|
|
| Basic FDIC Insurance Coverage Permanently Increased to $250,000 Per Depositor | 07/21/2010 | On July 21, 2010, President Barack Obama signed the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, which, in part, permanently raises the current standard maximum deposit insurance amount to $250,000. The standard maximum insurance amount of $100,000 had been temporarily raised to $250,000 until December 31, 2013. The FDIC insurance coverage limit applies per depositor, per insured depository institution for each account ownership category.
The temporary increase from $100,000 to $250,000 was effective from October 3, 2008, through December 31, 2010. On May 20, 2009, the temporary increase was extended through December 31, 2013.
"With this permanent increase of deposit insurance coverage to $250,000, depositors with CDs above $100,000 but below $250,000 will no longer have to worry about losing coverage on those CDs maturing beyond 2013. We strongly encourage all bank depositors who have questions about their insurance coverage to go to our Web site at www.fdic.gov and use our Electronic Deposit Insurance Estimator (EDIE) or call our toll-free number at 1-877-ASK-FDIC. Insured deposits provide the comfort and peace of mind to depositors that their money is 100 percent safe – provided they keep their deposit balances within the insurance limits," said FDIC Chairman Sheila C. Bair.
To help consumers, bankers and others understand how the new law affects deposit insurance coverage and to help consumers verify whether their deposit accounts are fully protected, the FDIC provides the following resources:
- Information on deposit insurance on the FDIC Web site: Updated brochures on deposit insurance coverage (including the basic guide, Deposit Insurance Summary, and the more comprehensive guide, Your Insured Deposits) and a new version of the "Electronic Deposit Insurance Estimator" (EDIE), an interactive service that allows consumers to quickly and easily check whether their accounts are fully protected, are now available on the FDIC's Web site (www.fdic.gov ).
- A toll-free consumer assistance line: Help and information about deposit insurance and other matters of interest to bank customers are available at 1-877-ASK-FDIC (1-877-275-3342) Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Eastern Time. For the hearing-impaired, the number is 1-800-925-4618.
- Press release reprinted from the FDIC. |
| | FDIC Consumer Tip of the Week | 07/05/2010 | Have you recently deposited a large sum in your bank account from a home sale, inheritance or an IRA rollover? Make sure your deposit is fully insured. Visit the FDIC website for information on how to check your FDIC insurance. |
| | FDIC Consumer Tip of the Week | 06/28/2010 | You may know you are entitled to a free credit report every year from each of the three nationwide credit bureaus. But do you know there may be advantages to spreading out those requests? Visit the FDIC website for information.
|
| | FDIC Consumer Tip of the Week | 06/14/2010 | Have you or someone you know gotten an offer involving a large check to be deposited into your account and instructions to wire any of that money back, perhaps to someone in another country? If you follow the instructions and wire money out of your account, you may end up owing thousands of dollars to your financial institution. Read this FDIC article for more information. |
| | FDIC Consumer Tip of the Week | 06/07/2010 | If you use your debit card, keep in mind that merchants place a hold or "block" on funds for the transaction as protection against fraud, errors or other losses. If the final purchase price is unknown (for example, when you make a hotel reservation), the hold will likely be for more than you actually spend. The hold will be removed when the final transaction is processed, but until then, you won't have access to that amount in your account. Read this FDIC article for more information. |
| | FDIC Consumer Tip of the Week | 04/28/2010 | You want your documents to be safe, but you probably should not keep your passport, "powers of attorney" or other items you may need immediate access to in your safe deposit box. Learn more at
www.fdic.gov . |
| | Digital Safety Kits Available May 8 | 04/18/2010 |
The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office and Beach Community Bank will hold a SafeAssured event Saturday, May 8 from 9 a.m. until noon at the bank’s main office located at 17 SE Eglin Parkway in Fort Walton Beach, located at the intersection of Eglin Parkway and Perry Ave.
The SafeAssured Digital ID Kits allow parents and guardians to put a child’s identifying information and video on a mini-CD that is maintained by the family. The mini-CD will include a high quality digital photo, digital video showing mannerisms and gait, a full set of digital fingerprints, and a digital voice file, along with general personal information.
Appointments for the event on May 8 are now being accepted for children ages five and up. To schedule an appointment, please contact Jennifer Tallman with Beach Community Bank at (850) 244-9900 ext 255 or jennifert@beachcommunitybank.com.
The Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office is the first law enforcement agency in our region to offer the SafeAssured Digital ID Kits. Having digital information ready for quick dissemination is critical to any effort to find a missing child. Beach Community Bank sponsored the first wave of SafeAssured ID kits with a $10,000 donation. Because of the bank’s sponsorship, the SafeAssured ID kits are prepared at no cost to families receiving the kits.
SafeAssured ID kits are also available to elderly citizens with dementia or Alzheimer’s at separate events. Future events will be announced through the media and published on the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office Website,
http://www.sheriff-okaloosa.org/ under the Crime Prevention section.
|
| | FDIC Consumer Tip of the Week | 04/01/2010 |
Take steps to get your tax refund faster and where you want it by having it deposited
directly. You have the flexibility to deposit your refund in up to three different
accounts at three different U.S. financial institutions. Also, you can now buy a
U.S. Savings Bond on your tax return, without having to open an account at the U.S.
Treasury Department or take other action. Learn more from the
FDIC and
IRS.
|
| | Review Your Credit Report for Free | 04/01/2010 |
To fight identity theft, you should monitor your credit report several times a year.
You may request up to three reports annually at no charge online, by phone or through
the mail. The only authorized source for your free credit report is
www.annualcreditreport.com. Learn more from the Federal Trade Commission
at
http://www.ftc.gov/freereports.
|
| | FDIC Consumer Tip of the Week | 03/25/2010 |
You can protect yourself against a variety of financial frauds and scams by being extremely skeptical of unsolicited offers that involve "updating" or "confirming" personal information or requirements that you send a payment or provide bank account information before receiving anything in return. Learn more at
www.fdic.gov.
|
| | FDIC Consumer News | 03/15/2010 |
Those blank "convenience checks" from your credit card company offer a quick way to write yourself a loan, pay bills or transfer other loans to your credit card account, but they often come with high costs and other potential pitfalls.
Learn more at www.fdic.gov. |
| | FDIC Consumer News | 03/10/2010 |
At any age or stage in life, it’s important to stay informed about ways to save and protect your money. The FDIC, in observance of National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW) March 7-13 and its theme of helping people of all ages exercise their consumer rights, will begin to regularly deliver timely tips on money management. We will post these consumer tips on our website.Today’s tip is below.
If you (or your family) have $250,000 or less in all of your deposit accounts at the same FDIC-insured bank, rest assured that those deposits are fully protected because the standard maximum deposit insurance amount under federal law is currently $250,000. You may qualify for more than $250,000 in insurance coverage if you have accounts in different ownership categories. To learn more you may sign into the FDIC website:
www.fdic.gov. |
| | ATM Fraud: Consumer Tips | 2/26/2010 | ATM Attacks are among the most prevalent forms of fraud striking banking institutions and their customers. And while institutions are ever more vigilant at defending against these increasingly sophisticated crimes, the best defense might still be the simplest: Customer education.Here are some tips to help reduce ATM skimming incidents - Fighting Back Through Education:
- Be wary of anything about the ATM machine that looks out of the ordinary, such as odd-looking equipment or wires attached to the device.
- Look for a "no tampering" sign. Crooks often place these to stop anyone curious about a new piece of equipment.
- Steer clear of a jammed ATM machine that forces customers to use another ATM that has a skimmer attached. Often, the criminal will disable other ATMs in the area to draw users to the one that has the skimming device on it.
- Customers should check their bank accounts regularly to make sure there are no unusual or unauthorized transactions. Federal law limits loss from ATM fraud, and many banks offer additional protection. Consumers should check with their financial institution for details.
- If you see anything unusual or suspicious around an ATM, or if you find unauthorized ATM transactions on your bank account, immediately notify local law enforcement, as well as your financial institution and/or the establishment where the ATM is located.
- Always protect your PIN: Don't give the number to anyone, and cover the keypad while you are entering your PIN.
|
| | Fraudulent E-Mails Claiming to Be From the FDIC | 10/27/2009 |
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) has become aware of e-mails appearing
to be sent from the FDIC that are asking recipients to download and open a “personal
FDIC insurance file" to check their deposit insurance coverage. These e-mails are
fraudulent and were not sent by the FDIC. The FDIC is attempting to identify the
source of the e-mails and disrupt the transmission.
