Some Kids Need Help...So Help Them

 

We are thrilled to announce the kickoff of the 12th annual School Share drive, running from June 30 - July 18! Partnering with the Helping Hands Foundation, Bank Independent is dedicated to making a positive difference in our communities, and we need your support to help local school children succeed.

This year, through the “$5 Helps Carry the Cost” campaign, your donation will help provide essential school supplies to children in need.

Here’s how you can participate:

• Donate easily via PayPal
• Bring donations to any Bank Independent Sales Office
• Shop directly for what’s needed through each partner's Amazon Registry

Plus, join us for a special Collection Day event on July 18 at the Walmart on Hwy 72 in Madison and the Walmart on Cloverdale Road in Florence to drop off supplies and show your support in person!

 

For more information, please visit hhfal.org. Let’s make this year’s School Share drive the most successful yet!

The Helping Hands Foundation, Bank Independent, and you – together, we’re making a positive difference.

Bank Independent Needs to Step Up

 

 

Bank Independent is building a huge corporate office on old TVA land in Colbert County (Features of the new operations center - Spacious offices, Communal work spaces, Training rooms, Fitness center, and Parking for staff). Bank Independent is building a new stadium for the University of North Alabama (or at least greatly contributing). Meanwhile in North Florence...uh, nothing. Customers don't rate even a kiosk to make withdrawals.

Quad-Cities Cuisine recently mentioned how the narrowing of Pine Street will affect dining in the Shoals; how about banking? Who in North Florence will venture to the kiosk on Pine at UNA? 

Some of us are lucky enough to enjoy a second bank account that utilizes an Allpoint terminal, but even that is more difficult since the Wood Avenue Walgreens shuttered its doors. What about those who have only their Bank Independent account on which to depend? Chopped liver?

Bank Independent, are you listening?

*****

Speaking of the local university, we see the UNA meme page is encouraging the use of FU as an abbreviation for the school. That could be a copyright infringement. After all, everyone knows FU has always been the motto of Florence Utilities.

The Best Alternative to the Salvation Army: Toy Share

 

Many no longer want to donate Christmas toys to the Salvation Army (if they ever did). What's a safe alternative? The annual Bank Independent Toy Share.

TOY SHARE MORE WAYS TO SHARE THE JOY!  Drop off new, unwrapped toys for local organizations at our Bank Independent branches through December 8th.  – or –

Your donations will be distributed within your community by local charitable organizations, including:  Angel Tree Program in partnership with Lexington School Christmas Charities Year Round of Madison County Committee on Church Cooperation in Morgan County Department of Human Resources of Lawrence County Cornerstone Church Department of Human Resources of Franklin County  Department of Human Resources of Limestone County North Alabama Christian Children's Home Rogersville Volunteer Fire Department Safeplace of the Shoals  Shoals CASA William Porter Foundation in the Shoals

*****

Hi, I'm Teller, but I'm no magician. I am a beautiful male collie who's ten years-old. I guess you could say in the canine world, I'm a senior citizen. I'm looking for a big yard and someone to love. Is that too much to ask? Please come by the Florence shelter in the industrial park and give me a look:

Bulletin-BANK INDEPENDENT DEBIT CARD FAILURES-Bulletin

Bank Independent customers across the valley are reporting debit card failures tonight. Readers have e-mailed us that merchants began declining the cards around 6:00 p.m.

One reader states he was forced to borrow money for gasoline to reach his job in Decatur, while another states she has no food for her children.

We have differing reports of bank failure, 100% card failure, or failure of older cards not replaced after Bank Independent's records were compromised last month.

If you have been inconvenienced, you may call their toll free number at: (866) 478-5010.


Our series on the murder of Greg Wright will continue tomorrow.

Shoalanda

Some Recent Feedback

Two recent columns brought a great deal of feedback, both positive and negative. We hope we can address the negative responses and clear up any misconceptions.

While most of the e-mails we received concerning our Roger Bedford blogs was positive, some asked why we opposed having a governor from North Alabama. Let us assure our readers that, human nature being what it is, we would love to have a governor from this area; however, we would prefer an honest politician from Dothan to a less than honest candidate from Russellville.

