Challenge Yourself To Save As Much As You Spend On Holidays

The Holiday Savings Challenge

 This holiday season, America Saves is challenging you to not only to be smart in the way you budget, but to save one dollar ($1) for every dollar you spend. It isn’t as crazy as it sounds –

1. Make your list and check it twice. Develop a list for your upcoming holiday, and be as honest about the dollar amount as possible. Include any costs for gift-giving to family, friends, and colleagues, travel, food, or entertainment that might be associated. Do you give a little extra tip to your babysitter, hair stylist, or favorite barista? We often forget to include these gifts in our budgets, so be sure to add them, too.
2. Prioritize and negotiate. What do you need to make it a happy and successful holiday? Divvy up your list into needs versus wants. You need to pay for travel to your holiday destination, but maybe you can pack some food from the pantry rather than buying a meal along the way. The goal here isn’t necessarily to shorten the length of your list (although doing so will help, too), but rather to negotiate the dollar amounts for your list down.
3. Tally it up and set your savings goal. Add up the sum total of your holiday list, and don’t be shy about negotiating it down some more. Once you’re at a number (and a list) that is both realistic and manageable, take that final amount and set it as your savings goal for the season. Those who make a commitment to themselves and their family to save usually save more than those who don’t.
4. Make it automatic. Every time you cross an item off the spending plan, set up a transfer from your checking account into a savings account. This isn’t necessarily something that you can set on autopilot, but rather can establish as an automatic habit. Starting this process as early as possible can also help you to renegotiate your spending plan if you find that you are having a hard time matching.                                                             

You don’t have to let holidays break the bank. Join the ranks of those opting to reduce spending and prioritize savings this holiday season. You, too, can reduce spending and save money. To learn more about spending and saving during the holidays and take the America Saves pledge, visit AmericaSaves.org.

                                                                                                                       

Tammy Greynolds works for America Saves, managed by the nonprofit Consumer Federation of America (CFA), which seeks to motivate, encourage, and support low- to moderate-income households to save money, reduce debt, and build wealth. Learn more at AmericaSaves.org.

Visit ILUVMYBANK and tell us why you love your community bank - RELIABANK!

You could win!

Smithback Elected to Board of Directors

David W Johnson, CEO of Reliabank, announces the elections of Robert Smithback to the Reliabank Board of Directors.


“Our bank started over 90 years ago as one serving agriculture and ag families and we have a wealth of talent on the board with backgrounds in agriculture. We were looking for someone like Robert who knows and understands, commercial real estate in Sioux Falls and area towns like Tea and Hartford. We feel that he has a great knowledge of the commercial real estate market in the Sioux Falls area. This will be beneficial to Reliabank as we continue to grow our southern branches,” states CEO Johnson.

Smithback is owner of RES Construction, LLC, in Sioux Falls, SD. He and his wife Nancy have three children and eight grandchildren. As a long time member of Faith United Presbyterian Church of Brandon, he has served as an Elder and Sunday school teacher. Smithback also works with youth related activities and received the YMCA Service to Youth Award in 2001.

RES Construction, LLC is a long time member of the Home Builders Association of the Sioux Empire.

Scholarships Available Now!

Scholarship Application

Reliabank announces scholarship applications are now available to high school seniors who will be graduating in 2013. Visit our website at the above link, or visit with your school counselor for more details.

Good luck Class of 2013!

Community Banking = Hometown Investment

Don’t Be Spooked: Switching To Your Local Community Bank
Is a Hometown Investment You Can Be Proud of—Not Scared of!

As Halloween approaches, the Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) and RELIABANK are once again reminding America’s consumers that their local community bank is a safe haven from scary bank practices that can leave many banking customers spooked. With more than 7,000 community banks across the nation, banking with your local community bank is a hometown investment you can be proud of—not scared of.

“As local small businesses themselves, community banks only thrive when their customers and communities do the same, so taking care of our customers and looking out for the best interest of our community is just the way they do business—no tricks about it,” said Jeff Gerhart, chairman of ICBA.

This Halloween season, savvy consumers should treat themselves to what a community like Reliabank offers:

• Sweet Service. Community banks such as RELIABANK are relationship lenders that focus on the needs of local families, businesses and farmers. Because they know their customers and their customers know them, they are able to provide superior, personal customer service. When consumers call their local community bank, they’ll be reassured to know that they won’t be talking to someone halfway across the globe. Instead, they will be talking with their community banker who lives and works in the same community they do.

• Deposits. Community banks lend locally where their depositors live and work, keeping local communities vibrant and growing. By choosing a community bank, you’ll be putting money where it belongs—back into the community you call home. And since community banks pay federal, state and local taxes, they are also a key supporter of their community’s local infrastructure, making it a better place for all residents to reside. Some tax-subsidized credit unions masquerade as community banks but do not pay any taxes to support their local communities.

• Expertise. Because community bankers live and work in the same communities as their local customers, they understand their local marketplace and the ups and downs of economic cycles in their community. This is especially helpful in allowing them to serve the needs of their small business customers who rely on them as strategic partners in their small business endeavors. Community banks rely on the health of the local marketplace so they stick with their customers through good times and bad.

• Local Decision-Making. Instead of being headquartered hundreds of miles away, community bankers are accessible to their customers on site, where they can talk to a real human being—not a robot. Since many community banks are willing to consider character, family history and discretionary spending, they are often able to be more nimble in their decision-making when it comes to loan needs and qualification and in the selection of financial products and services.

