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Yesterday's Traditions.
Tomorrow's Vision.
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19 Convenient Locations
Phone: 1.888.759.2266
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Volume 2 - Issue 2
May 2020
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Greetings!
Happy Spring 2020!
I hope you and your families are all healthy and safe. I’m happy to report that your FKCB family is weathering the COVID-19 storm and thanks to our employees’ dedication, we have been able to keep the drive-thru lanes at our offices open for you throughout this challenging time. In-person meetings are also available by appointment.
You may recall in our most recent “From the Vault” newsletter issued in early February 2020, I announced our first CONNECT initiative for 2020, CONNECT for Wellness. CONNECT for Wellness is designed to enhance our physical, financial, social, environmental, and emotional wellness. No one could have predicted how especially important those concepts would be with the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus.
Due to social distancing requirements we have not been able to conduct this initiative as we have in the past, with regularly scheduled face-to-face group check-in meetings and progress reports. We have adapted and I would like to bring you up to date on what we have been doing to support each other, our customers, our communities, the Bank, and its shareholders.
These certainly are “unprecedented times.” The Prime lending interest rate dropped 1½% in two decreases on March 4
th
and March 16
th
; on March 9
th
the DOW dropped 2200 points, and on March 23
rd
Gov. Wolf issued a “Stay at Home” order. So you may be asking yourself, was FKCB ready for the challenge?
The answer is “Yes!”
FKCB has historically prepared and regularly updated a full Business Continuity and Pandemic Plan (“BCP”). These plans are reviewed, tested and approved annually. Customer and employee safety are our number one concerns.
Immediately upon the announcement of the pandemic, our BCP Team began meeting on a regular basis to address PA Government, PA Department of Health, and CDC guidelines and regulations as events unfolded. Disinfectant and hand-sanitizer supplies were inventoried and ordered, common high traffic areas were identified, and measures were put in place to help keep employees and customers safe.
Our business model is flexible and it has changed in the following ways since mid-March. Our online account openings have increased 200% since February. Mobile Remote Deposits increased 50% in volume to $356,000 in April. Our automated telephone banking system handled 29,000 calls in April compared to a monthly average of 16,400 in previous months.
Here are some of the ways we have supported our customers and communities throughout this pandemic:
- We are providing personalized assistance to customers who have been financially impacted by Coronavirus, including waiving the early withdrawal penalties on all CD products, authorizing deferred loan payments and modification requests, waiving telephone transfer fees, and waiving early close-out fees on Christmas Clubs.
- We introduced a new consumer unsecured Line of Credit called “Keystone Quick Cash.”
- To protect the health of both customers and employees, we instituted precautionary measures at all of our locations, including practicing “social distancing,” offering employees remote work options, and scheduling meetings virtually where possible. We eliminated unnecessary travel and attendance at in-person meetings, conferences, and professional education schools.
- We processed in excess of $16 million in Stimulus ACH Deposits through May 1, 2020.
- We are supporting small businesses by processing and obtaining approval for 449 loans through the SBA Payroll Protection Program (“PPP”), providing in excess of $31 million in funds for our local businesses.
- We launched a Chat Box on our website to enable customers to ask questions and receive an immediate response.
- Reallocated resources and increased the number of employees responding to customer phone calls.
- Marketing and Social Media initiatives have been implemented to provide customer updates and education.
- We are supplying employees and customers with PPE masks and we co-sponsored the Berwick United Way mask giveaway.
- Two of our branch parking lots were opened for school lunch distribution programs.
- Provided $4,000 in donations to local Food Banks.
- Donated funds to a local Community Foundation Disaster Relief Fund.
- Every evening, our Main Office in Berwick is “lit up in blue” to honor the courageous and selfless health care professionals, first responders and essential workers who put their safety at risk every day to serve our communities.
The knowledge that we have gained throughout this experience will be used to enhance and improve our BCP Plan. We have created an internal library of Federal, State, and PA Dept. of Health guidelines, FKCB documentation, loan modification and stimulus check information, and core operating system documentation for future reference.
As we prepare to re-open our lobbies, you will see changes. We will continue to follow the PA Dept. of Health guidelines, including the mandate for employees and customers to wear masks and practice social distancing. We will be mounting “sneeze shields” for the teller and customer service areas, installing floor distance markers, and providing educational posters in customer service areas.
In the meantime, I wish you continued safety and health and I hope to see you soon!
Warmest Regards,
Elaine A. Woodland
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TAXPAYERS HAVE UNTIL JULY 15TH TO FILE AND PAY THEIR TAXES.
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The federal income tax filing deadline has been extended to July 15. Taxpayers also have until July 15 to make any federal income
tax payments that were originally due on April 15, without penalties
and interest, regardless of the amount they owe.
This extension applies to all taxpayers.
There’s no need to file any additional forms to qualify for this automatic federal tax
filing and payment relief. Taxpayers expecting a refund should file electronically.
The benefits of filing electronically include:
It's available online and can be done from home
.
