smLCBT3
June 30, 2014
In This Issue
Special holiday
hours reminder

 

We are closed for
these holidays:

  • Friday, July 4, 2014, Independence Day
  • Monday, September 1, 2014, Labor Day
  • Thursday, November 27, 2014, Thanksgiving Day
  • Thursday, December 25, 2014, Christmas Day
Special Holiday Hours:

Friday-Saturday, Aug. 15-16 Lapeer Days
  • Main Office Drive-Up closed. The ATM will be available for customers on foot to use.
Monday, October 13
Columbus Day
  • Main Office - Closed
  • Branches - Closed
  • Imlay City Drive-Up - 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.
  • Southgate Drive-Up - 8:30 a.m.-7 p.m.
Tuesday, November 11
Veterans Day
  • Main Office - Closed
  • Branches - Closed
  • Imlay City Drive-Up - 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.
  • Southgate Drive-Up - 8:30 a.m.-7 p.m.
Wednesday, December 24
Christmas Eve Day
  • Main Office & MODU  - 9 a.m.- noon
  • Branches  - 8:30 a.m.- noon
  • Drive-ups  - 8:30 a.m.- noon
Wednesday, December 31
New Year's Eve Day
  • Main Office - 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
  • Main Office Drive-Up - 9 a.m.- 5 p.m.
  • Branches - 8:30 a.m.- 3 p.m.
  • Drive-ups - 8:30 a.m. -5 p.m.
LCBT's regular and holiday hours can always be found on its website.
CoinMax Fee Change

Starting April 1, 2014, Lapeer County Bank & Trust Co. will charge a processing fee for all coin processed by CoinMax. 
 
Bank customers will be charged a 1% fee (minimum $1). Non customers will be assessed 10% (minimum $1) with a processing limit of $100. 
 
These fees are being implemented due to machine maintenance and coin shipment fees assessed to our Bank.
Keep up to date on these events and more by liking the Bank's Facebook page.
Sign up for eStatements and eNotices online!
 
Did you know that you can sign up for eStatements and eNotices through your Online Banking? Just click on the eStatements/ eNotices tab in Online Banking and sign up.
Credit cards available
 
LCBT offers both business and personal credit cards to our customers. Apply today.
 
Personal Credit Card: 
 
Business Credit Card: 
Application
Ask LCBT
 
Question: Can I get information about business succession planning and insurance at Lapeer County Bank & Trust Co.?  
 
Answer: Absolutely! Make an appointment with CBC Financial Services, and Infinex, Financial Advisor Erin Landers to discuss your needs. Call her today at 810-245-2935.   
Securities offered through
Infinex Investments, Inc. Member Finra / SIPC. CBC Financial Services is a subsidiary of Lapeer County Bank & Trust Co. Infinex is not affiliated with either entity. 
 
Not a deposit - Not FDIC insured - Not insured by any Federal Government Agency - Not guaranteed by the bank - May go down in value 

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 and free! 


ESCALATOR OUT OF ORDER: Someone has a slinky going. Until it stops, you'll have to use the stairs. 
Stay Connected

Like us on Facebook   View our videos on YouTube   View our profile on LinkedIn
Important Information

Lapeer County Bank & Trust Co. is pleased to provide the information contained in this newsletter to our customers seeking to gain the most value from their banking relationship with us. The content of this newsletter contains advertising of products and services. LCBT encourages you to discuss your specific situation with your banker or other advisor before acting on ideas offered in Business Connections.

Featured Product

Small Business Loan program

 

Lapeer County Bank & Trust Co. is committed to helping small businesses any way possible. With our new Small Business Loan program, we've made it easier than ever for a small business to apply for a loan. 

 

The new program helps reduce the amount of paperwork for you to fill out and facilitates faster credit decisions and faster closings. 

 

The Small Business Loan program requires that the borrower has an aggregate debt of $75,000 or less (including the proposed loan). The business owners/guarantors must have a minimum credit score of 680. 

 

To find out more about what's required for the Small Business Loan program, contact Commercial Loan Officer Ashley Winter at 810-538-1895 or email [email protected].

Customer Spotlight
Blondie's Sweet Boutique

    

Blondie's Sweet Boutique and Dagwood's Deli were opened in 1980 by Tony and Jane Abruzzo. The Abruzzos sold the business to longtime employee Nickol Schop. 

 

Dagwood's Deli offers a wide selection of sandwiches, breakfast items, homemade salads, soup and chili.

 

And once you've had breakfast or lunch at Dagwood's, you can stop by Blondie's for dessert. 

 

Blondie's Sweet Boutique is a one stop shop for all your sweet tooth needs. They carry a wide variety of chocolates, bulk candy, ice cream and hand made goodies. In addition, the shop carries a wide variety of Michigan-made products. 

