Another Parade In the History Books
More than 40 volunteers consisting of Huron Valley Bank employees and their families handed out over 2,600 ice cream bars to an eager crowd along the parade route for the Milford Independence Day parade. 

"We take pride in giving back to our community," said Sheri Miles, Marketing Director of Huron Valley State Bank. "This is just one of the ways we do that. We bring in our employees and their families and we spend our morning giving away ice cream and seeing a lot of smiling faces. We have a lot of fun doing it too."

For the entire story published in the Milford Times, click here.
Residential Mortgage Rates Are At An All Time Low
We may be able to save you money on your residential mortgage with rates at an all time low!  Please call us so that we can discuss your loan options with you. For a limited time when you close your mortgage with HVSB your appraisal fee (average of $425.00) is waived.  Time is of the essence. Call Sue Bowen (NMLS# 165990) at 248.387.6089 or Jim Biel (NMLS #323222) at 248.394.3022. 

Offer expires October 1, 2016.
CURRENTS Concert to Electrify Downtown Milford 
Feel the energy as it surges through downtown Milford during  CURRENTS, an indie rock concert set to take over the LaFontaine Family Amphitheater from 7-10 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 17. Presented by Huron Valley State Bank, the Milford Downtown Development Authority and River's Edge Brewing Company, the one-night showcase will feature the lively antics of Irish-inspired Stone Clover and the powerhouse vocals of Nina and the Buffalo Riders.

"CURRENTS is bringing a new type of music into downtown Milford," said Jack Shubitowski, president and CEO of Huron Valley State Bank. "This year's featured bands are making waves in the indie rock music scene, and we're excited for an unforgettable night of free, live music in downtown Milford."

The name CURRENTS is derived from the LaFontaine Family Amphitheater's location. The amphitheater's environmentally-friendly design orients patrons towards the historic Albert Kahn-designed Ford Power House and Pettibone Creek waterfall. Built into the natural landscape of Central Park, the amphitheater fits snuggly into the existing topography of the site, incorporating terraced seating for nearly 2,000 people.

CURRENTS will turn up the dial first with Stone Clover, a Detroit-based Irish rock n' roll band, that puts a dizzying spin on traditional Irish songs along with high-octane originals. The 5-piece group promises to have the crowd on its feet, dancing to swift guitar swirls, spirited violin, mandolin and accordion to the beat of the drums and bass. Founded in 2009 by Paul Brady, the group draws influence from varying music styles including punk, metal, jazz and folk.   

Taking the stage at 8:30 p.m., one-of-a-kind cross-genre rock band Nina and the Buffalo Riders will take the stage with a high-intensity set. With soulful vocals, blues instrumentation and rock reminiscent of the queen of rock n' roll Joan Jett, the 5-member group has dubbed their style, vintage psychedelic modern folk space rock. Since their formation in 2013, the group has blown away audiences at festivals all around southeast Michigan, and has radio personalities and music writers singing its praises.

Attendees who work up an appetite will enjoy the tantalizing tastes of Milford's Blue Grill bringing Mediterranean eats into Central Park, while thirsty event-goers can stop in at nearby River's Edge Brewing Company for the unmistakable taste of award-winning micro-brewed beer. Attendees 21 and older are invited to "grab a growler and go," before heading over to the amphitheater for an evening of music and revels. Snacks and beverages will also be available, courtesy of the Suzanne Haskew Arts Center (SHAC).

This one night of indie rock and fun was also made possible with the support of 2 Stones Events and the local community. Viewing space is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own lawn chairs and blankets. For more information, visit the Downtown Milford Facebook page.
Meet Our Bankers
Janet Wooster

Next time you're at the Milford Branch, be sure to meet Janet Wooster, the bank's newest Customer Service Representative.  New to banking, but a veteran in the community, Janet's medical assistant background coupled with her service experience has made her a great fit for serving our customers.  She is also attending South University in Novi and working on her degree in Business Administration. 

She enjoys traveling, white water rafting, reading, banking and spending time with her two great nephews.  In addition she volunteers at the nursery at her church and is the Supervisor of the toddler room. 
Flags for 59 Program Spearheaded
by HVSB Director Joe Salvia
Twenty years ago, Joe Salvia, an activist in the community and Director for Huron Valley State Bank, spearheaded a program to ensure that American Flags are flying high on M59 (Highland Road) in east Highland Township. A program of this magnitude requires placing a ladder next to 29 poles, carefully climbing up, and placing the flag and pole into the correct position. Many times his wife, Dolores, would insist on accompanying him to "steady the ladder". Later, usually after Veterans Day, the flags need to be removed and stored for the next year.
 
Last year, Salvia, expressed the need for financial assistance for new flags and pole maintenance to continue this important tradition. Fortunately, Township Supervisor Rick Hamill gained the support of the board, and funds were made available to ensure the flags would be up by Independence Day.
 
This year, Salvia, who is the Commander of the AMVETS Post 2006, contacted Jack Shubitowski, President and CEO of the Bank and suggested the Bank partner with the AMVETS to ensure the continued success of the Program. The Bank agreed to make a donation to assist with the additional costs and partner with the AMVETS Post. Jack rolled up his sleeves and assisted Salvia with installing the Flags. "Jack was of great assistance and we were able to complete the task in record time," said Salvia.
 
