The Oakleaf

The last few months have turned our lives upside down and left many feeling isolated. This is especially true of older people who often resist using technology to stay informed and connected with loved ones.

Unfortunately, now is the perfect time for scammers to take advantage of people through coronavirus scams, which I discussed in an earlier blog. But plenty of suspects are also using traditional financial frauds targeted at seniors. So, as a community banker, I encourage you to take the time to reach out to older folks you care about and remind them of the following:

Relationship Scam – Here the scammer pretends to be someone else via phone call, text, or social media. After gaining the person’s confidence, they often ask for gift cards, or funds to visit a sick relative. The scammer may send money to the Senior and then ask for them to send some of it elsewhere as well. They money they send may be stolen from another account or a counterfeit check.

Online Sales– The fraudster connects with a person online and sends them a counterfeit check for an item listed for sale. Then, claiming they sent too much money, they asked for some funds back. The customer then is on the hook for the entire amount.

Grandparent Scam – The scammer will call an older adult and confirm they have a grandchild. Then, posing as law enforcement official, they’ll ask for funds to bail the grandchild out.

Identity Theft – The options here are almost endless. The bottom line is that if your personal identifiers (social security, account information, DOB, Credit cards number, or account passwords) are used without your permission, your identity has been stolen.

If you believe you’ve been the victim of a scam or identify theft, do the following:

• First contact your bank
• Next, go to the Federal Trade Commission’s website and complete the ID theft affidavit
• File a report with your local police
• Check your credit report. 

Sheltering in place may continue for the foreseeable future. So now is a good time to check in on older relatives and assure that they, as well as their funds, remain safe. If you have any questions or need help, please feel free to reach out to your banker. We are here to help.

April is community banking month, a time when we traditionally celebrate what we believe makes our bank unique - our community focused approach and personalized experience. During more normal times, you would see our team out at volunteer events, serving on boards, and joining in at community events. This is what makes working with a local bank so unique – your banking partners are right here in the community alongside you as you go about your day. During the COVID-19 pandemic, our ability to do what we love has changed. We are all learning new ways for us to stay connected. But we remain focused on what matters most to us – the health and welfare of the communities that we are proud to be a part of.

We’re all experiencing a time of tremendous stress, uncertainty and isolation. And that means it’s a good time to protect yourself from scammers who may try to use the current environment to obtain your money and sensitive information.

As community bankers, we care about our customers and want to make their lives better. So, since my expertise is financial fraud, I want to share the following tips on how to prevent being defrauded during this difficult time.

Hi, I’m Scott Gruber, President and CEO of Tompkins VIST Bank.

Since 1909, Tompkins VIST Bank has been serving our customers and our communities through economic vitality, economic hardships, and everything in-between. 

We are all aware that the Coronavirus has thrown shock waves into our community, and knowing how to navigate through these challenging times can be difficult. But we will get through this – together.

The key to our success as a community bank is our employees. They’re the ones who build relationships with customers and keep us connected to our communities.  We want to pay a special thanks to these team members who have completed the following years of service with our company:

Didn’t make a resolution yet? How about making one that’s easy to keep, with Digital Wallet?! With our Tompkins Debit MasterCard now compatible with Apple Pay and Google Pay, it’s easier than ever to take advantage of its convenient features and the security it offers.

The New Year is a time for resolutions. A time to commit. A time to make a change.

Every employer has at least one shining star – someone that stands out above the rest. At Tompkins VIST Bank we are fortunate to have many individuals who rise to the top and this week we are celebrating their accomplishments and dedication. These employees are our tellers and universal bankers that work at our 19 offices. Why refer to them as “educators-in-chief”? Every day customers come into our branches seeking answers to all their financial needs. Who is the first person they turn to – our front line staff. The same people who complete your simple transactions like cashing checks and making deposits also frequently demonstrate technology to our less tech savvy customers who want to learn the benefits of our online platforms; they teach customers how to balance their check books; and how to manage their finances in a positive way to avoid overdrafts; they educate customers on funds availability; and they continuously STOP fraud before it happens when they can. All of these behaviors have a positive effect on the success of Tompkins VIST Bank. Even more importantly it provides our customers with the tools they need to successfully manage their money.

This month is National Gratitude Month, and it’s very appropriate that Veteran’s Day falls during this time frame. We owe our freedom to the sacrifices made by our veterans throughout our history, and every year we have the opportunity to show our appreciation on November 11, the day Veteran’s Day began to mark the end of World War 1. We’ve continued to use this day to honor all of those who have served in our armed forces.

We would like to thank those in our community who served our country. We know that your service has had a deep impact on you as well as the lives of your family and friends. It also has become an important part of our nation’s history.
We at Tompkins VIST Bank are proud of our team members who are veterans, we would like to list those who have identified themselves as having served, who work in Southeastern PA.

•  Bill Bunch - Courier
• Yolanda Douglas- Fox Chase
• William Hinks – IT
• Frank Strunk –Commercial Lending
• Joe Shivick- Facilities
• Tim West- Tompkins Financial Advisors

Thank you all for your service to our country.

Tompkins VIST Bank’s 110th anniversary this year provided a good reason for the Exeter Branch on Perkiomen Avenue in Reading to host a chamber mixer recently. “Not every bank can say they’ve served the community for that long, so we wanted to highlight it,” said JJ Valerio, branch manager and vice president of Business Development. He added another reason: “We have a mission to make our office better known to businesses and consumers in Exeter Township.”

About 70 people attended the event, which was cohosted by the Greater Reading Chamber Alliance. “It is always a great opportunity to partner with the Greater Reading Chamber Alliance,” said JJ. The mixer, like all Tompkins VIST Bank events, supports the local community. In this case the fare and beverages were provided by Musso’s Italian Restaurant & Pizzeria and Pagoda Hill Vineyards, respectively. “We have a very tight knit business community, so we like to support local businesses,” he said.

Especially popular were real-time portraits of guests drawn by Courtney Sell, owner of Caricatures by Courtney. And each guest received a commemorative 110th anniversary mug. “Throughout our history, we’ve kept service to customers and our communities at the center of everything we do,” JJ said, adding that more activities are planned at the branch in the coming months.