 

In addition to their storefront, Blondie's offers an array of products for sale on their website. Order any number of handmade chocolates, caramel corn, truffles and Michigan made products for delivery. Visit them online at www.blondiesanddagwoods.com.  

 

Blondie's Sweet Boutique & Dagwood's Deli

193 W. Nepessing St., 

Lapeer, MI 48446

(810) 664-8120

www.blondiesanddagwoods.com

 

If you are interested in spotlighting your business in this section, please call Jessica at 810-538-1925 or email Business DevelopmentThis is a free service.
Money Matters

Seven scams that
target small businesses

 

Being vigilant against fraud is not only important for a company's bottom line, it also strengthens customer trust in the business. The Better Business Bureau recommends owners train their staff to look out for seven common scams that prey on small companies.

 

Every year the BBB receives thousands of complaints from small business owners who fell for an invoicing scam or were misled into paying for products and services they didn't want. Scammers aren't always trying to steal money from a business; sometimes they are after a company's financial or customer data and will use many kinds of high and low-tech methods for getting it.

 

"Small business fraud can come from internal threats, such as employee fraud, or from external full-time scammers," said Alison Southwick, BBB spokesperson. "Because small business owners often lack the time and resources to fight fraud, they are a popular mark for any number of different scams."

 

The BBB is warning business owners to look out for the following seven scams that commonly target small companies:

  1. Directory Scams - A perennial problem that has plagued businesses for decades involves deceptive sales for directories. Commonly the scammer will call the business claiming they just want to update the company's entry in an online directory or the scammer might lie about being with the Yellow Pages. The business is later billed hundreds of dollars for listing services they didn't agree to or for ads which they thought would be in the Yellow Pages.

  2. Office Supply Scams - Some scammers prey on small business owners hoping that they won't notice a bill for office supplies like toner or paper which the company never ordered.  Every year BBB receives thousands of complaints from small business owners who were deceived by office supply companies and billed for products they didn't want.

  3. Overpayment Scams - Be extremely cautious if a customer overpays using a check or credit card and then asks you to wire the extra money back to them or to a third party. Overpayment scams target any number of different companies including catering businesses, manufacturers, wholesalers and even sellers on sites like eBay, Craigslist and Etsy.

  4. Data Breaches - No matter how vigilant your company is a data breach can still happen. Whether it's the result of hackers, negligence or a disgruntled employee, a data breach can have a severe impact on the level of trust customers have in your business. You can learn how to defend your company from a data breach for free with BBB's Data Security - Made Simpler at www.bbb.org/data-security.

  5. Vanity Awards - While it's flattering to be recognized for your hard work, some awards are just money-making schemes and have no actual merit. If you are approached about receiving a business or leadership award, research the opportunity carefully and be wary if you're asked to pay money.

  6. Stolen Identity - Scammers will often pretend to be a legitimate company for the purpose of ripping off consumers. When it comes to stolen identity, the company doesn't necessarily lose money, but their reputation is potentially tarnished as angry customers who were ripped off by the scammers think the real company is responsible.

  7. Phishing Emails - Some phishing emails specifically target small business owners with the goal of hacking into their computer or network. Common examples include emails pretending to be from the IRS claiming the company is being audited or phony e-mails from the BBB saying the company has received a complaint.  If you receive a suspicious email from a government agency or the BBB, don't click on any links or open any attachments. Contact the agency or the BBB directly to confirm the legitimacy of the email.

For more advice on how to manage your business effectively, visit www.bbb.org/us/Business-Resources/.

 

Technology Tips
Windows XP Sunset

 

For the past 12 years, Windows XP has been the default operating system for many personal and business computers. But now Microsoft has stopped supporting the operating system, which means that many people need to figure out what they should do. 

 

Though the Windows XP operating system will continue to work, Microsoft will no longer do any updates or patches. This means that any new security flaws or viruses that are discovered will go unpatched. 

 

You do have the option to continue to use Windows XP. However, you will be opening yourself up to computer viruses and security risks. Additionally, there will be fewer pieces of technology that will work with Windows XP computers.

 

You may also have the option to upgrade to Windows 8. The Windows 8 operating system. Older systems may not have the hardware to run the newer operating system, however newer systems may be able to upgrade. 

 

Find out more about the Windows XP sunset and your options at http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/end-support-help. 

Lapeer County Bank & Trust Co. Marketing | 810-664-2977 | [email protected] | LCBT.com
P.O. Box 250 83 W. Nepessing St. Lapeer, MI 48446
If this is your first time receiving the Lapeer County Bank & Trust Co. Business Connections Quarterly eNewsletter - Welcome! Business Connections is a perk for being our customer and designed exclusively for you - a business person. This newsletter will keep you up to date on things happening in the Bank and around our communities. We welcome your feedback, please send it by clicking here. For additional information on products and services visit us at LCBT.com.
 
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