• Trust, not Tricks. Community banks offer relationships you can bank on for years to come. Because many community banks have been around for over 100 years and are often family-owned and -operated, you’ll know that the financial needs of you and your family are being met by local residents running the financial institution that has your best interest in mind. They wouldn’t be in business if they didn’t.

• Civic Loyalty. Community bankers are typically deeply involved and committed to making their local communities a better place to live. In fact, many community banks across the country donate service hours and money to important local causes.

Whether located in small towns, suburbia or big-city neighborhoods, community banks improve America’s communities. In fact, community banks under $10 billion provide nearly 60 percent of small business loans between $100,000 and $1 million. Representing more than 24,000 locations nationwide and employing nearly 300,000 Americans, ICBA members hold more than $1.2 trillion in assets, $1 trillion in deposits and nearly $750 billion in loans to consumers, small businesses and the agricultural community.

“At RELIABANK we’re dedicated to offering our customers the best banking experience we possibly can,” David W Johnson, CEO said. “By going local and banking with us, you’ll realize the vast benefits that come from working with a community bank. You’ll also feel good about keeping your money in the community where it will be put to work and used to better the lives of your friends and neighbors and the small business owners that serve in and around communities of Watertown, Estelline, Hayti, Hazel, Tea, Hartford and Humboldt.”

We invite you to see what a community bank like RELIABANK has to offer you and your family. Stop in or visit us online to learn more!

Happy Halloween!!!


The Independent Community Bankers of America®, the nation’s voice for more than 7,000 community banks of all sizes and charter types, is dedicated exclusively to representing the interests of the community banking industry and its membership through effective advocacy, best-in-class education and high-quality products and services. For more information, visit www.icba.org.

What to Keep in Your Safe Deposit Box

If you think there isn't much to using a safe deposit box beyond putting keys in locks, you're in for a surprise. The safe deposit service may be tucked down in the basement or far corner of your bank, but in its own quiet way it is among the bank's most important offerings.

While millions of Americans rent a safe deposit box, few pay attention to questions such as who could or should have access to a safe deposit box (especially in an emergency) and how the contents of the box are protected. About the only time people ever consider these issues is when there's a problem, and then it may be too late to prevent a loss.

To help you decide whether to use a safe deposit box, and how to use one wisely, FDIC Consumer News has put together what should and shouldn't be kept in your box.

A safe deposit box is a convenient place to store important items that would be difficult or impossible to replace. The box also offers privacy (only you know what's inside) and security. Although many people like to keep valuables close by in a closet, safe or file cabinet at home or in the office, these places probably are not as resistant to fire, water or theft. Also, some insurance companies charge lower insurance premiums on valuables kept in a bank's box instead of at home.

What items should go into a safe deposit box?

Any personal items that would cause you to say, "If I lose this, I'm in deep trouble." Important papers to consider putting into your box: originals of your insurance policies; family records such as birth, marriage and death certificates; original deeds, titles, mortgages, leases and other contracts; stocks, bonds and certificates of deposit (CDs). Other valuables worthy of a spot in your safe deposit box include special jewels, medals, rare stamps and other collectibles, negatives for irreplaceable photos, and videos or pictures of your home's contents for insurance purposes (in case of theft or damage).

OK, what should NOT go in a box?

Anything you might need in an emergency, in case your bank is closed for the night, the weekend or a holiday. Possible examples: originals of a "power of attorney" (your written authorization for another person to transact business on your behalf), passports (in case of an emergency trip), medical-care directives if you become ill and incapacitated, and funeral or burial instructions you make. Consider giving the originals to your attorney, and making copies to go in your safe deposit box or to give a close friend or relative.

The safe deposit box is, in fact, the safest place you have — it’s free of risk from at-home fires and also from tampering.

Popmoney is Here!

Need to split the check for lunch, throw in for the office party, or send a cash birthday gift? Popmoney is a simple, convenient and secure way to send and receive money using your Reliabank accounts.

Popmoney is a person-to-person payments service offered by Reliabank allowing you to send secure electronic payment to anyone no matter where your recipient banks. You can access Popmoney directly from the security and convenience of Reliabank's online banking. Send money directly from any of your Reliabank accounts to anyone using his or her email address, mobile phone number or bank account information. Similarly, you can receive money from others to your Reliabank accounts.

Popmoney works in 4 easy steps:

1. Log In: to your Reliabank online banking. Then select "Bill Pay" from the services menu. Once in Bill Pay simply click  "Popmoney" on the menu

2. Send Money: provide the email address, mobile phone number or bank account information of the recipient. Then, just tell us from which of your Reliabank checking or savings accounts to withdraw the funds, how much to send, and when to send the payment.

3. Notify Recipient: if you sent the money using an email address or mobile phone number, the recipient will recieve a message via email or text message with instructions on how to deposit the payment. If you sent the payment to a recipient bank account, the money will be directly deposited into the recipient's account.

4. Deposit Payment: There are two ways to deposit a payment. If the recipient's bank offers Popmoney, the recipient can deposit the payment directly through their online bank service. If the recipient's bank does not offer Popmoney, the recipient can deposit the payment directly into his/her bank account by following the simple steps at www.Popmoney.com.

Plus you can easily include an Egreeting to your recipient for a Thank You, Birthday, Congratulations or any other occasion.

Each transaction costs just $.50 - the price of a stamp to mail a check to someone. Plus it arrives much faster in their account!