Taxpayers can file using
tax software
from their home computer if they don't qualify for Free File. The bottom line is that filing electronically is much more convenient than filling out and mailing paper tax forms.
It's safe and secure
.
Electronic filing is safe and secure. It uses modern encryption technology to protect tax returns. The IRS continues to
work with states and tax industry
leaders to protect tax returns from
tax-related identity theft
. This effort has helped put safeguards in place to make electronic tax filing a safe and secure option.
It's accurate and easy
.
Filing electronically helps taxpayers file a complete and accurate tax return. Taxpayers who file electronically will receive an acknowledgement from the IRS telling them their return is accepted. If a return is rejected, the acknowledgement says why the IRS rejected the tax return.
File electronically for free
.
Free File
is available for eligible taxpayers where they can use online software to file electronically for free. This program is available only on IRS.gov and is for taxpayers who earned less than $69,000 in 2019. Another option,
Free File Fillable Forms
, is available to all taxpayers regardless of income.
People who file electronically get their refunds faster
.
When taxpayers file electronically and choose
direct deposit
for their refund, in most cases they can get their money in less than 21 days. If they mail a paper tax return, the refund can take six weeks or longer.
Taxpayers who owe, should file by the due date, and pay as soon as possible. They can schedule their
payment electronically
online, by phone or using their mobile device and the
IRS2Go app
. It's always good to pay as much as possible to minimize interest and penalties. The IRS offers a variety of electronic
payment options
to help taxpayers schedule electronic payments.
For More information please visit:
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Help for Taxpayers, businesses, Tax-Exempt Organizations and Others, Including Health Plans, Affected by Coronavirus.
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Application for Automatic Extension of Time to File U.S. Individual
Income Tax Return.
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Application for Automatic Extension of Time
To File Certain Business Income Tax.
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CONGRATULATIONS
Class of 2020!
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You are smart, strong and resilient
ready to apply
your acquired knowledge to enhance and advance
this world we live in. As you begin your new journey,
know that we are with you every step of the way.
We offer a wide variety of products and services to help you
,
wherever your journey may take you.
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This free checking account has all the features you deserve.
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Checking accounts that rock. Find the perfect account for you.
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Manage your account and pay your bills online.
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Quick and secure banking at your fingertips.
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Safer than carrying cash, more convenient than writing checks.
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Avoid draining your savings or emergency fund with
competitive fixed rates and affordable monthly payment plans.
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We have the perfect card for your wallet.
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Coronavirus scams are spreading nearly as fast
as the virus itself. As of May 6, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) had logged more than 21,400 fraud complaints related to the outbreak. Victims have reported losing $26 million, with a median loss of $510,000.
To keep you and your money safe, we have assembled a list of
the current scams related to the Coronavirus and tips on how to
protect yourself from becoming a victim.
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DO YOU NEED A GOOD BOOK TO READ?
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With more time at home in this era of social distancing and
self-isolation, more people are reading.
BookBub
is a daily service that we discovered. It alerts readers to free and deeply discounted ebooks that are available for a limited time. Readers sign up with just an email address, and then select their favorite genres. From romance to mystery, cookbooks to non-fiction, and literary to historical fiction there are more than 35 categories to choose from.
Each day, they send an email with free and discounted bestselling ebooks in your selected genres. Just click, download, and read on any device: Kindle, Nook, iPad, iPhone, Android, & more. Each title is hand selected by their editorial team to ensure the highest quality. In addition, each book is at least 75% off, and many are free, which makes it extremely low risk to try new authors and genres. It has been called the “Groupon of books.”
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Learn More About the Different Options We Offer.
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If you’re struggling to figure out how to keep yourself and your family occupied beyond your usual at-home hobbies you’re not alone. Luckily, there is no shortage of free, virtual experiences to help people feel like they’re experiencing outdoor life.
We’ve compiled a few suggestions of free and fun things you can do to pass the time and stay busy while being quarantined.
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Money as You Grow:
Help for parents and caregivers
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BUILD YOUR KIDS' MONEY SKILLS WHILE THEY'RE HOME.
With children unexpectedly home from school– preschool through college– you may be looking for ways to keep your kids engaged and learning. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has created games and activities that can help your children and young adults gain money skills. Best of all, you don’t need to be a money expert to use them.
The three building blocks to build money skills.
CFPB conducted research on how children and young adults develop the financial capability that they’ll need in adulthood. They have broken them down into three “building blocks” that children acquire as they grow. All their financial education activities are based on these three building blocks:
Executive function
The ability to plan ahead, remember information, multitask, solve problems, and control impulses. Children develop these abilities as early as age 3 and continue building them throughout childhood.
Financial habits and values
People use standards, shortcuts, routine practices, and rules to live by, in navigating daily financial activities. These areas develop quickly during elementary school and in the preteen years.
Financial decision-making skills
It is important to build familiarity with financial concepts and competency in research and analysis. Teenagers and young adults have good opportunities to develop these skills.
Using the building blocks as a framework can help you keep your conversations about money age-appropriate. If your children have questions about money topics, you can keep the building blocks in mind when you answer.
