Choice Bank is excited to host our second annual “Shop Local. Celebrate Local.” event at our Witzel Street location. Last we we started this event to remind our customers and community of the importance of shopping at local businesses, especially around the holiday season. Each year as we begin planning this event, we have the opportunity to showcase some of our favorite area businesses who offer unique gifts or handmade goods you cannot find anywhere else.

Learn all about Shop Local. Celebrate Local. here.
See photos from last year’s event here.

What makes shopping local so great? Check out the facts below from the 3/50 Project:

• If half the employed population spent $50 each month in locally owned independent businesses, it would generate more than $42.6 billion in revenue.
• For every $100 spent in locally owned independent stores, $68 returns to the community through taxes, payroll, and other expenditures. If you spend that in a national chain, only $43 shays here. Spend it online and nothing comes home.

 

Since it is now slightly past Fall Fest and into Halloween time Chad and Nicole, Customer Service Consultants, decided to get a little creative with some of the leftover Fall Fest decorations. I love what they came up with, they indeed make Choice Bank proud!

Choice Bank Jackson Street, great location, great people! If you have not visited them yet now is a great time to stop in and see the pumpkin in person and meet the artists!

This weekend Choice Bank hosted Family Fall Fest at our Jackson Street Location. Despite the first snowflakes of the season we had a great turnout! Not only did we have a huge line for our one-day-only Certificate of Deposit special, but we ran out of the pig roast by 12:15! Wow! Thank you to everyone who came out to brave the cold! We hope you had a great time, I know we did!

Check out our Fall Fest photo album here.

What’s events are in store next for Choice Bank?
Watch for more posts as we host the Madrigal Choirs from Oshkosh area schools in the grand foyer of our Witzel Street Location during the holiday season.

P.S. we’ll order a larger pig next year for Fall Fest, sorry if you missed out!

September 2009 – Oshkosh, WI – This summer four local kids started their own business with the help of Choice Bank. What started out as an idea quickly turned into a functioning small business. In only two short months of business they managed to raise over $580. After Choice Bank’s profit match these four kids presented a check for $1172.22 to Habitat for Humanity of Oshkosh.

The owners, self-proclaimed “Team Lemonade,” opened the Best Choice Lemonade Stand in July of this year with a small loan from Choice Bank and help from a few generous community sponsors.* After putting out a call for area kids to help work at the stand, they received 21 applications for employment. They were able to hire each and every applicant to work at least a shift or two.

By the end of the season Team Lemonade had learned a lot about what it takes to run and grow a business – from creating a business plan to selling the product. Everyone had learned how to work with money, make lemonade, test taste the product for quality and most importantly, Team Lemonade learned what it was like for a community to come together in support of a cause. “I liked being able to help people out by raising money,” said Harmony, age 7. “It was a lot of fun to be able to meet so many other people who wanted to help raise money for Habitat too,” added Wyatt, age 10.

So what is the next big adventure for Team Lemonade? They are back in school now but are looking forward to next summer when they will be able to open the stand again. In fact, the lemonade business was such a success that they plan to open a second Oshkosh location in the summer of 2010!

Team Lemonade extends a huge thank you to everyone who worked at the stand and to those who supported Oshkosh ’s smallest business by sharing their story or stopping to buy a cup of lemonade.

“When we granted Team Lemonade’s loan request we were eager to see how their business would come to life. We could never have anticipated the overwhelming effect this small business would generate in the Oshkosh Community. I am proud that Choice Bank could be part of this great community experience.”

-Stan Leedle, Chief Credit Officer, Choice Bank

*The Best Choice Lemonade Stand sponsors included: Stand design by Chet Wesenberg, Architect ∙ Building by Matt Simonson and Keith VandenBoogaard of Apollo Homes ∙ Building materials sponsored by Choice Bank ∙ Ice donated by Blue Moose Convenience Stores ∙ Additional lemonade donated by Marcia Thomas.

Choice Bank, established in July 2006, is located at 2450 Witzel Avenue , Oshkosh with a second location at 2201 Jackson Street , Oshkosh . Choice Bank is a locally owned and operated community bank dedicated to making a difference in your community! Choice Bank…Your Community, Your Choice! Member FDIC ∙ Equal Housing Lender www.choicebank.com.

Choice Bank has had such a great time helping out Team Lemonade start the smallest, small business in Oshkosh – Best Choice Lemonade – that we wanted to extend a special to other area business owners!

Summer is finally here – well, almost – and along with the sunshine and beautiful temperatures we also see an increase in our spending. We are here to give you some easy and quick ways to save money. Follow these tips during the summer and watch your money grow.

Did you know that your air conditioner can raise electricity bills greater than heat raises gas bills in the winter? Here are a few tips to help save money on your electricity bill.

Keep your windows closed during the hot summer days. By not letting in that hot stuffy air your house will stay at a cooler temperature.

Use fans whenever possible. While we know that fans use electricity too they do not use close the amount that air conditioners do.

If you know no one will be home for the day turn up the air conditioner. Try drying your laundry outside. Not only will you not be saving electricity, but your clothes will have that summer fresh outdoor scent.

Here are a few more money saving ideas that will save you money and are enjoyable to do!

Many places hold farmers markets where you can go and get fresh fruits and vegetables. These markets are not only free but have fun and unique things to check out. Also, summer produce is much cheaper than the cost of produce in the winter months. Use the well priced produce for cold soups as well as deserts and freeze some for the winter months.

