County National Bank

The National “Teach Children to Save” Day is Tuesday, April 24^th.  The day is part of a national campaign aimed at raising awareness about the important role that banks and bankers play in helping young people develop lifelong saving habits. 

County National Bank is a participant in the “Teach Children to Save” program and our branch managers have scheduled many classroom visits to read to and do activities with the students as part of their presentations in April.  It’s a natural fit for us to be involved in these financial education efforts and our staff really enjoys the chance to interact with the kids.

Click on this link for the American Bankers Association’s  Money Talks “Teach Children to Save” issue:  MTSpecEdTCTS09.pdf

Exciting News!  We’re installing new ATMs!  The new ATMs have upgraded features for your convenience, including non-glare and wider viewing screens.  The new machines meet the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements and are equipped for the hearing-impaired.  They also have a Spanish language option.  Another new feature is that the card readers allow you to “swipe” your card rather than insert it into a slot.

Listed below are the office locations of the first installations.  Please note the date of the installations, as the ATM will be unavailable for that entire day.  We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause; however, we are confident that you will be pleased with the results. Please click here for a listing of all of our offices and ATMs, if your regular ATM is unavailable. Thank you for your business!

Upcoming ATM Machine Installations:

• Horton Road Office – 1523 Horton Road, Jackson:  Tuesday, April 17^th
• Hudson Office – Market House Plaza, Hudson:  Tuesday, April 24^th
• Litchfield Office – 112 Jonesville Street, Litchfield:  Thursday, April 26^th
• Jonesville Office –228 East Chicago Street, Jonesville:  Tuesday, May 1st

The following cell phone text message is one of the latest scams targeted at getting debit card numbers from unsuspecting debit card holders – please do not respond to the message, as CNB would never attempt to contact our customers in this way.  The text message appears as follows:

Direct Express Debit

MasterCard Locked.

Please call 5142056272

To re-activate it.

If you call the number and hit the prompt to unblock your card, you will be asked to key in your full 16-digit card number, and if you do, the scammers will have the information they want.  Please DO NOT respond to this type of text message.  If you have any questions, please contact our Customer Service Department at 888-322-1088.  Thank you.

The ATM/Debit Card restriction for signature-based transactions has been lifted for the following states: Florida, Georgia, and Wisconsin.

The list of states currently restricted for signature-based ATM/Debit Card transactions (not PIN-based transactions) includes:  New York, New Jersey, Texas, Nevada, and California (both signature-based and PIN-based transactions are restricted in California).

If you have any questions or are planning to travel to any of the restricted states, please contact our Customer Service staff at 888-322-1088 and we may be able to temporarily accommodate your needs.  Thank you for understanding that this measure is for your security and protection.

To avoid becoming a victim of debit card fraud, the American Bankers Association offers these tips:

• Immediately notify your bank if your card is lost or stolen.
• If you have reason to suspect fraud, check your account balance right away by utilizing online banking or telephone banking.
• Use your body to shield the ATM keyboard as you enter your PIN.
• Keep your receipts to check against your statement.
• Keep a record of card numbers, expiration dates, and toll-free numbers for banks so you can contact the issuing bank easily in cases of theft.
• Mark through any blank spaces on debit receipts, including the tip line at restaurants, so the total amount cannot be changed.
• Know your limits.  Many issuers limit daily purchases and withdrawals for your protection.
• Be wary of those trying to help you, especially when an ATM “eats” your card.  They may be trying to steal your card number and PIN.
• Do not give your PIN to anyone over the phone.  Thieves often steal cards and then call the victims for their PIN, claiming to be law enforcement or the issuing bank.
• Always take your receipts or transaction records with you.
• Do not leave your ATM card lying around the house or on your desk at work.  No one should have access to the card but you.
• Check your bank statements often.  Report unauthorized transactions immediately.

Banks are in the business of managing money.  Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) are just the latest in a long line of tax-advantaged savings products, like IRAs, that banks have successfully administered for years.  At CNB, we have the expertise and experience to manage money for the long term and will do so as the demand for health savings accounts continues to grow.  The earliest adopters of health savings accounts were community banks, like CNB, which understood how HSAs could help their small business customers offer health care for employees.

Health savings accounts put the consumer in the driver’s seat, giving them more control over their money.  HSAs allow consumers to invest their money for current and future medical expenses and have it grow tax-free.  If that sounds good to you and you’d like to learn more, check out the Health Savings Account page on our website, view the HSA video on our home page, or call one of our HSA experts at 888-322-1088.

“Gameover” Delivered Via Phishing Emails

A recent phishing scheme perpetrated by cyber criminals involves spam emails that can infect recipients’ computers with malware and allow access to their bank accounts.  The spam emails are purportedly from the National Automated Clearing House (NACHA), the Federal Reserve Bank, or the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC).

The malware is called “Gameover” and once it’s on your computer, it can steal usernames and passwords and defeat common methods of user authentication employed by financial institutions.  It is a newer variant of the Zeus malware, which was created several years ago and targeted banking information.

The phishing scheme works this way:  Individuals receive an unsolicited email from NACHA, the Federal Reserve, or the FDIC advising there’s a problem with a bank account or recent transaction.  There is a link in the email that will supposedly help resolve the issue.  Unfortunately, the link goes to a phony website, and once there, the recipient inadvertently downloads the Gameover malware.  The malware promptly infects the computer and steals banking information.