Currently, the subject line of the fraudulent e-mails includes the wording “check
your Bank Deposit Insurance Coverage." The e-mails state: “You have received this
message because you are a holder of a FDIC-insured bank account. Recently FDIC has
officially named the bank you have opened your account with as a failed bank, thus,
taking control of its assets."
The e-mails ask recipients to “visit the official FDIC website" by clicking on
a hyperlink provided, which appears to be related to the FDIC and directs recipients
to a fraudulent Web site. The Web site includes hyperlinks that appear to open forms.
However, it is believed that clicking on the hyperlinks will cause an unknown executable
file to be downloaded. While the FDIC is working with the United States Computer
Emergency Readiness Team (US-CERT) to determine the exact effects of the executable
file, recipients should consider the intent of the software as a malicious attempt
to collect personal or confidential information, some of which may be used to gain
unauthorized access to online banking services or to conduct identity theft. Financial
institutions and consumers should NOT access the Web site or download the executable
files provided on the Web site.
Information about counterfeit items, cyber-fraud incidents and other fraudulent
activity may be forwarded to the FDIC’s Cyber-Fraud and Financial Crimes Section,
550 17th Street, N.W., Room F-3054, Washington, D.C. 20429, or transmitted electronically
to alert@fdic.gov. Information related to federal deposit insurance or consumer
issues should be submitted to the FDIC using an online form that can be accessed
at
www2.fdic.gov/starsmail/index.asp. For your reference, FDIC Special Alerts
may be accessed from the FDIC’s website at
www.fdic.gov/news/news/SpecialAlert/2009/index.html.
To learn how to automatically receive FDIC Special Alerts through e-mail, please
visit
www.fdic.gov/about/subscriptions/index.htmlwww.fdic.gov/about/subscriptions/index.html.
-Press release reprinted from the FDIC
|
| | Digital Child Safety Kits Available October 26 | 10/06/2009 |
The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office and Beach Community Bank will hold a SafeAssured
event Monday, October 26 from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. at the Sheriff’s Office administration
building, located in Shalimar.
The SafeAssured Digital ID Kits allow parents and guardians to put a child’s identifying
information and video on a mini-CD that is maintained by the family. The mini-CD
will include a high quality digital photo, digital video showing mannerisms and
gait, a full set of digital fingerprints, and a digital voice file, along with general
personal information.
Appointments for the event on October 26 are now being accepted for children ages
five and up. To schedule an appointment, please contact Jennifer Tallman with Beach
Community Bank at (850) 244-9900 ext 255 or jennifert@beachcommunitybank.com
The Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office is the first law enforcement agency in our
region to offer the SafeAssured Digital ID Kits. Having digital information ready
for quick dissemination is critical to any effort to find a missing child. Beach
Community Bank sponsored the first wave of SafeAssured ID kits with a $10,000 donation.
Because of the bank’s sponsorship, the SafeAssured ID kits are prepared at no cost
to families receiving the kits.
Future events will be announced through the media and published on the Okaloosa
County Sheriff’s Office Website,
www.sheriff-okaloosa.org under the Crime Prevention section.
|
| | Digital Safety ID Kits Available August 22 | 08/17/2009 |
The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office and Beach Community Bank will hold a SafeAssured
event Saturday, August 22 from 9 a.m. until noon at the bank’s main office located
at 17 SE Eglin Parkway in Fort Walton Beach, which is at the intersection of Eglin
Parkway and Perry Ave.
The SafeAssured Digital ID Kits allow parents and guardians to put a child’s identifying
information and video on a mini-CD that is maintained by the family. The mini-CD
will include a high quality digital photo, digital video showing mannerisms and
gait, a full set of digital fingerprints, and a digital voice file, along with general
personal information.
Appointments for the event on August 22 are now being accepted for children ages
five and up. To schedule an appointment, please contact Jennifer Tallman with Beach
Community Bank at (850) 244-9900 ext 255 or jennifert@beachcommunitybank.com
The Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office is the first law enforcement agency in our
region to offer the SafeAssured Digital ID Kits. Having digital information ready
for quick dissemination is critical to any effort to find a missing child. Beach
Community Bank sponsored the first wave of SafeAssured ID kits with a $10,000 donation.
Because of the bank’s sponsorship, the SafeAssured ID kits are prepared at no cost
to families receiving the kits.
Future events will be announced through the media and published on the Okaloosa
County Sheriff’s Office Website,
www.sheriff-okaloosa.org under the Crime Prevention section.
|
| | FDIC $250,000 Coverage Extended | 05/21/2009 |
Effective May 20, 2009, FDIC deposit insurance coverage is temporarily increased from $100,000 to $250,000 per depositor through December 31, 2013.
If you have questions about FDIC insurance, please contact your Beach Community Bank representative.
|
| | Credit Card Interest Rate Reduction Telephone Scam | 05/19/2009 |
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) is receiving reports of a new
telephone scam from a company that refers to itself as "CreditCard Services." The
company claims to be affiliated with the FDIC and offers to lower credit card interest
rates.
To verify qualification of the lower interest rate, the caller asks for personal
or confidential information. This scam is a variation of a telephone scam in which
identity thieves try to persuade consumers to provide information such as, credit
card numbers, bank account numbers, social security numbers, and PIN numbers, in
the attempt to access accounts or to commit identity theft.
The Federal Trade Commission encourages consumers to report telemarketing fraud
at
FTC.gov or by calling 1-877-FTC-HELP. See the following link to the FTC's
Web site for more information:
http://www.ftc.gov/phonefraud.
Information about fraudulent activity involving the FDIC should also be transmitted
electronically to the FDIC's Cyber-Fraud and Financial Crimes Section by e-mailing
it to alert@fdic.gov
-Press release reprinted from FDIC
|
| | DIGITAL CHILD SAFETY KITS AVAILABLE MAY 9 | 04/29/2009 |
The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office and Beach Community Bank will hold a SafeAssured
event Saturday, May 9 from 9 a.m. until noon at the bank’s Crestview office at 5131
S Ferdon Boulevard, located at the intersection of Highway 85 and P.J. Adams Parkway.
The SafeAssured Digital ID Kits allow parents and guardians to put a child’s identifying
information and video on a mini-CD that is maintained by the family. The mini-CD
will include a high quality digital photo, digital video showing mannerisms and
gait, a full set of digital fingerprints, and a digital voice file, along with general
personal information.
Appointments for the event on May 9 are now being accepted for children ages five
and up. To schedule an appointment, please contact Jennifer Tallman with Beach Community
Bank at (850) 244-9900 ext 255 or jennifert@beachcommunitybank.com
The Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office is the first law enforcement agency in our
region to offer the SafeAssured Digital ID Kits. Having digital information ready
for quick dissemination is critical to any effort to find a missing child. Beach
Community Bank sponsored the first wave of SafeAssured ID kits with a $10,000 donation.
Because of the bank’s sponsorship, the SafeAssured ID kits are prepared at no cost
to families receiving the kits.
Future events will be announced through the media and published on the Okaloosa
County Sheriff’s Office Website,
www.sheriff-okaloosa.org under the Crime Prevention section.
|
| | Benefit Accounts for Families of Fallen Deputies | 04/27/2009 |
Benefit accounts have been set up for the families of Deputy Sheriff Burt Lopez
and Deputy Sheriff Warren “Skip" York through the Okaloosa Law Enforcement
Benevolent Association at Beach Community Bank. Donations can be made at any of
Beach Community Bank’s 14 locations in Okaloosa, Walton, Santa Rosa or Escambia
counties. Donations can be made to any of the following accounts:
- Fund strictly for Deputy Lopez's family.
- Fund strictly for Deputy York's family.
- A combined fund to be equally distributed to Deputy Lopez's family and Deputy York's
family.
- General donations to the Okaloosa Law Enforcement Benevolent Association.
|
| | E-mail Claiming to Be From the FDIC March 25, 2009 | 03/30/2009 |
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) has received numerous reports
of a fraudulent e-mail that has the appearance of being sent from the FDIC.
The subject line of the e-mail states: "Inquiry about your bank account." The
e-mail tells recipients that, "due to many fraud and money laundering attempts made
by non-US residents the past 2 months using fake information to open US bank accounts,
and using them for illegal purposes, we require all FDIC member's banks customers
to update some information on their bank accounts as soon as possible in order to
confirm their identities."
The e-mail then asks recipients to follow a hyperlink and then to click on their
bank’s logo. It then informs recipients that they will be redirected to their bank’s
Web site "through a specialized link" and that, once logged in, they will need to
"fill some information."
This e-mail is fraudulent. Recipients should consider the intent
of this e-mail as an attempt to collect personal or confidential information, some
of which may be used to gain unauthorized access to on-line banking services or
to conduct identity theft.