Going out and doing things during the summer can become expensive so why not hit up the community events that typically are free such as summer concerts, community picnics, fireworks, and many other activities.. Check out newspapers, internet sites, or Choice Bank’s community calendar for a list of free activities.

We all know when spring and summer hit the yard sales begin. Yard sale shopping can be a ton of fun; you never know what kind of treasures you may find and you will be spending a lot less!

Follow these money saving tips and you will watch your extra money grow! With all that extra money you may even was to open a savings account at your very own Choice Bank! Now go on your way to being an amazingly wise summer saver.

Have more money saving tips? Post comments on our blog anytime!

May 20, 2009
Deposits at FDIC-insured institutions are now insured up to at least $250,000 per depositor through December 31, 2013. On January 1, 2014, the standard insurance amount will return to $100,000 per depositor for all account categories except for IRAs and other certain retirement accounts which will remain at $250,000 per depositor. (This supersedes the October 3, 2008 changes.)

The extension announced on May 20, 2009, does not apply to the Transaction Account Guarantee Program. The unlimited coverage under the Transaction Account Guarantee Program is only in effect for depositors at participating institutions through December 31, 2009.

www.fdic.gov

Wisconsin banks are lending and outperforming their peers nationally
WBA Press Release, April 30, 2009

MADISON—The lending practices of Wisconsin’s FDIC-insured depository banks are generally misunderstood. Here are the facts:

• Total loans by Wisconsin banks rose 5.7 percent in the 4th quarter of 2008 (most recent figures available).
• The consolidated loan-to-deposit ratio in Wisconsin is 108 percent, compared to a national ratio of 85 percent. This means the average bank in Wisconsin is lending $1.08 for every dollar received on deposit.
• The TARP funds held by 13 Wisconsin banks (less than 5 percent of all Wisconsin banks) participating in the Capital Purchase Program (CPP) are voluntary, not a bailout. Banks must make quarterly 5 percent dividend payment to the U.S. Treasury. Wisconsin CPP participating banks will pay over $123 million per year in CPP dividends to the U.S. Treasury.
• Lending is how banks make money. Simply put; Wisconsin banks, whether they are participating in CPP or not, are lending.
• Studies on credit availability conducted recently by the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis and the National Federation of Independent Businesses show that banks continue to lend to “creditworthy” small businesses, but that fewer businesses meet that definition due to impaired cash flow or devalued collateral.
• There are factors beyond banks’ control affecting credit availability, including the skyrocketing cost of FDIC deposit insurance premiums; mark-to-market accounting rules; a recent 15 percent corporate tax increase; intense regulatory pressure to tighten lending standards; and lower loan demand.
• There are also fewer overall total sources of credit due to the exit from the marketplace of many non-bank lenders. Case in point, the so-called “shadow banking industry,” which included insurance companies and mutual funds, accounted for 33 percent of the credit in the U.S. economy compared to 22 percent for FDIC-insured depository banks. The shadow banking industry has all but evaporated during the current economic downturn. Banks are slowly filling the vacuum but can’t immediately bridge the entire void and it is unfair for critics to suggest otherwise.

The numbers cited above prove that Wisconsin banks are lending, but they are doing so prudently. Banks didn’t make the risky loans during the lending boom and it is irrational to think they would now.

PRESS RELEASE
May 11, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For further information contact
Ann Padley, Choice Bank
Director of Communication Services
(920) 267-8025

Choice Bank Customers Boost Savings in a Tough Economy

May 2009 – Oshkosh, WI – In a tough economy Choice Bank helps customers boost Certificate of Deposit Rates with the innovative Choice Circle Certificate of Deposit Rewards Program. Introduced at a time when other institutions are cutting back, Choice Bank is forging full speed ahead and is eager to remind the public that customers still come first! “As a strong, stable community bank this program is our way to help the community see better returns on their investments,” says Keith Pollnow, President & CEO of Choice Bank.

Choice Bank’s commitment to Smart Saving is nothing new. “Since the day we opened our doors, Choice Bank has provided top of the market return on savings accounts, encouraging savers young and old. Enriching Certificate of Deposits is just the next step to promoting Smart Saving in our community,” says Pollnow.

The Choice Circle program is based on a simple fixed and variable rewards system. Customers enrolled in the program receive a rate increase on every fourth Certificate of Deposit (CD) they open or renew at Choice Bank. In addition, they have the opportunity for a rate increase on every CD by spinning the Choice Circle wheel. Any customer, new or existing, with an active Choice Checking or Money Market account is eligible. That’s it. No catches. No tricks.

“The Choice Circle is not only a great way to reward our loyal customers but acts as a tool of differentiation in our market allowing increased value for our shareholders,” said Pollnow. To affirm this value based approach Choice Bank launched the program to shareholders and customers alike on April 28, 2009, the day of their Annual Shareholders Meeting.

Choice Bank, established in July 2006, is located at 2450 Witzel Avenue, Oshkosh with a second location at 2201 Jackson Street, Oshkosh. Choice Bank is a locally owned and operated community bank dedicated to making a difference in your community! By providing free checking, savings, local business lending and home loans we have become the fastest growing bank in Oshkosh!

Choice Bank…Your Community, Your Choice!

Member FDIC Equal Housing Lender
For additional information about Choice Bank, call (920) 230-1300 or visit www.choicebank.com.

###