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).

Recent grants from the Jewett City Savings Bank Foundation to organizations in Willimantic and Norwich will help provide for the well-being of local individuals and families in need, according to a statement by Kevin C. Merchant, president and CEO of Jewett City Savings Bank.

The Foundation awarded a $1,000 grant to United Community and Family Services, Inc. of Norwich, to help offset the costs of primary care, dental, in-school dental, and outpatient behavioral health services for clients residing in Jewett City who are unable to pay for services. An $800 grant to Community Prevention and Addiction Services, Inc. in Willimantic will allow that agency to provide a “Pattern Breaking” workshop for adults of a Danielson family shelter. The session is designed to address dysfunctional behavior patterns in families.

“As a community bank, we feel it is important to support initiatives designed to improve the lives of those around us,” said Merchant. “Our community is strengthened when others reach out to help.”

The awards were announced recently 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.

Here are some great tips from the ABA Education Foundation on how to be a savvy holiday shopper:

Create a Budget
Before you start your holiday shopping, develop a realistic budget. Be as detailed as possible. Look at past banking and credit card statements as well as receipts from last year to gauge your holiday spending.

Be a Scrooge
The fewer lines of credit you have, the easier it is to keep track of bills and pay off debt on time. Use caution when you consider applying for additional cards.

Don't Let the Grinch Steal Your Holiday
Beware of fraudsters or suspicious offers to buy products. Do not enter your credit card number unless you are certain the Web site is trustworthy. Keep receipts and billing statements to check for unauthorized charges. Shred documents that contain personal information.

Do You Hear What I Hear?
Understand the terms of your credit card. Credit cards are great financial tools when used with care. Use ABA's "Guide to Credit Cards" to understand the specifics of credit card use.

Fight the Temptation
Holiday shopping can be overwhelming and sale items can make it difficult to say no. Resist impulse shopping and stick to your budget.

For additional holiday spending tips visit the Smart Holiday Spending Center from the ABA Education Foundation.

The ABA Education Foundation provides financial education programs and resources that help bankers make their communities better. Nearly 90,000 bankers have taught basic finance skills to about 4 million young people through participation in the Foundation’s signature programs, Teach Children to Save and Get Smart About Credit. Founded by bankers in 1925, the foundation is guided by a board of bankers and is an affiliate of the American Bankers Association.

The Jewett City Savings Bank Foundation recently awarded a total of $5,000 to five area fire and ambulance companies, according to Foundation president Kevin C. Merchant.

“These grants will enhance the efforts of our fire companies and first responders in providing for the safety of local residents and property,” said Merchant. “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.”

Each of the five organizations has specific plans for the money: 

• Atwood Hose Fire Company in Wauregan will use its $1,000 from the Foundation to purchase a new gas detector, replacing the current device for which sensors and parts are no longer available.

• East Brooklyn Fire Department in Brooklyn will purchase emergency vacuum splints and related gear for better patient immobilization, and better mobility for rescue personnel, with its $1,000 Foundation grant.

• K.B. Ambulance Corps, Inc. of Danielson will apply its $1,000 from the Foundation toward the purchase of a Zoll Auto Pulse System, a device that provides uninterrupted CPR for patients in sudden cardiac arrest.

• Oneco Fire Company in Oneco will use its $1,000 grant to purchase safety and rescue gear, including high-visibility vests and a junkin stokes basket, and to make modifications to fire apparel for safety harnesses.

• Plainfield Fire Company No. 1, Inc. in Plainfield will apply its $1,000 to the purchase of additional hand-held rescue and fire suppression tools, as well as fire prevention educational materials to provide to youngsters during Fire Prevention Week.

The fire and ambulance companies were among 18 area non-profit organizations who received a combined total of $25,350 in grants from the Jewett City Savings Bank Foundation this fall.

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. More information about the Foundation is available at www.jcsbank.com and at all 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).

Each year, Jewett City Savings Bank sponsors and helps organize the annual Jewett City & Griswold Snowflake Festival and Parade. This year's event was a smashing success, including a decorating contest for children, a parade with floats created by local organizations, and visits with Santa & Mrs. Claus.

The Jewett City Savings Bank Foundation has awarded over $10,000 to help stock food pantry shelves in Danielson, Jewett City and Preston.

The St. Mary’s Food Pantry in Jewett City will use a $5,000 grant from the Foundation to meet the increased need of families in Jewett City, Griswold, Voluntown and Canterbury.

The Friends of Assisi Food Pantry in Danielson received $4,000 from the Foundation for the purchase of a cooler to store dairy and produce prior to distribution.

And the Preston City Congregational Church received a $1,200 grant to stock the shelves of their new Food Pantry.

The food pantry awards were announced recently at a morning reception held 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.

The Jewett City Savings Bank Foundation was established in 2003 to reinforce, encourage, and support the Bank’s ongoing commitment to the well being of the communities it serves.

According to Foundation President Kevin C. Merchant, this year’s grant awards bring the total amount of funds distributed by the Foundation since its founding to over $225,000. Click here for more information about the Foundation.

If you are on Facebook, you know how easy it is to connect with friends and family. Now you can also connect with your Hometown Bank through our Facebook Page!

Through our Page we'll be sharing Charitable Foundation updates, favorite links, photos, Bank news and much more. We'll also be using the Page to notify our Fans of upcoming specials and to announce new products & services.

Becoming a Fan is easy! Just click on "Become a Fan" below, or visit our Page.

Become a Fan as of December 20, 2009 and you will be automatically entered into our drawing to win an Apple iPod Touch! Important information: Winner to be selected at random and contacted through Facebook. No purchase necessary. Employees of Jewett City Savings Bank are not eligible to win.