The FDIC does not issue unsolicited e-mails to consumers. Financial institutions
and consumers should NOT follow the link in the fraudulent e-mail.
- Press release reprinted from FDIC
|
| Only Reliable Bank Ratings Source is FDIC
“Texas ratio" not an accurate measure | 03/19/2009 | TALLAHASSEE—The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) is the most meaningful
evaluator of a bank’s safety and soundness because of its ability to gain thorough
and complete information from the institution. According to the Florida Bankers
Association (FBA), lists from non-regulatory bodies—using formulas that only evaluate
certain aspects of a bank’s condition, such as the Texas ratio—can’t fully assess
the true safety and soundness of an organization.
“The FDIC has intimate knowledge of a bank’s operations and knows what proactive
steps or corrective actions bankers may be taking to ensure stability," said FBA
President and CEO Alex Sanchez. “These ratings by for-profit companies are based
on simplistic formulas by people who are not inside the bank and may have their
own agendas."
According to Sanchez, properly calculating a bank’s position requires information
that non-regulatory bodies cannot access.
“These formulas are very sophisticated and require significant amounts of data
that are not available to common observers," he said. “Furthermore, when guesstimates
or inaccurate calculations are distributed to the public, panic can ensue. It’s
as irresponsible as screaming ‘fire’ in a crowded theater."
Panic is one of the reasons the FDIC’s official watch list of potentially troubled
banks is (and always has been) confidential. Most of the banks are only on the list
temporarily and are able to strengthen then be removed. In fact, on average 90 percent
of banks with problems on the FDIC watch list do not fail; they are able to bounce
back and regain healthy status over time. However, if the institution’s name were
released to the public, it could cause a run on the bank which would virtually eliminate
the possibility of recovery.
To develop a context for today’s economic climate, the FBA points to a comparison
with the savings and loan crisis from nearly two decades ago. At the height of the
S&L crisis in 1990, there were 1,496 banks on the FDIC’s watch list; presently,
there are approximately 250 banks on the FDIC list out of 8,500 banks nationwide.
“Even if a bank does fail, the public should understand that deposits are safe
if they’re in FDIC insured bank accounts. Everyone with an FDIC insured bank account
should be able to sleep like a baby each night knowing that not one penny has ever
been lost," said Sanchez. “The FDIC insures savings up to $250,000 or even more
depending upon how the accounts are structured. These non-FDIC ratings systems create
confusion and unnecessary panic for people whose money is safe and secure."
- Press Release reprinted from Florida Bankers Association
|
| | Digital Safety ID Kits Available March 21 | 03/11/2009 |
The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office and Beach Community Bank will hold a SafeAssured
event Saturday, March 21 from 9 a.m. until noon at the bank’s Mary Esther office
at 412 Mary Esther Cutoff, at the corner of Mary Esther Cutoff and Wright Parkway.
The SafeAssured Digital ID Kits allow parents and guardians to put a child’s identifying
information and video on a mini-CD that is maintained by the family. The mini-CD
will include a high quality digital photo, digital video showing mannerisms and
gait, a full set of digital fingerprints, and a digital voice file, along with general
personal information.
Appointments for the event on March 21 are now being accepted for children ages
five and up. To schedule an appointment, please contact Jennifer Tallman with Beach
Community Bank at (850) 244-9900 ext 255 or jennifert@beachcommunitybank.com
The Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office is the first law enforcement agency in our
region to offer the SafeAssured Digital ID Kits. Having digital information ready
for quick dissemination is critical to any effort to find a missing child. Beach
Community Bank sponsored the first wave of SafeAssured ID kits with a $10,000 donation.
Because of the bank’s sponsorship, the SafeAssured ID kits are prepared at no cost
to families receiving the kits.
Future events will be announced through the media and published on the OCSO Website,
www.sheriff-okaloosa.org under the Crime Prevention section.
|
| | Beach Community Bank Opens 14th Branch in Crestview | 02/18/2009 |
Crestview, FL, February 18th, 2008 – Beach Community Bank opened
its newest branch in Crestview on February 17th. This will be the bank’s 14th branch
in Northwest Florida. The drive- thru will be open Monday through Friday from 8:30
a.m. – 5 p.m. ,and the lobby will be open from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Drive-thru
service will be available Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon.
A grand opening will be held on Thursday, March 12th from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m., and the ribbon cutting will take place at 4:00 p.m.
Please RSVP by March 5th to Jennifer Tallman at 244-9900 or jennifert@beachcommunitybank.com.
