March 2010:  In these tough economic times, it is important to know there are financial institutions that are strong, secure, and ready and able to assist their communities. Jewett City Savings Bank, Jewett City, Connecticut is one such institution – dedicated to getting Main Street back on its feet. Since it exhibits overall financial superiority in such areas as: capital adequacy, delinquent loan levels and profitability, BAUERFINANCIAL, Inc., Coral Gables, Florida is proud to bestow its highest 5-Star Superior rating upon Jewett City Savings Bank. In fact, this marks the 71st consecutive quarter that Jewett City Savings Bank has earned this distinction. Only 7% of the nation’s banks can claim that.  

“The unstable economic picture, both on Wall Street and on Main Street, makes it all the more important to recognize those financial institutions that are strong and stable,” remarks Karen L. Dorway, president of BAUERFINANCIAL. “The institutions that played by the rules and did not compromise their lending standards are the same institutions that stand ready to help build the economy back up. Jewett City Savings Bank is an excellent example of this community spirit.”

Established in 1873, Jewett City Savings Bank has been serving the banking needs of its neighbors and friends for 137 years. It operates through conveniently located offices in Brooklyn, Central Village, Dayville, Jewett City and Preston and can be found on the internet at www.jcsbank.com.

Jewett City Savings Bank: “Your 5-Star Community Bank.”

BAUERFINANCIAL, INC., Coral Gables, Florida, the nation’s leading independent bank and credit union rating and research firm, has been reporting on and analyzing the performance of U.S. banks and credit unions since 1983. No institution pays BauerFinancial to rate it, nor can any choose to be excluded. Consumers may obtain star-ratings by visiting www.bauerfinancial.com.

Looking for a smart way to reduce your tax burden today and plan for the future? Look no further than an IRA Certificate of Deposit from Jewett City Savings Bank. Our IRA CDs come in a range of terms up to five years — with rates that are guaranteed, no matter what happens in the financial markets.

Don’t miss out on 2009 tax-year advantages!
You have until April 15, 2010, to make IRA contributions for the 2009 tax year and take advantage of possible tax deductions. (Consult your tax advisor to see if you qualify for a tax deduction for all or part of your IRA contributions.)

5-Star Rating for Financial Strength
Invest your money with confidence, knowing we have received the 5-Star Superior rating for financial strength and stability from BauerFinancial, Inc., a national bank rating firm.

United Community & Family Services (UCFS) and Thames Valley Council for Community Action (TVCCA) are collecting gift cards from ANY vendor/store/restaurant for ANY amount to meet the needs of families in our region. Your gift cards will be combined with the donations of others to provide food, clothing, books, supplies and many other needs.

From now through February 15th, you can drop off your unused gift cards at our offices in Jewett City and Preston. Any type of gift card can be donated with any amount or remaining value that may be left on the card.

Turning over a gift card is an ideal way to make a tax-deductible donation without impacting your own budget! Click here to find out more.

Mary Papenfoth	Gary Salinsky	Lisa Legler

Kevin C. Merchant, president and CEO of Jewett City Savings Bank, has announced the promotions of Mary Papenfoth, Gary Salinsky, and Lisa Legler to the corporate position of assistant vice president.

Mary Papenfoth
A Voluntown resident, Papenfoth serves as branch manager of the Bank’s Preston office.
 
She joined the Bank in 1994, serving as a full-time teller at the Main Office and also in the Brooklyn branch. She was promoted to positions of increased responsibility, including accounting assistant, and Main Office assistant branch manager before being named Preston branch manager in November 2008.
 
Papenfoth attended the America’s Community Bankers Branch Management Development School, and holds numerous certifications from the Center for Financial Training. She has received first place honors in the categories of Mortgage Loan Documentation and Consumer Lending.
 
Active in her community, she serves as a volunteer interpreter for the Mystic Seaport Museum and a role player with the Mystic Seaport Lantern Light Tours. She is 1st vice president of the South County Art Association, a member of the St. Thomas the Apostle church finance committee, and a member of the Southeastern Connecticut Women’s Network.

