DON`T BE WOOED OUT OF WEALTH WITH ONLINE DATING

5 TIPS TO TRIM TRAVEL COSTS
Do you enjoy a trip more when you don’t have to
pay an outrageous price to get there? Try these tips
to cut costs before you reserve your flight, hotel room
or rental car.
1. Buy early and on Tuesdays. If you can book
a flight three to four months in advance, you have the
best chance of getting low airfare. You may also find
better bargains on Tuesdays since many airlines begin
sales on Monday nights and other airlines will match
or lower fares on the same routes on Tuesdays.
2. Travel after a major holiday. Waiting a
week and traveling after a big holiday can snag you
lower travel costs on airfare, car rental and hotel stays.
Plus you’ll avoid crowds and long lines!
3. Seek out discount codes. You’ve probably
noticed a box for a coupon code when you’re at the
checkout stage for an online reservation. Don’t leave
it blank if a discount code exists — you can search
for codes at sites such as RetailMeNot.com and
PromoCodes.com. Then just enter the code and get
the discount.
4. Use a local travel agent. Sometimes, spending
hours on the computer searching for the best travel
deals gets you results — and other times, it just leads
to frustration. When you work with a travel agent,
they do that legwork, searching out the travel options
that best meet your needs and budget. In most cases,
travel agents have access to information about rates
and routes that average consumers might not have,
saving you time and money, even when you consider
the agent’s fee. Using a travel agent can also help you
score a great deal on a package or promotion. Agents
generally receive information and access to promotions
www.cbfg.net
Fall 2016
from resorts, cruise lines and other travel providers that
aren’t available to the general public
5. Ask about lower rates. Even in the internet
age, a personal phone call can still help you negotiate
a discount. Call a hotel’s front desk or a travel agent
and see if you can get a better deal by talking with a
real person.
Travel with Us
Keep the good deals going by traveling with the
Primetime Club! Check out the calendar on page four
for events that are planned for your enjoyment and
education. When you travel, don’t forget to pack your
Community Bank debit card or credit card! In addition,
you can manage your finances from afar with online
banking. Be sure to tell us if you’ll be traveling for an
extended time or in another country so we’ll know your
card activity belongs to you, then get ready to enjoy
your time away!
Mankato – Madison Avenue – (507) 625-1551 Mankato – St. Andrews Drive – (507) 385-4444
Amboy – (507) 674-3300 Vernon Center – (507) 549-3679
2
Money Matters | Fall 2016
PRESIDENT’S
MESSAGE
Planning a trip in
the future? If so,
the better prepared
you are, the
more enjoyable
your trip will be.
Please consider the
following tips if you
plan to travel.
Travel Documents
If you’re planning foreign travel and you need a
passport, apply now to allow sufficient time for
processing and to ensure you have a valid document
for your travels. If you have a passport nearing its
expiration date, renew it now. Routine processing —
which costs far less than expedited service — averages
four to six weeks, but may take up to 10 weeks during
heavy periods. The busiest time of year is January
through August. Your passport is good for 10 years.
Financial Information
For your Community Bank accounts, let a Personal
Banker know about your travel plans so that our
security measures do not freeze your account. It’s
good to advise other institutions you may bank with
as well, along with your credit card provider. Often,
a block is placed on debit and credit cards when
unfamiliar purchases are attempted from places
outside of where you live. This is especially true for
purchases made in foreign countries.
Health Information
Consult with your physician prior to your travel overseas
to identify your health care needs at your destination.
Be aware of environmental conditions at your overseas
destination that may contribute to your specific health
concerns. If you routinely take prescription medication,
be sure to include an ample supply for your trip. Keep
medications in their original, labeled containers.
Need foreign currency for your trip? Community
Bank can help. See any of our tellers to order
currency so you have some on hand when you
arrive at your destination. Whether your travels take
you near or far, travel safe and enjoy!
Sincerely,
Quent Beadell
President of Community Bank
7
TIPS FOR PREVENTING
IDENTITY THEFT
No one wants to believe it can happen to them, but
identity theft isn’t something that only happens to other
people. In fact, identity theft may be more widespread
than you think. The U.S. Department of Justice estimates
that more than 17 million people were victims of some
form of identity theft in 2014. Most of these victims
experienced the fraudulent use of their credit card or bank
account information. While this may sound unsettling, there
are ways you can protect yourself.
Never give your Social Security number
or other personal information over
the phone. If you get a call claiming to be
from your financial institution, hang up and call back at
a number you know to be correct to be sure the person
you’re speaking with is really who they claim to be.
1
Memorize your passwords or purchase
a secure password aggregator that stores
and encrypts your information so that you only
need one password to access all your personal accounts.
Be sure your passwords are strong.
2
3
Pay attention to your bills. Always read your
financial statements and check in on your accounts
to be sure you don’t miss any suspicious activity.
Shred all paper receipts, bank
statements, medical bills and other
personal documents so dumpster divers can’t
gain access to your personal information.
4
5
Install virus protection software on your
computer and mobile devices and be wary
of clicking on pop-up ads or suspicious emails.
Be careful at ATMs. Make sure the one you’re
using hasn’t been tampered with. Criminals can
install skimmers to gain your card information. This
is less likely to happen in ATMs that are located indoors.
6
Always pay for large purchases with a
credit card. Federal law protects you against
credit card fraud in most cases as long as you
report the fraud within 60 days.
7
Remember, a little awareness can go a long way toward
protecting against identity theft. Safeguarding your
information and protecting you from fraud are top priorities
at Community Bank of Mankato.
Community Bank | www.cbfg.net
3
MANAGING HIGHER HEALTH INSURANCE DEDUCTIBLES
Do you know the deductible
amount for your health insurance
plan? High-deductible health
plans (HDHPs) are becoming
increasingly common, but many
people are unprepared to pay
higher deductibles when they need
care. Try the following strategies to
manage your health insurance with
confidence — and save money, too.
Deductibles Defined
First, it helps to have a basic
understanding of HDHPs and how
they work. A HDHP can save you
money on premiums (the monthly
amount you pay for a health insurance
policy). In turn, you’ll typically shoulder
greater responsibility for paying
your health care expenses until the
deductible is met.
The deductible is the amount you pay
for your health care before insurance
kicks in. For example: With a $4,000
deductible, you might pay the full cost
for a $200 doctor visit and a $3,800
surgery. After you reach the deductible,
the plan begins to pay for some of
your costs. You might pay a copay (a
set dollar amount) or coinsurance (a
percentage of costs) for health services.
Health plans have an out-of-pocket
maximum, and this is the upper limit you
may be responsible to pay for covered
health services in the plan year.
Managing Your Deductible
The IRS defines high-deductible plans
as those with deductibles of $1,300
or higher for individual coverage or
$2,600 or higher for family coverage
in 2016. Being proactive about your
health care can help control the costs
you pay. Try these tips:
1
Know your deductible
amount. If you have questions,
check your plan materials or call your
health insurance company. Find out
how to track your deductible amounts
online so you know how much you’ve
paid toward the deductible, and how
much is left to pay.
2
Save money for health
care. It’s a good idea to save
money for the purpose of covering your
deductible so you’re ready for health
expenses that pop up. Save money in
a health savings account (HSA). With
an HSA, the funds roll over from year
to year so you can use it now or let it
grow for future health expenses.
3
Choose the right place for
care. If it’s not an emergency,
save time and money by making an
appointment with a doctor or walking
into a retail clinic. You’ll typically pay
a lot less for an office visit compared
with an urgent care visit or ER visit.
4
Compare costs. Do your
research if you’re planning to have
a procedure — ask what to expect
and how much it will cost. Compare
costs and make your choice based
on cost and quality. Check with your
health insurance company for tools
and resources to help you compare
treatment pricing and provider quality.
Interested in learning whether an HSA
would benefit you? Contact a Primetime
Coordinator or Personal Banker at any
Community Bank location.
PRSRT STD
US POSTAGE
PAID
MANKATO, MN 56001
PERMIT NO. 66
951 Madison Ave.
Mankato, MN 56001
www.cbfg.net
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Financial Wellness and
Recovery Shred Day
Saturday, September 10
A Shred-N-Go Truck will be at our
office at 300 St. Andrews Drive
in Mankato from 9 a.m. to Noon.
Bring your old statements or other
sensitive documents to shred. This
is a free event for bank customers.
Have questions about what you
can bring? Call any Community
Bank location.
Lake Minnetonka Boat Cruise
Friday, October 14
Enjoy a relaxing tour of Lake
Minnetonka by Paradise
Charter Cruises.
Cost: Members $62
Non-members $67
Bus leaves Home Depot at 9:30 a.m.
Deadline to sign up is September 30.
Primetime Club
Holiday Party
Saturday, November 19
Join us at the Country Inn & Suites
for our holiday party.
Cost: $
12 Members in advance
$15 Members at the door
RSVP by November 2.
White Christmas
at the Ordway
Saturday, December 10
Showtime is 2 p.m., and a box
lunch is included. Watch for
more details!
Cost: $
80 Members
$85 Non-Members
PICKUP LOCATION
FOR ALL TRIPS
Pickup location for all trips is at
The Home Depot parking lot.
Park in the corner closest to
Buffalo Wild Wings.
Money Matters is mailed to all members on a quarterly basis. Members with a Community Bank
Checking account receive a monthly insert with their account statement that provides all the latest
information on trips and events. Trip and event information can also be found on the Primetimer page
of our website at www.cbfg.net.
Katie Beadell
(507) 385-4471
Melanie Miller
(507) 385-2883
Cindy Grams
(507) 385-2865
Karen Lloyd
(507) 674-4425
Barb Reinke
(507) 549-3679
Kay Beadell Scholtz
(507) 385-4493
CARDS
September 13 & 27
October 11 & 25
November 8 & 22
Cost is $2, due when you sign up.
Call Katie at (507) 385-4471
or Cindy at (507) 385-2865 to
register at least one week in advance.
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