Founded in 2001 and headquartered in Fort Walton Beach, Beach Community Bank has
experienced tremendous success in Northwest Florida. Branches are also located in
Pensacola, Gulf Breeze, Navarre, Mary Esther, Destin, Niceville and South Walton
County.
|
| | Dr. Joe L. Story | 12/11/2008 |
Beach Community Bank is pleased to announce the addition of Dr. Joe L. Story to
their corporate board of directors. Dr. Story is President of Andrews Research and
Education Institute and Chairman of the Andrews Surgery Center. He was involved
in developing and building the Dr. James Andrews Orthopedic and Sports medicine
Institute in Pensacola, Florida. Dr. Story is also involved in the creation and
development of the Human Performance Center of Excellence for Northwest Florida
which will include the Andrews Institute, the Florida Institute for Human and Machine
Cognition (FIHMC), the University of West Florida, The University of Central Florida,
and the University of Florida. He currently has developed incubator companies associated
with the Andrews Research and Education Institute, Actigraph and MiMedX as well
as the Executive Physical Program for Baptist Health Care, Florida Healthspan (an
age management company), and Odyssey (program for space flight and research).
Upon his graduation from medical school, Dr. Story completed his residency at
the University of Alabama (UAB) program. He’s been in medical practice for more
than 20 years and is licensed to practice in Florida and Alabama. He is board certified
in family medicine, a member of the American Medical Association, fellow of the
American Academy of Family Practice Physicians.
|
| | Digital Safety ID Kits Available November 15 | 11/06/2008 |
The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office and Beach Community Bank will hold a SafeAssured
event Saturday, November 15 from 9 a.m. until noon, at the bank’s Destin East office
at 90 Trista Terrace Court, off Highway 98 near the Walton County line.
The SafeAssured Digital ID Kits allow parents and guardians to put a child’s identifying
information and video on a mini-CD that is maintained by the family. The mini-CD
will include a high quality digital photo, digital video showing mannerisms and
gait, a full set of digital fingerprints, and a digital voice file, along with general
personal information.
Appointments for the event on November 15 are now being accepted for children
ages five and up. To schedule an appointment please contact Jennifer Tallman with
Beach Community Bank at (850) 244-9900 ext 255.
The Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office is the first law enforcement agency in our
region to offer the SafeAssured Digital ID Kits. The Sheriff’s Office says having
digital information ready for quick dissemination is critical to any effort to find
a missing child. Beach Community Bank sponsored the first wave of SafeAssured ID
kits with a $10,000 donation.
Future events will be announced through the media and published on the OCSO Website,
www.sheriff-okaloosa.org under the Crime Prevention section.
|
| | Beach Community Bank Receives “Business of Excellence" Award | 10/21/2008 |
On October 14th the City of Fort Walton Beach awarded Beach Community Bank with
their “Business of Excellence Award." The award recognizes businesses that provide
support to the community and the City of Fort Walton Beach.
Beach Community Bank’s involvement in the community is diverse. Organizations
the Bank supports include the Fisher House of the Emerald Coast, Habitat for Humanity,
American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, Emerald Coast Foundation, American
Diabetes Foundation, The Ronald McDonald House and United Way. The Bank also supports
the City of Fort Beach through sports programs, the Police Department’s K-9 Fundraiser
and various other events.
Tony Hughes, President and CEO, said “We are fortunate to work in this wonderful
community, and we are blessed to have dedicated staff who believe in community involvement
and support. From the moment we opened our doors in 2001 the community has embraced
us. In that time we have grown to 13 branches across four counties. We feel it’s
our civic responsibility to give back to a community that has shown us so much support
over the years."
|
| | Fraudulent E-mails Claim to Be From the FDIC | 10/10/2008 |
The FDIC is aware of e-mails appearing to be sent from the FDIC that ask recipients
to open and review an attached file. Currently, the subject line of the e-mail states:
"Funds wired into your account are stolen." The e-mail is fraudulent and was not
sent by the FDIC.
The fraudulent e-mail tells the recipient that proceeds from identity theft crimes
have been wire-transferred into their bank account. The e-mail then directs the
recipient to open and review an attached copy of their bank account statement and
to contact their bank account managers.
The FDIC is aware of e-mails appearing to be sent from the FDIC that ask recipients
to open and review an attached file. Currently, the subject line of the e-mail states:
"Funds wired into your account are stolen." The e-mail is fraudulent and was not
sent by the FDIC.