Gary Salinsky
Salinsky is a commercial lender at the Bank’s Main Office. He joined the Bank in June 2008 with two decades of financial services experience, including vice president positions at three Virginia banks.
 
He attended Middlesex Community College in Middletown, CT, and Germanna Community College in Fredericksburg, VA.  A Mystic resident, he is past assistant vice president for the Fredericksburg Kiwanis Club, and past vice president, board member and volunteer for the Fredericksburg Area Food Bank. He is a member of the Norwich Rotary Club.
 
Lisa Legler
Legler, a Moosup resident, is the manager of the Bank’s Main Office in Jewett City. She joined the Bank in 2006 and has served in positions including customer service representative, retail operations manager, and assistant manager. She holds an associate’s degree from Becker College in Worcester.  Lisa is currently enrolled in the Eastern Connecticut Chamber of Commerce Leadership Program.

Sign up for eStatements, now available through Online Banking, and receive your Jewett City Savings Bank statements automatically each month:

• Fast – Receive your monthly statements sooner – no more waiting for the mail. You will be notified via e-mail when your statement is ready. Just click and connect!
• Convenient – Access more statements – accumulate and view up to 16 months of ­statements online including images of ­cancelled checks.
• Secure – Protect yourself from identity theft by avoiding opportunities for potential thieves to intercept paper statements.
• Green – Use no or less paper – save your statements to your computer or just print out the ones you need.

e-Statements are easy, free and secure!
Log in to Online Banking and sign up today.

Recently, Arianna Huffington wrote a post on The Huffington Post encouraging people all over the country to move their money out of bigger banks and into smaller, community-oriented financial institutions that generally avoided the reckless investments and schemes that helped cause the financial crisis.

Fueled by the personal initiatives of thousands, this grassroots effort has the potential to shift power in the financial system away from Wall Street and to Main Street.

To find out more about the Move Your Money movement, visit MoveYourMoney.info. Or, visit the Huffington Post to tell them about your favorite community bank.

 

Windham Hospital will provide an added element of safety for employees and visitors in the future, thanks to a recent award of $1,500 to the Windham Hospital Foundation from the Jewett City Savings Bank Foundation.

Pictured at right - Mona Friedland, executive director of the Windham Hospital Foundation; Kevin Merchant, president & CEO of Jewett City Savings Bank, and
Tom Birkenholz, Windham Hospital.

According to Mona Friedland, executive director of the Windham Hospital Foundation, a defibrillator will be purchased for the offsite Windham Mammography Center in Mansfield.

Kevin C. Merchant, president of the Jewett City Savings Bank Foundation, explained that the award to Windham Hospital reinforces the Bank’s recent emphasis on making automated external defibrillators generally available for use by the community in emergency situations.

Over the past several months, Jewett City Savings Bank has funded the purchase of four portable defibrillators, most recently for the activities of the Plainfield Youth Football Association and the Plainfield Youth Panthers. Earlier donations were made to the Moosup Little League, the Plainfield Public School system for use at the Plainfield Early Childhood Center, and the Griswold Public Schools.

“Jewett City Savings Bank is proud to be a leader in a campaign to make portable defibrillators available throughout our communities, to keep all our neighbors safe,” said Merchant.

The award to Windham Hospital was announced at a morning reception in Griswold, where representatives from 18 local non-profit civic and charitable organizations were present to receive a combined total of $25,350 in grants from the Jewett City Savings Bank Foundation during the most recent funding period.

The Foundation, established in 2003 to reinforce, encourage, and support the Bank’s ongoing commitment to the well being of the communities it serves, has awarded over $225,000 since its founding. Click here for more information about the Foundation or visit any of the offices of Jewett City Savings Bank.

Jewett City Savings Bank is a mutual savings bank operating full-service offices in Jewett City, Brooklyn, Dayville, Central Village and Preston. Established in 1873, the Bank is a member of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC).