On October 3, 2008, Federal Deposit Insurance (FDIC) deposit insurance temporarily increased from $100,000 to $250,000 per depositor through December 31, 2009. This includes deposits and accumulated interest in savings accounts, checking and interest-bearing transaction accounts, money market accounts, and term deposit accounts such as certificates of deposits.

There has been no change in the insurance of self-directed retirement accounts. The FDIC continues to insure self-directed retirement accounts separately up to $250,000 per owner.

• Visit myFDICinsurance.gov

As always, you can give us a call at (860) 376-4444 if you have any questions about your deposit insurance.

These days, many people are rediscovering the value of taking a conservative approach with their money. At Jewett City Savings Bank, we’ve been doing just that since 1873.

Through changing times, our commitment to careful financial management, high quality lending standards and following prudent investment practices has never wavered. Our focus has always been to provide our customers with community banking solutions that offer superior convenience, value and security. Rest assured that your deposits up to $100,000 (or $250,000 for retirement accounts) are FDIC insured at Jewett City Savings Bank. Click here to learn more about FDIC Insurance.

In these uncertain times, now may be the time to come home to a community bank with a history of financial strength. To learn more, stop by any office of Jewett City Savings Bank today.

Tomasz Kosek of Middletown has joined Jewett City Savings Bank as assistant vice president and investment executive with Infinex Investments, Inc., according to an announcement by Kevin C. Merchant, president and CEO.

As the manager of client services at Infinex Financial Group, Kosek has provided Jewett City Savings Bank customers with investment services over the past two years. That experience prompted his decision to join the Bank as an Infinex representative. He will be located at the Bank’s main office in Jewett City.

Infinex offers a range of investment options including mutual funds, stocks, bonds, and long-term care insurance. Kosek joined Infinex Financial Group in 2000 as a relationship manager, and was named manager of client services in 2004. Previously, he was a financial associate with Pratt & Whitney in Cheshire.

He is a graduate of New Britain High School and earned a bachelor’s degree in finance at Central Connecticut State University. He holds Series 7, 63, 24 Registrations and Life and Health Licenses.

Important Information
Investment and insurance products and services are offered through INFINEX INVESTMENTS, INC. Member FINRA/SIPC. In Massachusetts, insurance products are offered through Infinex Insurance Agency of Massachusetts, Inc. Infinex and the bank are not affiliated. Products and services made available through Infinex are not insured by the FDIC or any other agency of the United States and are not deposits or obligations of nor guaranteed or insured by any bank or bank affiliate. These products are subject to investment risk, including the possible loss of value.

In a move designed to offer local residents some relief from skyrocketing energy costs, Jewett City Savings Bank is once again offering a high-interest Energy Savings Account. This will be the third consecutive year the special program has been offered by the Bank, according to Kevin C. Merchant, president and CEO.
 
“The Energy Savings Account was very popular last year,” said Merchant. “We’re pleased to offer it again now, to continue to help local residents meet the high cost of energy.”
 
The Energy Savings Account allows consumers the opportunity to earn a higher return on money they put aside for energy costs this winter. The account, which requires a minimum opening deposit of $100, will pay a guaranteed rate through April 20, 2009. Funds can be added at any time, in any amount, and a limited number of checks can be written on the account.
 
The deadline for opening an Energy Savings Account is September 6. The account is available at all offices of Jewett City Savings Bank.

The Jewett City Savings Bank Foundation is now accepting 2008 grant applications from local 501(c)(3), 170(c)(1), and other qualified non-profit organizations whose work benefits the population of those communities where Jewett City Savings Bank has a major presence.

Financial support will be offered for existing program support, general support, special projects, and/or start-up endeavors covering a variety of issues impacting the community. The Foundation does not provide funding for individuals, sports, individual schools or religious groups.

The maximum grant amount is $5,000, determined by demonstrated needs and existing resources.

In 2007, Jewett City Savings Bank Foundation awards exceeded $50,000. A total of 36 local non-profit civic and charitable groups benefited, including local fire companies, libraries, and a number of programs advancing education, health and youth initiatives

“As a true community bank, we are pleased to be able to contribute in this way to the well-being of those in the communities we serve,” said Kevin C. Merchant, president and CEO.

Guidelines and grant applications are available online at www.jcsbank.com and at all offices of Jewett City Savings Bank. Completed applications must be received by the Foundation no later than August 31, 2008. Approved projects will be funded by December 31, 2008.

Established for the support of community, charitable, educational, and other benevolent purposes, the Jewett City Savings Bank Foundation has awarded more than $150,000 in grants since its founding in 2004.

Kevin C. Merchant, president and CEO of Jewett City Savings Bank, announced today that the Bank plans to open a new full-service branch office in Preston.

Located at 353 Route 165 in Flemings Center, the new office will feature a drive-up window and a 24-hour drive-up ATM for customer convenience. It will be the first banking office in the Town of Preston.

“We are pleased to be able to offer our trademark brand of community banking to the residents and businesses of Preston,” said Merchant.

An October opening is planned. The Preston location will be Jewett City Savings Bank’s 5th full-service office location. Other offices are located in Jewett City, Brooklyn, Dayville and Central Village.
 

Jewett City Savings Bank’s celebration at Killingly’s Tercentennial Parade in May raised $507 for Owen Bell Park.

The Bank passed out wooden coins at the Parade, and pledged a $1 donation to the Park for each coin returned to the Bank’s Dayville office within the following two weeks.

In addition, anyone who returned one of the coins received a free Jewett City Savings Bank piggy
bank and had the chance to enter a special prize drawing to win a Bag of Balls — soccer, baseball, softball and basketball!

The lucky prize drawing winner was three-year-old Andrew Haller of Dayville.

According to Kevin C. Merchant, president and CEO of Jewett City Savings Bank, the special promotion was part of the Bank’s support of Killingly’s Tercentennial Year as a Gold Sponsor.

Kevin C. Merchant, president and CEO of Jewett City Savings Bank, announced today that Lorraine Corson of Plainfield has been promoted to serve as assistant branch manager of the Bank’s Brooklyn office.

Corson joined the Bank in 1997 as a part-time teller at the Main office. She became a full-time employee that same year, and later served as deposit operations clerk and then as head teller of the Central Village office. In March of this year, she was named head teller of the Brooklyn office.

A graduate of Plainfield High School, she holds associate’s degrees in accounting and in management from Quinebaug Valley Community College in Danielson. She has also earned several diplomas and certificates from the American Institute of Banking and the Center for Financial Training.

Corson has served as data entry clerk for the Plainfield Fire company for 12 years, and is a three-year member of the Plainfield Fire District.

For the 63rd consecutive quarter, Jewett City Savings Bank has earned a 5-Star Superior rating for financial strength from BauerFinancial, Inc., an independent national bank research firm.

BauerFinancial conducts a financial analysis of U.S. banks according to comprehensive formulas used to evaluate the institution’s financial performance. The banks are then assigned a star rating from zero to five, with five stars being the strongest.

Bank president Kevin C. Merchant stated that this most recent award places Jewett City Savings Bank in an elite group of banks considered “Exceptional Performance Banks” by the rating firm.

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

Based in Coral Gables, Florida, BauerFinancial, Inc. is the nation’s leading independent bank rating firm. It has been reporting on and analyzing the performance of US banks, thrifts and credit unions since 1983.

Kevin C. Merchant, president and CEO of Jewett City Savings Bank, has announced the appointment of three new Corporators. John L. Lombardi of Brooklyn, David T. Panteleakos of Woodstock, and Gabrielle Labonte of Putnam were elected at the Bank’s 135th Annual Meeting of Corporators held recently.

Lombardi
John Lombardi is CEO of the Orchard Group, LLC, a consulting service for the construction industry, and is also a full time member of faculty at Quinebaug Valley Community College's Construction Technology Department.  He formerly served on faculty at New England Institute of Technology, and as a Small Business Development Center educator at Bryant University.

Companion with industry licensing and certification, Lombardi holds associate and bachelor degrees from the Pace University Lubin School of Business.  He is a fall 2008 candidate for a master’s degree in Strategic / Organizational Leadership at Mountain State University.

Currently, Lombardi serves as Chairman of United Services, Inc., as a member of Brooklyn's Building Code Enforcement Review Board, and as a Corporator of Westcott-Wilcox Elderly Residential Housing, Inc.

Former community service includes terms as Chairman of Brooklyn's Economic Development Commission, Vice-Chair of the Northeast Connecticut Visitors District, Director of the Quinebaug-Shetucket Heritage Corridor, Inc., Co-Chairman of the Killingly High School “School to Career” Initiative, and member of the Exchange Club of Northeast Connecticut.

Panteleakos
David T. Panteleakos is the administrator and CEO of Westview Health Care Center in Dayville. He is a third generation healthcare administrator and has been very active in the health care industry as a Connecticut licensed nursing home administrator since 1987.

Panteleakos is a Corporator for Day Kimball Hospital and also a member of the Day Kimball Hospital’s Philanthropic Committee.  He is well known in Northeastern Connecticut for his philanthropic work through his organization, Broadway Live Productions, LLC, which has created an entertainment and art venue in the Putnam area while donating the net proceeds of events to a variety of charitable organizations.  

Panteleakos holds a BS degree from Eastern Connecticut State University and a MS degree from the University of Connecticut, respectively. He is also licensed with the State of Connecticut as a nursing home administrator.

Labonte
Gabrielle Labonte has been a practicing attorney since 1994. She has practiced in the Towns of Putnam and Killingly and has also served as Deputy Chief Clerk in Tolland Judicial District for Juvenile Matters and as the Associate General Counsel for Aetna U.S. Healthcare.

In addition to her practice in estate planning and probate work, Labonte devotes time and talent to community activities, including her service on the Board of Directors of the ARC of Quinebaug Valley, Putnam Rotary, and as a Corporator of Day Kimball Hospital.  

She served as the 2007 Chairperson of the Windham County Judicial Law Day program, a service-oriented program provided by the Windham County Bar and Windham County Judiciary to provide information about access to the courts to all of the high schools in Windham County.

Labonte holds a bachelor’s degree in business management from the University of Connecticut and a law degree from Suffolk University Law School.