Recipients of the fraudulent e-mail should not reply and should not attempt to
open the attached file. According to reports received by the FDIC, many antivirus
software programs have been detecting and removing the malicious attachment before
the e-mail is delivered. However, if a recipient does open the attachment, the FDIC
recommends updating anti-virus software patches and performing a complete scan of
the computer and network, if applicable. If a computer becomes infected and the
user encounters difficulties removing the malicious code, users should contact their
anti-virus software vendor. The FDIC highly recommends using anti-virus software.
For additional information about safe online banking and avoiding online scams,
visit
www.fdic.gov/consumers/consumer/guard/.
For your reference, FDIC Special Alerts may be accessed from the FDIC's Web site
at
www.fdic.gov/news/news/SpecialAlert/2008/index.html. To learn how to automatically
receive FDIC Special Alerts through e-mail, please visit
www.fdic.gov/about/subscriptions/index.html.
-Press release reprinted from
www.fdic.gov
|
| | Changes to FDIC Deposit Insurance Coverage | 10/06/2008 |
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) is an independent agency of the
United States government that protects against the loss of insured deposits if an
FDIC-insured bank or savings association fails. FDIC deposit insurance is backed
by the full faith and credit of the United States government. Since the FDIC was
established, no depositor has ever lost a single penny of FDIC-insured funds.
FDIC insurance covers funds in deposit accounts, including checking and savings
accounts, money market deposit accounts and certificates of deposit (CDs). FDIC insurance
does not, however, cover other financial products and services that insured banks
may offer, such as stocks, bonds, mutual fund shares, life insurance policies, annuities
or municipal securities.
There is no need for depositors to apply for FDIC insurance or even to request
it. Coverage is automatic.
To ensure funds are fully protected, depositors should understand their deposit
insurance coverage limits. The FDIC provides separate insurance coverage for deposits
held in different ownership categories such as single accounts, joint accounts,
Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) and trust accounts.
|
Basic FDIC Deposit Insurance Coverage Limits* |
|
Single Accounts (owned by one person) |
$250,000 per owner** |
|
Joint Accounts (two or more persons) |
$250,000 per co-owner** |
|
IRAs and certain other retirement accounts |
$250,000 per owner |
|
Trust Accounts |
$250,000 per owner per beneficiary subject to specific limitations and requirements** |
* These deposit insurance coverage limits refer to the total of all deposits
that an accountholder (or accountholders) has at each FDIC-insured bank. The listing
above shows only the most common ownership categories that apply to individual and
family deposits, and assumes that all FDIC requirements are met.
** The legislation authorizing the increase in deposit insurance coverage limits
makes the change effective October 3, 2008, through December 31, 2009.
If you have questions about FDIC coverage limits and requirements, please visit
www.myFDICinsurance.gov, call toll-free 1-877-ASK-FDIC, or ask a representative
at your bank.
-Press release reprinted from
www.fdic.gov
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| | Information On Private Bank Rating Organizations | 10/03/2008 |
On Wednesday, October 1, 2008 WEAR-TV ran a story regarding ratings that private
organizations assign to commercial banks. Although the ratings are provided to the
public for free, these private organizations seek to either sell you additional
information about their ratings or sell other products or services they offer on
their website. They also want to draw more internet traffic to their website, generating
more ad revenue from their advertisers. Frankly, the more sensational the ratings
on their website, the more ‘hits’ they get and the more money they potentially make.
We want to emphasize that the data these organizations utilize is already available
free of charge to the public at the FDIC’s website
www.fdic.gov. These organizations have no unique or inside information about
our bank or any bank beyond what is freely and publicly available on the FDIC’s
website. They do not consult with the FDIC or any other federal or state banking
regulator. The ratings assigned to each bank by its regulator are, by law, confidential
and are not released to the general public.
Referring to the ratings put out by the private organizations, Linda Charity,
Director of the Division of Financial Institutions in the Office of Financial Regulation
with the State of Florida, was quoted in the WEAR-TV news story saying "This is
not the picture of a financial institution's health and safety and soundness. There
are other factors, other critical factors, that go into the assessment." She went
on to say that regulators examine banks thoroughly every year.
Beach Community Bank meets and exceeds all “well-capitalized" definitions used
by the federal and state regulatory agencies. We are a member of the FDIC and all
deposits are insured up to $250,000 per depositor.
