Yesterday's Traditions.
Tomorrow's Vision.
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Phone: 1.888.759.2266
Volume 3 - Issue 2
June 2021
Greetings!

Happy Spring 2021!

As we all continue to recover from the effects of COVID-19, First Keystone Community Bank remains committed to connecting with each other and building a culture that will benefit our employees, customers, communities, and shareholders. 

You may remember from reading our previous newsletters that we began our CONNECT initiatives back in late 2018 with CONNECT for Kindness. We continued throughout 2019 and early 2020 with several more CONNECT initiatives including CONNECT for Happiness, Learning, and Gratitude. And even though COVID interrupted our 2020 CONNECT initiative, our employees continued to support our communities by participating in Denim Days generating close to $11,000 in employee donations to area food banks.

I am happy to announce that we will soon be launching our next CONNECT initiative, “CONNECT and Engage in Wellness,” wherein we will be shining a light on performance, communication, culture, and engagement. This initiative is focused on providing support for school children of all ages in each of our market areas. Our employees will be collecting and distributing hygiene products to schools in all of our market areas in time for the 2021-2022 school year. I’ll be reporting our progress in the next newsletter.

While connecting with our employees and communities, we remain focused on First Keystone’s financial performance. I am happy to share some highlights of the financial progress we made through March 31, 2021 in comparison to March 31, 2020:

  • Our total assets reached a high of just over $1.2 Billion dollars
  • Net loans grew by nearly 9% to $715 Million
  • Net income grew over 89% from $2 Million to $3.9 Million
  • Return on Average Assets ratio increased from 0.81% to 1.30% and Return on Average Equity grew from 6.21% to 11.60%

For more than 156 years, we have been committed to listening to our customers’ needs. That mission remains true today. We continue to provide our Financial Review program, including Trust & Estate planning, to help customers “Build the Good Life.” If you haven’t yet had the opportunity, please remember to schedule your free review soon!

As always, we thank and recognize our employees, officers and Board of Directors for their continued outstanding efforts. We also thank you for your unwavering support and confidence. We look forward in 2021 and beyond to being a trusted partner in the lives of our customers and the communities we serve.

Warmest Regards,
Elaine
OUR HEARTFELT GRATITUDE GOES OUT TO OUR LOYAL CUSTOMERS WHO VOTED US
Best Bank in Northeastern PA
We are proud and honored to be Your Community Bank.
THANK YOU!
OUR WYOMING VALLEY TEAM
Local Lenders Making Local Decisions
In tough times, communities find strength in people—and people find strength in their communities. In the past year, we’ve seen this time and again in our towns and communities as friends, neighbors, and businesses have found new ways to support each other.
 
In our community, older adults are a key source of this strength. Through their experiences, successes, and difficulties, they have built resilience that helps them to face new challenges. When communities tap into this, they become stronger too.
 
The Administration for Community Living leads the celebration of Older Americans every year. This year’s theme is Communities of Strength, recognizing the important role older adults play in fostering the connection and engagement that build strong, resilient communities.
 
Strength is built and shown not only by bold acts, but also small ones of day-to-day life—a conversation shared with a friend, working in the garden, trying a new recipe, or taking time for a cup of tea on a busy day. And when we share these activities with others—even virtually or by telling about the experience later—we help them build resilience too. 
Here are some ways to share and connect:
 
Look for joy in the everyday: Celebrate small moments and ordinary pleasures by taking time to recognize them. Start a gratitude journal and share it with others via social media, or call a friend or family member to share a happy moment or to say thank you.

Reach out to neighbors: Even if you can’t get together in person right now, you can still connect with your neighbors. Leave a small gift on their doorstep, offer to help with outdoor chores, or deliver a homecooked meal.

Build new skills: Learning something new allows us to practice overcoming challenges. Take an art course online or try a socially distanced outdoor movement class to enjoy learning with others in your community. Have a skill to share? Find an opportunity to teach someone, even casually.

Share your story: There’s a reason storytelling is a time-honored activity. Hearing how others experience the world helps us grow. Interviewing family, friends, and neighbors can open up new conversations and strengthen our connections.
 
When people of different ages, backgrounds, abilities, and talents share experiences—through action, story, or service—we help build strong communities.