The flags were located along M59 (Highland Road) between Waterbury Rd, and moving east, past Duck Lake Rd up to LaSalle Blvd. Many residents and commuters who travel through this area commented on how nice they look and how they create a strong patriotic image of our community. "I am grateful for the widespread support and am confident that "Flags for 59" will continue for many years," said Joe Salvia.
Programs for College Students
Graduation mortar board cap on one hundred dollar bills concept for the cost of a college and university education
Do you know someone heading off to college in the fall or the near future?  Huron Valley State Bank is here to help them navigate this process with our College Rewards Program.  Setting up the right bank accounts now can help them transition to student life much easier. 

For College Students, Huron Valley State Bank offers a free basic checking account that includes a debit / ATM card.  (Subject to credit approval). This card works exactly like a check in that it deducts the cost of in-store or online purchases directly from their checking account. In addition the card can be used at any ATM (Automatic Teller Machine) to make cash withdrawals.  As part of our program for college students, they get 5 FREE ATM transactions a month!  This means any fees they incur for using another bank's ATM machine within the month will be reimbursed. 

To stay on top of their accounts, online and mobile banking can help them monitor their own spending. They can also use this service to transfer funds between accounts, pay bills, view checks that have cleared and stop payments. 

When a student doesn't have enough cash in checking or savings to meet an emergency expense, a credit card can be a lifesaver. It's also a good way to start credit history, as long as they follow some common sense guidelines.

Lastly, to recognize the graduate's big accomplishment, purchase a Visa Gift card for them at the bank today.  It is convenient for them and comes in handy on or off campus. 
New Fraud Protection Service
In our continuing efforts to keep your debit card secure, we've improved our alert system for potential fraud. Here's how it works:
 
  1. When potential fraud is detected, you will receive an automatic email notification, with the option to reply with "fraud" or "no fraud" through a secured link.
  2. One minute after the email, you will receive a text alert, which also has the "fraud" or "no fraud" option.
  3. If there is no response received, you will then receive automatic phone calls to confirm or deny fraud. If you confirm fraud, you will be connected to a fraud analyst.
It is imperative that we have your current email address and cell phone number on file.  The next time you are at the bank, please verify your contact information with us. 

 
The phone number for our Fraud Center has changed to 1-800-417-4592. If you add this number to your phone contacts and label it "Fraud Center," it will display on your phone whenever you get a call from this number. 

Also Huron Valley State Bank still has in place an opt-in text alert program through Guardian SMS for your debit card.  If you are enrolled, you will receive an alert after the following activity:
  1. Purchases greater than $300
  2. Purchases that occur out of state
  3. 5 or more transactions in 24 hours
  4. Fuel or service station transactions
If the transaction is legitimate, you need not reply.  If it is fraudulent, you may reply by text and your card will be blocked from further activity.  To enroll in this additional layer of fraud detection go to www.hvsb.com/text-alerts.  

Remember - our messages will never ask for your PIN or account number.
Traveling Out of State?  Contact the Bank
Please contact the bank if you are planning to travel out of state to avoid the interruption of your debit card.  We also can advise you how to best conduct your transactions (signature vs. PIN in certain states).
Is Social Media Scamming You?  
Five Popular Scams and How to Avoid Them 
 
Cyber criminals will use whatever they can think of to try to get your online banking credentials or other information they can sell on the dark web. Here are five ways they use social media to do it and how you can avoid giving up your information, in no particular order.
    
  1. They use the comments to news articles and popular posts on Facebook by adding their own posts with a conveniently clickable link included. Those who click the link may be taken to fake websites or presented a form for which the user is supposed to enter information. Often the links are accompanied by catchy headlines (click bait) themselves.
     
  2. They create fake customer service accounts on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, or other social media that pretend to help customer. For example, they may see a Twitter user complaining about not being able to reach a representative. They reply to that user with a post that includes a link to another site where the user is led to believe he or she will get assistance. Unfortunately, the link really is phony and asks for login credentials and/or other sensitive information.
     
  3. They use fake online surveys and polls to trick users into inputting information that can be later sold or used for fraud. An example is setting up a realistic news story and asking what users think. A link is included, naturally, but it goes to a fake site where personal information is requested. Often the "surveys" promise a chance to win a fabulous prize.
     
  4. They pretend to offer live streaming of big events, such as the Olympics or other popular sporting events. Often they attach a link to a posted story about the event that is on Facebook. However, when the included links are clicked, a request for personal information appears claiming the video cannot play until they are entered.
Avoid these scams by not clicking links or putting information into any form that appears as a result of clicking links. If you need to reach your financial institution or other organization for any kind of support, contact them directly using information from their website that you have previously bookmarked. Alternately, type the name of the site into the browser manually.

View any comment posted in social media that claims to help you or offer you something sensational with suspicion. If you want to stream an event, go to the website of a well-known and trusted source to get there, such as the major sports broadcasting companies, media outlets, or television networks.

Use apps that are downloaded from the official app stores for your devices. These are typically put under additional scrutiny for security before being allowed into the app stores. Sideloading, downloading apps from places other than the app stores is not recommended because it introduces additional risk of executing malware on your devices.

As always, make sure all internet-connected devices have anti-malware installed and it is kept updated. Also, keep all your software and operating systems updated with the latest critical and security patches. While these actions don't guarantee malware won't be installed or a vulnerability won't be exploited, they reduce your risk significantly and it's worth the relatively small effort versus dealing with malware.
 
© Copyright 2016 Stickley on Security
Source:https://www.stickleyonsecurity.com/sos_examples.jspx?sosnoteid=1284

Fun Money Fact
U.S. paper money is not paper. It's cloth. In Ben Franklin's day, people repaired torn bills with a needle and thread.  - See more at: http://mentalfloss.com/article/62091/12-fun-facts-about-money#sthash.oVxskp9G.dpuf 

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