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Volunteer State Bank Officer Promoted to Vice President:
The Board of Directors of Volunteer State Bank has voted to promote Clayton Hannah to Vice President.
Clayton is a Relationship Manager assigned to the Main Office in Portland, Tennessee. He started his banking career at Volunteer State Bank in 2006. Since that time he has worked his way up the ranks having served in various bank positions including bookkeeper, teller, and branch manager. Clayton has completed one year at the LSU School of Banking and he is scheduled to return in May 2012.
Clayton graduated from Western Kentucky University with a B.S. Degree in Business Administration. He is active in the community currently serving as President of the Portland Lions Club. In addition, he is serving as a board member for both the Portland Chamber of Commerce and Portland Senior Citizens Center. Clayton lives in Portland, Tennessee with his wife JamiAnn, his daughter Jaycee and his son Eric Jordan. They attend Portland First Baptist Church.
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Would You Like to Make a Deposit...Right This Way Sir!
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| Irish dramatist and author William Butler Yeats, winner of the 1923 Nobel Prize for Literature, said of his home country:
"There are no strangers here, only friends that have not yet met."
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| Put Your Finances Into Positive Territory:
Reducing debt was the third most common New Year's resolution this year. Saving money was first and spending less was second, but reducing interest on credit cards would work on all of the top three. Here are some ways to do it.
* Zero percent interest on balance transfers:
Financial advisors say if you owe $5,000 on a 15 percent APR card, you could save $750 in interest during the next 12 months. To get the zero percent offer, your credit score will probably have to be 700 or higher. Even if you opt for a 2.99 percent offer, you'll save money. Whatever amount you transfer, it should result in savings that are more than the 3 percent or 4 percent up-front fee you will pay.
Cautions:
Never sign up for a balance transfer offer unless you are sure you can make at least the minimum payment each month. Just one late payment will cause your interest rate to rise by a huge amount. If you don't pay the amount you borrowed by the end of the time it's offered, the rate will skyrocket on the balance owed, both on this credit card and others. Never charge new purchases to a low-interest offer card even if new purchases are covered. It just makes the card more difficult to pay off.
*Debt consolidation loans:
Some banks and credit unions offer unsecured consumer loans at 10 percent interest or less.
Debt consolidation only works if you can make loan payments without charging again on your credit cards.
It's important to create an emergency fund so you will not be forced to use credit cards for unexpected expenses, such as medical bills or auto repairs. | |
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Some Cars Have Power Adjusted Foot Pedals:
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People who are pretty short will be interested to know that these cars have power-adjusting pedals on some models. Experts at Edmunds.com, quoted in Bottom Line Personal, recommend:
Chrysler 300C Luxury Series,
Ford Explorer,
GMC Yukon XL Denali and
Cadillac Escalade.
Cars with other features of interest:
The Infinity G37 offers a tilting/telescoping instrument panel.
The Subaru Forester's low dashboard provides clear sight lines.
The Volkswagen Passat has an exceptionally wide range of seat-height and telescoping-wheel adjustments.
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| New light bulb rule doesn't yet cover
75-, 60- or 40-watt convalescents
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Though the rule that went into effect on January 1 bans the manufacture of 100-watt incandescent bulbs, there are still some on retailers' shelves. It's legal to sell any that were made before the first of the year.
In some areas, hoarders of the 100-watters have cleared the shelves. They have stacks of the bulbs on their home storage shelves. Some love the light from incandescents. Others bought them because they just don't like the government telling them what to do.
Though 100-watt incandescents have all but disappeared from stores, there are still plenty of 75-watt bulbs for sale. The energy efficient rules won't apply to them until 2013. The 60-watt and 40-watt bulbs can be manufactured until 2014.
The new rules don't apply to less commonly used incandescents such as appliance bulbs, three-way and colored bulbs.
Incandescents waste more of their energy as heat rather than light, which is why they get so hot.
In 2007, the U.S. Congress passed the Energy Independence and Security Act, which requires light bulbs to use at least 25 percent less electricity for the amount of lumens, or light produced. The typical 100-watt incandescent that yields 1,600 lumens can now use only 72 watts of power or less.
Halogen incandescent bulbs meet the new requirements, as do compact fluorescents lamps (CFLs) and the light emitting diode (LED). Each of these is at least 75 percent more efficient than the traditional incandescent.
Halogens and LEDs are dimmable, but many cheaper CFLs are not.
Halogens and LEDs contain no mercury, but CFLs have trace amounts. No mercury is released unless the bulb is broken. Take special precautions when clean up and disposing of a broken CFL bulb.
The EPA provides tips: www.epa.gov/cfl/cflcleanup.html#instructions. |
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Betty Dorris is the winner of our "Chop House Gift Certificate". This item was given away as a "Door Prize" at the 2012 Business Showcase held on February 16 at the Bluegrass Country Club. The event was sponsored by the Hendersonville Chamber of Commerce. Photo: The lady on the right is Becky Rogers, manager of the Hendersonville Branch, Volunteer State Bank. Congratulations Betty!