Recent investigations have shown that some of the funds stolen from bank accounts go toward the purchase of jewelry from high-end stores.  The criminals contact these jewelry stores and promise to wire the money for the purchases the next day.  A “money mule” gets involved in the money laundering aspect of the crime and goes to the store to pick up the merchandise.  The mule turns over the jewelry to the scheme’s organizer or converts the jewelry to cash and uses money transfer services to launder the funds.  In some cases, the money mule is unsuspecting and has been hired via “work at home” advertisements.  They may be instructed to open a bank account or use their own account to receive funds via wire and ACH transactions – and then use money-remitting services to send the money overseas.

If you think you have been victimized by this type of phishing scheme, contact us right away.  And please keep in mind the following tips to protect yourself:

•  Make sure your computer’s anti-virus software is up-to-date.
• Don’t click on email attachments from unsolicited senders.  NACHA, FDIC, and the Federal Reserve do not send unsolicited emails to bank account holders.  If you want to confirm that there is a problem with your account, contact the bank directly.
• Don’t accept unsolicited jobs online that require you to receive funds from numerous bank accounts and then wire money to overseas accounts!

County National Bank is proud to congratulate Hillsdale High School students, Jacob Brown, Kannon McCavit, and Kraig Putnam, as the winning team of our “Lights, Camera, Save!” video contest.

Thank you to all of the students in Mrs. Boyd’s Project Management class for submitting videos to the bank demonstrating the value of saving. Jacob, Kannon, and Kraig’s video titled “I’m in a Bank!” was chosen based on creativity and content and it will now compete nationally. The American Bankers Association Education Foundation will do the next round of judging with prizes awarded to the top three videos. Good luck, guys!

Click here to view the winning “Lights, Camera, Save!” video “I’m in a Bank!”

With the holiday shopping season kicking off, CNB offers tips to manage holiday spending and avoid a post-holiday credit hangover.  Keep in mind that if you’re not budgeting for your holiday purchases, you may find yourself ringing in the New Year with last year’s debt.

•  Create a budget and stick to it.  Set a dollar amount based on what you can afford this holiday season considering your current savings, income, and other expenses.  Be sure to include a $20 to $100 cushion for unexpected expenses.
• Make a list.  Write down the names of the people you plan to buy gifts for and how much you can afford to spend on each person.  Don’t forget to save some of your budget for expenses other than gifts, including wrapping paper, cards, and postage.
• Bake some cookies.  If you can’t afford to buy gifts for everyone on your list, bake some holiday goodies and wrap them in cellophane with a holiday bow.  Handmade gifts are a special way to say “Happy Holidays” without overspending.  Be sure to include these costs in your budget.
• Use credit wisely.  Your credit card balance shouldn’t be a surprise when you open your statement in January.  Take only the credit cards you need when holiday shopping and try to use the card with the lowest interest rate.
• Save your receipts.  Keep track of your expenses and add them up weekly to be sure you’re sticking to your budget.  If you’re getting close to your spending limit, reevaluate your list and bake more cookies!
• Shop around.  Start your holiday shopping early to give yourself time to comparison shop.  Take time to do some research before you hit the stores.

If you should fall deep in debt and are late on your payments, be sure to inform your creditors so they can work with you on a resolution plan.  Banks and other lenders are often willing to help extend payment periods, consolidate debts, or assist in refinancing.

In an effort to teach the local community how to effectively use credit, CNB is teaming up with the American Bankers Association Education Foundation’s Get Smart About Credit program.  The program, now in its ninth year, is a national campaign of volunteer bankers who help young people develop responsible credit habits. County National Bank has contacted area schools and is prepared to leave the bank and join the classroom.  It’s a great opportunity for bank staff to share with students ways to use credit responsibly.

As a participant in the Get Smart About Credit program, CNB offers the following Dos and Don’ts of Credit:

• DO pay at least the minimum due and contact your creditor if you have trouble making payments.  This will help you avoid late fees and a rising APR.  To pay off your balance quicker, pay more than the minimum due.  If you are unable to make the minimum monthly payments, let your creditor know so they can work with you to create a more manageable payment plan.
• DO be wary of anyone who claims they can “fix” your credit report.  No one can legally remove negative accurate information from your credit history.  The only thing that can fix a credit report is time and a positive payment history.
• DO read the fine print on the credit application.  The application is a contract, so read it carefully before signing.  Credit card companies are very competitive so interest rates, credit limits, grace periods, annual fees, terms, and conditions may vary.
• DON’T feel pressure to get a credit card.  If you don’t want one, you have the right to say no.  Under the new CARD Act 2009, consumers aged 18-21 cannot be solicited for credit.  If you no longer wish to receive prescreened offers, opt out by calling 1-888-5-OPTOUT (1-888-567-8688).
• DON’T ignore the warning signs of credit trouble.  If you pay only the minimum balance, pay late, use cash-advances to fund daily living expenses or transfer a lot of balances you might be in the credit danger zone.  Talk to a financial counseling organization to regain control of your finances.
• DON’T share your credit card number.  Never give out credit card or personal information if you have not initiated the transaction.  Be aware of identity theft and phishing scams that ask for credit card numbers.  If you suspect that your identity has been compromised, file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission by calling 1-877-ID-THEFT (1-877-438-4338).