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Here are their tips and activities to help you teach your kids about personal finances.
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FDIC Money Smart
There are also great resources that the FDIC has put together. They have activities, lessons, and ideas to help children strengthen money habits
and values.
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M
ore than
ha
lf the US population
has been ordered to stay at home, which means there are a lot of remote-work novices trying to figure out the most efficient and comfortable way to work.
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For some, that means spending a lot more time in their existing home office, while others are setting up shop at their kitchen table, couch or even using an ironing board as a standup desk. And since there's a good chance some won't be returning to work for awhile, it's worth putting a little effort into making your space comfortable and conducive to getting the job done.
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Get Dressed
It might seem like a simple tip, but it’s a crucial one. You don’t need to dress as formally as you might for work, but the simple act of changing clothes serves as a signal that it’s time to wake up and get things done. Don’t underestimate the power of putting on clothes suitable for public viewing. It makes you feel human, confident and helps draw the line between being at work and being at home. Getting dressed also applies to other appearance-based tasks: take a shower, brush your hair, even put on makeup if that’s what you’d usually do. You don’t need to go as all out as you would for the office if you don’t want to, but waking up and taking care of your appearance can go a long way toward helping you feel like you’re taking care of yourself.
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Designate A Workspace Or Home Office
One of the big challenges when it comes to working remotely is keeping your work and home lives separate. If you never fully disconnect from work, your work productivity will suffer and your home life can take a hit as well.
If you’re used to going into an office each day, the separation between work and home is physical, and you want to try to recreate that as much as possible with a designated physical workspace at home. Your workspace doesn’t have to be its own room but it should feel as separate from the rest of your home as possible.
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- Look for spaces that offer easy access to outlets and good lighting. Find an area with good natural lighting if possible. If you can set up near a window that is the perfect situation. A window not only for the light, but also fresh air. In addition to a window, aim to have two sources of lighting. Overhead lighting and then a desk lamp to give you more direct light on your surface and keyboard. It can be straining on your eyes to look at monitors all day, and if you don't have the right light it causes more strain.
- The position of your screen, keyboard and mouse are important. If you're using a PC, you want the monitor to be about an arm's length away with the top third of the screen at eye level. Laptop users should safely prop up the device so the screen is at eye level.
- If possible, experts suggest using an external keyboard and mouse - that will allow you to prop up a laptop to eye-level.You want your keyboard in front of you with the mouse next to it so your elbows are below your shoulders and your elbows are around 90 degrees.
- Pay attention to how you sit. If possible, sit in a chair over the more tempting couch or bed. Try and keep your thighs parallel to the floor and make sure your feet rest on the floor or some sort of footrest (a box is fine).
- Try to keep work materials organized to avoid having work seep everywhere into your home. You don't want to drag work into the living room or other places you are trying to relax in.
- Adding a few personal touches can be a mood booster. Try putting some happy photos, your favorite coffee cup or meaningful knick-knacks around your space to re-energize you.
- Make your work area smell good. You can use a candle, incense, or other scent diffuser that you associate with work.
Keep Clearly Defined Working Hours
Distraction is one of the big challenges facing people who work from home—especially people who aren’t used to it. Your home is right in front of you, that means that
whatever you’re usually thinking about getting home to after work is now with you. It’s human to get distracted. However, you need to be wary of how much you let yourself get distracted.
Create a time that you’re “in office” every day, and be prepared to start working at that time. “Entering” your workspace will help you turn “on” at the beginning of the day
and get down to work. Then, decide on a time that you “leave” for the day.
Leaving your workspace will also help you turn “off” at the end of the day and fully disengage. Embracing time constraints could help you keep all four of your burners going (friends, family, work, health).
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Take Breaks
Working remotely is inherently challenging because it's easy to lose track of time. With the current situation, taking breaks is even more critical. That's because, in a traditional office, it's easy to stop by a co-worker's desk to chat or head to the break room for a cup of coffee. In one survey, nearly 90% of American workers said that taking a lunch break helped them feel refreshed and ready to get back to work. So, pull yourself away from the computer, even if it’s for a few minutes.
Set Ground Rules With The People In Your Space
This can be difficult, especially if you have young children at home, or have multiple pets, all of whom want your attention. If you are home all day, every day, then family and friends might interrupt you without knowing better.
It’s best to set some clear boundaries with your family while you work. It’s not being mean if it results in better performance at work. The counterpoint to this work from home tip is you must be present for your family and friends when away from work. Show up 100% and put your business phone away outside of work hours.
Focus On The Big Picture
This is a stressful time for everyone, so it's important to remember to have fun. You may even discover new, funny quirks about your significant other while working remotely. At the end of the day, try to embrace the additional quality time you have with your family. After all, isn’t that all that really matters?
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Article information from
The Muse, Morning Brew, Caroline Castrillon
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19 CONVENIENT BANKING
LOCATIONS FOR YOU!
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111 W. Front Street | Berwick, PA 18603 |
Toll Free:
(888) 759-2266
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