. Don't assume that public "hot spots" are secure. You may want to assume that other people can access any information you see or send over a public wireless network. 

8. Only allow specific computers to access your wireless network.

9. Be careful about the information you access or send from a public wireless network.

This game is here to test your skills and IQ of wireless internet securities and perhaps learn a little more about it.

As some of you have noticed we’ve recently changed the look of Bill Pay. It still functions as it always has with the exception of moving back the cutoff time for Bill Pay payments to 9:30 PM CT which gives you even more time to edit and cancel payments.

The new landing page and layout is designed to give you a better snap shot of recent activity, simplified process of adding a payee and simplified the bill paying experience. We’ve also tried to consolidate the most commonly used services to the landing page so they’re easier to find and you’ve got everything at your command.

There have also been several improvements with onscreen assistance. If you have e-bills that are due and not yet paid you get a notification that will highlight this and bring that to your attention. Other updates are that you can search for a payee in your list and you can also filter your list of payees that show.

We’ve also made some pretty significant changes with new Bill Pay users in mind. For new Bill Pay users our screens have been simplified and better represent the benefits of using Bill Pay. Such examples are that you can pay both business and individuals and control when your payment is sent. The first time you enter Bill Pay it will also guide you through the steps to add payees and how to pay them.

So if you’ve been waiting to sign up for Bill Pay, don’t delay any longer, now’s the time to sign up and start using this FREE service!
 

PBK Bank offers a variety of accounts.  There are a few things you need to consider before choosing the account that best serves your needs. 

First of all, you need to decide if you need an interest bearing account or non-interest bearing.  If you have determined you need an interest bearing account, you need to narrow it down further by deciding if you want a checking or savings account.  Now, bear in mind that we do not offer interest bearing checking accounts unless you are age 50 or over (Senior Reward Account), or if you are going to keep a balance of $1,000 or greater (Gold Reward Account) or $2,500 or greater (VIP Reward Account also known as our money market account).  Also keep in mind that interest rates are subject to change at any time.  Savings accounts are great if you plan on making deposits and not withdrawing often.  The interest bearing checking accounts are great if you can keep a balance high enough to not get any charges except on the Senior account, there are no minimum balance fees on that account.

Considering a non-interest bearing account?  This choice gives you a few more options to choose from. 

First, we have a couple accounts that are age based, so ask yourself if you qualify for either of them.  We have a Senior Reward Account which you must be age 50 or over to qualify for.  It is a great account which I highly recommend if you qualify.  Next, we have our Student Reward Account.  For this account you must be a student and under the age 23 to qualify.  It has no minimum balance fees, but does have an excess item fee if you have more than 15 debits per statement (ATM transactions are not counted as a debit for this account).  This is a great start for young people trying to get their feet wet in the real world.

If you do not qualify for either of the above mentioned accounts, we still have a few more options for you.  The next question you need to ask yourself is, “Are you going to write many checks?”.  All of our checking accounts come with the first 50 checks for free.  We do have a couple of accounts which get free checks of one style and they are the Senior Reward Account, Basic Club Reward Account, Double Club Reward Account, and the Family Club Reward Account.  All of the Club accounts do have monthly fees, so that is something to consider.

Next, do you need insurance?  All of our Club accounts offer Accidental Death/Dismemberment Insurance.  The amount depends on the account you choose (Basic $10,000, Double $20,000, and the Family $20,000 for adults and $2,500 for children).  Do keep in mind that all of these club accounts do have monthly fees, but you also receive free checks of one style, accidental death/dismemberment insurances and personal internet and ID theft coverage.

The last thing you need to consider is “Do I want a monthly fee?”  We offer 2 accounts that have no monthly fees, no minimum balance fee, and unlimited transactions.  If you are a computer person, we have an E-Account in which you receive your statements via e-mail instead of mail.  Our Freedom Checking Account is the other one in which you receive your statements via mail.  These are great accounts; just remember that you are responsible for paying for your checks after the first 50.

There is one more account that I have not mentioned that you might consider.  Our Bronze Reward Account has no minimum balance fee, a $3.00 a month maintenance fee and an excess item fee if you write more than 20 checks per statement cycle.  The upside of this account is when you come in to open your account, you only have to have $50.00 instead of $100.00 which most other accounts require.

I also want to let you know that with all of our personal accounts you get your first 50 checks for free, free ATM card, free Debit card after 6 months (both with approval), free notary service, 24 hour 800 number to check your balances, free check imaging, free internet banking, free bill pay, free e-statements if preferred, and free combined statements.

With all of this in mind, choose the account that best serves your needs and come on in to see one of our customer service representatives at any location.  If you have any questions please feel free to give us a call at 606-365-7098 or toll free 1-877-230-3711 and we will be glad to assist you.  Thank you for choosing PBK Bank for your banking needs.
 

Unfortunately, solicitors of foreclosure schemes are also reaching out to at-risk homeowners as well.  The Federal Reserve has offered these 5 tips to help protect potential consumers from being the victim of such scams:

1. Work only with a HUD-approved counselor.

Be sure that the counseling agency is on the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) website as an approved agency.  This list can be found at www.hud.gov or you can call 877-483-1515. 

2. Don’t pay an arm and a leg.

Most HUD-approved counselors provide no-cost or low-cost counseling to consumers.  Never agree to pay a fee before the counselor provides any service or if payments are requested only by a cashier’s check or wire transfer.

3. Be wary of “guarantees”.

Working with a legitimate counselor may increase your chances of keeping your home, but be cautious of promises of a sure thing.  No one should guarantee to stop the foreclosure process. 

4. Know what you are signing, and be sure you sign it.

Don’t feel pressured by a counselor to sign any paperwork you don’t understand or before you have carefully read it.  Also, don’t sign any blank paperwork or let a counselor fill out forms for you.  Be sure to talk to an attorney before signing anything that transfers the title of your property to another party.

5. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Trust your instincts, if you feel that you may be the target or victim of foreclosure fraud, seek help.  Report suspicious schemes to your local and state consumer protection agencies, these can be found on the Federal Citizen Information Center’s Consumer Action Website (www.consumeraction.gov).