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| | Working to Keep Your Children Safe | 08/21/2008 |
When a child goes missing, minutes matter. Okaloosa residents now have a new method
available to help ensure vital information can be placed quickly into the hands
of law enforcement and media outlets.
The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office announced today that the Sheriff’s Office,
in partnership with Beach Community Bank, will be the first in our region to offer
the SafeAssured Digital ID Kits. The kits allow parents and guardians to put a child’s
identifying information and video on a mini-CD that is maintained by the family.
The mini-CD will include a high quality digital photo, digital video showing mannerisms
and gait, a full set of digital fingerprints, and a digital voice file, along with
general personal information.
The Sheriff’s Office says having that kind of information ready for quick dissemination
is critical to any effort to find a missing child and return him or her to their
family safely. Beach Community Bank is sponsoring the first wave of SafeAssured
ID kits for Okaloosa youngsters with a $10,000 donation.
The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office and Beach Community Bank will hold the event
Saturday, September 6th, with appointments from 9 a.m. until noon, at the bank’s
main office, 17 Southeast Eglin Parkway in Fort Walton Beach. Please call 850.244.9900
ext 255 or e-mail jennifert@beachcommunitybank.com to schedule your appointment. Future events will
be announced through the media and published on the OCSO Website,
www.sheriff-okaloosa.org under the Crime Prevention section.
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| | A Visit to the Beach Could Boost Your Budget | 07/17/2008 |
No, we don’t mean the sun and the surf, but a visit to Beach Community Bank’s newest
addition, a branch in Navarre just west of Wal-Mart®. Just stop the branch and register
to win a $1,000 Wal-Mart® gift card.
It is a part of the Grand Opening celebration of Navarre, the bank’s thirteenth
branch across Northwest Florida. So register today, meet our bankers and experience
our relaxed, friendly way of doing business.
Giveaway Details:
- One $1,000 Wal-Mart® gift card will be awarded.
- No purchase necessary.
- One entry per person.
- The drawing will be held July 31 at 5 p.m. Need not be present to win. The winner
will be notified by the phone number given on the entry card. The card will be awarded
within seven days of the winner being notified.
- Only open to legal residents of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia,
age 18 years or older prior to July 31, 2008. Beach Community Bank employees and
their immediate families are not eligi
- Winner is responsible for the reporting and payment of all applicable federal, state
and local taxes on prize.
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| | Sporting Clay Shoot | 06/24/2008 |
The Third Annual Clay Shoot Competition will be held Saturday, September 27, at
Shoal River Sport Clays in Crestview. The shoot is limited to 72 shooters. The entry
fee per shooter is $60 and includes orientation and safety guidelines, 100 rounds
of shells and clays, on-course refreshments and lunch, as well as door prizes.
Registration begins at 7:00 a.m., orientation and instruction begins at 8:15 a.m.,
and the shoot begins at 8:30 a.m. The registration deadline is September 22. All
proceeds benefit the OWC Raiders Housing Fund.
Click here for a registration form. For more
information call 850.729.5357 or e-mail Chitwood@owc.edu.
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| | Henderson Named Chair | 04/29/2008 |
Beach Community Bancshares, Inc. has named Joseph W. “Jody" Henderson Chairman of
the Board of Directors. Beach Community Bancshares, Inc. is the parent company of
Beach Community Bank. Henderson has been on the Board of Directors since the bank
was founded in 2001. President and Chief Executive Officer Tony Hughes said, "I
am very excited that Jody has been elected Chairman of the Board. Having previously
served on the Bank's Directors Loan Committee, Audit Committee and Information Technology
Committee, I am very happy that Jody has taken on this added responsibility and
look forward to working with him."
Henderson is a partner at O'Sullivan Creel, LLP accounting firm, joining the firm
in 1986 after graduating from the University of West Florida. Jody’s professional
and civic affiliations include the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants,
the Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce, Trustee for Okaloosa Walton College
and Past President of the Fort Walton Beach Rotary Club.
Headquartered in Fort Walton, Beach Community Bank has experienced tremendous growth
within the local community, with 13 offices located across Northwest Florida. The
bank has offices in Pensacola, Gulf Breeze, Navarre, Mary Esther, Destin, Niceville
and South Walton County, with a new office under construction in Crestview. The
Bank has over $661 million in total assets and over $528 million in total deposits.
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