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Welcome to Our March Newsletter
A few items to remember in March:
(1) Don't forget to "Spring Forward" one hour on Sunday March 11 as "Day Light Savings Time" begins. Remember the phrase: "Spring Forward, Fall Back". I am convinced that "Day Light Savings Time" was a marketing ploy designed by the lawn mower companies in America.
(2) Don't forget to wear something "Green" on March 17, St. Patrick's Day. The first official celebration of St. Patrick's Day in the United States occurred in Morristown, New Jersey in 1780. It was authorized by George Washington. Today St. Patrick's Day is celebrated by the Irish as well as many Americans with parades, parties, wearing of green, Irish songs and jigs. People wear green on this day to represent the lushness of Ireland - The Emerald Isle.
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(3). National Nutrition Month is a nutrition education and information campaign sponsored annually by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. The campaign is designed to focus attention on the importance of making informed food choices and developing sound eating and physical activity habits. NNM also promotes the Academy and its members to the public and the media as the most valuable and credible source of timely, scientifically based food and nutrition information.
March Madness:
(4).For all you basketball fans out there, March is your month for going "Mad". There's still plenty to be decided and the possibility of some must-watch games, so if you're a college hoops fan it might be time to stock the fridge and check the vacation schedule at work.
(5). Did you know that March contains a "National Pig Day"?
National Pig Day recognizes and gives thanks to domesticated pigs. For some unknown reason, big, pot-bellied pigs seen in zoos, are often the symbol of the day. Pigs are clever and intelligent animals. But, most people are unaware of this high level of intelligence. They can be taught to do tricks. Some people even keep them as pets. 
Here are Some Other Special Things About March: - Irish American Month
- Music in Our Schools Month
- National Craft Month
- National Frozen Food Month
- National Irish American Heritage Month- designated by Congress in 1995.
- National Nutrition Month
- National Peanut Month
- National Women's History Month
- Red Cross Month
- Social Workers Month
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Check Us Out on Facebook:
Check us out on our new Volunteer State Bank Facebook Page. We will keep you posted on the latest news and updates as well as upcoming events. Become a "Fan"...show your support of Volunteer State Bank.
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FREE Annual Credit Report @ www.AnnualCreditReport.com:
The Fair Credit Reporting Act requires each of the nationwide credit reporting companies, Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion, to provide you with a free copy of your credit report, at your request, once every 12 months. A credit report includes information on where you live, how you pay your bills, and whether you've been sued or arrested, or have filed for bankruptcy. Nationwide credit reporting companies sell the information in your report to creditors, insurers, employers, and other businesses that use it to evaluate your applications for credit, insurance, employment, or renting a home.
Because the information in your credit report is used to evaluate your applications, you should be sure the information is accurate and updated. In addition, monitoring your credit is one of the best ways to spot identity theft. Check your credit report at least once a year to correct errors and detect unauthorized activity. If you see accounts you don't recognize or information that is inaccurate, contact the credit reporting agency and the information provider. If you suspect identity theft, you may need to place a fraud alert on your credit report or close compromised accounts.
To order your credit report, visit www.AnnualCreditReport.com or call 1-877-322-8228. The Annual Credit Report Request Form can also be used from ftc.gov/credit and mailed to Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281. Other websites that claim to offer "free credit reports," "free credit scores," or "free credit monitoring" are not part of the legally mandated free annual credit report program. www.AnnualCreditReport.com is the only authorized website to get your free annual credit report under federal law or visit our website www.volstatebank.com and from the "Resources" drop down menu click on "Credit Report" to access the official website to check your credit report today.
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Spring...It is Time to Clean Up and Fix Up:
Staying in the house all winter to avoid the cold can result in an untidy house. Along the way, things are going to break down or need repair. Will this clean up and fix up affect your budget? If so, talk to a loan officer at Volunteer State Bank about a clean up / fix up loan. Call any of our nine locations for an appointment. To learn more about our bank and our locations check out: www.volstatebank.com
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Recent Photos of VSB Staff
L to R: Chance Barron, Kris Fisher, Joe Dorris, Carolyn Wood, Susan Hester & Sarah Hord
Springfield Branch 
L to R: Donna Pond, Alicia Matthews, Jenny Johnson, Shelley McClard, Terri Brooks, Judy Hesson, Kelly Carter and Jacob RussellOperations Staff-Portland Main Office
 L to R: Angel White, Lisa Hooper, Bill Seals, Tammy Mingle, Shirley Johnson & Ann HowdenGoodlettsville Branch
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Don't forget to "Spring Forward" one hour on Sunday March 11.
Congratulations to Misty Harlinger for being the March winner of our $50 gas card. Sign up for our Newsletter and become eligible to win.
Your comments and suggestions about this newsletter are welcomed.
Sincerely,
Terry Durham
Marketing Director
Volunteer State Bank
615-323-1285
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