And that’s something to celebrate! 
Older Americans Financial Well-Being
In support of Older Americans, we would like to spotlight resources that can help older adults achieve and maintain financial well-being.
There are resources for financial caregivers who manage money for a loved one who may need help because of health problems or memory issues.

Here are free resources from the
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to help:
  • Considering a financial caregiver? Know your options is a new tool to help you decide whether you or your loved one need an informal caregiver, who helps manage money on an as-needed basis, or a formal caregiver, established by a legal arrangement. The brief guide also walks you through what to consider when choosing a financial caregiver.
  • Planning for diminished capacity and illness helps you understand the potential impact of diminished capacity on your ability to make financial decisions and avoid fraud and other forms of financial abuse. The joint advisory from the Securities and Exchange Commission and CFPB encourages you to plan for possible diminished financial capacity long before it happens.

For more resources, visit the official OAM website. 
If you don’t have a financial caregiver lined up for older family members, it helps to plan ahead in case you need help in the future. Give yourself peace of mind and let us help you with long range planning for you and your family.

The experts in our Trust Department
are ready to help you!
Older Americans Fraud Prevention
According to research by the Stanford Center
on Longevity and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority’s Investor
Education Foundation, those over the age of
65 are more likely to have lost
money due to a financial scam than
someone in their 40s.

Here are some of the top scams and how you can protect the older members of your family.
Medicare fraud — In scams involving Medicare, fraudsters pose as Medicare representatives to get seniors to give them their personal information, such as their Medicare identification number. The fraudster uses this information to bill Medicare for fraudulent services and then pockets the money.
Telephones — Phone scams are the most common scams used against the elderly. Scammers might get seniors to wire or send them money by claiming to be a family member who is in trouble and needs money. They might also solicit money from the elderly by posing as a fake charity, especially after a natural disaster.
Funerals — In one type of funeral scheme, fraudsters use obituaries to find out information about the deceased in attempts to extort money from family members or grieving spouses. They claim the deceased has an outstanding debt that must be paid immediately. Those close to the deceased are usually in a vulnerable state and are more likely to pay the fraudulent debt. In another scheme, dishonest funeral directors might try to deceive the elderly by capitalizing on their unfamiliarity of funeral costs and sell them unnecessary services, such as a casket when the deceased is going to be cremated.
Anti-Aging Products — With society putting so much emphasis on physical appearance, many individuals feel the need to find treatments or products that claim to help them conceal their age. Scammers advertise anti-aging products that are either worthless or harmful. Some products might contain materials that can be harmful, yet touted by scammers as being as effective as a brand name product, such as Botox. Scammers might also advertise products as being effective and natural, but in reality, the product has no anti-aging effects. 
Counterfeit Prescription Drugs — As prices for prescription drugs increase, seniors look on the internet to find cheaper prices for their medications. Unfortunately, fraudsters are aware of this and set up websites that advertise cheap prescription drugs which are usually counterfeit. Seniors who unknowingly purchase these counterfeit drugs soon realize they have been duped when the drugs do not provide any relief from their medical condition or even cause additional health problems.
Sweepstakes/Lotteries —This scheme usually involves contacting elderly victims either by mail or telephone, and informing them that they have won a prize of some sort, but must pay a fee to obtain the prize. Scammers send a fake check to the senior to deposit in their bank account knowing it will take some time for the bank to reject the check. Meanwhile, the victim has sent the scammer money through wire transfer for fees or taxes on the prize. The victim soon realizes that they were scammed when the check doesn’t clear.
The Financial Trade Commisson works to protect older adults year-round, through law enforcement actions and the Pass It On fraud prevention campaign. Pass It On encourages people to share what they know to protect someone from a fraud, and to be a resource that others can turn to.
START EARNING NOW!
LOOKING TO FILL THIS SUMMER WITH
GREAT ACTIVITIES AND PLACES TO VISIT THAT ONLY PENNSYLVANIA CAN OFFER?
Here's a list of some of our favorite, interesting and less known options for entertainment in the Keystone State. If you haven't visited some of these places now is the time. 
There's no better place to celebrate Independence Day than in Philadelphia. The 
Wawa Welcome America event held over the week of July 4 includes family-friendly events and activities leading up to the free Party on the Parkway, with performances from internationally recognized artists and fireworks on the big day. 
The Wolf Sanctuary of Pennsylvania in Lititz has been providing a safe haven for Pennsylvania's wolves for 30 years. They offer guided walking tours through the sanctuary, including Full Moon tours once a month with bonfires - marshmallows and hot dogs are optional.
No need to hike all the way to Central Park in New York City to see a bit of Shakespeare in the open air. Shakespeare in Clark Park is a not-for-profit organization that brings professional productions of Shakespeare's plays to some of Philadelphia's most beautiful parks. All productions are free.
There's plenty of rivers to check out in our state, but the rapids at Ohiopyle State Park are worth a look. The Youghiogheny River has a range of speeds and difficulties, but it's rated as a Class III in Ohiopyle.
The Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania, also referred to as the Pine Creek Gorge, stretches for over 45 miles with depths of nearly 1500 feet. The dynamic topography of the PA Grand Canyon creates many scenic wonders.
The Jigger Shop in Mount Gretna is a must for classic sundaes with all the fixin's. Nestled in the heart of Mt. Gretna, PA for over 100 years, the Jigger Shop is not only an attraction, but a tradition for many people in Lebanon, Lancaster Dauphin and York Counties.
The stones in Ringing Rocks Park in Bucks County are exactly what they sound like - rocks that make an odd ringing noise when struck. Why? It's a mystery! But grab a hammer and make some music, man!
The night sky is incredibly clear at Cherry Springs State Park. If you're trying to enjoy the stars on a summer night, it's one of the best places in the entire eastern seaboard to go.
A drive-in movie isn't just a thing of the past. Check out the showtimes at Haars Drive In in Dillsburg to see the biggest Hollywood blockbusters in old-school style.
Create your own fantastic journey of geological wonders that will take your breath away! Echo Dell, Indian Echo Caverns, is one of the most visited attractions in the eastern United States!
The Amish House and Farm is over 300 years old and is the first Amish tourist attraction in the USA since 1955.
Is the world’s largest bicycle museum and bike shop in the world. Containing over 4,000 vintage and collectible bikes, the museum is a bike lover’s fantasy and has something to offer all visitors.
This Historic Site was once the most famous and expensive prison in the world, but stands today in ruin, a haunting world of crumbling cellblocks and empty guard towers. Known for its grand architecture and strict discipline, this was the world’s first true “penitentiary.”
Originally established in 1978, this land is full of folklore and myth in the Appalachian Mountains of Pennsylvania. Originally inspired by the Isle of Iona off the coast of Scotland, this park remains connected to Celtic spirituality and is a peaceful place perfect for meditation or to get off the beaten for a while to think.
Remember those who gave their lives to save the lives of countless others. The National Flight 93 Memorial tells the story of that fateful day, presenting an emotional and interactive visitors center, a memorial wall, a walking path, and the opportunity to listen to actual phone calls made by passengers onboard the flight.
This curious structure is located in Bedford, PA. It is not an actual coffee shop, but rather it is built in the shape of a coffee pot. It opened in 1927 and was a classic American roadside attraction during its glory days as a lunch stand. It was almost destroyed in the 1990s, but Bedford realized that they had a true gem on their hands and restored it to its former glory instead.
Carnegie Mellon's Roboworld is the world’s largest permanent robotics exhibition! Some of the most important robots in both fiction and real life, such as the T-800 from "Terminator," Wall-E from the film of the same name, Honda's humanoid robot ASIMO and Mars exploration rover Sojourner are part of the exhibition.
The Monongahela Incline is the oldest continuously operating transport of its kind in the United States. It’s a remnant of Pittsburgh’s industrial past. The other survivor is the nearby Duquesne Incline. Both offer views of downtown Pittsburgh landmarks, although the Duquesne is credited with a better view.
Resources: Flicker, Sean Adams, Pa Bucket List, Wikipedia, Alamy, Uncovering Pa, Tripadvisor, Whyy, Adventure Travel
Have Fun Exploring the Keystone State!
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LOCATIONS FOR YOU!
111 W. Front Street | Berwick, PA 18603 | Toll Free: (888) 759-2266