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Welcome to our Business Connections eNewsletter.
We want to provide you with a great resource to help your business grow and prosper. We look forward to your comments and suggestions for upcoming issues. |
Product Feature
Credit Cards
We are excited to announce that Lapeer County Bank & Trust Co. has partnered with The Independent BankersBank (TIB) to offer personal and business credit cards. TIB is one of the industry's largest and most reputable credit card servicers. Through this partnership, Lapeer County Bank & Trust Co. will be able to offer you a wide array of benefits and services that are available in the credit card industry today.
Select the card that best suits your company's needs:
- Standard Business Card - choose the billing option right for your business; individual bills for each employee or one combined bill for easy accounting and payment.*
- Preferred Points Rewards Card - a robust rewards program with multiple redemption options including travel, merchandise and even cash back.*
Lapeer County Bank & Trust Co. and TIB are committed to maintaining the quality of financial service you have come to expect while also broadening the options available to you. We appreciate your business and the opportunity to provide you with more financial options.
For additional information visit LCBT.com.
*Please see application for current rates and terms. |
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Customer Spotlight
If you are interested in spotlighting your business in this section, please call Jessica at 810.538.1925 or email Business Development. This is a free service.
 | | Larry Travis, owner of The Carpet Cleaners Inc. |
The Carpet Cleaners Inc. is owned and operated by Larry Travis. Servicing both commercial and residential, they specialize in carpet cleaning, upholstery cleaning, leather cleaning and flood restoration. Larry brings almost a decade of experience to his newly opened business.
In addition to upholstery and leather cleaning, The Carpet Cleaners offers fiber rinse, Scotchgard and emergency water extraction.
The Carpet Cleaners is fully insured and licensed. They cover Lapeer, Genesee and Oakland counties.
For more information or to set up an appointment, call 810-895-1046. |
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Money Matters
It used to be that every person who wanted to buy something carried cash. Now, many people go days, or even weeks, at a time without needing to touch it.
Most customers simply pay with a debit or credit card - something that many merchants have associated with high costs and multiple fees.
Lapeer County Bank & Trust Co. has partnered with Payment Express Systems to provide a more affordable option to our customers. With LCBT/PES, there are no annual fees, no monthly sales minimums, no reprogramming fees, no PCI Compliance fees and a free equipment warranty.
With Merchant Services, you can accept Visa, MasterCard and Discover credit cards from a standard terminal, a mobile device or a website.
For businesses that already accept credit cards, we would like to save you money! Simply bring 1 or 2 current statements into the Bank and Payment Express will do a comprehensive analysis of your current costs, and meet or beat your current credit card processing expenses.
Merchant Services with Payment Express is also great for seasonal businesses, because you can put your account on hold when you are "off season." There is no term contract to sign or cancellation fees. You keep the service for as long as you like.
Payment Express doesn't just give you access to credit card processing either. One of the services that PES provides is the ability to have your own branded gift cards. Gift cards are a great way to get away from the added administrative costs and time required by paper gift certificates.
Another service that Payment Express provides is the ability for business owners to offer payroll cards to employees instead of receiving their payroll by direct deposit, cash or check.
If you are interested in these or other Payment Express Systems products and services, you can click here for a list of available services or call Marsha Kalakay, LCBT Sales Officer at 810-538-1926 for more information.
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Free Banner Ads
Looking for a way to advertise your company for free? You may have noticed that Lapeer County Bank & Trust Co. has been posting testimonial banner ads on its website. These ads focus on specific bank services or products you use and will run for 3 months. When clicking on the "more" leaf the viewer is taken to a page with the customer's testimonial.
So how do you get a testimonial banner ad? Call Jessica Fish in Business Development at 810-538-1925 to set up a time to have your photo taken, sign a release, and email your testimonial to us. It's easy & free!
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Security News
Be aware of scams
This year saw another rise in the number of scams, according to a recent Better Business Bureau study. Here are some common scams to watch for:
Grandparent Scam
Information found on social media or through other means is used to call and explain that a "grandchild" has been in an accident or is in jail. The caller, usually male, may request that money be wired through a money transfer service (e.g. Western Union, MoneyGram). These calls are usually made at night or the very early morning, when the victim may be caught off guard. The caller will probably try to play on your emotions.
Lottery/Raffle Scam
You could be contacted in many different ways about winning the lottery or a raffle - an official looking letter, email or by phone. These scams usually ask you to send the money through a money transfer service to pay "taxes," "processing fees" or "transfer charges" on your winnings.
Telemarketer Scams
These calls cover a wide variety of pitches. They can range from an "all-expense paid trip to some tropical hot spot" to "a great deal on a new roof" to someone "calling from your bank to verify information." These scammers will generally try to pressure you into making a decision immediately. What these telemarketers want is your social security number, bank account numbers, credit card numbers or to convince you to send them money.
Predatory Friends and Caregivers
This is not meant to scare you but to make you cautious. Predatory individuals can include caregivers, friends and, unfortunately, family members. They may use their positions to gain your trust and respect, and then overcharge for services. They may also want to be on your accounts to, "help you pay your bills" - and pay their own in this case. Predators may also play on your sympathies to get you to purchase items for them.
For more information about these scams, click here.
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Keep up to date on our announcements by following the Bank's Facebook page.
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Ask Us...
Do you have questions about banking related topics? Submit your questions to Business Development and we will post Questions & Answers here each quarter. |
Question: Can I apply for an LCBT mortgage online?
Answer: Yes. With low rates now is a great time to purchase or refinance a new home. Apply online at LCBTmortgage.com.
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Just for Fun
"Ok. You see me when I'm sleeping. You know when I'm awake...but no way you follow me on Twitter, right?"
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Wealth Management Group Economic Outlook
The U.S. economy grew in the third quarter, as the Commerce Department revised real gross domestic product to an increase of 2.7% versus the originally reported 2.0%. The main reasons for the upward revision were better growth in housing, government spending and inventories.
Since the end of the quarter, the economy has shown positive signs that growth most likely will continue, even though it is expected to be rather slow. The numbers for October reflected the positive momentum from the third quarter, while the initial numbers for November painted more of a slowdown picture. Hurricane Sandy had a negative impact at the end of October and the beginning of November, but the "fiscal cliff" has played a more important role. The lack of a budget agreement seems to have had more of a negative impact on manufacturers than on the consumer. The Institute for Supply Management's manufacturing index fell in November to below the 50 level, indicating that growth was contracting. Companies are taking a wait-and-see approach and are holding off on production, expansion and hiring decisions. Even though the "fiscal cliff" has the potential to increase taxes for consumers, the consumer has been more positive.
More Information
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Toolbox 
- Get email notification with Google Alerts when anyone makes a post to the Internet referencing your personal or business name.
- Generate and track Quick Response (QR) codes with QRstuff.com.
- Docs.google.com allows you to upload documents and then easily share or access files from other locations.
- Weebly.com is the easiest way to create a professional looking website. Best of all, the basic package is free.
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Express Statement CDs
An image of your statement is created and stored on an Express Statement CD.
Includes front and back images of your checks, deposits and deposited items.
Reduces the costs of check research and storage.
Receive a monthly, quarterly or annual Express Statement CD.
$20.00 per CD.
Stop by any office to order. Please allow 5-7 days for your CD(s) to be available. |
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