Similarly, while most contacting us were appreciative of our column on Bank Independent's new debit card promotion, one reader expressed two concerns. He especially took umbrage to the use of the word "scam" concerning overdraft fees. As we stated in the original blog, this was a word used in several sites concerning the check payment order reversal that is widely taking place in today's banking institutions. Here is a link to one site that is especially informative:

http://yourfinishrichplan.com/blog/2008/08/22/bank-overdraft-scam-who-says-bankers-arent-creative/

This reader also asked if we quoted actual Bank Independent rates for debit and credit card purchases. As stated, the amounts mentioned were current average banking charges. It should also be noted that banks may charge different customers varying rates.

For instance, a small bookstore taking in $100.00 in daily charges might be billed 3.25% on its transactions, while the mini-mart next door would be charged 3.00% on receipts of $1,000.00. The jewelry store a few blocks away would receive a rate of 2.75% for its $10,000.00 in daily credit purchases.

We hope this clears up any misconceptions on these two columns and, as always, appreciate your feedback.


What's up with this: Some students at Rogers High School in Greenhill have contacted us about promoting a memorial for slain classmate Chelsie Garner; we will have more on this later and welcome reader suggestions.

New Bank Independent Promotion

Like many in the Shoals area, I'm a Bank Independent customer by default. When the Colonial BancGroup sold its Northwest Alabama holdings, mine was one of many area branches purchased by the local Bank Independent.

At first, I was neither happy nor unhappy with my new bank. Then the time arrived when a direct deposit didn't make it into my account on the appointed day. I knew that I had uncharacteristically bounced a check, but was shocked to find that I had been charged with two. It seems that Bank Independent is among the growing number of banks that pay the largest draft first. I looked into the practice and found several financial pundits who called the procedure a scam, but since I usually keep my checking account sufficiently padded, I mentally reprimanded myself and thought little more about this particularly unfair money-making scheme.

That is until today when I retrieved a soaked advertising flyer from my city mailbox. I initially wondered why Bank Independent was sending me literature touting the virtues of its debit card when I already use mine an average of five times a day. Reading glasses are a wonderful invention, and when I gently placed mine atop my nose I began to read Bank Independent's latest spiel. Then I removed the readers, cleaned the lenses, and read the offer a second time. Apparently I hadn't misread it the first.

Yes, if I, or you, or perhaps any debit card toting simians out there, will just tell sales personnel to ring Bank Independent debit cards up as a credit, we can be the beneficiary of a $5.00 gift card from chez McDonald's--that is if we do it 15 times within the span of two weeks.

If some of you are scratching your heads and asking what difference it would make to Bank Independent, then you've obviously never looked closely into retail banking fees. For every $100.00 one spends using a debit card, the bank charges the merchant an average of $1.29; using a credit card, the bank charges retail establishments an average of $3.07. Assuming one's 15 purchases totalled $1,000.00, by using that little piece of plastic as a credit card, the card holder has just made Bank Independent $12.80 and taken an extra $17.80 from local merchants who will be sure to pass their loss on to the consumer in the very near future.

Yes, Bank Independent touts itself as the homegrown institution. It's really a shame that the Shoals has grown something so twisted.


What's up with this: I see we have a fan from the Monroeville area. Keep reading; it's only going to get better in July.

The Morris Lentz Fund

Many of our readers have contacted us concerning the condition of injured Rogersville firefighter Morris Lentz. Morris remains in Huntsville Hospital where his condition is improving; however, it will be some time before he is released. At his release, Morris will in all probability go into rehab for a few weeks. In short, he still has a long road to a complete recovery.

The year 2008 was not an easy one for Lentz. Now, even with insurance, the bank vice president's hospital bills will place further strain on his resources. With that in mind, a fund has been set up at Bank Independent to accept contributions from those who would like to help Morris.

Over the years, Morris has assisted many in the eastern part of the county, as well as aiding with hurricane refugees and others in need. Now we have an opportunity to repay him in a small way. Donations may be left at any location of Bank Independent across the valley.

Get well, Morris. The Shoals area needs you.


What's up with this: The Voice of the Shoals Forum has made some changes. Check it out--we think you'll like it.